I am originally from Prague, then Czechoslovakia. When I was a kid, I always dreamed of owning or even riding Favorit, which was the bike of the racing team of the "Peace Race", which still goes on (Praha-Berlin-Varšava). I don't know if other countries teams used them. Last I checked, they faded away. They were manufactured in town called Rokycany (http://www.travel.cz/guide/52/index_en.html). (The best known today are Morati titanium bikes, in entirely different part of the country.) Favorite bikess are sort of the PX-10 era and older, and that class bikes - made for racing.

As far as the CZ goes, it translates into "Czech Armory", and gun collectors are very familiar with them. (http://www.czub.cz/). That company also manufactured motocycles, which were very competitive, until the Communist Government nationalized and stifled the industries, and all these companies, including Favorit, Jawa and CZ faded away. I used to have excellent mechanical engineering instructors from these Companies, that taught me during my high school and early college years. The products from the 50's and 60's should be very collectible. (http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/euro/brands/cz.htm).

Barum was a tire company, which was taken over by Michelin I believe. They still exist and sponsor a ralley: http://www.barum.rally.cz/2005/start_gb.htm

I hope this gives yo a little background....