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30-Year Arcs / Sport / MZ Skorpion Lineage
MZ Germany

MZ Skorpion / 1000S. Germany's reborn 660cc single-cylinder sport.

MZ's 1994 Skorpion 660 was the German factory's reborn flagship — 660cc Yamaha XTZ660 single in MZ chassis, full fairing, 48bhp, 165kg dry. Three model variants — Sport, Replica, Tour. Killed in 2003 when MZ went bankrupt the first time. Followed by Skorpion Sport later in the 2000s but production was sporadic. Ultra-cult bike.

1996
Skorpion 660 · 2 yrs in
2006
Skorpion · final years
2016
Killed 2003 · 13 yrs gone
2026
MZ dormant since 2008
Continual audits are underway to verify local pricing for every bike in every market. Apologies for any gaps you see while this is in progress.
1996 Skorpion 660 · 2 yrs in
1996 MZ Skorpion 660 Sport

MZ Skorpion 660 Sport

660cc air/oil-cooled single (Yamaha XTZ660-derived)
MZ tubular steel frame, full fairing, German engineering

660cc air/oil-cooled DOHC single (carbs)
48bhp
55
165
800
ABSFuel injectionTraction controlRide modesAnalogue dialsSingle-cylinderYamaha-engine reliability
Known issues
  • Skorpion — Yamaha-pattern stator failure — all years
  • Reg/rec failure (Yamaha pattern) — all years
  • MZ-specific frame welds inspected — all years
  • Aftermarket rare — MZ-specific parts
£4,899
£9,800
£1.5–3k
2006 Skorpion · final years
No bike for this era

No Skorpion (MZ bankrupt)

MZ went bankrupt in 2003 — Skorpion production ended
Brand briefly revived for 1000S (2003-2008, 998cc inline-four) before final demise

STATUS · GONE
GONE
—
—
—
—
—
£8,499
2016 Killed 2003 · 13 yrs gone
No bike for this era

No MZ

MZ went bankrupt again in 2008 — no production since
The German factory in Zschopau is gone

STATUS · GONE
GONE
—
—
—
—
—
—
2026 MZ dormant since 2008
No bike for this era

No MZ

MZ brand has not produced bikes since 2008
Modern 660cc single sport: Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen / Supermoto

STATUS · GONE
GONE
—
—
—
—
—
Husky 701 Vitpilen £10,599
// 30-Year Delta

What actually changed.

MZ's reborn 660 single · 1994-2003
Yamaha-Heart MZ Hybrid German-Japanese Skorpion couldn't develop their own engines after the East German factory's 1990 reorganisation. Yamaha sold them XTZ660 engines (also used in TT600 and Tenere) to put in MZ-designed chassis. Result: German engineering, Japanese reliability, very low volumes (~10,000 units total).
Why MZ failed twice Bankruptcy 2003, 2008 MZ (formerly DKW/IFA) was reorganised after German reunification. Multiple ownership changes and bankruptcies followed — 2003 (first), 2008 (terminal). Can't compete with Japanese volumes or Italian aesthetic at MZ's price points. Brand has been dormant since 2008.
Real cost trajectory Held value £4,899 Skorpion in 1996 (£9,800 today) → £10,599 Husqvarna 701 in 2026. Roughly flat. Used market in 2026: Skorpion £1.5-3k for clean low-mile. Cult collectibility — rising values for good examples.
Rider aids count 0 Skorpion had nothing — analogue dials, carb-fed, no electronics. Pure 1990s German engineering simplicity.
Cheapest way in £1.5k A clean Skorpion 660 Sport from 1994-1998. 48bhp Yamaha-derived single, MZ chassis, full fairing. Pay attention to stator (Yamaha-pattern), reg/rec, frame welds, MZ-specific parts availability. Service through specialists; Yamaha XTZ660 service knowledge transfers.
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// Sources

Where these numbers come from

Every figure on this page is from a published manufacturer spec sheet or a reputable review publication. No press junkets, no opinions in the spec data. Inflation calculated using Bank of England's CPI tool.

1994-2003 MZ Skorpion 660 Manufacturer specs · MCN archive · Visordown
2003-2008 MZ 1000S (final) Manufacturer press · MCN
2026 Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen (closest) Husqvarna UK 2026 spec sheet · MCN · Bennetts BikeSocial