MZ Motorrad- und Zweiradwerk
Encyclopedia
MZ Motorrad- und Zweiradwerk GmbH is a motorcycle
manufacturer located in Zschopau
, Germany. MZ an acronym, stands for Motorradwerk Zschopau (German for motorcycle factory at Zschopau
) in the Erzgebirge region of Saxony
. From 1992 to 1999 the company was called MuZ, an acronym for Motorrad und Zweiradwerk (German for motorcycle and two-wheeler factory).
The Zschopau works was one of the oldest motorcycle factories in the world, producing motorcycles since 1922. The most well known models were the two-stroke 125/150 and 250 series, with the variants ES, ETS, TS und ETZ. MZ was one of the few producers that made motorcycles with sidecar
s, though prior to 1972 sidecars were manufactured by Stoye.
: 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1987.
The East German government did not support the international racing aspirations of MZ. The defection to the West of grand prix rider Ernst Degner
, complete with his theft of a set of secrets, started the end of the glory years of Kaadens bikes.
The Yamaha-based engine can be reliably tuned to 150 percnt of its original performance. At that stage, it can become competitive in Supermono racing classes and in single and twin-cylinder racing classes.
All four 125s are capable of speeds over 65 mph (29.1 m/s), with the fastest being the RT and SM, both of which are capable of 75 mph (33.5 m/s) sustained speeds.
MZ also used a Yamaha
-built 660 cc single in the Baghira line of mid-displacement Enduro/DualPurpose/Motard bikes.
The last new MZ model was the 1000S
which featured a novel 1000 cc, DOHC parallel twin designed and built by MZ. The 1000S is a sport-tourer by design. The 1000S' unique engine is exceptionally compact for its displacement. The range includes a naked (unfaired) version and a full tourer with luggage, higher handlebars, and lower footpegs for comfort. Both of these are retuned, with less outright horsepower than the 'S', but with more torque.
In addition to the 1000S, MZ also produced the naked version of the 1000S, known as the 1000SF, and the sports touring version known as MZ1000ST. MZ also produces its own lines of scooters known as MZ Moskito, powered by a 50 cc two-stroke engine.
Besides scooters, MZ also produced its own line of underbone
motorcycles, targeted for the Southeast Asian market. Their debut underbone model was the MZ Perintis 120, launched in 2002. The Perintis was succeeded by the MZ Mantizz series, launched in 2004 – the design of which is based on their flagship 1000S model. The Mantizz series has two displacement options – 125 cc and 110 cc. All MZ underbone models are powered by four-stroke engines and are manufactured in MZ's Malaysian plant in Shah Alam
.
MZ also competed in the European GP-500 class with race-only models, and built several scooter and ATV models ranging in displacement from 50 cc to 185 cc, as well as the Charlie electric scooter, the fastest stand-up electric scooter produced.
As of January 2010 only the Charlie electric scooter, is in production and the company is under new owners.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
manufacturer located in Zschopau
Zschopau
Zschopau , a town in the German state Saxony, is located on both banks of the river Zschopau, south-east from Chemnitz. It is part of the Erzgebirgskreis district. Its population is 11,584...
, Germany. MZ an acronym, stands for Motorradwerk Zschopau (German for motorcycle factory at Zschopau
Zschopau
Zschopau , a town in the German state Saxony, is located on both banks of the river Zschopau, south-east from Chemnitz. It is part of the Erzgebirgskreis district. Its population is 11,584...
) in the Erzgebirge region of Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
. From 1992 to 1999 the company was called MuZ, an acronym for Motorrad und Zweiradwerk (German for motorcycle and two-wheeler factory).
History
- 1906 Jørgen Skafte RasmussenJørgen Skafte RasmussenJørgen Skafte Rasmussen was an engineer and industrialist of Danish origin. He moved to Germany and established several automobile and motorcycle manufacturing companies, including DKW and Framo. Rasmussen acquired a majority interest in Audi in 1928, which four years later became Auto Union...
