I've been involved with motorcycles since 1989, when I became the not so proud owner of a Honda Melody. This was soon replaced with another Honda, the MB5. An altogether nicer bike and similar in style to the Simson I own now. The next bike I bought was what got me into this whole damn mess with Eastern Germanys' most famous marque. Whilst wondering through town one grim winter night I spied one of Yorks' motorcycle couriers going past on what could have been a small Jap custom Bike. Not thinking much more about it than 'I could do with a bigger bike' I didn't see another one for months. I then came across one at my local 'dealer', and I remembered the little bike the courier had. It seemed a good size with easy controls and an look of oddness about it so bugger it, I bought it. The bike turned out to be an MZ ETZ 125. Not an awe inspiring bike but I came to respect it as one of the best bikes I have owned. Being the type who likes to travel, I soon had it kitted out with a pannier set and a topbax, and started to get out and about. As I was keen to get a full licence I started a training scheme in Leeds, 30 miles away. The first session was one of those all-in-one affairs, a bit of playground training in the morning, followed by road work in the afternoon, and the Part 1 test last thing. To my suprise I managed to pass the Part 1 without dropping any points at all, the turning circle being far superior to the other bikes there, and that was with my bike being the widest there too. After several half-day sessions I passed my Part 2 first time, and the L-plates were thrown a very long way. By now I had distance travelling and a girlfriend on my mind, so I went straight out looking for another bike. I liked the style of the MZ so I went down to my local MZ dealer (the now long gone Reghams) and purchased an ETZ 250. I got my first insite into the similarities in the MZ range here, much of the running gear was the same or similar, and despite my pannier set being made by Rickman I was able to fit it straight to the 250 simply by swapping over the 2 rear mountings, which took into account the differing length of the frames. My first trip out on it was a soon as I'd picked up Becky. 85mph around York by-pass 2-up, not bad for a bike only designed to do 80mph solo. I was well and truly bitten by the MZ bug.
Since then I have owned numerous MZ's, and currently own a TS250 and a Mastiff. In addition I own a BMW R100CS
As often happens when you buy a particular marque of bike, I got involved quite quickly with the owners club, in this case the MZ Riders Club. I first joined in 1991, when I was only 19. Since then I have become a section rep (perhaps the youngest as I was 23(?) at the time) , the clubs Editor (at 26, another club record?) and have put together a web page for the MZRC for which you will find a link below. The club is full of both like-minded eccentrics and serious-mileage bikers, so don't be put off by MZ's odd past. The MZRC is one big happy family, and definitely worth getting in touch with if you own one.
[MZ riding] [TS 250] [Mastiff] [Past MZs] [BMW R100CS]
Definately not the MZ Riders
Club
non-bikers beware!!