MZ Skorpion

MZ Skorpion
Skorpion Tour
ManufacturerMZ
Production1994–2004
ClassSport bike (Sport Cup), sport touring (Traveller), standard (Tour)[1]
Engine656 cc (40.0 cu in) 5-valve SOHC liquid-cooled 4-stroke single dry sump
Bore / stroke100 mm × 84 mm (3.9 in × 3.3 in)
Top speed116 mph (187 km/h)[2]
Power48 bhp (36 kW)[2]
Transmission5 speed, wet multi-plate clutch
Weight173 kg (381 lb)[2] (dry)
189 kg (416 lb)[3] (wet)
Fuel capacity18 L (4.0 imp gal; 4.8 US gal)
MZ-Cup – amateur racing series since 1996 (Image: Sachsenring 2020)
MZ Skorpion 660 Traveller
MZ Replica

The MZ Skorpion is a motorcycle made from 1994 to 2004 by MZ (MZ Motorrad- und Zweiradwerk), in former East Germany.[2] The Scorpion is powered by a 48 brake horsepower (36 kW) four-stroke five-valve 660 cc single-cylinder engine with liquid cooling.

Skorpions are lightweight motorcycles, noted for their precise handling and excellent braking, and they remain a popular mount for club racing. Its Yamaha-based engine can be reliably tuned to 150 percent of its original performance. At that stage, it can become competitive in Supermono as well as single- and twin-cylinder or even already historic racing classes.

The Skorpion Cup got its own racing series in several countries since 1996. Based in Germany, the low-budget one-make MZ-Cup [de] amateur racing series for un-, up to mildly tuned Skorpions celebrated its 25th jubilee in 2021. It dated 19 years after the end of the base model's production and 13 years after the factory's final closure. Presently, this makes the MZ-Cup the oldest and longest lasting one-brand and one-make cup for motorcycles worldwide. From 2022 on the MZ-Cup also opened up for off ranking guest participations of other selected single-cylinder bikes.[4]

In their review of the Skorpion, Motorcycle News opined: "The MZ Skorpion ... proved a refreshingly able antidote to Japanese fours in the mid-to-late 90s. Light, lithe, affordable, generally reliable and reassuringly practical."[2]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Holmstrom2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e "MZ SKORPION (1994-2003) Review | Speed, Specs & Prices".
  3. ^ Canavan, Todd (23 March 1996), "First Impression: MuZ Skorpion Tour Singled Out", Motorcycle.com
  4. ^ Official website of the MZ-Cup