Vic Protect’s RZ421-Powered MZ Skorpion!
In 1994, former East German motorbike maker MuZ — aka MZ — launched the Skorpion, a single-cylinder sport bike with a race-style chassis and 660cc Yamaha engine. This crossbred machine quickly earned itself a cult following, as riders realized what a light-weight, razor-sharp canyon-carving weapon that they had on their arms.
“Cornering the Skorpion is so entertaining that your boot toes might very effectively put on skinny. ” –Cycle World, 1995
The bike even sparked its personal racing sequence in some nations, the Skorpion Cup, whereas different riders campaigned the bike in Supermono and singles courses.
Enter our new pal Vic Protect of the UK’s Vic’s Customized and Basic Autos, who’s been into bikes since he was 12 — again when he and his brother dug an unloved CB200 from the underside of the backyard, received it operating, and took it out into the woods.
After working as a coachbuilder and panelbeater, Vic began his personal auto restoration firm — although his coronary heart nonetheless rolls on two wheels:
“I nonetheless do some restoration work on vehicles, nevertheless it’s specials and {custom} motorbikes that I’ve began to do extra of now. The difficulty is after I construct a particular I can’t half with it…lol.”
This challenge began when he picked up an MuZ Skorpion whose 660cc Yamaha single was worn out…and somebody advised him he couldn’t match a two-stroke parallel-twin from an ’86 Yamaha RD350YPVS (RZ350) into the Skorpion body.
“The perfect little bit of this construct is the truth that I used to be advised it couldn’t be achieved…and I did it to show the skeptics and purists flawed.”
One of many UK’s foremost two-stroke tuners, John Floyd of Floydy Racing, labored his magic on the motor, which boasts a stroker crank, 421cc Athena large bore package, billet circumstances, lock-up clutch, Vape ignition, and 36mm carbs. Vic says the motor now places out 90-95 bhp, consuming premix at 15 mpg!
Vic places his panel-beating abilities to make use of with the bespoke aluminum bodywork — utterly handmade — and the remainder of the bike has been upgraded with Öhlins suspension, Brembo brakes, and custom-laced wheels.
Weighing simply over 220 lbs with greater than 90 horses of two-stroke fury on faucet, “The Mutant” is a beast on the road:
“The bike rides so effectively, the unique MZ Skorpion is used fairly a bit within the singles racing class…and the suspension improve with Öhlins makes it deal with prefer it’s on rails, plus being simply over 100 kilos it’s VERY mild.”
Beneath, we discuss to Vic for the total story on this hybrid German-Japanese monster!
421cc Yamaha-MZ “Mutant”: Builder Interview
• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.
I’ve been into bikes since I used to be 12. My dad had an outdated Honda CB200 that was sitting unloved on the backside of the backyard, so my youthful brother Dan and myself determined to get it operating and rode it up the woods, a couple of mile from our home…that was when our love of bikes began.
Over time I’ve owned far too many bikes to recollect — nevertheless, it’s those that I construct or modify I get pleasure from driving most.
Again within the early Nineties I constructed one of many first LC hybrids, a Yamaha 250LC that I had destroyed the engine in…so I fitted it with a Stan Stevens race-tuned RD 375cc YPVS motor.
I did my apprenticeship with the Nationwide Bus Firm as a coachbuilder, and this taught me fabrication, welding, portray and trimming…I taught myself mechanics and auto electrical work over time that adopted.
After being made redundant from a big business bodyshop when the credit score crunch hit within the early 2000s, I went to work in Norway as a panelbeater.
My spouse and myself have been there 4 years and I missed every thing that England has to supply…good grub and beer, bike exhibits and motorsport, plus on the time driving my outdated Triumph 1200 avenue fighter.
That was over 10 years in the past. We got here again and I arrange a automobile restoration firm…I like traditional motors however my coronary heart has at all times been into motorcycling…that’s my dad’s fault, I used to be introduced up with them from a really younger age.
I nonetheless do some restoration work on vehicles, nevertheless it’s specials and {custom} motorbikes that I’ve began to do extra of now. The difficulty is after I construct a particular I can’t half with it…lol.
That’s a quick bit about me.
Inform us about your bike…
This challenge began with an outdated ex observe bike RD350YPVS and a MuZ Skorpion. I cherished the light-weight body and minimalist look of the MuZ; nevertheless, the outdated 660 lump was drained and heavy.
I took the engine to John Floyd (Floydy Racing) to work his magic and tuned it as a lot as doable with a stroker crank and 421cc Athena package. Billet circumstances, lock up clutch, racing ignition, and 36mm carbs.
The exhausts are modified TZ race pipes, and to maintain it cool, a GSX-R radiator with go-kart thermostat.
It has Vape Racing ignition and EGT engine gasoline temperature sensors welded into the headers and this offers an correct studying of what’s occurring contained in the bores…these begin to flash purple at 610 levels, so it provides you the prospect to again off on the fast motion throttle earlier than the engine goes into meltdown.
The bodywork is all handmade from aluminium and the wheels are Talon hubs strung to light-weight racing alloy rims. Brembo brakes cease the bike and Öhlins maintain it on the street.
The bike has a daylight MOT and drinks pre-mix at 15mpg. Environmentalists will love this.
• Are you able to inform us what it’s wish to trip the Mutant?
The bike rides so effectively, the unique MuZ Skorpion is used fairly a bit within the singles racing class; the body, I used to be advised, is constructed by Tigcraft and the suspension improve with Öhlins makes it deal with prefer it’s on rails, plus being simply over 100 kilos it’s VERY mild.
• Any thought of energy output?
Relying on gasoline and climate circumstances, between 90 and 95 bhp.
• Is there anyone you’d wish to thank?
I want to thank my mate Nicholas Kelly for the aluminium welding and one other John Floyd for his top of the range engine tuning.
• Was there something achieved throughout this construct that you’re notably happy with?
The perfect little bit of this construct is the truth that I used to be advised it couldn’t be achieved…and I did it to show the skeptics and purists flawed.
Comply with the Builder: vicscustomautos.co.uk