(Denmark) bought an empty cloth factory in Zschopau - 1917 invented the Dampf-Kraft-Wagen (DKW) (German for steam-powered car) also known by its trademark DKW
- 1920 motor-assisted bicycleMotorized bicycleA motorized bicycle, motorbike, cyclemotor, or vélomoteur is a bicycle with an attached motor and transmission used either to power the vehicle unassisted, or to assist with pedaling. Since it always retains both pedals and a discrete connected drive for rider-powered propulsion, the motorized...
. - 1923 renamed in DKW
- 1927 started racing activities
- 1928 DKW takes over the AudiAudiAudi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
factory at ZwickauZwickauZwickau in Germany, former seat of the government of the south-western region of the Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core region. Nowadays it is the capital city of the district of Zwickau... - 1929 60,000 motorcycles leave the Zschopau factory, and DKW is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world
- 1931 introduced DKW small cars
- 1932 The Auto UnionAuto UnionAuto Union was an amalgamation of four German automobile manufacturers, founded in 1932 and established in 1936 in Chemnitz, Saxony, during the Great Depression. The company has evolved into present day Audi, as a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group....
was founded, created from Audi, HorchHorchHorch was a car brand manufactured in Germany by August Horch & Cie, at the beginning of the 20th century.-History at a Glance:The company was established first by August Horch and his first business partner Salli Herz on November 14, 1899 at Ehrenfeld, Cologne. August Horch was a former production...
, WandererWanderer (car)Wanderer was a German manufacturer of bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, vans and other machinery. Established as Winklhofer & Jaenicke in 1896, the company used the Wanderer brand name from 1911, making civilian automobiles until 1941 and military vehicles until 1945.-History:Winklhofer &...
and DKW. - 1939 developed the RT 125RT 125The RT 125 is a German two-stroke motorcycle made by DKW in Zschopau in the 1930s, IFA and MZ in the 1950s and early 1960s, and DKW in Ingolstadt in the 1950s and 1960s...
- 1948 renamed in IFAIndustrieverband FahrzeugbauIndustrieverband Fahrzeugbau , usually abbreviated as IFA, was a conglomerate and a union of companies for vehicle construction in the former East Germany ....
(a state-owned enterprise in GDR) - 1950 The Zschopau works begins production of the RT 125 model, developed before the war, under the trademark IFA (Industrieverwaltung Fahrzeugbau). This model became patent free after the war as part of war reparations Halcyon days: MZ a potted history Alan Turner, Motorcycle Sport and Leisure, No. 577 October 2008, pp.114–118 and was further developed in Britain (BSA BantamBSA BantamThe BSA Bantam is a two-stroke unit construction motorcycle that was produced by the Birmingham Small Arms Company from 1948 until 1971...
), USA (Harley-Davidson HummerHarley-Davidson HummerThe Hummer was a motorcycle model manufactured by Harley-Davidson from 1955 to 1959. However, the name "Hummer" is now used generically to refer to all American-made single-cylinder two-stroke Harley-Davidson motorcycles manufactured from 1948 to 1966. These motorcycles were based on the DKW...
), Russia (M-1A MoskvaMMZ (motorcycle)MMZ or Moskovskiy Mototsikletniy Zavod was a motorcycle manufacturer, based in Moscow. It commenced operations in 1941 building the M-72, a Soviet licensed copy of the BMW R71. With the German Invasion of the Soviet Union, the plant was transferred east to the town of Irbit in the Ural region...
), Japan, Italy and West Germany. - 1952 the BK350 appears, the first two-stroke shaft drive.
- 1956 The works is now called VEB Motorradwerk Zschopau, or MZ for short.
- 1962 The ES 125 / ES 150 starts manufacturing. Up to the present day (2004) it is the most-built German motorcycle. It was also the first motorcycle with an asymmetric low beam headlight pattern.
