MZ 125

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IFA-DKW / IFA / MZ
Pentecost meeting Puetnitz 2018, Ribnitz-Damgarten (1X7A2511) .jpg
(RT) 125
Manufacturer VEB Motorradwerke Zschopau (MZ)
Production period 1949 to 1965
class Light motorcycle
Motor data
1-cylinder 2-stroke
Displacement  (cm³) 123
Power  (kW / PS ) 3.5-4.8 kW
Top speed (  km / h) 75-85
transmission 3-speed / 4-speed
Wheelbase  (mm) 1220-1310
Empty weight  (kg) 78-109

The motorcycles of the IFA-DKW / IFA / MZ (RT) 125 series rolled off the production line at VEB Motorradwerke Zschopau a total of 266,710 times between 1950 and 1965. The basis was the pre-war machine DKW RT 125. During the construction period, the machine was renamed several times, most recently it was called MZ 125 . In the years 2000 to 2008 another motorcycle with the designation RT 125 was manufactured by MZ.

technology

All RT 125 have an air-cooled two-stroke engine with Schnürle - reverse circulation and flat shank . The bore of 52 mm and the stroke of 58 mm result in a displacement of 123  cm³ . Depending on the model, the engine has an output of 4.75 to 6.5 hp. The engine block and cylinder head are made of an aluminum alloy; the cylinder is made of gray cast iron . The engine, which is mounted in a closed monotube frame, has a voltage-regulated 6 V alternator and a carburetor with float and needle valve . One roller chain each is used for the primary drive from the crankshaft to the gearbox and the secondary drive to the rear wheel. The gearbox with countershaft is operated by a shift dog and a special segment and has three or four gears depending on the version. The engine is lubricated as a mixture lubrication with a mixing ratio of the two-stroke mixture of 1:25 to 1:33 (oil / petrol). The top speed of the RT 125 was 75 to 85 km / h, depending on the model.

history

IFA RT 125-0 on a photo from 1952

The production facilities in the main plants in Zschopau and Chemnitz were dismantled after the war and first transported to Moscow as reparations , and shortly afterwards to Minsk . On the orders of the Soviet Military Administration in Germany (SMAD), the plant in Zschopau , located in the Soviet occupation zone , was called IFA DKW from July 1, 1946 . IFA is the abbreviation for the automotive industry association that was founded on the same day . As the first model after the war, the factory produced a further developed RT 125 from 1939, the IFA DKW RT 125. The first test samples of this machine were manufactured in 1949 in Wilischthal , a few kilometers from Zschopau . A DKW light motorcycle L60 had previously been developed, but had not been put into series production.

IFA-DKW RT 125/0

After moving to Zschopau, the motorcycle was built from 1949 to 1954. From the beginning it was equipped with the then modern telescopic fork , as well as a rear wheel suspension, which was only available in the western RT 125 in 1954. Series production of the machine later called RT 125/0 began in 1950. In the first year of production, only around 1700 machines left the factory. However, the motorcycle went into series production without adequate testing, and obvious defects soon became apparent. As of October 1, 1951, the company name DKW was no longer allowed to be used due to a ministerial directive, and the machine was henceforth offered under the name IFA RT 125 .

IFA RT 125/1

In 1954 the further developed IFA RT 125/1 appeared. The significant changes were hardly visible from the outside. Among other things, they concerned the frame connections, which were no longer welded, but lugged and soldered. The telescopic fork, the rear suspension, the saddles, the center stand, the wheel bearings, the drive chain, the clutch , the gearbox and the connecting rod bearings have also been improved. The engine received a 15 percent increase in performance, the toolbox moved from the tank to the left side of the motorcycle. The most important new element, however, was the new type of plastic "chain hoses". They protected the secondary chain with little effort like no other system before and solved the problem of poor quality and difficult to obtain chains. This invention arose out of the need for a long-lasting drive system, as the straight-travel rear suspension of the time put a lot of strain on the chains. It was not for nothing that three of the first four GDR machines ( AWO 425 , EMW R 35 and IFA BK 350 ) had a cardan drive . The chain guard, which has meanwhile proven itself a million times over, is still a quality feature of MZ motorcycles and has also been adopted by several other motorcycle manufacturers.

MZ 125/2

In 1956 the factory was renamed VEB Motorradwerk Zschopau or MZ for short . With the new name of the plant, the abbreviation RT fell from the official name of the motorcycle (the popular saying continued to call the motorcycle RT ). From then on it was simply called 125/2 and was available in four colors (black, maroon (chestnut brown), hammer blow green and blue), with alloy wheels and chrome tanks . From 1958, powerful full-hub brakes were installed that were derived from the internationally successful MZ racing machines at the time . In addition, wheel guidance and spokes have been improved.

