show me the history of customizing the MZ
Even I, who was a long-time MZ rider in the past, have forgotten the MZ Skorpion since it stepped into the market in the early 90s. My time of riding MZ started very early in the 80s. As an 18 year old man I drove my fathers MZ ES250/2 with sidecar. To be born and grown up in the GDR MZ was always part of peoples life. My fathers bike was one of the first I customized. The virus of customizing catched me and will do it until I´m dead.
The conversion of an AWO 250, a XS 650, a 1972 Triumph Tiger and a BMW K100 followed.
Many years later I saw the MZ of Jeff Lamb from Australia and I remembered the MZ Skorpion as an outstanding motorbike. Unfortunately the cash was empty and I decided to sell the Triumph with a heavy heart. To find an used MZ Skorpion in good condition was not a problem. I have been riding the bike until the seasons end and then started the disassembling. What I figured out is the MZ is very easy to drive and it´s fun to ride it although it has only 48hp.
The weight of the finished bike is 165kg roadworthy. Afer one year the cafe racer is finally finished.
Handlebars from LSL are holding the original hand grips, brake and clutch system and the selfmade brackets witch are holding the switches for managing the m-unit from motogadget. The speedometer coming from Acewell has rough one million functions I guess. The stripes covering the tank and the front mudgard are inspired by the original MZ colours grey, green and gold. The tank is from a Suzuki RGV 125 Gamma. It is slightly modified to fit to the MZ´s original brackets and the new rear frame.
The headlight cover is made from an universal aluminium mudgard. The ellipsoid headlight comes from Shin-Yo.
The muffler is made by GPR Italy. Normally used for MZ Baghira I guess it will work for the Skorpion a well as long as both are using the same engine. The muffler has a general operation permit for using it on the Baghira. The connecting tube between the original exhaust tubes and the muffler is selfmade.
If someone believes that the silencer meets the legal requirements, it is wrong, as I discovered. It’s unbelievable how it got a permit. The TÜV guy measured 96db. There´s still something to do on the db-eater that will probably have influence on the power but fullfilling the legal requirements is on the priority list on top. I would miss the muffler because it´s beautiful and less of weight.
The front mudgard is made of two original MZ mudgards. They have been cutted and welded. The width is slightly reduced.
The oil tank is complete new. THX to Johnny! There are two covers on each side to give it a better look. The covers are carrying a starting number. By the way, the starting number is my starting number in last century.
Frame, swing arm, rear frame, rims and the front fork tubes are powder coated.
Tank, front mudgard and the oil tank covers are coloured in standard traffic white RAL9016. The tank carries the latest MZ-Logo without the small „u“. Insider will know. Let´s say it´s artistic freedom.
The rear Frame is complete new and made of the origin rear frame tubes. The covers are designet with Onshape and machined of aluminium. At the beginning of the project the covers should act as rear frame at their own but the TÜV refused it. Now they are only show. The seat is made by my own as well. It´s made of an aluminium sheet, bendet and welded. The foam has been glued to the aluminium sheet and formed with a knife and an angle grinder. The upholstering has been made by the local saddler „Bikepolster“. The stitching is is made of gold and green colored thread and follows the stripes on the tank. The cover is made of Alcantara.
The plates holding the footrests are designed with Onshape, CNC machined and anodized. The right plate is also holding the muffler and the brake cylinder. The footrests are made by Tarozzi Italy.
This is the ellipsoid headlight inside the cover made of an universal aluminium mudgard.
The handlebars are carrying indicator lights from Kellermann.
Many things not shown above for instance a complete new wiring, the m-unit from motogadget, the super small LiPo battery, the new airbox or the new intake manyfold.
Now that I´m finished I`d like to say thank you to all the People who made this project possible.
Many thanks to my wife and the children who have beared that I spent hour after hour in the Garage for nearly one year.
Thank you Johnny for welding the aluminium parts and doing a very good job.
Thanks to Radio 21 for playing all the good stuff and keeping me happy.
Thanks to the TÜV for accompaning the project and accepting the building alterations.
Thanks to the companies done a good job:
- Powder Coating by Motorcycle Parts Kreiensen
- Colouring by Karosseriebau Bayer Göttingen
- Stickers and Stripes by XDruck Göttingen
- Machined parts by VSDFT Northeim and CNC-Ecke
- Anodizing Fa. Rhode Nörten Hardenberg
- Bikepolster Bovenden
- Welding by Metallbau Senge Göttingen
Bike is featured on
January 2019 / Readers Bikes
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