MuZ 1000S History Zschopau DKW MZ

The MZ story started over eighty years ago when they added a 143cc two-stroke engine to a bicycle. This became the first DKW model from the Zschopau factory. DKW even produced an innovative supercharged machine in 1937 but perhaps their most important development was the introduction of the RT125 during the Second World War. After Germany's loss in the war the company was crippled by restrictions placed on them as part of the war settlements. The design rights of the RT125 machine were collected as war reparations by the allies. Many claim that the German design was then copied by BSA with their Bantam and also by a number of other companies.

When Germany divided after the war the Zschopau factory was in East Germany. Many of the workers elected to work from West Germany with the DKW name. They started a new organisation, Motorradwerke Zschopau, or MZ. The name changed once again with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the company then became known as MuZ (Motorrad und Zweiradwerk). The company started to produce machines powered by Yamaha and Rotax engines. Malaysian company Heong Leong Industries became the main financier of the company in 1996 and helped to expand the company's reach throughout Asia.

The focus of the company was mainly small and medium capacity motorcycles but this month production started of a new large capacity sporting machine dubbed the 1000 S.

Powered by a 998cc parallel twin cylinder engine the 1000SS is claimed to offer 84kw (115hp) at 9,000rpm with 98 N-m of torque arriving at 7,000rpm. MuZ claim that this engine can propel the 210 kilogram 1000 S to 100kph in only 3.4 seconds.

Fuel is fed to the eight valve engine from a 20 litre tank by an electronic fuel injection system. A six-speed cassette style gearbox helps transfer the drive to the 180/55-ZR17 rear tyre via a right side chain final drive.

The duplex tubular frame is made from Chromium-Molybdenum and is suspended by fully adjustable 43mm inverted front forks. An attractive aluminium cantilever swingarm is controlled by a single shock with full rebound and compression damping adjustments and the handy feature of hydraulically adjustable spring preload.

Braking components are sourced from the well respected Nissin company with a pair of four-piston calipers gripping 320mm discs at the front and a 240mm disc at the rear.

Initial production runs will be utilised to satisfy demand in Germany, followed by the U.K., Japan, USA and other European countries. The Australian release of the machine is still being debated with the importer trying to gauge interest before bringing the machine in for ADR compliance. If the machine does come to Australia it would be expected to retail for around $20,000.