IN EUROPE

 

There are more MZs with sidecars in Europe than anywhere else, especially in Germany. The Germans are the experts on this sort of thing. 

 

This is because the factory offered official sidecar options right up until the mid 1990s.  Only Ural have been making sidecars for a longer period of time.

 

Because sidecars were an official factory option, there was not much

demand for independently built sidecars - and besides, one of the joys of

socialism is, you don't get a choice. So in Europe only four different types

were offered from 1952 until the factory closed.

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FACTORY OPTIONS

 

1) Stoye. 

 

The first MZ big enough to pull a sidecar was the BK350 of 1952. This was

attached to sidecars from East Germany’s only sidecar company, Stoye.

You can recognise a Stoye by its characteristic ridged nose. 

                                                                             

 

2) SuperElastik or SE. 

 

In 1972 the GDR reorganised its factories and brands, and merged Stoye

into MZ. The new team came up with the SE or SuperElastic - the most

sophisticated factory-built sidecar ever made. The SE had a hinged nose,

allowing the front to drop down for the passenger to get in. It had an

‘anti-roll’ system, like the systemfitted to cars, in which a pivoting rod connects

the motorcycle swinging arm with the sidecar swinging arm, to reduce

the amount of lean on corners. It had a hydraulic brake in the sidecar wheel.

Large numbers of SEs were made with no changes between 1972 and 1989.

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The SuperElastic + MZ Trophy outfit was advertised as 'The Economic Miracle'.

 

In the West, this term referred to the recovery of Germany, making it Europe's

biggest economy and the home of BMW, Audi, Volkswagen and 

Mercedes-Benz. 

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In the East, it meant a 250cc two-stroke motorcycle attached to a sidecar.                                                                   

 

3) Tradesman’s box to suit the East German workman.

 

A neat box with rounded corners on an SE frame. 

 

 

4) Velorex 562.

 

Velorex is a Czech sidecar company making sidecars for Jawa. The collapse

of communism in Eastern Europe led to co-operation between companies

that were formerly rivals. The MZ company discovered that, due to

overproduction, Velorex had a large stock of Type 562 sidecars that

they could sell to MZ at a low price. As a result MZ closed their SE

manufacturing line and switched to the Velorex 562. 

 

When MZ started building machines with the 500cc Rotax engine, they

marketed it as a combination with the 562 attached. The bike was called a

Silver Star. The Silver Star + 562 combo was launched as a 'Voyager' but 

Kawasaki already owned that name and they had to drop it.

 

                                    

 

NON FACTORY SIDECARS 

 

Velorex 910

 

The high-tailed Velorex 910 is the best Velorex ever. It's still in

production. The high tail gives more storage space, and protects the

passenger in the event of a rollover. It was not offered by the MZ factory: but

as it has the same chassis as the 562, a few owners have fitted 910s.

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Bubenzer Road Rocket

 

In the 1990s the artist and biker Hartmut Bubenzer bought a batch of

redundant napalm bombs. Some were built into cocktail cabinets but others

were mounted on the SE chassis to produce the most elegant

MZ sidecars ever. I wish I had one.

 

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Skorpion 660

 

The fine-handling Skorpion 660 is the greyhound of MZs and should not

be asked to pull a sidecar. However several people have done it so

I suppose to be fair I ought to show them.

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(See below for a sidecar attached to a Mastiff.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MZ1000

 

The biggest MZ was the rare and excellent 1000cc twin. Someone has

fitted a sidecar to this, and here is a picture of it. 

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IN THE USA

 

 

The Silver Star + Velorex 562 outfits were exported to the USA, and

many are still around in the hands of careful US owners. 

 

Here is a US based Silver Star.

 

As far as I know there are no SEs there, even in the lively MZ community

of Miami, who have brought their machines over from Cuba. 

 

IN CUBA

 

Many MZs were exported to Cuba and are still running about, including 

 SuperElastik sidecar outfits. 

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I must go there before they are spoilt by progress.

 

 

THE REST OF THE WORLD

 

MZ military sidecar outfits were exported to a few Arab countries, in

particular Iraq. Most of these have been destroyed, others fell into

civilian hands. 

 

                                                             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is an ex-military sidecar outfit back with the military again.

 

 

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IN THE UK

 

In the UK we drive on the left, and we put our sidecars on the left so that the motorcycle rider is better placed to see ahead. 

 

This has advantages and disadvantages in MZ sidecar design. The

exhaust is away from the passenger so that they are less likely to burn

their hands. But the kickstart is on the sidecar side so the frame

needs to take account of this. 

 

There is also a legal issue. In the UK, you can only fit a right-handed

sidecar to a machine registered before 1/9/81. This had the beneficial result of protecting the independent sidecar companies in the UK, so we have more choice of ‘official’ sidecars

than any other market. 

 

UK IMPORTS: SUPERELASTIK

 

The SE cannot be modified to fit on the left hand side, the frame is entirely

right-handed. It was never officially imported to the UK, but several have

been privately imported.

 

                                                                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK IMPORTS: VELOREX 562.

 

Unlike the SE, the Velorex frame and body can be fitted on either side,

and kits are (apparently) available to help you to change sides. 

 

Some Velorexes entered the UK attached to the much inferior Jawa

motorcycle and were later re-attached to MZs. 

 

                                                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK: BRIGGS.

 

Briggs was a Yorkshire-based sidecar company, building basic plywood

sidecars with flat sides, on a tubular frame. They are best known for

their ‘double adult’ machines, like caravans attached to the side

of the bike. However they also made sidecars light enough to fit to

an MZ.

 

I haven’t seen an MZ/Briggs since the 1980s and I fear they may

have all rotted away. 

 

                                                                         

 

 

 

 

UK: EWBANK.

 

Ewbank are a small Isle of Man company specialising in sheet metal

bending. In the 1980s they invented this remarkable sidecar made

entirely of folded steel sheet, possibly the only monocoque sidecar. 

 

The Ewbank is very strong for its weight. I know this from experience

having used one to hit a car. 

 

After a few years of production in small numbers they went back to

making ventilation ducts. 

 

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UK: SQUIRE AND WATSONIAN. 

 

Of the two leading sidecar companies in the UK, Watsonian,

founded 1912,  kept the same designs for years, while Squire,

 founded in 1973,  had a reputation for innovative design.

 

The two companies merged in 1988 to form Watsonian Squire. 

 

I have found four Watsonian/Squire designs attached to MZs.

 

1) Squire SL1. Also known as the ‘Cheese’ . An example of Squire’s

innovative design. The high tail protects the passenger, but forward

visibility seems a bit narrow.

 

Discontinued after the merger. 

 

                                                                           

 

 

2) Squire Dart. 

 

Otherwise known as the 'Egg'. A really light sidecar and a good fit to

the MZ. Still in production at Watsonian-Squire as the PV1.: if you

have the money you can ask them to fit one for you. 

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                                               [Picture courtesy of Eddie Edwards,

                                        from a Squire brochure in his collection.]

 

                                                     

 

 

 

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3) Watsonian ‘Gem/Mitzi’. Heavier than the Dart, and not very

aerodynamic.

 

In the Watsonian model list this sidecar is known as the 'Gem'; it was

called the ‘Mitzi’ when sold with specifically MZ fittings. I like it

because it has the characteristic Watsonian perimeter frame, a

fat steel tube round the outside that protects the passenger’s legs

if you are fool enough to hit something. Also it sits closer to the ground

which helps with cornering.

 

Discontinued after the merger. 

 

                                                                        

 

4) Squire ST3. Next size up from the Dart/BV1, and a bit

heavy for the MZ, but some people like them.

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