From Germany to Cuba: Hidden Story of the MZ Motorcycle Phenomenon!

Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары

One of the largest motorcycle companies in the world ceased to exist together with East Germany - MZ. But in Santiago de Cuba, thousands of old MZs are more alive than ever, loved and cared for, and even used as cabs.
00:00 Santiago De Cuba
00:33 East German MZ Motorbike history
02:23 MZ motorbike repairs
04:37 MZ perfect for Cuba
06:20 Cuban repair industry
07:50 Hottest bike in Cuba!
► Liked the video? Let us know by giving us a thumbs up!
► Want to see more? Make sure to subscribe
► Check our website: dw.com/REV
REV - The Global Auto and Mobility Show from Deutsche Welle
#cuba #dwrev #sovientbike

Пікірлер: 70

  • @timothystrawn1844
    @timothystrawn1844 Жыл бұрын

    That’s what I love about Cubans they’re probably one of the most resourceful People in the world they make do with not a lot of resources.

  • @maexchen71
    @maexchen718 ай бұрын

    für mich als Ostdeutscher ist das eine Augenweide unsere MZ`s zu sehen vielen Dank Kuba ihr seid die besten 😍😍🙂🙂

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    6 ай бұрын

    Thanks for watching the video!

  • @boredmalcontent
    @boredmalcontent11 ай бұрын

    Amongst other bikes, I have a 1978 MZ TS250/1 - if I could only choose one it would be that. I visited the old factory earlier this year, emotional!

  • @petershim5900
    @petershim5900 Жыл бұрын

    I was there a few years ago and their ingenuity so impressed me. I absolutely love them!

  • @EnriqueMendoza-xn5td
    @EnriqueMendoza-xn5td10 ай бұрын

    Excelente video me gustan esas motos MZ tengo 2 MZ en Nicaragua original una 250 Año 87 y otra 251 año 89 muchas gracias por su pasión por las MZ saludos a todos los cubanos

  • @wotan20
    @wotan204 ай бұрын

    My brother was also a guestarbeiter in the DDR (an elektronic technicien in Karl Marx Stadt), but he bought a Simson AWO 425 Sporten which was upgraded from 250 cm3 to 300 cm3. He was very satisfied with it, since it was a BMW really and it didn't smoke like all the 2 stroke bike did. Also it was shaft drive, which added to its robustness. That was his first love really. In any case German engineering either East or West was good.

  • @campbellpaul
    @campbellpaul Жыл бұрын

    Very interesting. From my experience, Cubans are wonderful people!

  • @TheTigerman62
    @TheTigerman622 күн бұрын

    Loved watching this video. I have a more modern MZ Mastiff 660. I bought it new in March of 2000. Still running great and never let me down. Still everything as it left from the factory. Great bike. Love MZ.

  • @yveskrol4417
    @yveskrol4417 Жыл бұрын

    Erinnerungen an die "gute" alte Zeit, wenn man es so sehen will. Ein Stueck melancholische Kopf - Hoch Mentalitaet. Letztendlich verdient das ein grosses Bravo. Ein Beitrag fuer's Gemuet.

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for watching!

  • @carlowingfield7743
    @carlowingfield77438 ай бұрын

    I had an MZ TS150 around 1978 they were simple , robust and reliable at a bargain price .

  • @2Truth2you
    @2Truth2you10 ай бұрын

    Great bikes and wonderful people. Greetings from England!

  • @andyworsley3908
    @andyworsley3908Ай бұрын

    They didn't stop production in 1990. I bought a brand new MZ Saxon Tour 251 in 1995 and production of the 2 strokes continued for a few years after that.

  • @jjcale1976
    @jjcale197610 ай бұрын

    this is real Ecology and recycling, not electric cars

  • @DurstDevel
    @DurstDevel Жыл бұрын

    Greedings from Germany! Iam glad the Things we Made serves u long and well!

  • @leomarrero
    @leomarrero6 ай бұрын

    I own a couple of them here in usa, i also went from Fort myers florida to Denver Colorado in 3 days riding (4000 miles round trip) no issues at all even same spark plug.. video can be seen on KZread

  • @mkilic10
    @mkilic10 Жыл бұрын

    that one at 2:59 has a Turkish-made MZ seat. Kanuni got its patent in 1993 and produced these bikes as Kanuni MZ.