- 1970 the millionth motorcycle rolls off the conveyor belt, an MZ ETS 250 Trophy Sport
- 1972 MZ takes over manufacturing of sidecarSidecarA sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle, producing a three-wheeled vehicle.-History:A sidecar appeared in a cartoon by George Moore in the January 7, 1903, issue of the British newspaper Motor Cycling. Three weeks later, a provisional patent was...
s from Stoye. - 1983 the 2-millionth motorcycle rolls off the conveyor belt, this time an MZ ETZ 250. With disk brakes and 12-volt electrics the MZ had reached the modern standard in motorcycle design.
- 1989 MZ ceases manufacture of sidecars.
- 1990 MZ is privatised, on 18 December.
- 1993 MZ goes under receivershipReceivershipIn law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
, and the ETZ patent sold to the Turkish firm Kanuni which continued producing models 251 and 301. The MuZ company is formed from the rest. - 1996 MuZ was bought by the Malaysian CorporationCorporationA corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
Hong Leong GroupHong Leong GroupHong Leong Group is a conglomerate based in Malaysia. Founded as a trading company in 1963 by Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan, the company controls 14 listed companies involved in the financial services, manufacturing, distribution, property and infrastructure development... - 1999 the u is finally dropped from the name MuZ.
- 2008 On 9 June, Motor Cycle News reported that MZ is to cease operations at the end of 2008 because the company's Malaysian backers withdrew their financial support after years of continuing losses.
- 2008 On 12 December, the MZ factory in Zschopau closed. bringing a halt to motorcycle production that had lasted for 88 years in the same town. The old 'East German' factory became a night club, called MZWerk.
- 2009 Former GP stars Ralf WaldmannRalf WaldmannRalf Waldmann is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.In 1996, Waldmann finished second to Max Biaggi in the 250cc world championship. In the 1997 season, he gave Biaggi a strong challenge, winning four races and finishing only two points behind the Italian...
and Martin WimmerMartin WimmerMartin Wimmer is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Germany. He had his best year in 1985 when he won the German Grand Prix, and had two second places, finishing the 250cc season in fourth place behind Freddie Spencer, Anton Mang and Carlos Lavado.In 1987, Yamaha teamed him with Kevin...
buy the MZ motorcycle brand. The deal went through on 23 March 2009 for a reported four or five million euros. The cash is being put up by the Hong Leong GroupHong Leong GroupHong Leong Group is a conglomerate based in Malaysia. Founded as a trading company in 1963 by Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan, the company controls 14 listed companies involved in the financial services, manufacturing, distribution, property and infrastructure development...
. The new board will consist Ralph Waldmann, Martin Wimmer, Dr Martin Hager, Helmut Lichtenberg and Otto Elbers. Wimmer will take over the role of MZ Managing Director with immediate effect. There are rumours that the firm is going to produce a 600 cc road bike based on the Moto2 GP project bike.
The Zschopau works was one of the oldest motorcycle factories in the world, producing motorcycles since 1922. The most well known models were the two-stroke 125/150 and 250 series, with the variants ES, ETS, TS und ETZ. MZ was one of the few producers that made motorcycles with sidecar
Sidecar
A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle, producing a three-wheeled vehicle.-History:A sidecar appeared in a cartoon by George Moore in the January 7, 1903, issue of the British newspaper Motor Cycling. Three weeks later, a provisional patent was...
s, though prior to 1972 sidecars were manufactured by Stoye.
Enduro
Winner of International Six Day TrialInternational Six Days Enduro
The International Six Days Enduro is the oldest 'off road' motorcycle event on the FIM Calendar.The ISDE was first held in 1913 at Carlisle, England. It has occurred annually, apart from interruptions due to World War I and World War II, at various locations throughout the world. The early...
: 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1987.
Road Racing
- 1958 first wins in 125/250 cc and an over all second championship 250 cc
- The MZ two-stroke engines, developed by engineer Walter KaadenWalter KaadenWalter Kaaden was a German engineer who improved the performance of two-stroke engines by understanding the role of resonance waves in the exhaust system. Working for the MZ Motorrad- und Zweiradwerk part of the Industrieverband Fahrzeugbau , he laid the foundations of the modern two-stroke engine...
