Simon Grey on the ‘Got your frst test bike yet?” yeah, want another pint? “Wat it hat new Kawasaki? ‘Well. actualy. look are you sure you aren't ready for another? ‘Youve got to admit, its embarrassing. | mean, | was ready to approach the C250 stom with an open mind, be absolutely at and impartial. But people kept sniggering, making oblique references t0-wactos and fone guy even woke me at some unearthly frour'on a Sunday morning to show me the Tatest road test he could find: What fs 2 man Supposed to do? Ride tI suppose Fe tact t's most unfalrt liken the gearbox onthe CZ to tha of tctr, a most Sgrcultural_ machinery. now sports servo. ativen gears and doen't require the sort of hrefyWek-andlit'that the Czechs seem so {aken with, But les start from the beginning. For years now CZ have been importing the same Sor of nol, cheap motorcycles into {his countey snd despite their aul, they have sold. This proves thatthe markets there forjust such a Uike, but now withthe addition ofa couple of rils they hope tommove ito the Iugate teenage 230 market. ‘On paper itlooks like 4 good marketin move, but | wonder how may teenagers are fling be fools, or anraced by a otton Fandlebar faving and 3 hardal that could have been made out of corfiake packets for all he syle It dsplays. To be far, there have been some detal improvement on what Is basically an ageing concept. The ar iter box and car connections came infor work and 3 Bigger’ battery i fited to. help “deal ith ‘oundtown commiting. A resting job on the tank gives itchrome side panels But keeps the basic shape with knee cutouts that jab You where they should lo new ia pop Nand which ke most things on the bike, needs & sold booting to get into operation 70 bike Its a sloppy ft and leaves the bike almost {ing on side anyway “he centre stand fs mot much better, need ing yet another kick to make ft retract a hetnlainducing wrench to get the bike up on {0 Tv and hallean Inch ‘sawn of %0 stop it rounding on tet-handers. "Oh dear, this is starting t0 sound like a Let's knock CZ for the hell of it type of article but believe mem trying to bef Its lust that the bike Ts riddled with annoying ile Yaults that could be righted with 3 tle time, thought and money Not so much annoying — mote downright territying is the spongy apology for braking ‘ished up by atwinTeading’shoe front and se rear setup” i's an allotmothing, deal that tither has YoU rushing into roundabouts fs ter than planned of sets the Barum tyres skipping “fhe Motor is the same single carb, two stroke win that has powered €2 bikes in the ast, ut after developing a postive olin System for thelr 175. and'050 machines the Cechs have kept the 250 in the dark ages with an ollmixed-intank set-up. While tre performance won't set the world alight the Motor always started easly Inthe mornings siter a damp night out 1 couple of prods on the kickstart, which ingeniously, if rather pointlesiy, dovbles as the gearlever, soon had t smoking into lie The haze all but disappeared ater It had warmed pt thi bing up arrange ‘ment which is primary the reason for such ¢ tong gearchange travel, requiring the foot fo belied several inches off its rest to elect 2 ‘ery clunky engagement of cogs. A point to Watch out fr isthe fact that any pressure on the gearshift disengages the clutch which ean Cause some heartstopping moments unt You get used to “he switchgeat is built into the handlebar lish CZ importers’ attempt to give their 250 twin a smooth image. moulding or thelevers meaning hata soon 5 you get one set up just right the other invariably out of reach, This was particulary true of the up-down indicator switch which heeded second handiu of throte taken before it became useable. The wiring features heawy-uty connectors, but tall hangs off the frame in unsightly loops inside the fatingand the seat tailsunt "which ‘detaches conn pletely — trails indicator wires that prevent fou putting 1 down out of the way during Despite the test machine being only 57 miles old when picked up rust wis already Fearing. its Ugly" head. Brown sans were Bpparent round the exhausts on the barrel, an the unplated indicator stems and under the Bi a ee ik So, having unmerifully slgged the bike what has it got ints favour? Wel of course Ie stllone ofthe cheapest 250s on the rosd at £4 including VAT But equalled by, for examn- ple, MZ whose Supa 5 oftering goes for £49, The bike handied perfectly predictably even two up and the handlebar fing was tno way adversely affected by side winds, New threesway adjustable shockers are fitted, but Seemed Yo make litle real difference’ and ‘exhibited signs of col binding even on thelr Softest settings Despite its faults 1 quite enjoyed running the bike n'a perverted sort of way It (Ook me to work happily each day. and” during the ‘nning-in periad returned a misery 73mpg. This dropped 10 nearer SOmpg as the mies clocked op and speed increased in rain the faring provides protection upto chest height then botles out. The miniscule front mudguard didn’t let too much water fy around un a wel Because theres 3 massive gap between the headlamp and the {hiring. While we're on the subject the head lamp Sas almost useless, the cp being veryAittuse and main beam launching off into the Stas: it{sa pal tem and could do with being feplaced witha Lucas unt ike the rear Nght or someone who is justinterestedin aide to won hack there ls another resson, apart {rom the cheapness of the machine, for Cone Sldcring the €2—~ special insurance rates George: Rue at Jawe-cZ. in King’s yan negotiated the rates through Trafalgar Insure Snge on the basis tha they are sate kes due io'ther lack of periormance and good hand in "Be had along alk and laid some insurance myths tres, said George. One of the myths (ras that the com of parts was. the. malt Insurance problem but its not, huge third party claims are the problem. Sut our pats fre cheap “The dedi is exclusive to Jawa-CZ owners and should you insure with them and ten change marque the cover will not be extended the following year, Prices stata around £99 fora Seventeen year oid ling in London ‘and holding 2 ful Hence Right twin leading shoe outfit features brake ‘rear indicator and Ferodo AMA Fives ‘Indfterent performance. EG pelo eny CE pepaation and ‘rakes # mockery of te "ace" mudguard Jikow carb leaks petrol 4 ckler. Regulator is now behind the side Cover surmounted. by" that skimpy bit of "cosmetic metalwork. Smoked seen hides» mu note the tortuous cable routes ap 1 iesatamp, inaccessible swichgese: Tur ight ie grown, neurel Bght orange Photography Ouncan Cubitt. CHECKOUT CZ 250 CUSTOM 2 of two slroke 52 stm Mice S31 Ame fkow 138.@ 5.100 ‘iu @ 5,100 Duplex chain ‘Wel ullipate 4 speed 6 aerator Ughting 81 ie hendany DIMENSIONS Wheebis isn Sethegt ia Oven iin Ground dearance". Sim Sebweate iam foley ied Tach ie ects. xe Tepmilometer ts Hered Yes iia xo Neca". No ez » Handlebar fairing, seat lock crc PARTS Tyres ‘ont. | 325 x tin Baum (ean 3505 tin Bar Brakes “tron. 1 Gi hs drum trea Sin sls drum PERFORMANCE Top speed ‘prone od Siting wp) 7177p standing te 7c Speedometer error ‘indicated 0m... 26.04mph atindicated6Omph... 53.47mph raking distance ‘eam ph sn from Gimp. reat fuel consumption ‘overall Samp iden hard Sem RICE ‘408 Inc. VAT Guarantee 6 months 00 miles Supplied by L Stevens i. 141-151 Goldhaw Rd London, W'2 bike 71