ETZ251 Steering Lock

[Puffs]

I never had a steering lock on my ETZ251:

and I was wondering: is this normal? Obviously this is my only road bike without a steering lock, and I think not having it has given me troubles once. Is not having it a common thing, and why would it be gone...???

[dave47]

No Puffs, it isn't normal, but in my opinion you are better off without it as you will not be tempted to rely on it. They are very easy to break. I had one broken in an attempted theft some years ago on my etz 250 and have used a shackle lock ever since.

[Puffs]

Thanks Dave.
When parked in the city centre one evening, they once tried to steal that bike, or maybe take it for a joyride? If I would have had it on a steering lock that might not have happened. But as it was, these guys were fazed by the intricacies & complexities of the ignition lock!
Had to get the trailer to get the bike home though...

(Yeah I know, should have locked it some other way.)

[Blurredman]

It's not a bad thing to have one of course.

I have one on my ETZ251 which I used to use often. But it can be fiddly to engage/disengage if you don't know the technique.

But my ETZ250 came with me without one as it looks like it might have previously been stolen as the steel bracket to hold the lock is all out of shape and I do believe the aluminium yoke webbing that would 'hold' the lock when engaged is cracked.

Annoyingly, I just not long ago lost my seat lock on my Trophy, which also acts as the steering lock when removed. Which do I want to lose in that case? The contents of my toolbox, or the bike itself? Now that it is missing I don't have a choice lol.

[Puffs]

I'll have to look into how they made that steel bracket to hold the lock, and see how it can fall out. Or indeed maybe the guy I bought the bike from took it out? If I remember, there used to be a post/warning on an accident that happened with a steering lock, but somehow that's seems to be gone (and I forgot to which bike it pertained).

Some older bikes have a steering lock that locks into the shaft going through the headstock (the Jawa, for instance), and in a sense, the arrangement MZ choose here is safer. This way, gravity would never pull the lock in.

As you know the ETZ251 has no tools or other valuables below the seat (no, I do not have that pump either), and the seat is just screwed in place. But I can imagine that if the seat can be removed by just opening a lock, and if the tools are kept below it, not having that lock is a bit of an issue in modern society!

[Jay Bee]

The steering lock on my ETZ 125 (same as yours should be) had a slightly different problem : it kept falling out.
It fits into the steering head bracket in a sort of double slot bayonet arrangement and is designed to be removed if you wish by using the key.
The problem with mine was caused by a combination of rust/dirt and a weak locating spring.
I think a steering lock is a useful thing to have (supplemented by some additional security maybe), but if you do decide to fit one you'll need to satisfy yourself that it functions correctly; make sure the spring is up to snuff.

[Puffs]

Ta JB, being able to remove it with the key - that makes sense.
So the previous owner (from whom I bought the bike in '98, he had bought it new in '89) had just taken it out & failed to give it to me...

I'll have a look to see if I could get another one.

[Blurredman]

make sure the spring is up to snuff.

When I bought my lock (and spring) for my 251, which didn't come with the original lock, the spring was useful but not too long after the spring got caught and twisted and then stretched in the yoke whilst trying to unlock the steering lock. I removed the spring (from the top) and that was in 2017 or 2018. I haven't had the spring since.

[Puffs]

So you didn't get it either!
I get the impression it's a mixed blessing, that lock... If I need a lock, maybe better used something else.

[Gerryman Ts125]

Mines used to fall out all the time. So I just removed it. It was not to much different than this one fitted on a Etz. The TS one had a long single sided key the length of a modern euro lock. Still have the key, but no lock for it.
Sold the Mz without it.

It had all the other keys with it. One for the locking side panel/air filter box ( I also had a spare) and one for the locking fuel cap ( it had a spare too)
Still have quite a few Mz keys, as I had a couple of TS models. Still have a TS tank with a locking fuel cap, but both were abused, cap still works ok if you jiggle the key though. It's over fifty years old. So like me, it's a bit worn , rough around the edges. And full of dents.

[Puffs]

Ah yes, that's another one - that lock in the RH battery cover. Over the years the lock lost a few leaves, so I never lock it...
Of course I never had the tool set either, or even the place to put those tools. I fitted a smaller AGM battery, which leaves place to store a few of those 50cc whiskey bottles filled with oil.