► Photothread: Motorcycles of Wehrmacht

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

I start this new thread about the motorcycles used by the German army during World War II, specially with the intention of identifying the different models of motorcycles used

Here, the first image. Can somebody identify this motorcycle?

Image from Ebay
Thanks in advance. Sturm78

[Clive Mortimore]

Hi Sturm

Very hard to tell from that angle but I think it might be either a NSU 501 OSL or a NSU 601 OSL.

[phylo_roadking]

Clive, is it?? Whatever it is, it looks more like a sidevalve? Also, the front brake drum/plate is on the wrong side of the wheel.

[Clive Mortimore]

Clive, is it?? Whatever it is, it looks more like a sidevalve? Also, the front brake drum/plate is on the wrong side of the wheel.

I cannot recall where I got this photo from. It is an NSU 601 OSL, the brake drum is on the same (left side) as in Sturm's photo.

[phylo_roadking]

Well, it doesn't resolve the issue that there's a slightly inclined sidevalve engine in the WWII pic, as opposed to either NSU's vertical OHC motor

[Bill Murray]

I know more or less nothing about motorcycles, but the tyres look Belgian to me FWIW.
Bill

[Piotr Mikołajski]

I know nothing about motorcycles but for me it looks like Belgian FN M12. Bill wrote about tyres, I see some other details - large reflector, "struts" (I don't know proper English word) keeping front wheel, "flat" fender etc. Just look at several photos of FN M12 posted in thread Captured Belgian Vehicles in German Service.

[phylo_roadking]

Hi Piotr - the M.12 is a sidevalve flat twin I.E. same cylinder layout as a BMW or Zundapp. This is an inclined ("sloper) sidevalve single.

[Clive Mortimore]

Hi phylo_roadking

You seem to be telling us what it is not but not what it is. Any suggestions?

Clive

[Bill Murray]

Gillette 720???
Bill

[phylo_roadking]

Bill, not the Gillet; notice the position of the exhaust exiting the head, and the sidemounted carb?



Clive - I'm still searching! I just hope we're not looking at some sort of "bitza"

[Piotr Mikołajski]

Hi Piotr - the M.12 is a sidevalve flat twin I.E. same cylinder layout as a BMW or Zundapp. This is an inclined ("sloper) sidevalve single.

I wouldn't recognize cylinder layout even when both engines would be put on my desk
But low number of WH registration suggest that this motorcycle entered Wehrmacht service before November 1938, at least judging by registration plates on this photo: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: ... ebiete.jpg

[Clive Mortimore]

Hi Piotr

I would agree with you about the registration suggesting it was a pre war bike. Therefore possibly German manufacture, not from captured stock. I am unaware of any photos showing a captured machine with a standard German sidecar, it has a standard sidecar. On the "Oldtimers" site the chap who runs it has a collection of German Army photos listed by registration and in the same number range WH883xx he has two photos of motorcycles which suggest this bike is part of a batch of bikes. Trouble is they are not indetified (or indentifiable by me). http://www.autogallery.org.ru/k/nf/krad ... zDiv_W.jpg and http://www.autogallery.org.ru/k/nd/kradWH-88387_1W.jpg

[peeved]

How about Ardie? There's some similarities to this 750cc model at http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/display/22132704
Markus

[Clive Mortimore]

Hi Markus

Well spotted. I am trying to google an image or two of them in Wehrmacht service, they were rare beasties.