Unusual post war german motorcycles

[Momz]

In the 1930′s, German engineer Norbert Riedel worked as a technical designer for Victoria and Triumph. During WW2 on Luftwaffe jet fighters engines. Then he developed his first motorcycle production of Imme Riedel R 100 in the city of Immenstadt (Imme means Bee in German, and became the name and logo.) At that time the Imme was considered an extremely futuristic motorcycle with its 150 cc engine providing a maximum speed of 100 km/h, its single side suspension system and light weight of 57 kg, Priced at 775 DM the machine was selling well but the company ran into financial problems and Imme AG went bankrupt in 1951. A total of about 1000 units are said to have been produced. Norbert Riedel died in in an avalanche accident in 1963.

[Momz]

STRANGE OLDE MOTORCYCLES - UNUSUAL FRONT WHEEL DRIVE ART DECO DESIGN 1930'S KILLINGER AND FREUND MOTORRAD

This is one of the most unusual motorcycles seen in a long time: it’s a ‘Killinger und Freund’ built in 1935 in Munich, Germany. The art deco styling is obviously eye-catching, but it’s hiding something even more interesting: this machine has a driven front wheel, like the Rokon. And underneath that huge front fender is the engine itself. The motor is a sizeable 600 cc two-stroke triple—or perhaps three one-cylinder engines joined together. Yet the bike was reportedly very light, at just 135 kg. There’s obviously a story behind this picture too: is the soldier an American who found the bike in the dying days of the war, and posed for a picture taken by a colleague? The Allies rolled into Munich on 30 April 1945, and Wikipedia reports “One motorcycle was discovered by the US Army in the spring of 1945 at a German military installation, but it is not known if this was the original prototype or another Killinger und Freund Motorrad.”

[Momz]

I began riding (crashing) in 1971 on a Kreidler Florett like the one pictured below.

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 There’s obviously a story behind this picture too: is the soldier an American who found the bike in the dying days of the war, and posed for a picture taken by a colleague? The Allies rolled into Munich on 30 April 1945, and Wikipedia reports “One motorcycle was discovered by the US Army in the spring of 1945 at a German military installation, but it is not known if this was the original prototype or another Killinger und Freund Motorrad.”

My father was in Germany at the end of the war. I remember him talking about just getting on
some motorcycle and riding it where he needed to be... "stuff" was everywhere... I wish I could hear
those stories now that I could appreciate them... he was at some place where other men were looking
into ovens, but he didn't, he didn't want to carry that image with him the rest of his life...

-Mike

[Momz]

My fathers parents died in those ovens.

[..]

In the 1930′s, German engineer Norbert Riedel worked as a technical designer for Victoria and Triumph. During WW2 on Luftwaffe jet fighters engines. Then he developed his first motorcycle production of Imme Riedel R 100 in the city of Immenstadt (Imme means Bee in German, and became the name and logo.) At that time the Imme was considered an extremely futuristic motorcycle with its 150 cc engine providing a maximum speed of 100 km/h, its single side suspension system and light weight of 57 kg, Priced at 775 DM the machine was selling well but the company ran into financial problems and Imme AG went bankrupt in 1951. A total of about 1000 units are said to have been produced. Norbert Riedel died in in an avalanche accident in 1963.

One of my favorite cars on the right of the photo.

[DIGGER]

MANOMAN.....I have been a motorcycle addict since I was 10 years old in 1960.......I never even heard of these bikes shown.......

[Momz]

DIGGER
I'm a motorcycle addict too, but i'm also a history and trivia buff.