moe.
if you look at your original comments about your observed differences between your bike and your buddies, you should know that you've perfectly describe the differences between a height reduced model and the full height model.
-shorter swingarm
-non-adjustable forks
those differences have nothing to do with whether or not a particular baggy is a "black panther".
go to MZ's site itself or this one
http://www.grizzlycycles.com/mz/mz_street_moto.htm
as you can see, both the Black Panther and the Street Moto are available in height reduced.
had you bought a height reduced Black Panther, you would have the same exact shortened swingarm, and non-ajustable forks, and same triple tree that your buddy has.
one last time with feeling
black panther and street moto are identical except for color.
AS LONG AS BOTH ARE HEIGHT REDUCED, OR BOTH ARE FULL HEIGHT.
of course the rake will be different between a height reduced bike and a full height one.
but that had nothing to do with being a black panther.
the black paint has to do with that.