Hello from a long time lurker! I thought it was about time I should step out of the shadows and share my contraption and story with you guys. It started just before summer 2012 when I sold my K100 - due to hooliganism I thought I should get something a little more sluggish. I've always yearned for a Dnepr rig but nowadays they all seem to be too expensive for what you get... or don't get for that matter. Instead I bought another ETZ250 as I'm quite a fan of MZ and decided to go forth and engineer myself a hack! So armed with a £20 gasless mig, angle grinder and some cider I leaped in at the deep end. I had chunk of steel frame that I modified, some spare swing arms and general MZ parts floating about - the only steel I bought was for the main connection bar & suspension aswell as the diagonal struts. The rest was all skip finds.
Ok there are quite a few photos missing but here is part of the semisubframe without the main structural parts - the chair was originaly tried as a mono-shock but I later found that needed tweeking. Note: My skills don't result in asthetics, just simple and strong! Plus the uglyness is an anti-theft device in its own right!
After winter I decided I needed a "proper" sized box! Test for size... also note the upgrade to twin shock. Recent mod for a parking brake: Finished(ish) family day out:
Struts were 3mm walled tubing with a nut welded onto the end and secured using connectors from scaffolding clamps, I got 6 knackered clamps off a local scaffolder and chopped them up to make my bits, for example, under the tank I welded part of a clamp to the frame. To that connects one of my struts - one end has the nut and connector, the other end I made a slot and in it put a plate of metal with a hole drilled in it - effectivly a fixed and and an adjustable end. For the main connection to the bike I made a clamp that clamps to the center stand mounts, the inside of the clamp is a kiln dried wooden block - idea being that I tightend it all up good and tight and as the wood gets wet it expands and makes everything a little more snug. I have a total of 5 connection points, front and rear diagonals, main connection bar, a rear stabiliser bar that connects to the pillion footrest and a bar that runs from the front of the sidecar to the exhaust mount under the engine that acts as a front stabiliser/sway bar - I know its far from an idea connection point as the engine is floating on rubber mounts but its better than nothing!
Welcome to the asylum. That has to be one of the best pic's on this forum. A reflection of what life should be about , love it .
Welcome. Will always have a soft spot for MZ, having owned a solo, plus a factory produced sidecar outfit. Enjoy.
Christ that's ugly! Congratulations. :) We need more Brits on here, the colonial types think they are in control.
Thanks for the comments, next mod im thinking some bolt-on LL forks based on the ones in this pic: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/de/b/bf/MZ-Diesel.jpg Might happen in the next few months... hopefully.... Problem is im pretty rubbish when it comes to accuracy and to get within 5mm would be a real acheivement for me!
yup, this is a relatively simple and definitely cheap alternative to 'proper' leading link forks... go for it, it will totally traqnsform your riding experience o) g max ~:)
no sarcasm here, although, come to think of it... oh - and wider handlebars would make a big difference, too. g max ~:)
Haha yeah it'll totaly transform it alright - wether i just plough into the side of a parked car or not will be more luck than judgement me thinks..... But if i can keep things close to parallel it should be an upgrade to the low speed head wobble i sometimes get, i was thinking of putting a damper on it but i may aswell try and make some forks that do the job properly, winters coming and last year a bit of wobble nearly caught me out at 15 mph on a slippery adverse camber whilst following some nervous tin can driver.... Only get it between 15 and 20 which makes riding around town in traffic even more unpleasant.
Love it !! Like I mentioned in your other topic these LL's are called "Schwabel" You could also alter the yokes/triple trees to what we call "Ed Pols platen" overhere. Pic borrowed from Halflive's website I do have a technical drawing for them on my computer somewhere ( specifically for the MZ ) still have to have them made for my own MZ someday.
A CHEAP way to improve steering is to find a set of LEADING AXLE FORKS that are the same dia as your stock forks.Mount them in your STOCK triple clamps and you have reduced the trail !!!.I did this on my outfit for $40 which included the forks,wheel,tire,fender and calipers !!.
And a fork-brace on the sliders helps to stiffen the steering action, too. On my MZ-outfit in the 80s I had situations in really tight turns, that with the handle-bar at the left or right stop the frontwheel was still pointing straight - ok, not quite, but much of it. Kind regards, Bambi