Used & Classic

When rebuilding bikes feels more like a chore than a happy hobby, it’s time to stop taking things so seriously and return to your roots. AndrewSmith got his bike-building mojo backwith an Eastern European two-stroke…

This story starts 42 years ago in 1977 when I visited the Earl's Court Show, looking for a motorcycle more exotic than the usual, run of the mill Japanese machines. I wanted a machine that appealed to me, and not to the stereotypical people we were supposed to be. Would it be an Italian thoroughbred? A Bavarian muscle machine? Something British? Would anything fit the bill?

As soon as my eyes fell on a CZ 250 twin, that was it! What had I seen? A CZ made for the young motorcyclists of the UK; a CZ with a handlebar fairing, ace/clubman handlebars, and a Dunstall-type café racer style seat and mudguard unit in paint described as ‘gold’but which was much more like nappy coloured yellow. The CZ 250 Custom. That colour looked so wrong to me, but the kind gentleman on the Jawa CZ stand said they did one in a nice blue colour. Sold!

A couple of weeks later I picked up my brand-new blue CZ Custom from John Chisnal Motorcycles in Chelmsford. Is UAR 501S is still around anywhere? This was going to be the first of three CZ250 variations on the custom theme, the Mk1. And it was oh-so different to anything else that my group of friends had. Ridicule came fast and furious. Did I listen? No! You develop a very tough hide when you own a communist-era motorcycle.

The CZ could quite easily keep up around the country lanes, only losing out on A-roads at speed. The CZ was reliable, would always start first or second kick – and it went around bends at more or less the same rate of knots as it travelled down the straights. Brakes? Only when I had to and to avoid getting into even more trouble… My girlfriend (later wife) liked being pillion on the cut-down seat/mudguard unit. We were a lot thinner in those days and, as I nearly always tucked in behind the very generous handlebar fairing, I left quite a bit of room behind me. The ace bars had the effect of pulling you forward as well.