, have influenced motorcycle racing for decades. His 1961 125 cc race engine design was the first to achieve an output of 200 bhp per litre. His revolutionary two-stroke system was copied widely in the 1960s by Japanese manufacturers. YamahaYamaha Motor Company, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
and SuzukiSuzukiis a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
two-stroke engines became competitive in motor sport only after they gained possession of MZ design secrets. MZs were ridden to 13 GP victories and 105 rostrum places between 1955 and 1976.
The East German government did not support the international racing aspirations of MZ. The defection to the West of grand prix rider Ernst Degner
Ernst Degner
Ernst Degner was a German Grand Prix motorcycle road racer....
, complete with his theft of a set of secrets, started the end of the glory years of Kaadens bikes.
- The MZ SkorpionMZ SkorpionThe MZ Skorpion is a motorcycle powered by a four-stroke five-valve 660 cc single-cylinder engine with liquid cooling, made from 1994 to 2004 by MZ, , in former East Germany. It was the result of an international collaboration, being conceived by British design firm Seymour Powell...
Sport 660 cc single got its own MuZ-cup racing series in several countries at the end of the nineties. It is famous for its precise handling. It is still a popular mount for club racing and SupermonoSupermonoSupermono is a class in European motorcycle road racing. Supermono class machines have a single-cylinder engine with a maximum displacement of 850 cc....
racing.
The Yamaha-based engine can be reliably tuned to 150 percnt of its original performance. At that stage, it can become competitive in Supermono racing classes and in single and twin-cylinder racing classes.
- The MZ ETZ 250 and 251 is currently being used in club racing around Britain, providing budget racing for those who want to race with all of the fun but less of the expense. The home of MZ racing is the BMZRC or British M Z Racing Club.
Notable models
- RT 125RT 125The RT 125 is a German two-stroke motorcycle made by DKW in Zschopau in the 1930s, IFA and MZ in the 1950s and early 1960s, and DKW in Ingolstadt in the 1950s and 1960s...
: 1939–1962 and 2000-today - ES250 : Utilized a pressed steel body with Earles type front suspension.
- ETS250 : Sports version of the ES but with more traditional type of tank and telescopic forks. The distinctive 5 gallons (22.7 l) fuel tank makes this model a desirable classic motorcycle.
- TS125/150 : Direct descendants of the RT125, and the last MZs to use "premix" fuel and a 6-volt electrical system.
- TS250: Developed from the ES/ETS machines but with a new frame. The engine hung from the top beam pivoting at the rear with no front down tube. Early models were four-speed machines with the vertical finned cylinder head but the later machines had the flat top engine and five-speed gear box, the basis of the later models. These models were all 6-volt and pre-mix fuel.
- ETZ250 : The first road going MZ to include a disk front brake and automatic oil injection. There has been a special model ETZ250A which equipped the GDR's army and has been exported to several countries of the former east block.
- ETZ251 : Derived from the ETZ250 but with modifications to the motor and chassis. A 300 cc version was also marketed.
- ETZ125/150 : Similar to the ETZ251 in appearance but with an updated 125/150 motor, now with the flat-topped cylinder head, five-speed gearbox and autolube. The design of the engine was still derived from the original DKW design, apparent from the concentric kick start and gear lever arrangement.
- 500R : MZ's first four-stroke motorcycle, essentially an ETZ251 with a Rotax 500 cc engine fitted, although the engine was no longer rubber mounted and a front down tube provided extra support.
- MZ SkorpionMZ SkorpionThe MZ Skorpion is a motorcycle powered by a four-stroke five-valve 660 cc single-cylinder engine with liquid cooling, made from 1994 to 2004 by MZ, , in former East Germany. It was the result of an international collaboration, being conceived by British design firm Seymour Powell...
