► Photothread: Motorcycles of Wehrmacht

[Luftflotte2]

source: ebay.de

[Luftflotte2]

source: ebay.de

[Luftflotte2]

source: ebay.de

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

Nobody for the Zundapp motorcycle posted by me on 08 Nov 2016 ??

On the other hand, Does somebody know if this motorcycle is a BMR R12 ?? Image posted by Luftflotte2 member on 15 Nov ...

Sturm78

[SIS 5]

Hi Sturm 78,

the Zündapp on the pic You posted 08 November is a K 500.
And on the pic from today it is a BMW R 12.

Best regards

Bert

[Sturm78]

Bert wrote
the Zündapp on the pic You posted 08 November is a K 500.
And on the pic from today it is a BMW R 12.

Thanks a lot for your help, Bert...

Regards Sturm78

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

Can somebody identify this motorcycle ??

Image from Ebay
Sturm78

[ilfil]

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

Gnôme et Rhône AX2 ??

Image from Ebay
Sturm78

[Maxschnauzer]

I can't quite figure out if this interesting but also somewhat amusing photo is a circus act or a field demonstration of some new type of RDF antenna on a Zündapp?

[Martinski]

Hello,

The ebay pic posted by Sturm78 (from 09 Jan 2017) also shows a very nice INDIAN Model 340 "CAV". It is a combination form the EARLY batch (with the round passengers grip mounted just after the riders seat. They already removed the pillion seat (passengers seat). Also check out the overpainted chrome air filter (the round thing beneath the left fuel tank). These filters were chromed but overpainted already in the factory in Springfield (Mass.). Because they sprayed the paint right on the chrome, the paint already blattered and chipped on the very first use.
Also check the gray rubber handles, the generator belt cover, the speedometer cable (routed to the left rear fender) and the rear shocks.

A very nice photo!
Martin
author of "An American in Paris - The story of the Indian Model 340"

[kerryboo]

Hello Martin and all,
I am hoping that you may be able to tell me if this is an Indian or perhaps a Harley Davidson? Is it likely to be ex-French contract?
Many thanks,
Kerry.

[SIS 5]

Hi Kerry,

You are right. It is an Indian 340 B and it must be ex-French contract. 2nd September 1939 5000 of these motorcycles were ordered by France from the USA. Here a pic of these motorcycles with French motorcyclists out of the book "L´automobile sous l´uniforme" by Francois Vauvillier.

Best regards

Bert

[kerryboo]

Many thanks Bert,
Kerry.

[Martinski]

Hello Kerry!

The machine in your pic is a well-used and weary Indian Model 340 "CAV" ("CAV" = the exclusive 1939 French Army contract which saved Indian Motorcycles).
The machine is oversprayed with the standard German Wehrmacht paint and the sidecar displays a tactical sign and, as far as I can read, "Nachschubkolonne - Abt. 550". In my book (An American in Paris - the History of the Indian Model 340) on page 91 is a picture of a similar machine, but from Abt. 596. Maybe the same unit as only the last digit is hard to read...

Special is that the Germans installed a non-standard straight brace between the sidecar frame and the motorcycle frame. As you can observe, this brace is "fixed" afterwards to this motorcycle in a German workshop. This was done due to the heavy weight of the sidecar in order to keep everything in line... So this is a kind of an "aftermarket" adaptation.

The Model 340 in your photo is a LATE (or 2nd) version. The passengers hand rail is larger, formed in a more rectangle way and placed 5 cm more to the rear on the fender. The rails of the EARLY (or 1st) versions were too close and touched the back of the rider in normal seated position = very uncomfortably.

Nice photo! Regards - Martin