Final: SK Bikes-MZ 1000 SFx

Posted on by admin

Final: SK Bikes-MZ 1000 SFx

The day will come …

… the saw wants to saw. A handful of enthusiasts brought the exciting MZ 1000 SFx study to life. She has what it takes to break up all persistent prejudices about MZ in a jiffy. Welcome to hunting scenes from Lower Saxony.

A rumble of thunder cuts the silence. The world is in turmoil at the push of a button. Bodomm-bodomm-bodomm. This motorcycle doesn‘t just idle. It pulsates. Up, down, up, down. 1000, 1500, 1000, 1500. Constantly changing, digitally controlled. The two oval, elegant black chrome-plated exhaust bags from SR Racing trumpet pure joy of living outdoors. It’s hard to believe, but the two sound like light stovepipes on the standard manifolds and have E approval. And the changed airbox is hammering like mad. No, the MZ 1000 SFx is definitely not quiet. Not only their acoustics, but also their appearance are striking. Narrow butt, lush stem. A bull on wheels. Beefy and powerful. The round, humped tank contrasts with the otherwise stretched geometric shapes of the motorcycle: straight lines and edges, slots and corners. But only two circles give the SFx its individual face. These are the two round headlights arranged one above the other, 90 millimeters above and 130 millimeters below. You sit in a lamp mask that is beautiful and light as a feather to fall in love with. BMW dreams of this.

Tea Cologne motorcycle designer Jens vom Brauck has it all. Two years ago he designed the SFx as a commissioned work for MZ. And landed a direct hit. Suddenly the Saxon twin was ?? the study was based on the standard Streetfighter SF ?? mutated into an extremely desirable big bike. Compact, cubist, aggressive. At the beginning of this year, MOTORRAD readers voted the SFx fifth out of over 20 presented studies and prototypes from all major motorcycle manufacturers (issue 5/2008). Great. Unfortunately, the SFx only had a minor blemish, or better: a birth defect. You couldn’t buy them because MZ could never bring itself to series production. Detlef Schill and Markus Kraege, the two bosses of the small motorcycle manufacturer ?? SK Bikes ?? in Wedemark, north of Hanover, not satisfied: They have launched the SFx as a commercially available conversion in a small series. The experienced North German MZ dealers have built five copies so far, numbers six and seven are in the works. It can be significantly more. But later we chat with the two MZ enthusiasts by marriage about their project.

Kalack. The first course is sitting. The transmission works hard, but heartily, engages nicely. Now let the twin come from the hydraulic clutch … Under 2000 tours the 1000 shakes unwillingly. In fifth and sixth gear it even has to be at least 3000 rpm before the in-line twin calms down? purely mechanical? and runs without jerking. Carburettor Ducati drivers are familiar with this phenomenon. No engine for everyone. It belongs like that. The rustic, slightly rough charm of the Saxon counter-runner fits perfectly with the SFx, this fighter with a heart. But also to the quiet, contemplative Wedemark, on the southern edge of the Luneburg Heath? Here, where the towns are called Lindwedel or Adolfsgluck (Ouch) or Hope, Rodenbostel and Mandelsloh. It is an honest, earthy landscape. Where oaks, birches and pines grow on barren, sandy soils. Only at second glance does this extroverted machine harmonize with its home. But then all the better. Because the upright, relaxed sitting posture projects even subtle nuances of the initially unexciting Wedemark in widescreen format under the visor. Including the digital information of the brand minimalist instruments "Koso".

It’s a matter of taste

Daams

The brown paint reflects experience and tradition.

Even the brown paint makes sense, although brown is actually considered a non-color for a motorcycle. The bold look is a signal, a symbol. A piece of technology, born out of the earth, made of iron ore, and down to earth. That fits in with MZ with its tradition of robust everyday machines. And is unmistakable. But, Detlef and Markus had given us that, every customer gets his SFx painted in the color of their choice. Everything is included, complete for 11,000 euros. No other motorcycle at this price offers more exclusivity than the hot spur in the land of calm.

The stable engine built to last, which in the MZ 1000 S withstood the endurance test over 50,000 kilometers with flying colors (MOTORRAD 1/2006), is now warm. Time to give him the spurs. From 4000 rpm it becomes really lively, from 6000 it becomes fiery. Then you experience another, an unleashed MZ. Holla, the forest fairy! The avenues, which exudes the charm of the north here, suddenly become damn short. It’s good that the Nissin stoppers, each with two pairs of pistons of different sizes, can easily handle the 117 hp. They easily catch the massive kilo emme, which has been lightened by several pounds compared to the standard trim. Bite-proof and yet easy to dose. The completely standard chassis is of a similar quality and transparency. These are fine spring elements. Upside-down fork and central spring strut, both fully adjustable, a matter of honor, respond as sensitively as a seismograph and at the same time offer plenty of reserves. Perhaps the only measurable East German legacy, the great adaptation to poor road conditions? In any case, the chassis filters out even the roughest hits and still provides the best information about the asphalt condition. The SFx is fed up. Comparable to a Triumph Speed ​​Triple. Just a lot more comfortable. compliment.

