New bike, most unrational trade ever.

So, I made a pretty unrational trade, but had to do it!

I traded my well running MZ TS250/0 for an ES175/2, which is in need of attention. It starts well, but airfilter is missing, so it's quite slow on the throttle. Well, I hope that it's that.

Anyway, been lusting for one of these creatures for quite some time now, and it still has the original DDR license plate.







First things first is to give it a good clean up, and then adress the mechanical stuff. Nothing pristine, as I want a daily bike out of it.

that is awesome! why is it that Communism = ugly?

Kinda cute in an industrial sort of way. I always associated Communism with modest built things like the really fancy Lada.

cool bike though...

It reminds me of Wall-E. ...not to totally pixar-fy your bike, dude.

I like it. You certainly won't park next to another one at the coffee shop.

Thanks for the comments :)

Any of you have experience with glassbead blasting pitted chrome? Doable or should I just sandblast?

I showed that picture to my wife and the first thing she said was "he does not have a girlfriend"



I was not able to tell her that I thought the bike was cool.....

Interesting looking at least. But, lusting after it???


Good luck with it!

Your wife is totally correct indeed! Sound mind!

It's amazing MZ is still in business after the production of that unfortunate looking beast.


I'd ride it though.

That bike is outstanding.

awesome bike man! Are you doing a total rebuild to original?

No I don't think so, they go quite cheap these MZ's, for some reason. It is like they are a "second class" classic. Also, I just want to use it everyday and not feel bad for it spending the night outside :)

Do you have a plater local to you that you plan to use?

I would take the bike to them and ask their opinion, based on your actual condition.

Spare parts for MZ are easy to get, at least here in Germany.

I would not sandblast the chrome, it will be a pain to get the rough surface plain again for rechroming.

To rechrome the exhaust will be difficult due to the carbon inside, the platers here will not rechrome any exhaust parts if they don't have the chance of cleaning them by themselfs, (to sandblast the inner side as long as you reach might work, but is it worth it), the hole unit have to be cleaned in several special cleaning baths.

The exhaust is a big part, so rechroming will cost some money, it would be cheaper to buy a replace, (at least here in Germany with 19% tax):

http://www.dietel-fahrzeugteile.de/...1752-und-2502-teilw-ets-250-auspuffanlage.htm

The adress above is a good ressource for any other parts too.

Here a photo of the factory and the sign near the ´street to the factory made in 1990 a couple of minutes before we went out for test ride:

Cool pictures.

Regarding rechroming, that was not my intention, it is way expensive, compared to the value of the bike. It was just to get an easy paintable surface :)

very cool and bizarre looking bike :eek1
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if you are just planning on painting the exhaust, sandblasting would probably be fine, but also, a good option to consider would be to use electrolysis to de-rust the thing. If you haven't done it before it is very easy and cheap to set up and IMO is thoroughly worthwhile, fun and satisfying thing to do anyway, and once you have set it up it becomes useful for all manner of things. (a bit of googling should reveal the process, or just ask)
When chrome has been pitted that badly then a lot of the dubious stuff will simply bubble off right back to steel with the electrolysis process. After that point I would probably just give it a good wire wheel (to remove any loose chrome that has 'detached' from the electrolysis but has not bubbled off) and then I would just give it a good amount of tooth by sanding with random orbital (and by hand if required) with 80-120 grit. Then some rattle can ceramic header paint.
All this for me would be to keep it easy and keep it cheap.

Good luck,

VERY COOL. I think you can get laid with that bike. Just find a art major...

Then I would personal would first let the parts soak in WD40, then polish the chrome parts and leave the patina as it is. In use I would do a weekly maintaince with old fashion weapon oil like "Ballistol".

By the way very cool bike, I like these front rocker bikes and watch out for thight curves while riding, it will be a little dark

Love it, cool bike

No one can accuse you of following the "in" crowd!