NGC Postwar German Twin

[Canuck750]

The early postwar German bikes were elegant nachines in my opinion, this Zundap is an example of the conservative style typical of the period, not flashy like British or Italian contemporaries but they just seem to look solid. I never paid attention to them in the past but now they are starting to appeal to me, I must be getting old.

1958 Other Makes
1958 Zundapp Citation

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1958-Other-Makes/193968520791?hash=item2d296cbe57:g:GpoAAOSwUp1gUkwa



https://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-Other-Makes/193968498000?hash=item2d296c6550:g:zOIAAOSwWMRgUkD2

1956 Other Makes
1956 Zundapp KS 601 EL



This DKW owned by a friend of mine shares the heavy duty build quality, the Auto Union stampings are all over this DKW two stroke, the four rings (Audi) are even stamped into the bolt heads.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

The Citation was actually built by Horex. http://zundappfool.com/zundapp-citation-in-name-only/

There was one the same color at Classic Motorcycle Day 2019.

[stonelover]

Gotta love the older German stuff! I've heard it said that a good German engineer will never use four bolts when five will do the job!

[EldoMike]

There is a group on Facebook called "Adler to Zundapp enthusiast!"....a lot of good info and pictures

[JJ]

That's one cool vintage motorcycle!!   $8,400 - 19 bids - Reserve Not Met - wonder what it will go for?

[bodine99]

John at Blue Moon Cycle in Georgia has some amazing Zundapps

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

From the link I posted above - I want this bike! Horex powered "Indian". "These are interesting machines indeed, with chassis and running gear by Tartarini, Marzocchi and Grimeca of Italy and engine improvements that include 600 cc alloy cylinders, alternator, magnesium castings, and larger dry clutch." Does that engine remind you of another parallel twin?.



 

https://silodrome.com/5-minute-histories-story-yamaha-xs650/
The story of the Yamaha XS650 begins in Germany with a motorcycle manufacturer named Horex which had been founded in 1920. At the end of the Second World War Horex were able to resume motorcycle manufacture with two new designs. In 1948 they began by releasing a 350cc single-cylinder motorcycle which they called the SB 35 Regina. Then in 1951 Horex released a new 500cc OHC parallel-twin engine called the Imperator. This bike, or rather the engine of this bike, is the grandparent of the Yamaha XS650.

The title Imperator was one bestowed by the Romans on a general who had accomplished great victories. The Horex OHC parallel-twin engine was indeed destined for great things but not on behalf of the Horex motorcycle company which was purchased by Daimler-Benz and made defunct in 1960. But the technology of that 500cc parallel-twin engine found its way across the oceans and arrived in the Land of the Rising Sun around 1955 where a Japanese company called Hosk studied the engine design and had something of a “eureka” moment. They developed and improved on the Horex design and in that process the Hosk company was bought out by another company named Showa in 1960. Showa were in turn bought out by Yamaha in the same year and so Yamaha inherited the Horex engine design as developed and improved by Hosk.

[Diploman]

As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cote d'Ivoire W. Africa in 1968-71, I had a Zundapp KS 100.  This was a model intended for the street, but I rode it for 45,000km over laterite dirt roads with deep washboard surfaces for heavy trucks.  The bike was rock-solid, totally dependable, never let me down.  Unusual features of the design were one-piece cast aluminum frame, and fully enclosed chain guard.  The latter was extremely useful in keeping the chain constantly lubricated in an oil bath and out of an otherwise-constant dust cloud, resulting in no need to replace the chain.  The bike was running like new when I sold it before departing at the end of my volunteer tour.  I later read that Zundapp went out of production at sometime during the 70's and the factory tooling was sold to China.   I have warm memories of that trusty little machine.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cote d'Ivoire W. Africa in 1968-71, I had a Zundapp KS 100.  This was a model intended for the street, but I rode it for 45,000km over laterite dirt roads with deep washboard surfaces for heavy trucks.  The bike was rock-solid, totally dependable, never let me down.  Unusual features of the design were one-piece cast aluminum frame, and fully enclosed chain guard.  The latter was extremely useful in keeping the chain constantly lubricated in an oil bath and out of an otherwise-constant dust cloud, resulting in no need to replace the chain.  The bike was running like new when I sold it before departing at the end of my volunteer tour.  I later read that Zundapp went out of production at sometime during the 70's and the factory tooling was sold to China.   I have warm memories of that trusty little machine.

Back around '74, my brother Karl found a KS100 ('68?) in a "barn" near where we lived and bought it from the owner with money saved from his paper route. It was missing a few parts, more were worn out and it was generally scruffy. He could find no source for parts in the US, so sent a letter in German (he was learning German in school) to Zundapp. They sent back a letter in perfect English with parts prices and shipping cost in Deutsche Marks. Mom took him to the bank to get a money order (in Marks), he sent it to them, and a few weeks later a box of parts arrived. He did a great job on restoring it (considering he was only 14 or 15 at the time) and later sold it to buy another "barn find" to fix up, sell, buy another, repeat...

[Dimitri_Harkov]

Great machines, all.
I love that 50s style.


@Antietam Classic Cycle:

Your Puch 250 would fit into this thread as well.
Ok, it's neither German nor a twin (well... almost), but it looks the part ;)

Piaggio owns Puch's manufacturing rights btw - I would certainly like if they revived the 250 and put it somewhere in the RE 350's market or so.



Cheers,
D.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

A (sort of) related article: https://newatlas.com/motorcycles/puch-800cc-148-degree-v-four-history-auction/

[oldbike54]

A (sort of) related article: https://newatlas.com/motorcycles/puch-800cc-148-degree-v-four-history-auction/

 Cool , haven't ever seen one of those 

 Dusty

[Old Jock]

From the link I posted above - I want this bike! Horex powered "Indian". "These are interesting machines indeed, with chassis and running gear by Tartarini, Marzocchi and Grimeca of Italy and engine improvements that include 600 cc alloy cylinders, alternator, magnesium castings, and larger dry clutch." Does that engine remind you of another parallel twin?.



 

https://silodrome.com/5-minute-histories-story-yamaha-xs650/
The story of the Yamaha XS650 begins in Germany with a motorcycle manufacturer named Horex which had been founded in 1920. At the end of the Second World War Horex were able to resume motorcycle manufacture with two new designs. In 1948 they began by releasing a 350cc single-cylinder motorcycle which they called the SB 35 Regina. Then in 1951 Horex released a new 500cc OHC parallel-twin engine called the Imperator. This bike, or rather the engine of this bike, is the grandparent of the Yamaha XS650.

Liking that a lot

Thanks

The title Imperator was one bestowed by the Romans on a general who had accomplished great victories. The Horex OHC parallel-twin engine was indeed destined for great things but not on behalf of the Horex motorcycle company which was purchased by Daimler-Benz and made defunct in 1960. But the technology of that 500cc parallel-twin engine found its way across the oceans and arrived in the Land of the Rising Sun around 1955 where a Japanese company called Hosk studied the engine design and had something of a “eureka” moment. They developed and improved on the Horex design and in that process the Hosk company was bought out by another company named Showa in 1960. Showa were in turn bought out by Yamaha in the same year and so Yamaha inherited the Horex engine design as developed and improved by Hosk.

[Canuck750]

Very intersting back storey on the Yamaha Charlie!

Thanks for posting that link,

Jim