Date a barn find TS250/1

[smellybeard]

Hi all.
I've a scruffy TS250/1 with no documents and no number plate that was found in a barn the far side of the back of beyond.
The plate on the head tube is heavily corroded and little is legible. In the 76, 77, 78 period, would it have had a "Baujahr" on it?
The numbers on the frame and engine are perfectly legible.

Does anyone do dating on these machines?

[Blurredman]

Unfortunately the 'vin' on anything pre-1980 doesn't do dating info. And.. a lot of manufacturers apparently decided not to bother doing that so long as they had the seperate plate confirming size/power/date etc.. Which it was already doing..


Can you not put a piece of paper over your plate and try and cast a pencil over it ? Or are the numbers not indented/sticking out ? I don't have one on my ETZ 250, (been taken off In the past I guess- I think it was stolen), so I don't know whether the font is sticky outie

[Puffs]

Hi smellybeard, congratulations (?) with your find!

That plate on my '89 ETZ251 does indeed state the year of manufacture, but that is not stamped, it's painted. Putting a piece of paper over it & pencilling would not reveal that year. There are other numbers stamped, which would show up, but not the year.

Depending on the country you life in, possible the authorities might be willing to tell you something using the VIN? Of course, assuming it was ever registered there.

Otherwise, maybe someone (but not me) could recognise specifics from pictures.

[smellybeard]

I've had a look at a friend's and know where to look on my own plate for a stamped on year and it's 1978. Probably not good enough for registration but at least I know.

The chrome is shagged and there's a bit of superficial rust on the bottom of the frame and swinging arm but it's fine otherwise. Electronic ignition, a mikuni and tires are in order.

[Andy_C]

Congrats on your find - have you had it running yet?

[Blurredman]

Pics or it didn't happen!

[smellybeard]

It runs well. I'll post more when I get it registered.

[Puffs]

Again it depends on the country you live in.

In some countries (in fact, in several countries) you can register the bike with the original date & other specifics only if you have a registration document (say, V5) demonstrating those details. If you don't have that, you may still be able to register it if it has an original type approval, but I believe in several countries that option has disappeared, or is in the process of disappearing. The alternative is registering after a full technical examination against current requirements, which is very expensive, and which it will fail, being a 2T.

Hence having a registration document has value.