A special highlight of the shock absorber, which is used to directly support the elegantly crafted triangular swingarm: no tools are required to adjust the spring preload, compression and rebound damping. Everything happens in no time at all, just like that, using easily accessible knurled screws. Clever. The broad-shouldered being is obedient and well behaved. Follows steering impulses willingly via the protruding tubular handlebar, which has been taken over one-to-one from the 1000 SF. Or rather, it would follow if there were real curves, not just kinks in the avenues. At some point we ask locals for advice.

Looking for a curve

Daams

Chasing curves: the brown-painted SK Bikes-MZ 1000 SFx and the series model in black.

The worker in overalls has to think. "You’re looking for a curve, hmm." His colleague thinks out loud. "So motocross pits, we have them here without end. But curves?" The first one finally has it: "Just go to the Brelinger Mountains." Yes, he said mountains. But not the mountains of the Harz or the Weser Uplands. But an elevation 94 meters above sea level. Is that so here? That someone knows someone who knows someone who has seen a curve before? Yes and no. Because there is one. Finally the Metzeler Sportec M1 "B." prove that they stick like the devil. Whereby the Photo soon mutates into a show curve. Because it leads to the middle of a town. Therefore disengage the clutch long before turning and roll it out at idle, see above "quiet" is possible. It’s just useless. Children position themselves on fences to see the spectacle. At some point a giant stands in the middle of the road with his arm raised. Disturbed in his garden on a well-earned evening. Ouch, now there’s gripe. But there is only one word that he quietly drops: "boredom?"

Time to get back to SK Bikes. Rolf Klopping, the third enthusiast in the group, has now joined the active workshop team. He is the mold maker, without whom all the structural parts made of GRP and carbon fiber laminate would not exist. He worked through Christmas and Easter and created the lamp mask and the front spoiler, the fenders and the radiator trim. But also the seat support and inner box for the new rear. That turns its inside out. In order to then find a connection to the bridge frame made of chrome-molybdenum steel under rudimentary, seductively cut SFx side covers. From a purely economic point of view, the expense for the low number of units would not have paid off. But Rolf not only has a six-cylinder gold wing, but also a 1000 MZ in the garage. And it is now also rolling around the world as SFx. His has a tuned S-engine, which he attests to have 130 hp. It is entirely believable, as its brown monster impatiently pulls on the chain during a test drive. SK Bikes has already successfully prepared various 1000cc MZ for long distance races. From nothing, comes nothing. Rolfs SFx carries shorter, steeper-mounted Sebring exhausts and a higher padded bench. Fits even better with the original concept.

No, the problems, they were in the past, as Markus explains: ?? We discovered the remains of Jens draft by luck during a visit to the MZ racing department. Unfortunately there was practically nothing left to it. It was all made of modeling clay, and it was gone. The only thing left to them was a photo, the side view from page 141 above, and an idea. Not ideal conditions if you want to use it to take measurements or construct fixings. However, with perseverance, they made it. Respect. The dry nature of the North Germans is just personable and effective. Now only one thing is missing: that MZ gets the curve again so that the great SFx can be rebuilt in 2009, not just as a conversion of used 1000s. Now that the day has come when the saw wants to saw, it should also be allowed to saw.

Data MZ 1000 SFx

engine
Two-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, dohc, G-Kat, bore x stroke: 96.0 x 69.0 mm, 999 cm³, power and torque: 117 PS (86 kW) at 9000 rpm, 98 Nm at 7000 rpm.

landing gear
Bridge frame made of chrome-molybdenum steel, upside-down fork, aluminum swing arm, double disc brake at the front, Ø 320 mm, four-piston calipers, disc brake at the rear, Ø 243 mm, two-piston caliper, variable seat height (SF: 820 mm), handlebar width 850 mm, tank capacity 20 liters, weight approx. 220 kilograms;

Price: from 10,990 euros; Conversion costs: from 3000 euros

MZ 1000 SFx information conversion – what must, what must

The SFx costs € 10990 when you buy an MZ 1000 SF (new price: 9127 euros). This includes: Koso cockpit, carbon fenders, painted lamp mask with two round headlights, radiator trim (two-part) and front spoiler (two-part). Furthermore, the complete rear conversion, i.e. rear frame including inner box and bench with substructure, redesigned. The painting is carried out as desired from the MZ color palette. The exhaust system (SR-Racing or Sebring), the anodizing of the fork and powder coating of the swingarm cost extra. Because tea original fairing parts and lamp masks that are no longer required remain with SK Bikes, the total price is very low compared to converting a private MZ 1000 S or SF; this costs from 3000 to 3500 euros.

Contact: SK Bikes, Berkhofer Strabe 15, 30900 Wedemark, phone 05130/36693, www.skbikes.de

Related articles

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *