2 stroke

[floyd]

Anybody done any serious miles on a two stroke.
Just thinking if there was a low tune two stroke, it would be reasonable economical. Cheap. Reliable. Easy to repair and service.
Just remembering the old mz250. Many did huge mileages with little work.
Anything current or recent available?

[backofbeyond]

I've done quite a bit of two stroke touring in the (dim and distant) past and may well be going down that route again in the next year or so as a kind of retro experience similar to using a film camera and buying vinyl records.

The main problem with 2Ts is supply. There just aren't any mainstream touring smokers around these days so it has to be something donkeys years old or try to cobble together a silk purse out of a sow's ear. People still try though - here's a link to someone (recently) overlanding to Cairo on a 1952 BSA Bantam Overland To Egypt

I think an MZ250 could form the basis of quite a nice low tech, low cost tourer and they're still cheap enough on ebay. I had an early one many years ago and did many eurotrips on it although it could be temperamental at times. Even MZ technology moved on though and many of the things I found exasperating were sorted out in the later versions. There's a few other people here that still run them and I'm sure they'll be along to expand on things.

Just don't get MZ and CZ mixed up though!

[floyd]

Emmisions are what killed them. Piagio made high rech one which passed emmisions. Not sure if it went into production. Even then it was for a scooter i think. Mz live on i think under a different name made In Turkey. With the use of modern 2stroke oils it should help with longevity.

[JHMM]

Yes sadly, the green guys got their way here. Bought myself a Jap Yamaha TZR250 from the 1980's.
Good condition with low mileage, goes like stink. Limited to tarmac though as it's not built for sand. Most I ever did in a day is 460km. Economy is not really great - my car gets better fuel economy. Four strokes are way better a sipping fuel.

But nothing beats a two stroke for driving pleasure.

[asterbeatrix]

Well i don't have enough info regarding 2 stroke bikes but why don't you go for any 4-stroke bike? Isn't it affordable for you?

[Pancho110]

Are you planning to ride off road or solely on tarmac?

If your determined to stick to a 2T and you need off road ability then its impossible to overlook a DT125, they're as common as muck all across europe, tons of spares everywhere. Ive seen them clear 40ft tabletops round our mx track and they can withstand a lot of abuse.

The only trouble now is finding one that hasn't been crashed, bent, stolen, jumped and ran out of oil.

If your going to stick to the tarmac, consider a TDR125, similar motor to a DT but a bit of wind protection and more road manners, very common in Europe.

There are no commuter/comfortable 2Ts left really, the 2Ts only lingered on as race reps and off road bikes through 90-00s.

New there's really nothing out there.

Sorry about the essay, hope it helps

[wahiba]

Three guys on MZ two strokes rode from Japan home via Mongolia, Russia etc. this past summer, 2012. Bit of welding needed I think but they made it without ann major mishaps.

[Wheelie]

Nothing serious, but I rode South Africa to Kenya and later Morocco to Guinea Bissau, on a beat up classic Vespa PX200E... not exactly reliable, not exactly fuel efficient, not exactly environmentally friendly, and not exactly suitable... but still capable, even offroad.

Still, single cylindered two strokes are great - especially for their simplicity and ease of repair and service.

My biggest concern with two stroke engines is oil consumption. You think gasoline can be difficult to get in some places, try to find two stroke oil! Of course it exists, but finding the holy grail might be easier. And as for synthetic or even semi synthetic... ha, ha, ha.

With your regular 2% oil mixture, and pluss minus 5L fuel per 100km (heavy loaded old tech single cylindered two stoke bikes with small engines are usually thirsty), cutting the shortest distance across Africa translates into 12 liters or so of two stroke oil... that is if no oil is spilled, you don't mix too much, no bottles are broken or lost, and no detours are taken, and no idling with wheels not rolling. In all reality, the oil consumption would likely be more like 15 liters. So, if you plan to go through the heart of Africa and don't want to spend much time searching for oil, be prepared to carry many liters of oil at all time!

Some places, digging for it might actually be easiest.

[Mads]

My '89 Jawa 350 I´ve been riding since´93. Great bike, points-ignition, single carb, low-cost everything except fuel & 2-stroke oil. Never let me into big trouble, just a handfull of roadside-adjustments when I´ve neglected the ignition-timing. The bike needs enthusiastic owner, and lasts forever. Mine starts in 28 celcius below zero, does 80+ km/h with two-up plus campingear for wintertime. Friend did Oslo-Irbit (Sibiria) and return, 9000 kms without problem. Another friend did Hammerfest (190 kms south of North Cape) - Praghue and return, 8000 kms. No problems. Lend me the bike last autumn for a short trip to North Cape. The Jawa 350 will do the job, but I think you have to be slightly interested to keep it running