MZ Scorpio

MZ motorcycle and two-wheeler factory
MZ Scorpion Fighter
Manufacturer	MZ
Production period	1994 to 2002
class	motorcycle
design type	Sports tourers , tourers
Motor data

MZ Skorpion is the model name for motorcycles , which were built from 1994 to 2002 in Zschopau by the MZ company in five different versions. The design of the models was created by the British design office Seymour Powell. In addition to the five series models, there was also the special model Skorpion Fighter with fairing, mirrors, lighting for the Skorpion Traveler and the seat and exhaust of the Race Replica.

Technical specifications

	MZ Scorpio Tour	MZ Scorpio Traveler	MZ Scorpio Sport	MZ Scorpio Cup	MZ Scorpion Race Replica
image
Years of construction	1994-2002	1995-2002	1994-2002	1996-2002	1996-1998
engine	Single cylinder four stroke engine, water cooling , ohc, 5 valves, (engine of the Yamaha XTZ660 Ténéré )
Mixture preparation / carburetor	Teikei register carburetor, 26/35 mm
compression	9.2: 1
Bore / stroke	100 × 84 mm
Displacement	660 cc
Rated power kW / PS	35/48 at 6,250 rpm	35/48 at 6,250 rpm	35/48 at 6,250 rpm	35/48 at 6,250 rpm	37/50 at 6,500 rpm
transmission	5 gear
landing gear	Steel bridge frame, 41 mm telescopic fork , two-arm cantilever swing arm with central spring strut from Bilstein				As before, but with White Power upside-down fork
tires	110/70 ZR 17 (front) 150/60 ZR 17 (rear)				120/60 ZR 17 (front) 160/60 ZR 17 (rear)
wheelbase	1,420 mm
trailing	107 mm
Steering head angle	63.5 °
Brakes v / h	1 × disc Ø 316 mm / 1 × disc Ø 240 mm				2 × disc Ø 300 mm Brembo / 1 × disc Ø 240 mm
Seat height	785 mm	785 mm	770 mm	780 mm	770 mm
Dry empty weight	167 kg	187 kg	173 kg	172 kg	168 kg
Top speed (km / h)	160	170	175	185	185
particularities	also throttled with 25 kW / 34 PS	also throttled with 25 kW / 34 PS, full fairing, case system from Hepco-Becker	also throttled with 25 kW / 34 PS, handlebar fairing	Fairing of the Race Replica, exhaust from BSM	Weight reduced , full fairing, upside-down fork , 2-in-2 exhaust system from Sebring, Marchesini LM cast wheels

Development and Motorsport

As early as 1995, the plant wanted to celebrate its successful participation in the single-cylinder racing series Sound of Singles (SoS) with a Race Replica. The motorcycle was based on the Sport , but had a full fairing. A lightweight, raised Sebring twin exhaust system replaced the individual damper, and the handlebars and footrests were a bit more elegant. The biggest difference to the standard product, however, was the white power chassis. The upside-down fork and the strut with the characteristic white spring gave the Skorpion Replica a real racing machine outfit, which was rounded off by the Brembo double disc brakes and the light Marchesini wheels. In this trim, the Scorpio looked like the real single athlete fans had always wanted. However, at 15,400 DM it cost not much less than the Japanese super sports cars with over 100 hp. MuZ manufactured the replica as a limited and labeled edition of 250 units.

Also with full fairing, but for a completely different purpose, the Traveler came in 1996. It was essentially a fully disguised tour for which MZ offered a case system ex works.

In 1998 MZ subjected the entire series to a revision. In doing so, the plant reacted primarily to the ongoing criticism of the poor quality of some of the supplied parts. Finally the motorcycles got durable and shapely instruments. From now on, Tour and Traveler rode with tubular steel handlebars instead of stubs, and there were new colors. The series then ran in this trim until production was discontinued in 2003.

One of the most beautiful, non-production studies was the Sport Classic, which the company presented in 1997. It was a sport without fairing and with wire wheels, reminiscent of the café racers of the sixties. Only two prototypes were made in Zschopau. The Zschopau-based company celebrated the 75th anniversary of production in 1997 with a special series that stood out from the standard models with other colors.

Police scorpion

MZ Scorpio team

Authority model

For the police and the public order office, a few scorpions were supplied as an authority model. The differences to the other series machines are:

• Completely independent cladding by the Pichler company with 2 glove compartments and a 3-step height-adjustable window
• Standard case system from Hepco & Becker (cases from the Junior 2 series à 40 l were installed)
• Bracket for the rear blue light welded to the right case carrier
• front and rear crash bars
• Front crash bar as a holder for the sirens
• Grip heating
• Radio in separate GRP housing instead of pillion seat
• Operation of the radio housed in a plastic housing on the handlebar
• Empty weight 239 kg

Exact production figures are not known, the locations of the motorcycles are mainly to be found in the Free State of Saxony, especially the traffic police in the cities of Leipzig, Chemnitz and Dresden. Some vehicles were in use until 2010.

Web links

Commons : MZ Scorpio  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

literature

• Motorbike catalog 1996

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Motorbike Catalog 1996, pp. 302, 303
2. ↑ Motorcycle MZ 660 F Scorpion Police from Saxony. In: st.museum-digital.de. Vehicle Museum Staßfurt, February 13, 2020, accessed on June 1, 2020 .