Editing MZ / MuZ 125SM Black Panther

{{Infobox Motorcycle
|name             = [[MZ / MuZ]] 125SM Black Panther
|image            = [[File:MZ-125SM-Black-Panther--07.jpg|frameless|MZ / MuZ 125SM Black Panther]]
|aka              = 
|manufacturer     = MZ / MuZ
|parent_company   =
|production       = 2007
|model_year       =
|predecessor      =
|successor        =
|class            =
|engine           = Four stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, 4 valve
|bore_stroke      =
|compression      =
|top_speed        =
|power            =
|torque           =
|fuel_system      =
|ignition         = Digital CDI
|spark_plug       =
|battery          =
|transmission     = 5 Speed
|frame            = Steel, Single cradle frame
|suspension       =Front: Marzocchi Upside-down fork <br>
Rear: White Power, mono shock, adjustment possible spring
|brakes           =Front: Single 280mm disc <br>Rear: Single 220mm disc
|front_tire       = {{tire|110/70-17}} 
|rear_tire   	  = {{tire|130/70-17}} 
|rake_trail       =
|wheelbase        = 1440 mm / 56.7 in
|length           =
|width            =
|height           =
|seat_height      = 830 mm / 32.7 in
|dry_weight       = 129.5 kg / 285.5 lbs
|wet_weight       =
|fuel_capacity    = 12.5 Litres / 3.3 US gal
|oil_capacity     =
|fuel_consumption =
|turning_radius   =
|related          =
|competition      =
}}



==Engine==
The engine was a Liquid cooled cooled Four stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, 4 valve.  

==Chassis==
It came with a 110/70-17 front [[tire]] and a 130/70-17 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Single 280mm disc in the front and a Single 220mm disc in the rear. The front suspension was a  Marzocchi Upside-down fork while the rear was equipped with a White Power, mono shock, adjustment possible spring. The 125SM Black Panther was fitted with a 12.5 Litres / 3.3 US gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 129.5 kg / 285.5 lbs. The wheelbase was 1440 mm / 56.7 in long.  
== Photos ==
[[File:MZ-125SM-Black-Panther--07.jpg|600px|MZ / MuZ 125SM Black Panther]]

== Overview ==

MZ 125SM Black Panther















Road test & pictures by Dick
Henneman

If you've entered your teens with a need for two-wheels, lusting after
Fireblades, R1s, GSXR1000s, ZX10s and the like, then the start your eighteenth
year on this planet is the moment of liberation. From this point on, the "UK
Powers That Be" have said that you, yes you, are responsible and mature enough
to be 'trusted' with the operation of a real motorbike with gears and a clutch.
Are they sane or what?

But there's a catch - there always is!

They say that it can't have an engine capacity greater than 125cc and may not
develop more than 15bhp. Hmm?

Okay, it can still have style, cool, and most important of all - credibility.
Can't it?

So what can you get?

click for a larger imageWell your buying criteria have ruled out all those
"commuter-hacks" so loved by the training schools; there's a couple of 2-stroke
race-reps, but you're never going to get Dad to cough up nearly four grand for
one of them, and all the used ones have been de-restricted and thrashed
senseless before you can say "second-hand". That leaves what?

Well, you have to say that until recently the answer was "not a lot". Now while
globally the sales of sub-125cc machines exceeds all other bikes added together,
in the more affluent European market these bikes are seen as very small
business. Let's face it, it's only because of our licensing laws that 125's
really exist here at all, and most of us can't wait for our "two-year 125
probation" to be over before we can go out and buy a "proper bike" and scare
ourselves witless with all that extra power and speed. However, some
manufacturers are now beginning to realise that owning and riding a 125 is not a
sentence that has to be served before society will let you loose on a real set
of wheels.