  • @2Truth2you

    @2Truth2you

    10 ай бұрын

    Interesting.

  • @Largo5441

    @Largo5441

    9 күн бұрын

    ​Evet doğru Türkiye de 2003-2004 yılına kadar üretildi​@@2Truth2you

  • @jurkanman
    @jurkanman11 ай бұрын

    I've owned a 1988 MZ 250 ETZ in red some 20 years ago. May grandfather gave iz to me when when he lost his drivers licence due to health problems. I remebered very well a powerfull text message on petrol tank cover - "Uber 60 jahre des mottorader aus Zscopau - 1922-1982". A world class historic motorcycle producer.

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    11 ай бұрын

    Lovely to hear that you inherited your grandfather's motorcycle. What made you give it up, eventually? Feel free to send us photos of the bike on rev.plan@dw.com

  • @runningtorchlight
    @runningtorchlight11 ай бұрын

    I wish MZ had this reputation in Germany. My wife is not so excited about it. 😂

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    11 ай бұрын

    Do you still have an old MZ in your garage? Despite, we assume, your wife's displeasure at the fact! :-) We're always keen to know what the REV community is driving and riding. Do let us know, and feel free to send us some images on rev.plan@dw.com.

  • @goranschmidt3543

    @goranschmidt3543

    8 ай бұрын

    Dann sie keine Ahnung... 😅

  • @johnhammond6423
    @johnhammond6423Ай бұрын

    I loved my MZ and I miss it. I rode it flat out everywhere I went and it never let me down.

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    Ай бұрын

    Maybe it’s being rode in Cuba now!

  • @johnhammond6423

    @johnhammond6423

    Ай бұрын

    @@DWREV One things for sure, its still going! 😊

  • @jeynes14
    @jeynes143 ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing this gift

  • @rolandzoske448
    @rolandzoske44810 ай бұрын

    A very interesting and atmospheric video.

  • @sunrae3971
    @sunrae3971 Жыл бұрын

    As a 80s born East German it always amazed me how socialist countries had to become "creative" in so many facets of daily life.

  • @Leberteich
    @Leberteich3 ай бұрын

    9:22 'We're celebrating my wife's birthday'. 'Do you do this often?' 'Once a year'.

  • @Stefan-schmidt-produktionDe
    @Stefan-schmidt-produktionDe6 ай бұрын

    I like your videos ❤️

  • @maexchen71
    @maexchen718 ай бұрын

    es gibt noch sämtliche Ersatzteile bei uns in Deutschland zu kaufen man kann ich die einfach online bestellen für MZ und Simson

  • @fredtracy3931
    @fredtracy39317 ай бұрын

    I salute those Cuban motorcyclists, and their MZ bikes.

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    7 ай бұрын

    Glad you liked the story! Please share it with a friend.

  • @patrickkaiserliew3691
    @patrickkaiserliew3691 Жыл бұрын

    Such a waste that MZ ceased to exist today. Its such a reliable & durable motorcycle that's being built with German technology. Can it be revive since Germany is one of the major country that has thriving automotive industry.

  • @rolandzoske448

    @rolandzoske448

    10 ай бұрын

    Unfortunately, everything is being destroyed here in Germany - technically and morally. Fraud and theft everywhere. This is capitalism in its final stages.

  • @user-vq6yv3ok3z
    @user-vq6yv3ok3z3 ай бұрын

    Id like to buy one

  • @lowersaxon
    @lowersaxon4 ай бұрын

    Warms the German heart, doesnt matter east or west. MZ should have been saved and developed further in 1991, I think. The embargo is completely out of time, imho. Saludos companeros!

  • @weird-guy
    @weird-guy Жыл бұрын

    My country country had a motorcycle brand called famel with a zundapp motor

  • @andrewallen9993
    @andrewallen99935 ай бұрын

    There are a lot of Jawas as well but not so many Russian bikes.

