Odd/unusual Bike

Showing my ignorance here,what is this machine? Quite nice IMO.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=424&item=2487877564&rd=1

Ras
--

 

It's an MZ.

 

Ommmmmmm!

The Oracle Has Spoken.

<checks url>

Shit, what a lovely bike! Are you *sure* it's an MZ?

 

East German two-stroke boxer with shaft drive.

IFA (Industrieverwaltung Fahrzeugbau) was scraped together from the post-war
remains of DKW. That'll be one of the last IFAs, because in 1956 the
company was renamed MZ.

Err, paging sweller...

 

He got in there before you did.

 

Yeah, whatever.

Before I forget, If you need to change a headlight bulb on the Trophy, don't
believe the HBoL when it gibbers on about removing the chin panel or the
whole side of the fairing for access. I changed both bulbs the other day,
and it was just a matter of reaching up from underneath, pulling off the
rubber cap and the connector plug, twisting the locking ring and hoicking
out the bulb. Reassembly was the reverse of wossname. Skill level
equivalent to undoing a bra-strap one-handed...

 

As Platty said:
http://www.mztech.fsnet.co.uk/history/hst_ms5.html

 

it to my watch list, there's something about it I like that I can't pin
down.....maybe sobriety will help!
Any idea what it's value is or likely sell price, thanks for the info though
I had never heard of it before.

Ras
--

 

<juvenile humour>

IFA RT? Heh.

<j/h>

 

I'm a relatively normal shape by the standards of this neck of the woods.
If you're speaking from experience, you must be fairly non-dextrous. I'd
recommend taking a small pair of scissors with you on your next hot date.

 

Well, I never could get the hang of some of them....

But ta for the tip.

 

What, funble around for five minutes and then discover it's a
front-loader?

 

Heh. You too.......

 

I thought German exit signs hilarious.

Admittedly the joke wore off a bit when I took an old Morris Minor to
Berlin. "For a laugh".

 

Thus spake platypus unto the assembled multitudes:

And the bike doesn't fidget and giggle while you do it, either.

 

It did, actually. And they've started calling it "Kermit" at work...

 

The following is from a friend in Germany...

"The original red was much darker (typical German)
There were 2 versions: 17 and 19 horses, was replaced through ES 300. it was
too expensive to built. They made no chain drive because there was no
producer of chains in the DDR at that time. So some people took chains from
West-Germany to East-Germany in their luggage. Not a joke. IT was very often
used for outfits - because at that time they had no so much new cars.

(In the DDR you had too wait for an Wartburg for 16 years)

The motor was planned by Mr. Riedel (who built the Imme 100 after the war -
very modern at that time - only one swinging arm- like all the beamers
nowadays.) and they wanted a starter motor for the ME 262. That the one!!!!!

Steve

 

They *what*??????

 

early jet-powered fighter, late WWII vintage. I assume they needed
something to spin up the turbines in order to get 'em to light.

 

I know what an ME262 is[1]. I'm just amused at someone looking for a
starter motor for one.

[1] I've seen a picture of one.[2]
[2] Album cover[3]
[3] Secret Treaties[4]
[4] Blue Oyster Cult's best.