Zundapp
Classic Motorcycles
The Zündapp story began
in 1917. The Nuremberg firm was founded
by Dr. Fritz Neumeyer and Friedrich Krupp.
The early models were 211 and 246 cc two
strokes that quickly earned a reputation
for economy and reliability. In 1930 the
first four stroke model was brought out,
powered by a British Rudge Python engine.
In 1933 it was announced that 100,000 Zundapps
had been produced.
The new models were characterised
by the use of pressed steel rigid frames
and girder forks with the fuel tank being
housed within the upper frame rails. The
smallest model in the range was 198cc two-stroke
single and the largest was a 797cc side
valve flat four. In the middle of the range
were a pair of 500cc flat twins, offering
a choice of side and over head valve operation
housed in a set of cycle parts similar to
those used on the 797cc four. The new model
utilised shaft drive and a hand operated
gearbox.
At the 1933 Berlin show
the new K series ( K standing for Kardan
or shaft drive ) was introduced. The range
was designed by the famous Richard and Xaver
Kuchen and it consisted of two stroke and
four stroke models which all had pressed
steel frames and shaft drive. From this
new range especially the K 500 transverse
twin and K 800 transverse four were very
successful: more than 15,000 K 500s were
built between 1933 and 1939. Many were used
as sidecar machines with the German army.
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