: The 500 cc Rotax engine used on the Seymour-Powell designed prototype was replaced with a 660 cc Yamaha water-cooled engine on the production vehicle. - 1000S : MZ's biggest bike, and their first "in-house" four-stroke engine.
Most recent models
MZ manufactured a line of 125 cc four-stroke motorcycles using an engine that was designed in-house. The MZ 125 produces 15 bhp and nearly 10 lb.ft of torque. It is a liquid-cooled, dual-overhead-cam design with four valves, high-voltage electronic ignition and an 11,000 rpm ignition cut-off. This engine was used in four models, all of which share a common frame. The frame is a tube-steel backbone with the engine as a stressed bottom member. Differences in the suspension, fascia, gearing, and equipment make the four models relatively distinct, despite the shared platform. All four bikes feature a six-speed transmission and dual disc brakes.- The RT-125 is a mini naked sport bike introduced in 2000. It features a 125 cc liquid-cooled DOHC single-cylinder engine, developing 15 bhp.
- The 125-SM is a Supermotard style bike with taller street tuned suspension, tallish gearing, and reduced weight.
- The 125-SX features the same appearance as the SM but has a suspension tuned more for off-road use, enduro-style tires, and slightly lower gear ratios.
- The 125 FunX is a minimalist light-duty motocross bike.
All four 125s are capable of speeds over 65 mph (29.1 m/s), with the fastest being the RT and SM, both of which are capable of 75 mph (33.5 m/s) sustained speeds.
MZ also used a Yamaha
Yamaha Motor Company
, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
-built 660 cc single in the Baghira line of mid-displacement Enduro/DualPurpose/Motard bikes.
The last new MZ model was the 1000S
MZ 1000S
MZ 1000S is the flagship superbike produced by a German motorcycle company, MZ Motorrad. The 1000S is the first multi-cylinder motorcycle produced by MZ Motorrad since 1959, as well as the largest displacement motorcycle produced by MZ Motorrad....
which featured a novel 1000 cc, DOHC parallel twin designed and built by MZ. The 1000S is a sport-tourer by design. The 1000S' unique engine is exceptionally compact for its displacement. The range includes a naked (unfaired) version and a full tourer with luggage, higher handlebars, and lower footpegs for comfort. Both of these are retuned, with less outright horsepower than the 'S', but with more torque.
In addition to the 1000S, MZ also produced the naked version of the 1000S, known as the 1000SF, and the sports touring version known as MZ1000ST. MZ also produces its own lines of scooters known as MZ Moskito, powered by a 50 cc two-stroke engine.
Besides scooters, MZ also produced its own line of underbone
Underbone
An underbone is a small motorcycle built on a frame consisting mostly of one large diameter tubular component.The stylistic difference between a motorcycle and an underbone is considerable and they are sometimes known as "step-throughs" or even marketed as scooters in the West.The fuel tank...
motorcycles, targeted for the Southeast Asian market. Their debut underbone model was the MZ Perintis 120, launched in 2002. The Perintis was succeeded by the MZ Mantizz series, launched in 2004 – the design of which is based on their flagship 1000S model. The Mantizz series has two displacement options – 125 cc and 110 cc. All MZ underbone models are powered by four-stroke engines and are manufactured in MZ's Malaysian plant in Shah Alam
Shah Alam
Shah Alam is the state capital of Selangor, Malaysia situated within the Petaling District and a small portion of the neighboring Klang District. It is located about west of the country's capital, Kuala Lumpur. Shah Alam replaced Kuala Lumpur as the capital city of the state of Selangor in 1978...
.
MZ also competed in the European GP-500 class with race-only models, and built several scooter and ATV models ranging in displacement from 50 cc to 185 cc, as well as the Charlie electric scooter, the fastest stand-up electric scooter produced.
As of January 2010 only the Charlie electric scooter, is in production and the company is under new owners.
External links
- Official site
- The Long History of Reverse-Cylinder Engine Designs – motocrossactionmag.com