The MZ 1000S was the flagship of the Saxon firm MZ Motorrad: a 998 cc parallel twin with a 180° crankshaft, the largest motorcycle the company ever built and its first multi-cylinder machine since 1959. It was made from 2003 to 2008, when the Zschopau factory closed.
MZ 1000S at a glance
| Maker | MZ Motorrad- und Zweiradwerk, Zschopau |
|---|---|
| Production | 2003–2008, about 1,180 built |
| Class | sports bike, with naked and touring versions |
| Engine | liquid-cooled 998 cc four-stroke parallel twin, 180° crank, DOHC, 8 valves |
| Fuel system | electronic fuel injection, wet sump |
| Frame | twin-spar chrome-molybdenum steel |
| Front suspension | Marzocchi male-slider telescopic fork |
| Rear suspension | alloy cantilever swingarm |
| Brakes | Nissin |
| Dry weight | 208 kg |
| Design | Peter Naumann |
| Premiere | Intermot 2000, production from 2003 |
The English article gives 998 cc and production 2004–2007; the German article gives 1000 cm³ and 2003–2008. This page follows the German dates for the production run.
History of the MZ 1000S
In the communist era MZ built only single-cylinder two-stroke motorcycles, mostly rugged small commuters, and was a world leader in two-stroke design. After the fall of the Berlin Wall the firm gained access to Western designers and capital and moved into larger machines: the Skorpion of 1994 with a 660 cc Yamaha single, followed in 2001 by the Baghira. After the takeover by the Hong Leong Group of Malaysia, MZ began a project for its own 1000 cc superbike.
Development of the 1000 started in 1997. The management first looked at an 850 cc twin from the Yamaha TDM, shown as the MuZ Kobra prototype in 1994, and later at a 750 cc unit proposed with Wenko Swissauto and Weber Motor; both projects were dropped. From the end of 2000 MZ designed its own 1000 cc parallel twin, with durability, simple maintenance and easy repair as priorities. The motorcycle was presented to the press in Alicante in November 2003, and the first series machine left the assembly hall at Hohndorf on 19 December 2003.
The bodywork was drawn by Peter Naumann, the designer of the F-117 stealth fighter, in a hard-edged style the company called “New Edge”; the 1000S won a silver medal from the International Design Forum. The frame is a twin-spar design in chrome-molybdenum steel rather than the aluminium used by some rivals, and the engine sits at a 40° forward inclination. Initial reports had promised a V-twin, but MZ chose a parallel twin with a 180° crankshaft and a balance shaft. The bike sold well at first, particularly in Germany, and three versions were offered: the fully faired 1000S, the naked 1000SF Superfighter and the 1000ST Super Tourer.
The 1000 was well received by the specialist press even where it was criticised. In a four-bike comparison in 2005 against the Honda Firestorm, Ducati 1000SS and Suzuki SV1000, Fast Bikes declared the MZ the clear winner, praising its combination of Italian style with Japanese usability. MCN thought it expensive and poorly supported by dealers, while Motorcyclist called it “a well-engineered, capable machine that is built to last”. In the end the market did not follow: MZ could not hold its own against BMW and the Japanese makers, and production ended in 2008 with the closure of the factory; remaining machines were still offered in 2009.
Design and features
- Parallel twin with a 180° crank: 998 cc, DOHC, eight valves, liquid cooling, fuel injection and a balance shaft, mounted at 40° in the frame.
- Steel twin-spar frame: chrome-molybdenum rather than aluminium, with a cantilever swingarm at the rear.
- New Edge styling: hard-edged panels by Peter Naumann, awarded a silver medal by the International Design Forum.
- Practical by superbike standards: clip-ons and rear-set footrests, yet comfortable enough for touring with a pillion.
MZ 1000S versions
- 1000S: the fully faired sports bike and the base of the range.
- 1000SF Superfighter: a naked streetfighter with a smaller headlamp mask and a short screen, using the softer engine of the ST.
- 1000ST Super Tourer: higher handlebars, lower footrests, a screen 30 mm taller, a plusher rear seat and lighter clutch springs; 83 kW (111 hp), with Krauser luggage and a steering damper available.
- SFx study (2006): a design study by Cologne designer Jens von Brauck based on the 1000SF; it was not produced by MZ, but the firm SK Bikes converts SF models in small series.
The 1000S followed the MZ Skorpion and the MZ Baghira as the last new MZ design. More machines from Zschopau are in the MZ collection.
Video: MZ 1000S SR sound
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- MZ 1000S, English Wikipedia: specification, design, reception
- MZ 1000, German Wikipedia: development, dates, production total
