My VTZ250
The VTZ I rode was most likely made in 1989, which means it was the second series of the model. Its engine, a liquid-cooled 90 degrees V-twin, was firstly designed around 1982 and has equipped since four series of VT250 culminating with the VT250F (cowled version) in 1987. VTZ appeared as a naked version of the VT series in 1987, the engin being detuned from 43HP to 40HP in favor of the maximum torque, which increased from 2.5kgm to 2.6kgm. The VT engine has continued to be developped ever since. SPADA, appeared in 1989, was probably the ultimate incarnation of streetsports naked quarter. Afterwards, the engine has been continually detuned to less power and better response in the lowrange. It is still in use nowadays on a streetsports bike (VTR 250), with only 32HP and 2.4 kgm.
Going to MY VTZ, I cannot be sure of its fabrication year, neither of its kilometers run. I tried a friend's motor, supposedly made in the same year, but it felt much stronger and less trembling than mine; since then, I could not stop doubting that the odometer had been changed, or maybe passed once 100,000km. Everything on the bike suggested an old age.