When I collected the MZ 125SM from Jack Nice Motorcycles in Walthamstow, I have
to admit that I was not really relishing the 60 miles ride back to the Thames
Valley with only 125-power. But I was pleasantly surprised. MZ quote a power
output at the maximum allowed of 15bhp, and I for one have no reason to doubt
that number. While those few horses are never going to see you burning rubber at
the traffic-light GP, they do give the bike a quite surprising burst of
acceleration and a comfortable cruising speed of 60mph without resorting to
slipstreaming white vans and the backs of trucks. In fact, indicated speeds in
excess of 70mph can be attained without lying flat on the tank or searching out
1 in 3 hills, but you do need a lot of road with the throttle pinned to the
stop.

click for a larger imageThe engine is MZ designed and built, and it seems to be
a good one. While no 4-stroke is ever going to rev like a 2-stroke, the 4-valve
DOHC head allows the little engine to breathe well, and it revs happily with no
flat spots all the way up to 10,200 when the limiter cuts in and brings
everything to a halt for the sake of mechanical preservation.

The other thing that was immediately noticeable was that this is a full-sized
proper bike. There are some 125's out there that are more like scaled-down
versions of the real thing, a bit like mini-moto's on steroids! You know,
spindly forks, paper-thin plastics, frames that appear to be made of welded
water pipes and castings that would be more appropriate on toys than on bikes.
Not the MZ 125SM. The plastic body panels are thick and substantial, with a good
deep paint finish, decals are properly applied and lacquered over - unlike some
oriental offerings I won't mention! - the 40mm fork tubes wouldn't be out of
place on a sports 400, the exhaust system is stainless throughout, the brakes
lines are braided stainless, and those black-anodised wheel rims are well tasty.
In fact this is one very well put together machine, even the frame has been
black epoxy coated for protection.

But the proof of the pudding is in the riding. Throwing a leg over that 820mm
saddle height seems a little daunting at first, but the soft long travel
suspension compresses a long way, and most riders will have no problems with
getting both feet firmly on the ground. Up front, the wide bars have all the
usual controls in all the usual places and the switches have a solid quality
feel to them. The small headlamp shroud hides a fairly basic instrument cluster
with a central analogue speedo and "idiot lights" for main beam, low oil
pressure, coolant over temperature, indicators and neutral. There's even a trip.

A turn of the ignition key powers everything up, set the manual choke if the
engine's cold, and then a quick press of the starter button fires up the engine
on a steady tickover that seems like it could go on until Hell freezes over.
Given that MZ quote an average fuel consumption of 88mpg and the tank holds 12.5
Litres

, this is probably not too much of an exaggeration. I make that 242 miles
on a full tank before you have to get off and push!

click for a larger imageThe 6-speed box has a light if slightly clunky action
and the lever is set well into the frame like some Ducatis. This caused one or
two lever/boot interaction failures in the first couple of miles of riding, but
this was soon overcome. More interestingly there were some false neutrals,
mostly between fourth and fifth and once or twice the box failed to move through
neutral when trying to change from second to first and first to second,
requiring a second stab at the lever to get it into gear. In its defence, the
bike was almost brand-new when I picked it up, and this may have been just a
matter of getting everything bedded in properly. Certainly the problem
diminished the more I used the box. On the plus side, the ratios are well-spaced
and clutchless upchanges are a doddle, which is just as well as with only 15 bhp
on tap you're constantly going up and down the box if you want to maintain a
decent rate of progress. And lets face it, this is a bike for some serious, if
low-powered, looning about.

The suspension is well-damped and just soaks up the bumps and potholes, so much
so that you may wonder why there's been all that fuss over speed bumps. The down
side is some serious dive on braking, but much of this can be dialled out by
balancing things up with the rear brake. The brakes, which are Grimeca items,
certainly do a good job and are well-matched to the performance of the rest of
the bike, with a solid feel and a smooth progessive action. The wide bars and
the 17-inch wheels make the bike a quick steerer, so much so that it quickly
becomes impossible to resist the temptation to throw the bike around corners
with gay abandon. And you should, because it's so good at it!

The handling of the MZ 125SM is really excellent, but it can get a bit upset on
mid-corner bumps if you're getting a move on. However, it never gets too unruly
and all you get is a bit of a shaking as the long-travel suspension compresses
and rebounds. More importantly it stays on the line.

