MZ: Skorpion Sport Review (2003)

Warren Pole reviews the MZ: Skorpion Sport and rate's it out of 10 based on it's looks, comfort, performance, reliability and value.

[@matykay9957]

The best handling bike I have ridden. I was lucky enough to own one of these as my first "big bike". Not the fastest thing on two wheels, but come the corners, my God it could handle. On a track day at Brands Hatch I was overtaken down the main straight by a Honda Fireblade.I just kept the Skorpion nailed open through Paddock and into Druids (hanging off the back of the Fireblade which was struggling through the corners). Overtook the Fireblade at Druids hairpin by riding around the outside of it. Of course he stuffed me at the next straight. I found the same battling against a GSX 1100 at Goodwood, I would be struggling to keep up along the straights (left for dead if I was honest), but come the corners I was hard on the brakes to stop myself from slamming in the back of the GSX as I was swarming all over the back of it looking for a way to get past it. Oh happy days.

[@Risinghaze]

For me, this is one of the best bikes ever! My Dad had one and now I have one (it's the same bike xD) and I love it. And I am really proud to drive an MZ, because it is a peace of the history from my country and my family. And it's really sad, that they are not around us anymore :(

[@CLYDEDENSLOW]

One of my favorites, mine now has over 100,000 miles on it and still feels as good as when I bought it with 16,000 miles. I think it is a great bike. 60-80 passing ability plenty acceptable and highway speeds as needed. Indeed the handling is among the best.

[@ArseholeTroll]

What I love most about mine is that these days, just about no one remembers what these are. Mine looks for all the world like a million bucks. It is bad ass in the twisties, just a bunch of fun. Its like my kids had one of those 36 volt mini crotch rockets...and this is the adult version. You can just get on and enjoy 100 percent of it!!!! I know from motocross racing, its alot more fun riding a bike that you can use all of....100 extra horsepower wouldnt help me get through my favorite back roads a bit faster.

[@trevortrevortsr2]

Light easy ride & lots of fun - The roll on performance in top gear is surprisingly good between 60 & 85 making for relaxed touring - it will wind up to 110mph but really its out of its sweet spot after 90mph - good on fuel with anything from 55-70 mpg - we found the Bisk surface spark plug really works well on ours

[@ringofthebrave]

I had the naked version. Nothing could catch it downhill in the Pyrenees and the engine took every punishment without problems. Quality-wise the bike needed some extra care and rework. Changing the front brake pump and calipers to original Brembo was a big performance boost as well as a quality rear shock absorber. Front BT16pro and rear BT45 with larger rear sprocket and a simple quick-upshifter boosted the performance even more. We had a great time together.

[@mishko01]

Thank you for posting this review. Few engines offer the thrill of a big ass single on a pair of wheels. I have in my last 35 years of riding owned 18 bikes or so. None has afforded the combination of fun factor, handling. economy and reliability this machine offers. Slow? I routinely take it up to 120 mph. It cruises tirelessly for days at 80 or 90 mph. Many bikes would beat the Skorpion in a 0 to 60 contest, but they will come short in every other measurement. You will never regret owning one.

[@ruthgore2052]

Your speedo must be wrong - I hit the rev limiter trying to keep up with a 125cc (two-stroke) Aprillia. Might just crack 105, but brilliant fun round Oliver's Mount, Scarborough. All round good bike.

[@2stroke1971]

Ive had one for about 6 months now. Although Ive been riding offroad all my life, the only other streetbike Ive had (and still have) is a 1972 S2 triple. (Kaw 2 stroke)....The old triple was suffering and in bad need of a redo so I took it off the road. Needed something to have fun on during the couple of years my S2 will be down. So I was in search of something light, small and cheap./(and unique) Picked up a '95 sport with only 14,000 km on the clock. I love riding it. It does what I want. I don't care a bit to do 180 mph, or a 150 mph wheelie up the fast lane...just dont care. About once a week I go out by myself and do a 30 mile loop that has alot of twisty back roads on it, and this bike is a blast for that. The handling is SWEEEET. It just goes where you want it to with very little input. Its got plenty of weird factor....Ive never seen another one out there thats for sure. No one around me knows what the heck it is thats for sure, so that's fun. It seems very exotic even though it was meant as most MZs to be an affordable basic bike. Stop and go is not fun on it....It is a bit persnickety about what gear you are in sometimes...I find myself trying to chug a high gear sometimes and it doesnt like that a bit. Having said that it has pretty long legs...if Im doing 60 on the highway, there is plenty of room to get out of trouble if I decide that accelerating is what i need to do. Only had mine up to 90, but it will do a bit more.

[@mototvwojtekinglot6905]

Last classic single sport bike. Song of Single the BEST

[@ryansleftboot]

My first bike was one of these in green. Bought it before passing my direct access test in 1998. I loved it. A great introduction to biking.

[@TheRightturnclide]

Retro/cafe are back! I just sold my zx9r to buy one of these.I just can't ride a fast bike on the roads any more with so many cameras and ways of loosing my licence,I always found myself looking over my shoulder and into cars I pass thinking is that an unmarked? So as in speed terms I get more from less with the MZ.

[@songsamsung]

I recently picked up a Sport for a song. Handling and brakes are very good but the motor is just bloody annoying. It only revs to 6,800rpm by which point the vibrations have already forced you to upshift anyway. At anything under 3,500rpm it feels like a traction engine and with such a narrow power spread the 5 speed gearbox just doesn't cut it. In traffic I spend half my time searching for a gear that isn't there. Roll-ons from 100km/h leave you wondering how a 660cc 5-valve engine could be so gutless. It doesn't rev and it's just too clunky and awkward.

[@neiljohnson9686]

Try a jet kit and a pipe. Mine is anything but gutless, it doesnt "rev" (its a big single), but it pulls HARD off the bottom to mid, and if your cruising at 60 and roll it on hard, it still pulls nicely up to 80....maybe the change the sprockets? But yeah I am always reaching for a 6th gear

[@cemoguz2786]

no shit talk about mz they kick any other motorcycle brad's ass for years on race tracks and on dirt. Suzuki stole this brands engneering and only after that japanies bikes improve. respect your elder .

[@J2I3H]

130mph my ass😂

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

Out from the clints of Dover maybe? 105 mph at the max.

[@T3-RIDER]

​@@kasperkjrsgaard1447yeah around 100-110, I rode the travelling version of this and it rattling its self to death at 90😂