DR. Skorpion, DR. Evil, or DR. Strangelove?

[SIR REAL ED]

Bit of a wild hair project.  MZ Skorpion gets an engine transplanted from a Suzuki DR650.

[faffi]

Inquiring mind wants to know how much faster the Suzuki engine will be now that it sits in a European frame    Keep us posted, very interesting project!

[SIR REAL ED]

Inquiring mind wants to know how much faster the Suzuki engine will be now that it sits in a European frame    Keep us posted, very interesting project!

I'm just hoping it does not become less reliable, more temperamental, and develop an irresistible urge to drive on the left side of the road!

MZ engine weighed 108 lbs without radiator, over flow tank, and oil tank.  DR engine weighs 106 lbs.  Should be faster, right?

[faffi]

Two pounds and a radiator less? At least 10mph worth just there

[Canuck750]

Did MZ originally use a Suzuki sourced engine?

[SIR REAL ED]

Did MZ originally use a Suzuki sourced engine?

The earlier four stroke MZ's used a air cooled Rotax engine. 

The Skorpions used a water cooled, 5 valve Yamaha engine.  Similar but not identical to the Yamaha 660 ATV engines.

[Canuck750]

Thanks, great information

[SIR REAL ED]

Thanks, great information

I have a Brit friend who voluntarily exiled himself to Canada.  He lives near Ontario & owns a Skorpion. 

He claims he has done some research, and he thinks it is the only one in the province of Ontario, and perhaps in all of Canada. 

MZ's Skorpions are almost throwaway bikes in the US.  I've never seen one on the road, and only a dozen for sale over the years.

If you want any additional information on Skorpions, send me a PM.  I can send you a fair amount of information I have collected.

[Canuck750]

I have never seen a MZ Scorpion in Canada, very rare machines. Ten years ago Chuck brought one to the Oregon National Guzzi rally to ride around on.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I have never seen a MZ Scorpion in Canada, very rare machines. Ten years ago Chuck brought one to the Oregon National Guzzi rally to ride around on.

I owned one briefly. Thought that I'd really like it, but unfortunately the riding position put a bind in my right hip and knee. Once I got the float level correct on the goofy "carburetor and half" it really ran strong. It was geared tall as well, so I geared it down so it was a lot more usable in the "real world". https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzJga7

[SIR REAL ED]

I owned one briefly. Thought that I'd really like it, but unfortunately the riding position put a bind in my right hip and knee. Once I got the float level correct on the goofy "carburetor and half" it really ran strong. It was geared tall as well, so I geared it down so it was a lot more usable in the "real world". https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzJga7

That is one of the main downsides in my mind also when considering the MZ or the DR as a base platform, lack of leg room. 

I bought some GSXR1000 adjustable footpads and mounting plates, so another pair of mounting plates to mate these to the frame should help that problem. 

Also thinking about a taller subframe.  Too early to tell where I am going with that.

MZ guru's agree with you on gearing Charlie.  Going to a 43 tooth rear sprocket from the stock 39 tooth is recommended.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

MZ guru's agree with you on gearing Charlie.  Going to a 43 tooth rear sprocket from the stock 39 tooth is recommended.

I changed the counter-shaft sprocket to 14 teeth.

[SIR REAL ED]

I have never seen a MZ Scorpion in Canada, very rare machines. Ten years ago Chuck brought one to the Oregon National Guzzi rally to ride around on.

A recent post on the MZ Skorpion Facebook page was interesting. 

Someone was selling their Skorpion in very nice condition, and stated that because the Skorpions are rare, the bike should be quite valuable!

The MZ Skorpion faithful laughed. 

More than a few noted: "Rare does not necessarily mean valuable, it can also mean that since nobody knows anything about them, nobody wants one!"

[SIR REAL ED]

John A's advice to re-use the DR engine mounts in another thread was good advice.
 
It came out looking much better than anything my hacksaw/handfile "machine shop" would have produced.

A dozen or more hours of manipulating parts, taking measurements, and fabricating fixtures, and a less than 5 minutes of actual welding.

Engine is laterally positioned where I want it, plus I have about 8mm of side to side adjustablity for future needs (hopefully there won't be any).

[faffi]

Looking good

[SIR REAL ED]

So far the project is going well.  Not as glamorous or exotic (Huzo, that's exotic, not erotic, sorry Bro) as most of the projects here at WG, but hey, you work with what you have.  Both in terms of hardware and talent.

The DR engine mounts to the DR frame in 5 places.  The MZ engine mounts to the MZ frame in four places plus the swing arm pivot, which has enough clearance to not qualify as an engine mount IMO.

Right now, I plan to mount the DR engine to the MZ frame using all five of the DR engine mounts.  At a later date, for a more custom look I may abandon one engine mount underneath the front of the DR engine.

One more set of engine mounts to go which are 70% done already.  Just a bit more cutting and drilling.

Fitting the DR engine in the MZ frame is a much easier than fitting the MZ engine in the DR frame would be.

[faffi]

We are waiting for the finished product with anticipation 

[SIR REAL ED]

We are waiting for the finished product with anticipation 

If you keep your expectations extremely low, I might not disappoint you.  No promises!!





Should look a lot better after I fit the Roo bars!  Still waiting on input from Huzo as to what is currently chic in Straya.

[SIR REAL ED]

At this point, all the motor mounts are done and they all came out as good or better than expected.  At one point, I thought I could do this without any welding, but now I'm glad I abandoned that idea and decided to ask a very talented friend to do the welding.  When I told him, He just laughed and said "Without any welding!!"

It's good to swallow one's pride every now and then.  As Dirty Harry Callahan said "A man's got to know his limitations!"