Weekend Away

At the weekend I attended the annual MZ Riders Club National Rally and AGM, which this year was held at Whitchurch Rugby Club in Shropshire. 

Although no longer a member of the club I still attend a number of their events as a guest. It's always good to meet up with friends old and new.

MZ TS250/1 Supa 5 (front) & ES250 Trophy (rear)

Little MZs: TS150 (front) & ETS150 Trophy (rear)

MZ Skorpion Sport

MZ TS250 4-Speed

Although aimed at owners and riders of MZs, I have noticed a tendency recently for people to attend club events on other, bigger more modern machines. It would seem that as both the bikes and the membership gets older the club is heading down the 'classic' or 'vintage' club route. The old bikes are being used a lot less and being treated a lot gentler than before.

So, people spend more and more time with them in the garage working on them, and less time actually riding them. Not surprising really as the newest of the German-built models are now over twenty years old and they are not really suitable for everyday transport any more.

There are, however, always notable exceptions:

This particular machine, a TS250 4-Speed, has been around the clock nearly twice (and doesn't it look it?)

This is one of two elderly MZs which made the trip from Japan to England overland last year.

There's an MZ ETZ251 under all that stuff

And there's always someone selling spares for the old bikes. I picked up a NOS chrome rim for an old MZ headlight I have which I plan on fitting to my Dnepr this winter. Only cost me a fiver.

This particular gentleman has been selling the contents of his garage for as long as I've been going to MZ rallies.