  • @jerminedombrigues7714
    @jerminedombrigues77149 ай бұрын

    🙋👍🇵🇭

  • @tissapathiratna7761
    @tissapathiratna7761 Жыл бұрын

    MZ ist nicht da Shade. MZ must come back with 4stroke Motor with superb Kettenkasten. Danke Schön DW

  • @nlpnt

    @nlpnt

    Жыл бұрын

    Skip directly to electric.

  • @SuperEman500
    @SuperEman5005 ай бұрын

    Didn’t know Cubans had Scottish accents, cool.

  • @nlpnt
    @nlpnt Жыл бұрын

    It's interesting that they seem to have hardly any Trabants and Wartburgs, most of their Soviet/European Communist-era cars are Lada, Moskvich and Polski-Fiat.

  • @sidneydawe9937
    @sidneydawe99377 ай бұрын

    Most modern motorcycles look like they have been in a bad smash up. They look so ugly compared with the pretty coloured bikes of the 1960s and 1970s. The MZ250 is a good practical machine that with good maintenance should last forever.

  • @DWREV

    @DWREV

    7 ай бұрын

    Yes, they are really something!

  • @Largo5441
    @Largo54419 күн бұрын

    East Germany after Türkiye

  • @MrK-qw7nb
    @MrK-qw7nb8 ай бұрын

    I think that Iraq is the country that uses it the most❤

  • @luckycruiser3167
    @luckycruiser31677 ай бұрын

    "The decisive factor is what comes out at the back", a former German chancellor once said. The statement is already ambiguous, at least in German, so it doesn't hurt to add a third. Despite all the nostalgic glorification, it should not be overlooked that two-stroke engines have no exhaust gas purification system and they blow their unburned hydrocarbons into the atmosphere unfiltered along with all the others. Nowadays, you can no longer use a two-stroke engine with a clear conscience.

  • @Djent7779
    @Djent77798 ай бұрын

    MZ moto zeeganer

  • @jasonlemuel5078
    @jasonlemuel5078 Жыл бұрын

    I'm curious wirh east german reliability product how will they react when they got introduced to Japanese bikes

  • @philippp.m.4265

    @philippp.m.4265

    Жыл бұрын

    The whole Japanese motorcycle industry is built on one German motorcycle - the DKW RT 125 from Zschopau. Which is the same place where MZs were built. 😉

  • @fredtracy3931

    @fredtracy3931

    7 ай бұрын

    Not entirely true, no Honda was on the DKW RT 125, and some bikes were based on British machinery.

  • @empe3332

    @empe3332

    6 ай бұрын

    @@philippp.m.4265 every nation with some industry has produced dkw rt125 clone after the 2ww. But Honda Supercub puts those smoky 125 in shame with its design, reliability and economy of the 4stroke. And numbers produced - 100mln plus millions of Chinese clones.

  • @Survivor008
    @Survivor0087 ай бұрын

    tremendous faces of snitches on these colleagues 🤪

  • @mirasetrin3273
    @mirasetrin327311 ай бұрын

    schade, dass man sowenig MZen sieht und dafür nur Nasenloch-Interviews. Thema verfehlt, sechs, setzen!

  • @franktechmaniac7488
    @franktechmaniac74884 ай бұрын

    The socialist Harley from Saxonia. Too bad MZ doesn't exist anymore.

  • @mike_oe
    @mike_oe Жыл бұрын

    Anybody who has been to Cuba knows about the insane pollution caused by the 2-smoke bikes....

  • @Thomas63r2

    @Thomas63r2

    Жыл бұрын

    Shhh - you are supposed to ignore such things!

  • @timpauwels3734

    @timpauwels3734

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Thomas63r2Shh - you are supposed to ignore the trade embargo!

  • @user-iw2ox5re9b

    @user-iw2ox5re9b

    10 ай бұрын

    The embargo is a lie. Its been used as an excuse for decades

  • @henryseidel5469

    @henryseidel5469

    8 ай бұрын

    Tanks cause a much more evil pollution than motor bikes.

  • @osmacuba

    @osmacuba

    5 ай бұрын

    I don't know where do you live but I'm pretty sure there is not a blue sky like they have in Cuba. So,,, what are you talking about?

  • @rashidnaga
    @rashidnaga4 ай бұрын

    my feverot mz moskito scooter😂

Келесі