TS 250 or ETZ 250, which is the better bike ?

[classic]

many years a go I used to have a Ts 250 super 5

it was a great bike, i modified it by adding a twin leading shoe front brake then fitted Michelin tyres
i sorted out the the front forks and did a little work on the motor (porting and head)

I then had a bike that went around corners, stopped and i could even take on the local boys on their yamahas on the twisty

bits (but not straight line speed)

i now own an Etz 250, are they any better than the old Ts models ?

i know that they have 12v, auto lube and disk brakes but are they any quicker, handle better or as economical as the older bikes ?

[therealche]

Oh this is an argument that could run and run!
So I'll start with my opinion. The TS250/1 engine is the best engine by far.But the front brake was somewhat lacking!If I needed another MZ, I would go for a TS250/1, with an ETZ250 disc front end with a powerdynamo 12V generator/ignition system. If I had to choose only one in original setup it would have to be the TS250/1. I never found the ETZ to handle any better, the engine wasn't as torquey and I never found one with the top ens of a good ts250/1.

This only applies to the /1 engine. The TS250 4 speed engine is a totally different box of frogs!

[classic]

Thanks

My old Ts 250/1 had a good torquey engine but the front brake was deadly so i fitted a twin leading shoe brake from a yamaha

the handling was great and the electrics were fine after i had sorted them and fitted the switch gear from an RD 250

if i can find a TS i'd be happy to swap my etz for it

[Skorpion]

I owned a TS250/1 for 18 months, it surprised me because it's engine was like an electric motor no vibration, 6,000 RPM and change is how I used to ride it, also as others have said the engine had good low down torque.

I also bought a New ETZ250 that I kept for 14 yrs and did around 45,000 miles, this engine was completely different in that it had a vibration, not bad but it could cause finger numbing if run at over 5,000 RPM, and very little torque below 3,500 RPM, this didn't change even after I converted it to 300cc just the acceleration was faster.

For me the ETZ was the better bike because of the improvements over the TS, Brakes, Electrics, Auto oiling, 18'' wheels.

But saying that, if a TS250/1 came along at the right price, condition, I would snap it up.

[djsbriscoe]

All the old 2 strokes are fine machines. I really enjoyed rebuilding my first TS150 (with a TS125 engine) in the mid 80's. It was my first learner bike and cost me £50. I later passed my test on an ETZ125 in 91, loved that as well. It's a real shame that these bike arent made anymore.
Still like my little RT though.

David.

[classic]

All the old 2 strokes are fine machines. I really enjoyed rebuilding my first TS150 (with a TS125 engine) in the mid 80's. It was my first learner bike and cost me £50.

David.

Back in the 80s i used to have a Ts 125, i think that i paid about £50 for mine too

it was a bit ratty when i got it and i had a great time finding the bits and rebuilding it

a great little bike, it went well, had good handling and was good on fuel but it did vibrate a bit when i pressed on a bit