Greetings all

[sdbct1]

Hi,
I am glad I found this website. I have been a fan of the Black Panther forever. I have always wanted one. Now I really would like some riders, not salesmen, to tell me what they think of it. There's a dealer in NH, I have gone and looked at it, But the guy just wanted a sale. What are the pros/cons? I have been riding some 30 years, everything from 125 motocross, to drag racing at NE dragway with a 1983 Suzuki GS1100e. Thanks for stopping in, And I look foward to hearing from you.

Matt

[DAVID THOMPSON]

viberation big singles shake rattle and roll
if it is only half as much fun as my rt125 we will not be able to see your face for the wall to wall grin

[Wonky]

They truly are an absolute gem to live with. Once you get used to the throttle control and finding where the revs are you will find the smooth spots in the power and learn to build a great relationship with your bike. They are easy to maintain, engine parts are easy to obtain, be it from Europe or US, depending on your local Yamaha parts supplier. Everything you need to know you will find here via all the great owners that regularly visit here. There are no major issues with these bikes as such and i asure you riding the MZ Baghira WILL put a smile on your face. The engines can be tweaked by many Tuning specialists should you choose to. Make sure if your buying second hand that the bike has been regularly serviced and you should be one happy MZ owner. Just browse through the forum and you won't find anyone thats been really unhappy with their bike. It's all positive feedback. I absolutely adore my bike and i'm so glad i've traded the sports bikes and made the leap onto the Moto. I can't wait to pull her out of the garage every day and maintaining a healthy clean bike is a breeze. Go ahead and get your bike, forget the sales crap, that's the first hurdle. At the end of the day the guys more interested in how deep your pocket is, once you've purchased it you don't have to go back. Find yourself a reliable garage to service or do it yourself, you sound like you have a pretty good mechanical background. We are here to help with advice and all the information you will require. Your not just buying a bike your joining a family of MZ fanatics who all share the same thing...a love for the Street Moto.

[kman.45]

+1^

Boy can't really add much to that. The bike is just plain ol damn fun. It's fun to get comments and questions about it, cuz people just really don't know what to make of it. After spending $400 on a custom seat, its suitable for 10-12 hour days over whatever crazy ride route I want to take (TN/NC/KY/VA mtns..). What else can you ride where you can pass a bunch of sport bikes on Deal's Gap, then ride gravel national park roads, then ride service trails for reclaimed mine benches, etc. As far as reliability, so far no issues for me. Only 7200 kilometers (5200 since March), but so far nothing but oil changes and tires.

I bought mine used from a very nice forum person in Utica, NY. Gettin 'tarded was the greatest thing yet in my motorcycle life..

[Wonky]

Yep,i second that! They are versatile bikes indeed. Ah yes the seat is an issue for some people over long distances, fortunately not for me, but for some. Even so an easy fix if the crown jewels need more comfort over those bumpy roads. Have you not considered putting an R6 wavey disc on your bike yet? For those that may not be aware the bolt pattern on the MZ front wheel is indeed Yammie R6, pre 2000 model, the early ones.

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ONE!!!!!


5-SMILEY AWARD WINNER!

[kman.45]

Yep,i second that! They are versatile bikes indeed. Ah yes the seat is an issue for some people over long distances, fortunately not for me, but for some. Even so an easy fix if the crown jewels need more comfort over those bumpy roads. Have you not considered putting an R6 wavey disc on your bike yet? For those that may not be aware the bolt pattern on the MZ front wheel is indeed Yammie R6, pre 2000 model, the early ones.

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ONE!!!!!


5-SMILEY AWARD WINNER!

Yeah, I need to find a good rotor/pad combo. The stock combo is OK, but it could be better for sure. Got a source for a "cheap" rotor? Does that fitment include 2000? You've obviously changed pads too, what did you use?

[phlat65]

very solid bike. very fun bike too!!

I got mine new in 2001, and have put 15,000 miles on it so far, and it still runs like a top.

I have replaced:
1 brake light switch
1 turn signal flasher
1 battery
on my 3rd chain
on my 5th set of tires (ran the stockers the first 3 sets)
just did brake pads 100 miles ago

6 oil changes, 1 with a coolant change at 6,000 miles, and adjusted (checked, they were spot on) @ 6,000 miles.

the seat is not all day comfy by far, but can be fixed. the bike is very easy to ride, and can be pushed pretty fast with confidence (more so on a Height reduced, I have had both set ups, and the HR is way better on the road)

if i had to do it over again with todays choices, I would probably only consider the new Husky as a replacement, but with the 3-4k you would save, you could have a pretty trick Baggy, and the Husky cannot come close to the reliablity of the MZ. I love mine, and have no regrets, and am not looking to replace it after 5 years. It still does everything I want it to do and them some!!

[Wonky]

Yeah, I need to find a good rotor/pad combo. The stock combo is OK, but it could be better for sure. Got a source for a "cheap" rotor? Does that fitment include 2000? You've obviously changed pads too, what did you use?

I actually have a 6-pot front caliper on my bike! Any early model R6 wavey disc will fit, i believe the old shape was changed in late 99-2000 so if you aim for a 98 model wavey you'll be safe. I use a different lever which is pretty tough but i like hard brakes. It stops in a hardcore fashion when you need it too, i can assure you. Squeeze the lever and the world comes back into focus rather rapidly! A full review will be available for you very soon if your interested. It will have full spec's on everything that i have done to the bike, absolutely everything will be detailed for you to follow should you wish to do so. Its difficult for me to say as i've been asked not to reveal too much at the moment, just so that i don't ruin any potential reviews on the bike. Sorry! Its anal i know but i want to show the bike in all its glory once its completed, which isn't too far off! This ones gonna tear up the tarmac thats for sure....

You will find tons of these around on ebay, etc. I can get you a disc and send it over should you want one! As far as pads go i use RED CARBON GRAPHITE EBC pads.

[keithcross]

Hi all

To date I have replaced the following on my 2001 Baggi in 69755kms. Bear in mind I use my bike for about 325 days a year in all weathers, including salted roads.
2 front brake levers
4 rear chain sprocket sets
14 rear tyres
6 front tyres
2 sets of front pads
6 sets of rear pads (the roads I use get covered in gravel a lot )
1 right hand carb diaphragm
1 engine unit at 43633kms due to big en or oil pump failure (not sure which failed first)
1 front brake rotor (98 R1 unit)
3 front fork oil seals
1 set front wheel bearings
1 set rear wheel bearings
1 set rear suspension bearings
3 healight bulbs
2 rear light bulbs (replaced with LED unit now)
2 indicator bulbs
3953 litres of fuel, averaging 49.43 miles per gallon
12 oil and filter changes
Adjusted valves once (about 48000kms)
1 speedo unit
3 speedo cables
1 clutch cable
Cant think of anything else at teh moment

Keith