The test bike was shod with tyres from a German company called Heidenau, that I
hadn't heard of before. They were a soft-compound tyre with a narrow
block-pattern tread reminiscent of race intermediates, and they certainly did
the biz. Wet or dry roads seemed to make little difference to the grip
available, and inspired the confidence to throw the bike around the twisty bits
the way it was designed for. Lean angles can get so crazy that if you're not
careful, pretty soon you'll be tempted to stick the inside boot on the ground
around corners in true supermoto fashion.

In fact it's fair to say that this is a learner-legal 125 that has performance.
MZ obviously think so too, as in Germany they're promoting the Youngster Cup for
kids to race these things. The engine is stock and all the lights and indicators
are removed, and they're allowed to change the front springs and the rear
monoshock, alter the chain sprockets and fit handguards.

And that's about it to go racing.

The action is close, fast and furious, but at the moment I haven't heard of any
plans to bring the series to the UK. It would be great to see this kind of
racing on some of our home circuits and it could provide many of our younger
riders with a good, low cost entrance into bike racing, as well as developing
some useful riding skills.

Now back to the road version. This is an excellent 125, and just because it's
learner-legal, Fireblade and R1 owners shouldn't be put off. There's more to
having fun on two-wheels than just outright speed and racebike handling, and the
MZ 125SM will soon have you grinning from ear to ear without having to worry too
much about racking up more penalty points on your licence. And if you're 17,
then your Dad will love you for riding a bike that's been properly built from
real components, and doesn't look like it's been assembled from spares in some
far-eastern shed.

There are a few small niggles though.

click for a larger imageWhile the bar-mounted mirrors give an excellent rearward
view - you can almost read the label on the back of your jacket - they do stick
out an awfully long way. This can make squeezing, what is after all quite a
narrow bike, through gaps in the traffic, a bit of a nightmare. A couple of
shorter-stemmed mirrors on those wide bars would make slipping through the
traffic a breeze and still give you a good view of what's going on behind.

Another concern, for me at least, is that supermoto seat. This is not a bike for
travelling long distances, so don't even think of going touring unless you take
your proctologist with you! And he wouldn't dream of travelling pillion. About
30 miles is as far as you'd want to go without taking a substantial break, and
50 miles will have you thinking of seeking medical assistance.

Finally, in true supermoto fashion, the plastic fuel tank has a screw-on filler
cap. There's obviously an issue with security in today's urban environment, but
more interestingly the tank vents through the centre of this cap which means
that every time you pull up your nostrils tend to get assaulted with unleaded
fumes. A simple fix would be to replace the standard cap with one from Ascerbis
with a central vent pipe that can be led down and secured to a lower part of the
frame.

But these small problems aside, this is one very good bike. The build quality is
first class, the fun-factor is immense, and I only wish there bikes like this
around when I took my test all those years ago.

Source motorbikestoday.com

{|  class="wikitable"
|- 
!Year
|2007
|- 
!Engine Type
|Four stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, 4 valve
|- 
!Displacement
|124 cc / 7.6 cu-in
|- 
!Cooling System
|Liquid cooled
|- 
!Bore X Stroke
|60 x 44 mm
|- 
!Lubrication
|Wet sump
|- 
!Induction
|24 mm Carburetor
|- 
!Ignition
|Digital CDI
|- 
!Starting
|Kick
|- 
!Max Power
|14.7 hp / 10.9 kW @ 9000 rpm
|- 
!Max Torque
|11.2 Nm / 8.6 lb-ft @ 8500 rpm
|- 
!Transmission
|5 Speed
|- 
!Final Drive
|Chain
|- 
!Frame
|Steel, Single cradle frame
|- 
!Front Suspension
|Marzocchi Upside-down fork
|- 
!Rear Suspension
|White Power, mono shock, adjustment possible spring
|- 
!Front Brakes
|Single 280mm disc
|- 
!Rear Brakes
|Single 220mm disc
|- 
!Front Tire
|110/70-17
|- 
!Rear Tire
|130/70-17
|- 
!Wheelbase
|1440 mm / 56.7 in
|- 
!Seat Height
|830 mm / 32.7 in
|- 
!Dry Weight
|129.5 kg / 285.5 lbs
|- 
!Fuel Capacity
|12.5 Litres / 3.3 US gal

|}

[[Category:MZ / MuZ motorcycles]]