MZ 125/3

MZ (RT) 125/3 from 1961, construction period 1959–1962

As the last further development of the motorcycle, the MZ 125/3 appeared in 1959, with an output increased to 6.5 hp and a four-speed gearbox. The motorcycle was now optionally available with a seat instead of the individual saddles. The machine is easy to recognize by the handlebar cover, from which only the handles look out. The alternator was taken over from the MZ ES , the toolbox was enlarged and now also took the battery with it. The pillion seat, if present, was placed lower. The tires on the rear wheel were widened to 3.00. The annual output has been greatly increased, so that by far the largest number of vehicles were built from this model. Leg protection was also available as an accessory from 1962. In the same year, production was stopped in favor of the MZ ES 125/150 .

MZ 125/4

In order to meet export demand, the RT continued to be built in small numbers until 1965. Parts from remaining stocks and the engine of the ES 125 were used. There are only a few reliable facts about the model, and it is not clear whether the designation 125/4 was officially used. 500 machines are said to have been sold as export returns in the GDR.

Model overview

Helga Steudel at a race on the Schleizer Dreieck in 1963 on a RE 125
IFA DKW RT 125 IFA RT 125/1 MZ (RT) 125/2 MZ (RT) 125/3 MZ (RT) 125/4
construction time 1949-1954 1954-1956 1956-1959 1959-1962 1962-1965
number of pieces 30.199 33,148 113.275 143.035 4,904
power 4.75 hp 5.5 hp 6 hp 6.5 hp 8 hp
Empty weight 78 kg 85 kg 90 kg 109 kg ?
Top speed 75 km / h 80 km / h 80 km / h 85 km / h ?
Price in marks 1680 1765 1830 1875 -

The prices for the RT 125 ranged between 1680 and 1875 marks . The larger and stronger AWO 425 cost around 2500 marks. The prices for a car were 8500 ( IFA F8 ) and 12,000 East German marks ( IFA F9 ). Thus, the RT 125 was the cheapest motor vehicle subject to registration in the GDR and was accordingly widespread.

Equipped with an additional fan for better cooling, the motor of the RT 125 was also installed in the IWL Pitty , Wiesel and Berlin motor scooters built from 1955 , with the latter with a displacement increased to 150 cm³. Many other parts of the RT were also built into the scooters. The following Troll model received the engine of the MZ ES 150 . All 125 and 150 cm³ engines from MZ were based on the engine of the RT 125 until 1985. A completely new engine was only introduced with the ETZ series. The relationship between bore and stroke was also retained here.

RE 125

RE 125 Bj. 72

The RT racing model, the IFA (or from 1956 MZ) RE 125, won first places at international racing events in the 1950s and early 1960s. Among other things, Ernst Degner was runner-up in the MZ RE 125 in 1961 in the 125 cc class of the motorcycle world championship (after a successful road racing season for MZ up to autumn 1961, an engine failure at the penultimate world championship run gave hope of winning the world championship 125 cc class). For the following World Cup in 1962, the MZ sports department was refused entry visas into NATO countries at the instigation of the FRG, so that participation was not possible. Even in later years, MZ machines were not allowed to take part in world championships because of the Federal Republic's claim to sole representation , so that corresponding victories were politically denied. Other successful factory drivers in the racing department headed by Walter Kaaden were Erhart Krumpholz , Horst Fügner , Siegfried Haase and Bernhard Petruschke .

In 1956 the MZ RE 125 had an output of 16 hp, weighed only 80 kilograms when fully disguised and reached a top speed of around 155 km / h. Through consistent further development, the RE 125 in 1963 already had 28 hp and a top speed of approx. 195 km / h. This made the MZ machines of the time leading the world in their class.

The new RT 125

MZ RT 125, construction period from 2000

In 1996, the Berlin- based company MZ-B manufactured a motorcycle called the RT 125 Classic. A slightly modified chassis of the ETZ 251 from the Turkish manufacturer Kanuni (motorcycle manufacturer) served as the basis . A slightly modified engine from the Belarusian manufacturer Minsk (motorcycle) was then installed in this by means of a subframe. Minsk is the company that once received the DKW RT production facilities from reparation payments and still manufactures two-stroke motorcycles today. Technically, these engines have therefore been based on the old RT engine to date. The motorcycle has an output of around 9.5 hp and was only built around 600 times.

