Praga ZS 800 Inside Look [Steampunk Luxury Czech Motorcycle]

June 24, 2024

If you want to show up at your next gathering of friends with a genuinely distinctive motorcycle, the Praga ZS 800 is worth a second look. This luxury motorcycle, handbuilt in the Czech Republic by supercar maker Praga Cars, will stand out no matter where it is ridden or parked. Inspired by the 1928 Praga BD 500, this is truly something special.

Let’s have designer and engineer Jan Žuži set the table: “From a young age, I was truly inspired by Praga and the BD 500, a motorcycle which was very modern for its time and became an icon in Praga history for setting a new endurance record.”

Praga ZS 800 Inside Look: Jan Žuži — Designer and engineer Jan Žuži with the Praga ZS 800 Special Edition Black Carbon and Gold.

“The understanding of complex, high-grade materials is at the heart of the ZS 800 project,” Žuži explains. “We selected strong and extremely lightweight materials such as carbon, titanium, chrome molybdenum steel, and aviation duralumin to make it possible to transfer the BD 500’s elegant historical design elements to the present day and to build a motorcycle with contemporary driving characteristics and a unique feel.

“I am particularly proud of the ZS 800’s unique features, like the hand-woven carbon rims—a complex artistic pattern of overlapping carbon fiber with intricate carbon tensioned-spokes to emulate the look of the BD 500,” Žuži tells us.

The Praga ZS 800 is pure steampunk, executing 1920s technology with 2020s materials and advanced manufacturing techniques such as forged carbon (aka forged composite, which uses compressed chopped carbon and resin).

Let’s examine the front suspension to start. It’s a five-axis interpretation of a girder fork that uses a fully adjustable Öhlins piggyback reservoir shock—it’s more than a springer. The fork assembly is finished chromoly that reveals the welding discoloration, making every front suspension unit unique. Praga tells us it takes 300 hours to build each girder fork.

The Praga ZS 800’s frame is a hardtail, with the seat getting a hydraulic shock with the pivot point at the tank. A no-slip seat cover gives the rider a bit of reassurance. Integrated into the frame is a three-gallon fuel tank, with a forged carbon cover on the premium Special Edition Black and Gold version. The use of forged carbon guarantees the individuality of each motorcycle.

Titanium is deployed liberally, bringing the curb weight down to a claimed featherweight 348 pounds—about 20 pounds less than a Honda Rebel 300.

The powerplant for the Praga ZS 800 is sourced from the long-running Kawasaki W800 retro bike—a fuel-injected air-cooled 773cc OHC parallel twin that puts out a modest 50 horsepower. The W800 motor evokes the 1940s BSA A7 engine, so it looks right at home on the ZS 800. Modernity is insistent thanks to the dual titanium exhaust systems.

The wheels may look traditional at first glance, yet they are anything but. The 18-inch rims are forged carbon with tensioned carbon spokes. Slowing the wheels down are hydraulic drum brakes. Dunlop Roadmaster TT 100 GP tires act as the interface between the pavement and the motorcycle.

You will note the license plate bracket hugging the rear wheel of the Praga ZS 800, below and behind the sensible cargo rack. This is a motorcycle intended to be ridden, rather than placed in a glass case for show.

“The ZS 800 is a pure passion project—not a branding exercise—from a company that started making great bikes a century ago,” chimes in Praga Cars UK Managing Director Mark Harrison. “The quality of materials, hand craftsmanship, attention to detail, and unique riding experience mirror the same superior standards of design and performance achieved with the Bohema, making the motorcycle and the hypercar ideal stablemates for any keen rider and driver looking for something special.”

Should you desire the Praga Bohema hypercar, be prepared to write a check for €1.43 million. The Praga ZS 800 is considerably more affordable at €91,000. However, should you want the Special Edition Black Carbon and Gold version in the photographs, an additional €7800 is added to the price.

Photography by Toofast Media Group and Josh Dummer/Premier GT

Praga ZS 800 Specs

ENGINE