MZ In The U.S......What' The Deal?

[LWS66]

Anybody got the official story of why Motorrad of North America was shut down? Just found out about their closing on friday.......

[skyfroggy]

Oh crap!

I didn't know about it...interested to hear more.

[DAVID THOMPSON]

what i heard was they are moving to L.A. area in CA
the main office that is

there is a factory in the country of malaysia
that is owned by the company that owns MZ of germany
its called mzm there is also a branch in thailand
they also run a factory in malaysia that assembles yamaha's sold there
they have been at that business for 40 years
i think they are getting ready to make them in malaysia
and design them in germany to beat the exchange rate
they would be stupid to leave the usa market
but also keep in mind malaysia is a big market also

The population of Malaysia is:about 25 million

http://www.hongleong.com.my/
http://www.yamaha-motor.com.my/

if they want to make motorcycles they need us as buyers
and the boys in Malaysia have at least one bank in the company
assets so hang in there
i think things will turn around and improve in the next 2 to 4 years
for the better both owners and the company
my 2 cents from here
ar dave

if the gas prices go up and stay over 3$ us a gallon all bike makers
will sell more units

[jarow]

I wish you were right dave , but your WRONG . Motorradna is out of the united states. The Cal. location is just a answering service for warranties and parts . Germany really killed MZ. With spending more than
$ 10,000,000 on the 1000's , on a bike that was 3 years old when it debuted , having over 40 design engineers and losing money on every bike they sold in the united states. Also, Yamaha stopped making the 660 carb engine and the New fuel injection won't fit in the Bag frame, and Mz germany never thought of this. The germans really killed Mz.

[phlat65]

holy crap man.... better order the parts I may need in the next 20 years tomorrow

[LWS66]

The 1000S is a great bike...I feel for the dealers that are sitting on these bikes. All one has to do is look to Germany and see the following it and the 1000SF has.....and the growing aftermarket. Many exhaust systems, carbon fiber items, mapping being done, tuning bits, dress-up items, etc, etc.

[jarow]

I to had a 1000s and loved it. It was a wheelie monster. When I went to Americade this year , I was stopped evry 30 feet

[DAVID THOMPSON]

looks like when the rt125 is worn out i will
be found over on the BUELL BLAST SITE AT yahoo

and if any one see's a broken or wrecked
2002 rt125 for sale i am interested in one
as a parts bike

i will also be here to help keep them running for all of us
stuck in the middle

and jarow have you found a new job yet ?????
bummer

and can you get me electrical drawings
of the baggie and 1000s so i can help the guy's trouble shoot electrical problems
ar dave

a good drafting shop can scan them as a dot TIF file and i can get
a big one printed here in my home town without mailing them

any one got electrical drawings so i can make an arcive

you guy's running scooters also electrical drawings please
pm me here and i will give you a email address

anyone tooking for a basic transportation bike to replace there 125
when it goes take a look at the hd product called the BUELL BLAST
http://www.cycletrader.com list them all the time at very good prices in the
$1500 to $4500 range 2000 to 2006 models

[BigHairy]

From what I understand, parts and warranty support will be provided for a minumum of 7 years (required by law). MZ will not entirely pull out because then they would be responsible for re-purchasing all of the inventory on Dealers floors. (I have a couple of 1000s's that I would be happy to sell back however) I think that the 125 production is slated to move to Malaysia and will continue. Rumor is that MZ will start shopping the 1000S project to other manufactures as worldwide sales fell far short of expectations. Too bad I say because it is one of the best engineered bikes I have had the pleasure of working on. (And I am (or was) a certified BMW,Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Ducati tech so that is saying a lot) When the scooters and ATV's ceased to be price competitive in this market, it was up to the bikes to carry the weight. Unfortunatly, there are not enough dealers out there that were serious about this brand.
Here is to keeping our fingers crossed!
Jeff

[keithcross]

Hi all

Bad news all roud then. Does anyone know if this effects Europe as well

As for the new 660 yam motor not fitting in the baggi frame, the engine mounts look the same ( a guy at work has one), the only problem would appreat to be with the fuel injection init, and I cant see that being to much of a problem. I will have to get themeasuring sticks out to see what problems there would be to fit teh fuel injected motor in teh baggi frame. I will let you know what I find.

Dougal

[BigHairy]

The fuel-injectioned motor may fit or may fit with minor mods but the greater issue is that the bike would have to be re-homologated for this market which is extremely costly. I don't see this as realistic given the small volume of sales. Aprilia has this motor in the 650 Strada and it sounds like they are not going to bring that here for the same reasons.
Again, fingers crossed.
Jeff

[jbthumper]

here in malaysia, MZ is not very popular...not just because of the price but because MZ(malaysia) made a wrong move by introducing MZ's line of cubs...a guy i know(works for MZ(M)) told me those cubs were bought cheap from few other countries...they bought them, stuck MZ logos and emblem on them...then sold cheap...many had problems..reoccurring ones and sometimes major ones...however...newer version of these cubs are getting better...but it's a tad too late...

this is pretty much what i think ruined the brand here in Malaysia...
people just find it hard to trust MZ again...
MZ needs to engineer something REALLY good...doesn't have to be a litre bike...a good lasting 250cc would do...



..sorry if i'm barking up the wrong tree,just my thoughts ...

[keithcross]

I tend to agree, MZ went to big. They should IMHO have brought out a smaller engined bike first. I think that 250 would have been to small, maybe a 450cc bike or their own 650cc ish engine to replace the Yam 660 motor.
I also think the 1000 models were to expensive, the brand has a certain stigma, espicially in teh UK and the 1000S model was priced about the same as a Honda VFR750 here. If they wanted to get this model off of the ground it should have been significantly cheaper for a while ate least, to allow the brand to change its image.
Dont know about the USA, but MZ also need to get their advertising sorted. I have never seen them present at a UK bike show, nor have I seen any advertising. Its all left up to teh dealers and they cant aford a national advertising campain. MZ dont even have an official test fellt fo the public or the press, that is also left to individual dealers.

Dougal

[jarow]

Keithcross, your correct. The fuel injection is the problem . It won't fit todays frame. They would need a new frame. Mz also agreed, that they should of keeped with there grass roots. Small inexpensive bikes. Mz North america has or had a 250 CC Rt to test and they were working on a 450 cc engine

[LWS66]