(VIDEO) Czech manufacturer Praga announces the launch of the ZS800, the brand's first motorcycle in 90 years

Today is a big day for the Czech manufacturer Praga, but also for the whole Czech Republic. Czech motorcycle production was once a symbol of the industry, and the models manufactured in Czechoslovakia once, both Jawa and other brands, were appreciated and also a source of pride for those inside the country. Well, today the Praga manufacturer announces the release of its first motorcycle in 90 years! It's called Praga ZS800 and it's awesome!

Praga may be better known to some of us as a truck manufacturer, thanks to the legendary V3S truck or thanks to the recent participations in the Dakar rally with a version of the V4S race truck, which should preface a future V4S series truck. But in its history, Prague also produced cars until 1947, motorcycles until 1933, and even light airplanes. Therefore, there is a huge tradition in the history of this brand.

Photo: Praga V3S truck

And, until the return to production of series trucks, Praga launched a few months ago the first car intended for public roads, thus putting an end to the pause that had been established in 1947 in the production of Praga cars. It's the new Praga Bohema, a fabulous supercar, with extraordinary performances, which seem to surpass even the Bugatti models, due to its lower weight.

Photo: Praga Bohema, model launched in November 2022

And now we are witnessing the first launch of a Praga motorcycle since 1933. More than that, the new model, called ZS800 is inspired by the design of the BD500 model, which Praga produced between 1929 and 1933, unveiling it in 1928. That is 95 years ago.

Photo: Praga BD500, motorcycle produced between 1929 and 1933

And that's not all: the new motorcycle was created by the same team of engineers who created the Bohema supercar. And that means that, in addition to the classically inspired design, we will find superb technology in its engineering.

Photo: The new Praga ZS800 motorcycle (left) alongside the classic Praga BD500 (right)

The 95-year-old motorcycle was designed by aeronautical designer and engineer Jaroslav Frantisek Koch, who also designed the first 4-stroke DOHC engine for it! After the launch, Koch drove such a motorcycle from Rome to Prague in just 35 hours and 40 minutes, a distance of 1,480 km, setting a world record and proving how reliable and efficient the new type of engine is. Of course, the motorcycle has earned a place of honor in the history of two-wheeled vehicles.

Photo: Monument dedicated to Koch's legendary journey with Praga BD500

Now, history repeats itself to some extent, as the new motorcycle was also designed by an engineer with a passion for aerodynamics, who worked at Praga Bohema. His name is Jan Zuzi and he was the one who insisted to his colleagues and bosses to create and put into production a Praga motorcycle nowadays, which would be equally fabulous and fascinating.

The motorcycle uses a frame made of molybdenum steel, which makes it particularly light. There are also carbon fiber components on the bike, and the exhaust system and all the bolts are made of titanium. The fuel tank is cast from carbon fiber, which thus becomes an element of the motorcycle's structure. As a result, the entire motorcycle weighs only 142 kg empty, in dry weight! And the weight distribution between the axles is exactly 50 to 50.

Its engine is air-cooled, 4-stroke, with 2 cylinders in line, in an architecture similar to the original engine on the BD500 from 95 years ago, say the Czechs. But the tolerances and materials are modern, as well as the precision and efficiency of the combustion, so that the engine now installed on the ZS800 complies with Euro 5 standards!

The engine has 773 cubic cm and develops 50 HP and 65 Nm. It is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, and the engine also has a little secret, actually. It is taken from the Kawasaki W800, an already legendary model. And the architecture of the current Kawasaki engine is really close to that of the Praga BD500 model from 95 years ago, hence the choice. But, of course, it was also a rational choice that allowed avoiding the development of an engine from scratch, after a 90-year hiatus in motorcycle production.

So, the new Praga ZS800 will enter series production, and today it made all Czechs proud and delighted all motorcycle enthusiasts. However, the current Praga is currently a company capable of producing vehicles in small numbers, so only 28 copies of this new motorcycle will be produced.

And that also means a huge price, as for such a limited and such a fabulous product. The new Praga ZS800 will cost 86,000 euros without taxes, and if we add only basic VAT for Europe, we arrive at a price of over 100,000 euros. But judging that the car, Praga Bohema, costs over 1.1 million euros, the motorcycle has a relatively low price for how fabulous and exclusive it is.

See below also a video with the new motorcycle, published today by Praga.