From 2000 to 2008 the MZ Motorrad- und Zweiradwerk built a new motorcycle with the traditional name MZ RT 125 . The motorcycle has a modern four-valve single- cylinder four-stroke engine with two overhead camshafts , 124.4 cm³ displacement, a six-speed gearbox, an output of 15 hp (11 kW) at 9000 rpm and a top speed of 115 km / h. Bore and stroke are 60 x 44 mm. The secondary transmission to the rear wheel takes place by means of an unencapsulated roller chain. Thanks to its low curb weight of 123 kg and the maximum performance required by law in this displacement class, the RT 125 is one of the sportiest 125s with a four-stroke engine. This motorcycle has nothing in common with the classic RT 125 apart from the name.

Further information

See also

literature

Books:

  • Frieder Bach, Woldemar Lange, Siegfried Rauch: DKW - MZ: Motorcycles from Zschopau and Ingolstadt. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1992, ISBN 3613013959
  • Jörg Buschmann, Jörg Sprengelmeyer: DKW photo album 1921–1958. Johann Kleine Vennekate Verlag, Lemgo 2008, ISBN 978-3-935517-34-8
  • Jürgen Gaßebner: German motorcycle classics of the 50s. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3613021773
  • Stefan Knittel, Klaus Vollmar: Schrader Motor Chronicle, DKW motorcycles 1922–1958. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3613872218
  • Frank Rönicke : Schrader-Motor-Chronik exclusive, GDR motorcycles: historical documents from four decades. Schrader, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 361387203X
  • Halwart Schrader : Motorcycles from the GDR. 5th edition. Schrader, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3613871769
  • Andy Schwietzer: Typenkompass MZ - motorcycles since 1950. 2nd edition. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3613021218
  • Andy Schwietzer: GDR motorcycle classics. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3613023148
  • Claus Uhlmann: RT 125 - The little miracle from Zschopau - History and technology of RT motorcycles. Verlag Bergstrasse, Aue 2005
  • Manfred Woll: IFA / MZ racing history 1949–1961. Heel Verlag, Königswinter 2001, ISBN 3898800113
  • Operating instructions for MZ-Motorrad 125/3 Edition 1962 Motorradwerk Zschkopau 11th edition of the specialist book trade Leipzig 1962 - III / 18/65

Magazines:

  • DKW RT 125 with rear suspension . In: New motor vehicle trade journal No. 9/1949, p. 250 (new presentation RT 125-0)
  • The RT 125 - the powerful and economical IFA motorcycle In: Motor vehicle technology 6/1951, pp. 141–144
  • The new IFA motorcycle RT 125-1 In: Motor vehicle technology 3/1954, pp. 76–81
  • Jens Kraus: The genetic code . In: Oldtimer Practice . 4/2005, pp. 66-70. (Contribution to self-built racing motorcycles based on the IFA DKW RT 125)
  • Andy Schwietzer: A piece of history . In: Oldtimer Practice . 2/2001, pp. 66-69. (Article about the DKW RT 125/2)
  • Klaus Ullrich: To good neighbors! In: Oldtimer Practice . 3/1995, pp. 11-13. (Article about the MZ 125/3)

Web links

Commons : DKW RT 125  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files
Commons : MZ RT 125  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Motor vehicles at the Leipziger Messe 1953 in: Motor vehicle technology 11/1953, pp. 342–343
  2. ↑ Further development of the MZ 125/2. In: Motor vehicle technology 4/1958, pp. 154, 156
  3. ↑ The new MZ 125/3 motorcycle . In: Motor vehicle technology 12/1959, p. 495.
  4. ↑ The state-owned motor vehicle construction at the Leipzig autumn fair in 1959 . In: Motor Vehicle Technology 9/1959, pp. 368–369.
  5. ↑ Automotive technology, trade fair editorial reports . In: Motor vehicle technology 4/1962, p. 141.
  6. ↑ http://www.ddrmoped.de/forum/index.php?showtopic=10285
  7. ↑ Claus Fritsche: The Troll Dynasty and I ( Memento of the original from November 5, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.clausfritzsche.de archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , P. 7 (PDF; 5.3 MB)
  8. ↑ Picture of an MZ RE 125 ( Memento from March 5, 2004 in the Internet Archive )
  9. ↑ Two-stroke engines of more than 200 hp / l . In: Motor Vehicle Technology 5/1963, pp. 187-189.
  10. ↑ Picture of an MZ-B RT 125