I was in my local KTM dealer today visiting a pal. They used to sell MZ's but quit to focus on KTM and Aprilia (they are now a huge KTM dealer). I told my friend ( a service writer there) that I had bought a Black Panther and he replies "I'm sorry!"
Kinda pissed me off. I explained to him I was very satisfied, had done my homework and been warned away from KTM by several unhappy former KTM owners. Also - that I had saved $1500 by not buying a used Duke II.
He said his reasoning was that they had trouble getting parts from MZ and that they tended to be costly. I said (honestly) I hear the same comments about KTM all the time... but oddly not much about MZ's blowing up.
Anyway this is preaching to the choir, ... just wanted to vent.