MZ 125 Supermoto: Little MOtards
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Nah, the CG goes straight through the middle of the crankshaft and lines up with the axles.
Just like a good Brit bike of the period (I think that's who they were trying to copy).
I was looking at an MZ125 Enduro at Burbank Kawasaki (they've got three). Looks a little cobby. And do they have some relationship with Yamaha? That's what the motor looks like...
Just like a good Brit bike of the period (I think that's who they were trying to copy).
I was looking at an MZ125 Enduro at Burbank Kawasaki (they've got three). Looks a little cobby. And do they have some relationship with Yamaha? That's what the motor looks like...
The 125cc engine is MZ's own, they did consult with Rotax on the design, but it's internally rather unique. MZ does use the Yamaha Raptor 660's in the Baghira line, and thier (now) parent company is Hong Leong, which is the Yamaha's authorized Maylasian partner...
With stock gearing in the SM (same as the RT) 80 MPH is right up at about 10250 rpm, the engine doesn't seem to have any issues with running that fast, but it probly ISN'T a good idea to keep it up there for long periods of time... The cooling system has plenty of excess capacity, I only ever got the fan to run once, but 10000+ rpm has got to wear things out after a while.
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Nice lookin' motor. I was thinkin' about the 5-valve head when I mentioned Yamaha.
Why does it weigh so much though? I had a '73 CB125, and it topped out around 230 lbs, soaking wet (use to draft semi trucks on the I-61 expressway in Va beach).
Where's the extra baggage come from? The suspension? Frame? Neat bike anyway, dig that motor.
Why does it weigh so much though? I had a '73 CB125, and it topped out around 230 lbs, soaking wet (use to draft semi trucks on the I-61 expressway in Va beach).
Where's the extra baggage come from? The suspension? Frame? Neat bike anyway, dig that motor.
there are a number of reasons this bike is heavier than an old school enduro or little old bike like the cb125.
Some of the bigger ones:
Electric start with 12v alterator / battery
Wide wheels and tires (that rubber adds up quick!)
Liquid cooled (holds a full litre or coolant, and has double radiatiors and an electric fan)
Most things that could have been either plastic or metal are metal. (it's former EAST German remember)
Also, lots of big THICK plastic cladding in those body panels.
I bet if you stripped the big alternator, battery, electric start, wide wheels / tires, removed one radiator, and replaced all the metal bracketry with plastic that you could the bike would loose nearly 80 lbs.
Some of the bigger ones:
Electric start with 12v alterator / battery
Wide wheels and tires (that rubber adds up quick!)
Liquid cooled (holds a full litre or coolant, and has double radiatiors and an electric fan)
Most things that could have been either plastic or metal are metal. (it's former EAST German remember)
Also, lots of big THICK plastic cladding in those body panels.
I bet if you stripped the big alternator, battery, electric start, wide wheels / tires, removed one radiator, and replaced all the metal bracketry with plastic that you could the bike would loose nearly 80 lbs.
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Matthew, thanks for an informative article--and being that I work for MZ, I certainly appreciate the press.
For those who want a little more power (midrange especially), check out Larry Kano's tuning parts at http://www.ksportmotorcycles.com/mz125_kit.html .
He's an MZ dealer in Redding, California, and a veteran tuner of Superbikes (AMA and WSC) and he really knows his stuff.
For those who want a little more power (midrange especially), check out Larry Kano's tuning parts at http://www.ksportmotorcycles.com/mz125_kit.html .
He's an MZ dealer in Redding, California, and a veteran tuner of Superbikes (AMA and WSC) and he really knows his stuff.
I'm a little confused by the dyno chart on the page at http://www.ksportmotorcycles.com/mz125_kit.html (cited below for the performance kit). The graph loks to be of RWHP, and it doesn't appear that it gets up to 10 HP. We just picked up a lightly-used 2003 SX, and while it's a hoot, it sure feels like it could use more poop (or maybe just a long run-up) to get it close to freeway speeds. Thankfully we only intend to use it on Northern California two-lane roads.
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