Custombike Present 2023: Sebastian Brandt’s award-winning MZ Streamliner…
Within the Nineteen Sixties, MZ (Motorradwerk Zschopau) was finest recognized for his or her two-stroke racers developed by genius engineer Walter Kaaden — machines that managed to be aggressive regardless of the restrictions of designing, constructing, and operating a racing crew out of the DGR (East Germany). On the top of the Chilly Warfare, rider Ernst Degner absconded with Kaaden’s expertise and offered it to Suzuki, the topic of Mat Oxley’s extremely beneficial guide Stealing Velocity.
On the identical time, MZ was manufacturing extra sensible, utilitarian two-wheelers just like the ES 150, which Cycle World examined in 1965:
“The place increasingly within the West, bikes have misplaced their utilitarian character and have grow to be gadgets of sporting tools, the MZ continues to be clearly constructed for the person who will use it as sole, every day transportation. Reliability, consolation and economic system of each manufacturing and operation have been main issues…” -CW
Whereas it was actually no sporting machine, the 143cc two-stroke was extremely succesful as a workman’s trusted transportation. Particulars for sturdiness’s sake abounded, resembling a sliding moisture cowl for the ignition key swap, an enclosed rear chain and carburetor, and deeply-valanced fenders and splash protect. This was a motorcycle for using to and from the manufacturing facility and market, in any season and climate — not for sporting Sunday rides.
Like numerous Japanese Bloc bikes, nevertheless, there was one thing oddly interesting about MZ’s ES vary, as if the bikes got here from an alternate universe…which, in a way, they did. And we like to see such utilitarian machines become rolling artistic endeavors.
That’s actually the case with the MZ “Streamliner” you see right here, which earned the “Rookie of the Yr” award at Germany’s 2023 Custombike Bike Present. It’s the work of 47-year-old mechanical engineer Sebastian Brandt, who not too long ago received again into engaged on bikes and mopeds.
“I labored on bikes for the primary time once I was 13, however then I didn’t do it for a very long time. It was solely two years in the past that we began restoring a number of outdated mopeds once more. Now we have a small workshop on the home.”
The donor is a ’68 ES150, although it’s now operating a bigger ES250/2 engine. Sebastian determined to let his creativity fly free on the construct, with little regard for conference:
“The Streamliner was born out of the thought of constructing a motorbike fully in accordance with my concepts, with none guidelines or specs.”
As you may clearly see, the streamlined bodywork is harking back to a classic car. The truth is, Sebastian used the the rear fenders and taillights from an East German automotive, the Trabant 601, which have been manufactured from cotton fiber and phenolic resin — an early composite materials.
In fact, a extremely laborious technique of reducing, mildew, and reinforcing the bodywork was required to form the bodywork to the MZ. A chrome steel subframe underpins the fairing, supplemented with trendy GfK (fiberglass) and laminated aluminum substructures. Sebastian gives a extra in-depth clarification in our interview under, in addition to images from the construct course of.
Imagine it or not, Sebastian completed the bike so shut to point out time that his first experience was with everybody watching!
“Because the Streamliner was solely completed three days earlier than the customized bike present, the one experience was to the present stage
However that felt improbable.”
All the exhausting work was value it, as he got here dwelling with the present’s Rookie of the Yr plaque and Siegerurkunde (Profitable Certificates). Congratulations, Sebastian! We stay up for seeing what you end up of your workshop subsequent!
MZ Streamliner: Builder Interview
• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.
My title is Sebastian Brandt, 47 years outdated, mechanical engineer. I labored on bikes for the primary time once I was 13, however then I didn’t do it for a very long time. It was solely two years in the past that we began restoring a number of outdated mopeds once more. Now we have a small workshop on the home.
• What’s the make, mannequin, and yr of the bike?
The idea is an MZ ES150 from 1968. The engine comes from an ES250/2.
• Why was this bike constructed?
The Streamliner was born out of the thought of constructing a motorbike fully in accordance with my concepts, with none guidelines or specs.
• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?
The intention was to discover a flowing form with the cladding whereas sustaining the character of the acquainted base. All elements besides the speedometer have been rebuilt or redesigned.
The rear panel consists of the rear fenders of a automotive, the Trabant 601 from East Germany. These are manufactured from cotton fiber and phenolic resin, early composite materials resembling fiberglass plastic GfK (fiberglass).
These would then should be lower, amongst different issues, to form in all three instructions. Then it was bolstered and supplemented with GfK. To help the fairing, it acquired a glued-in subframe manufactured from stainless-steel and a holder for attaching it to the bike body.
The substructure of the seat is manufactured from aluminum and was additionally laminated. The unique rear gentle from the Trabant was redesigned and recessed into the fairing, with a shadow hole.
To help the higher connection and for shaping, a skinny stainless-steel perforated sheet was clamped and laminated.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
The bike is known as Streamliner.
• Are you able to inform us what it’s prefer to experience?
Because the Streamliner was solely completed three days earlier than the customized bike present, the one experience was to the present stage. However that felt improbable.
• Was there something accomplished throughout this construct that you’re significantly happy with?
By far essentially the most difficult part was the rear armor with subframe. For this objective, the rear fenders and taillights from the Trabant 601 automotive have been used.
Comply with the Builder: @fun_wheel_garage
Particular hanks to our man on the bottom, Roman Juriš, for a number of of the present images.
The post Rookie of the Yr: MZ Streamliner – BikeBound appeared first on lickscycles.com.
source https://lickscycles.com/rookie-of-the-yr-mz-streamliner-bikebound/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rookie-of-the-yr-mz-streamliner-bikebound
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