Custombike Show 2023: Sebastian Brandt’s award-winning MZ Streamliner…
In the 1960s, MZ (Motorradwerk Zschopau) was best known for their two-stroke racers developed by genius engineer Walter Kaaden — machines that managed to be competitive despite the limitations of designing, building, and running a racing team out of the DGR (East Germany). At the height of the Cold War, rider Ernst Degner absconded with Kaaden’s technology and sold it to Suzuki, the subject of Mat Oxley’s highly recommended book Stealing Speed.
At the same time, MZ was manufacturing more practical, utilitarian two-wheelers like the ES 150, which Cycle World tested in 1965:
“Where more and more in the West, motorcycles have lost their utilitarian character and have become items of sporting equipment, the MZ is still obviously built for the man who will use it as sole, daily transportation. Reliability, comfort and economy of both manufacturing and operation have been primary considerations…” -CW
While it was certainly no sporting machine, the 143cc two-stroke was highly capable as a workman’s trusted transportation. Details for durability’s sake abounded, such as a sliding moisture cover for the ignition key switch, an enclosed rear chain and carburetor, and deeply-valanced fenders and splash shield. This was a bike for riding to and from the factory and market, in any season and weather — not for sporting Sunday rides.
Like a lot of Eastern Bloc motorcycles, however, there was something oddly appealing about MZ’s ES range, as if the bikes came from an alternative universe…which, in a sense, they did. And we love to see such utilitarian machines turned into rolling works of art.
That’s certainly the case with the MZ “Streamliner” you see here, which earned the “Rookie of the Year” award at Germany’s 2023 Custombike Bike Show. It’s the work of 47-year-old mechanical engineer Sebastian Brandt, who recently got back into working on bikes and mopeds.
“I worked on motorcycles for the first time when I was 13, but then I didn’t do it for a long time. It was only two years ago that we started restoring a few old mopeds again. We have a small workshop at the house.”
The donor is a ’68 ES150, though it’s now running a larger ES250/2 engine. Sebastian decided to let his creativity fly free on the build, with little regard for convention:
“The Streamliner was born out of the idea of building a motorcycle completely according to my ideas, without any rules or specifications.”
As you can clearly see, the streamlined bodywork is reminiscent of a vintage automobile. In fact, Sebastian used the the rear fenders and taillights from an East German car, the Trabant 601, which were made of cotton fiber and phenolic resin — an early composite material.
Of course, a highly laborious process of cutting, mold, and reinforcing the bodywork was required to shape the bodywork to the MZ. A stainless steel subframe underpins the fairing, supplemented with modern GfK (fiberglass) and laminated aluminum substructures. Sebastian provides a more in-depth explanation in our interview below, as well as photos from the build process.
Believe it or not, Sebastian finished the bike so close to show time that his first ride was with everyone watching!
“Since the Streamliner was only finished three days before the custom bike show, the only ride was to the show stage 😅 But that felt fantastic.”
All of the hard work was worth it, as he came home with the show’s Rookie of the Year plaque and Siegerurkunde (Winning Certificate). Congratulations, Sebastian! We look forward to seeing what you turn out of your workshop next!
MZ Streamliner: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
My name is Sebastian Brandt, 47 years old, mechanical engineer. I worked on motorcycles for the first time when I was 13, but then I didn’t do it for a long time. It was only two years ago that we started restoring a few old mopeds again. We have a small workshop at the house.
• What’s the make, model, and year of the bike?
The basis is an MZ ES150 from 1968. The engine comes from an ES250/2.
• Why was this bike built?
The Streamliner was born out of the idea of building a motorcycle completely according to my ideas, without any rules or specifications.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
The aim was to find a flowing shape with the cladding while maintaining the character of the familiar base. All parts except the speedometer were rebuilt or redesigned.
The rear panel consists of the rear fenders of a car, the Trabant 601 from East Germany. These are made of cotton fiber and phenolic resin, early composite material such as fiberglass plastic GfK (fiberglass).
These would then have to be cut, among other things, to shape in all three directions. Then it was reinforced and supplemented with GfK. To support the fairing, it received a glued-in subframe made of stainless steel and a holder for attaching it to the motorcycle frame.
The substructure of the seat is made of aluminum and was also laminated. The original rear light from the Trabant was redesigned and recessed into the fairing, with a shadow gap.
To support the upper connection and for shaping, a thin stainless steel perforated sheet was clamped and laminated.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
The motorcycle is called Streamliner.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride?
Since the Streamliner was only finished three days before the custom bike show, the only ride was to the show stage.😅 But that felt fantastic.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
By far the most complicated component was the rear armor with subframe. For this purpose, the rear fenders and taillights from the Trabant 601 car were used.
Very cool, original work, especially the use of the Trabant panels. I worked on these bikes in the early 80s and they were reliable if weird looking machines. They were not slow though, the 250s provided some embarrassing moments for Yamaha RD250 riders. Excellent job!
NOW THAT’S A REAR FENDER!!! YIKES! With so many current builds having almost nonexistent rear fenders and the same w/front fenders…this shows a dramatic departure from that…and a refreshing uniqueness in stark comparison.