by chunky » Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:08 pm
Go for it! The 250s are all weird and wonderful in their way. Opinion one; they are comfortable to ride for a whole range of body shapes and sizes.
The /trophy is very strange, but the 4 speed engine pulls well and always felt relaxed. the style is really according to taste, as probably 1% of the population will stare at your passing without disbelief; usually visionaries or madmen. But that's who the stylists were trying to attract, crazy idealists.
The TSs ar'nt quite as bizarre but still raise a few eyebrows as they ping ping by. however, they were sorted. The Supa 5 ran well and had a nice gearchange that could make it feel good over long distances. So far, the stock brakes on both bikes were made for terminal thrill seekers, so try and find one which has had it's front brake changed for a Honda conversion TLS hub job. TS bikes are sought after now because of their longevity and quirkiness in an increasingly inauthentic world.
My choice is an ETZ. They had just about everything: handling, style, brakes, durability; but the engine doesn't really start up until around 3000 revs, unlike their roots. They all go on and on with a bit of occasional help, and they sort of grow on you till you - for example - realise that, when you sold off your embarrassing old 'Russian' 2 stroke for a modern upgrade, that ultimately you wished you'd got rid of everything but it. Lucky there's still loads around (1962 - 1970: 1 million made! Can that be right?!).
As I feel it, Chunky.