I'm Thinking about Racing MZ! Any advice?

[ofcounsel]

So, I'm a novice racer with WSMC, and I am considering purchasing a race prepped MZ to race at Willow Springs (Big Track and Streets of Willow). I am currently racing a Triumph 675 (just started racing last month). My goal in racing the MZ is to learn to ride smoothly and use cornerspeed and momentum to get me through the track, rather than outright HP. I was also considering purchasing an SV650 or an FZ400, but the price seems right for the MZ.

Can any of you share with me your opinions on the pros and cons of racing the MZ versus the other bikes mentioned. The one thing that does concern me is that the grid would be very small. On the other hand, I would always have a good shot at a podium position!

Are there any known issues I should worry about? Are parts really hard to find? Do other manufacturers parts work as replacements?

Lots of questions I know, but any input would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Cheers!

[Wonkmeister]

First and fore-most you must be prepared to modify a standard bike quite heavily, if your buying a pre-setup bike then you should be on the right track from the start.

Parts are readily available. The motor is a Yamaha XTZ660 single, used in various machines, such as Yamaha Tenere660, Yamaha SZR660, MZ Baghira/Mastiff/Skorpion...and more, So no problem with engine parts.

The motor runs best torque and bhp with a 105mm Bore,105mm Liner and a JE 105 Piston. Carrillo or Falicon Rod, Spring Kit, G4 Cam(or similar),Gas-flow, Keihin 39mm FCR's, Taller first gear...as a general guide.

If using stock CDI you will need it modified to up the RPM Limit.

Aprilia RS250 or R6 front end with tuned internals will sort the front end.

Rear shock with suitable compression/rebound/damping adjustment!

There are wheel options available to lighten the bike.

Kawasaki KR1S or modified R6 swingarm mod is available, KR1S swingarms are hard to find though!

There are different bodywork options available including fuel tank under seat and STD Tank space converted to airbox with a Pedrosa rear seat unit.

Our Factory Skorpion won us the 2000 European Supermono Championship title and in the right hands could still go and win titles. They are awesome machines once set-up correctly and have masses of torque for getting out of corners. We currently have Andy Driver racing his bike with our engine tuning in the British Supermono Championships...it's a beast!

They are favored by many because of the reliability of the Yamaha XTZ powerplant. Although you have to machine the cases and longstroke them to increase the capacity to a 790 which can mean new cases within a few years if used very hard. If you have the motor freshened up once or twice a season and a full rebuild at the end you will have no problems.

We swear by them at Slipstream Tuning...the Skorpion is a big part of our history!

[ahrmamz]

Skorpion racing is lots of fun and you don't have to spend tons of money but don't expect to run with the SV's. I think it's a great way to start and you will become a better rider and learn corning speed. My Skorpion is the slowest race bike I've ever had but the most fun and forgiving to ride.

[Bill Jurgenson]

It is greatfun but it can cost loads of money. It depends on how heavily you get into it. I've seen a lowly Cup Skorpion in the hands of a pro as guest rider running lap times under 2 minutes on the Hockenheim ring. For comparison, Andy Meklau ran 1.36 record with a 1000 Suzuki Superbike. In the 2005 1000km race, Meklau ran fastet lap with a works Honda CBR at 1.53, we ran our GSXR750 to second fastest at 1.54 (finishing 5th over all) und slightly wet conditions so Bindles Cup lap at 1.59+ I think it was, is pretty damn fast.
I do not want to speak for Chris Hunsicker, but he confided in me last year, that he was pulling away from SVs with his Skorpion racer. It is miles away from a Cup machine, tho, and I am sure not what he would term economical transportation.
http://www.philadelphiariders.com/gallery/album100/P9100054

I can speak from my own experience, bot for the costlyness and effectiveness.
http://www.zabernet.de/bill/Graphiken/twowheels/2007_right.jpg
more on my website: http://www.zabernet.de/bill/tuning.html
Don't ask what it cost to date! But it is good enuf to keep up with a 996r on the Lausitzring.
Ans good enuf for my friend Peter (also a one time pro) to set the all time fastest time at the Lueckendorf hill climb, running a full 5 seconds faster than the previous one. http://www.zabernet.de/bill/Graphiken/twowheels/Carousel-2.jpg
Weight ready to race with dual rotor and full fairing 125kg, 75+hp at the rear wheel.
All screws, bolts and nuts are either aluminum or titanium($$$). The Marvic mag wheels ain't cheap, either.
It is a lot of work, too, not outofthebox stuff like you do with a CBR or GSXR. The aluminum subframe both Chris and I have is no longer to be had.
I am running a one-off in-house built crankshaft made from scratch using unmachined forgings for the stock crank to start from. It has a very different main and of course a Carillo conrod. then I have a Yamaha works cluster, no longer available new from Yamaha and possibly not from OVER, either. Expensive either way. Newest indulgence is a one-off timing gear for the crank:
http://www.zabernet.de/bill/Graphiken/twowheels/installed.jpg
One-off billet triple trees, one-off billet rearsets...
Good brakes and a good strut can be had out of the box, tho. Both Chris and I run a Wilbers fully adjustable strut - must. Chris has Brembo brakes as I did to until I changed to ABM billet parts.
If you want to go fast economically, get a an R6, but if you want to get involved and learn, both the mechanical aspects and good riding, stick with the MZ dive in...

[ofcounsel]

Wow! Thanks guys! Keep the info coming!

[ofcounsel]

Anyone else out there with input??