Why is this place so dead?

[Uberkraut]

I've been a member for 6 days and this place is a morgue.

What gives?

[skyfroggy]

How many people do you really think own these things?

We are a rare breed.

[Uberkraut]

Why aren't they more prevalent?

I'm still wanting to ride one, and get info on a dealership opportunity.

[skyfroggy]

My limited understanding:

A US importer really screwed things up with all the dealers and customers...parts availability was horrible (still is, really...but there are ways around it) and finding a service tech was next to impossible, but fortunately they're easy to work on oneself.

They're making amends though, with the late 1000cc vertical twin making waves and improving the entire product range indirectly.

FWIW, I've spoken to about 10 different dealers, and only 2 of them knew anything about these bikes...I knew more, and I only read about 20 minutes worth of material.

[Uberkraut]

Any sales numbers?
Any rumor of a smaller/cheaper bike that's less than $10K?

Any service ONLY facilities?

[keithcross]

Please remember this site only has 427 members and only 234 of these have ever posted. Bearing in mind that this is an international forum, I dont think this is to bad. There is also a lot of information on these pages with lots of practical help.
The MZ mark also tends to attract owners who are prepared to work on their bikes themselves, rather than take them to a dealer that may or may not offer good service and value for money.
I hope you look at this site often and get what you want from it.

Keith

[witttom]

Any rumor of a smaller/cheaper bike that's less than $10K?

Are we talking US$? If so... well, just about ALL of the MZ models can be had in the US for under $10K. Heck, I've even seen some MZ1000S models going for less than $10K on a couple occasions.

[DAVID THOMPSON]

i have 2 mz bikes a 2002 rt125 i have had it 3 years and 10500 miles
i have seen 2 other's besides mine both yellow one at the dealer
where i bought mine and one at a dealer in ronoke va on a trip to pick up
the other bike a 1995 mz saxon tour i have never seen an other like it

all the other(2) 500cc mz i have seen had sidecars and a silver motor
my motor is black
i have seen 2 scorpin tours 1 traviler and a baggie street moto

and a couple 1974 2 smokers and thats it and i have been riding
50 years this year i have known of mz since the 60's but getting one
was hard to find even then

there were over 8000 bikes at the national bmw rally this year
and i saw 2 mz's mine and a 94 silverstar classic with sidecar

the common comment was what the hell is that when they saw it

these things are few and far between
the reason i bought mine is i love german made bikes ......just like my
buddy that won't ride it if it's not made in the UK

[jarow]

Uberkraut, I'm a Salesman for MZ . Do you have a dealership allready ? It's not that easy to just get a dealership . I have people all the time who ask to be a dealer, but you first have to have a dealership Lic.

Also, I've been in the motorcycle industry for 15 years and believe it or not , the people who know the least about the product are the dealerships themselfs. I even have dealership owners who have never ridden a bike.

You will see a lot of new product in the next 12 to 18 months . How about 4 different 1,000 models . How about 250cc rt and sm . 450 power plant . 500 cc atv. 800 cc scooter and how about a 1,000cc race atv.

[witttom]

How about 4 different 1,000 models .

Speaking of the 1000cc models, the sales rep at the Vintage Motorcycle days MZ Demo tent said that they will be importing 30 1000ST's into the US next year. I said "30?? That's all?".

[witttom]

i have seen 2 scorpin tours 1 traviler and a baggie street moto

So, you didn't see the mid-90's Skorpion Sport along the back section of the VMD Swap Meet this year? I think the seller was asking something like $4500. I've owned a Skorpion Traveller (now own a 125SM). I have a nearby friend with a Skorpion Sport and his father-in-law owns a Skorpion Tour. We have gone on Skorpion rides before. I've only seen a couple other Skorpions and maybe two or three Baghiras. I almost bought a Masiff on two seperate occasions. Tried to acquire a brand new Saxon Tour sitting in a dealership window a few years ago but the deal fell thru. I think I've seen three or four 1000S models, a 1000SF, and maybe two or three 125's of various models.

When I was doing some touring down South earlier this Summer on my 125SM, I had a local fellow stop me and ask about the SM. He said "I almost bought one of those! They're made in Germany, right?". I about crapped myself because I've never bumped into anyone else who knew what they were (unless they owned one). Come to find out, he almost bought a Black Panther and he had mistaken my 125SM for one. Close enough! I have people stop and ask me ALL THE TIME what my 125SM is and I say "It's an MZ!". They usually say, "No, I mean... who makes it?". Now I usually just say, "It's an MZ, made in the former East Germany." all in one breath.

[DAVID THOMPSON]

You will see a lot of new product in the next 12 to 18 months . How about 250cc rt and sm . 450 power plant

now this is the noise i have been waiting for
250cc rt and sm

the cat he is out of the bag

z lid is off the pot and i smile as i look in

[LWS66]

How about 4 different 1,000 models .

Speaking of the 1000cc models, the sales rep at the Vintage Motorcycle days MZ Demo tent said that they will be importing 30 1000ST's into the US next year. I said "30?? That's all?".

Sure doesn't seem like many..... I'd love to have 30 bikes in my garage, but doubt they do They are'nt selling like hotcakes last I checked, but there seems to be much interest. They should'nt have too much trouble selling that bike. I've run into a couple or riders that show interest in the 1000S..... one wants to check out mine again. And I've heard from a few people who have read about them and/or seen them on some show that was on Speed Channel, but they've never seen one in person....until I rolled up!!...........

[witttom]

now this is the noise i have been waiting for
250cc rt and sm

If the 250 versions are anything like the 125's (except approx double the torque/HP), I think they would have some spectacular machines to offer! Personally, I am continually impressed with the power that comes out of my 125SM, but it seems like I always want just a tiny bit more on the top end to make it more adaptable to the highway. Even if a 250 version only has an extra 50% more power, I think it would be just about perfect.

[witttom]

Sure doesn't seem like many..... I'd love to have 30 bikes in my garage, but doubt they do They are'nt selling like hotcakes last I checked, but there seems to be much interest. They should'nt have too much trouble selling that bike. I've run into a couple or riders that show interest in the 1000S..... one wants to check out mine again. And I've heard from a few people who have read about them and/or seen them on some show that was on Speed Channel, but they've never seen one in person....until I rolled up!!...........

I'm a big sport-touring fan (I ride a Triumph Trophy), leaning a little more toward sport than tour. I'm also an MZ fan. So naturally, when the 1000S made an appearance, I thought "Hmmm... this just might be the bike for me!". However, when I sat on one... I found it to be just too aggressive (it felt like a VFR800 to me). When I saw the ST model on the German MZ website a few month ago decked out in the touring gear (I love hard bags), I said "Yeah! Now that's what I'm talking about!". I would very much like to have a closer look at one of those. I think the ST has a bigger potential than the 1000S for sales, yet only 30 being imported. Hmm... I suspect that rather than "Only 30" being a stat that will make riders go out and grab them up, will probably have just the opposite affect. I bet that they will sell, but they certainly won't bring top dollar, nor will they be considered anywhere near "Collectable". I think there is going to be a lot of reservations/concerns about owning one.

On a side note... when I sat on the 1000S again recently (yup! Still too far forward!) and also a 1000SF, I found the SF to feel surprisingly HEAVY at standstill. The seat height was just way too tall too. It was a bit of a disappointment for me. Sure, it may feel completely different once you're moving down the road... but I couldn't help but wonder at that point, what will the ST feel like?


Yeah... that's my (soggy) fat ass sitting on a 1000S at Vintage Motorcycle Days (did I mention it rained??). That's a friend of mine in the background sitting on the orange SF. She couldn't even lift it off the sidestand.