Zündapp was a large manufacturer of motorcycles, at one time, the world’s largest. They produced motorcycles from 1920 until 1975. This GS100 ISDT an example of a 125cc on-off road bike that was popular in the 1970s. Its lightweight but modestly powerful engine allowed you to drive down the road, yet also enjoy an occasional […]
Zündapp GS100 ISDT- 1970 Read More »
Piaggio was founded in Italy in 1884 as a business that made luxury ship fittings. By the end of the century, they were also producing rail carriages, luxury coaches, truck bodies, engines, and trains. When WWI began, the company turned to airplanes and seaplanes and was quite successful. The plant was totally destroyed during World
Vespa PX150 Scooter- 2005 Read More »
The Solex motor bicycle was built as the result of two French engineers endeavoring to create a better bicycle. They formed a company named Solex in 1905 to produce small engine parts. Their interest in building bicycles with emergency engines began to grow, and in 1916 they received a patent for an auxiliary engine to
The mid-1980s saw the beginning of the “bullet” bike. Suzuki took three models of race bikes and de-tuned them for sale to the public. The demand was substantial–the motorcycle enthusiast was able to have supercar performance for a very reasonable price. 1986 saw an all new version of the GSXR. This motorcycle had an all
Suzuki GSXR750- 1988 Read More »
The Sinclair C5 is a 3-wheeled battery operated vehicle created by Sir Clive Sinclair- inventor of the first slim-line pocket calculator, the first digital watch, and numerous personal computers. Development began in the 1970s and progressed slowly until 1983 when British legislation changed to allow sale of such a vehicle. The C5 is a recumbent
Long before internet shopping there was the Sears Roebuck & Co. catalogue. Started as R.W. Sears Watch Co., the mail-order firm offered watches and jewelry in the late 19th century. By 1894, under Sears Roebuck & Co., the catalog expanded to include sewing machines, sporting goods, musical instruments, saddles, bicycles, baby carriages—and would keep expanding
Sears (Puch) Compact DS60 Scooter- 1966 Read More »
Whizzer motor kits were introduced by Breene-Taylor Engineering Corporation, a Los Angeles maker of aircraft parts, in 1939. The kit sold for $54.95 and included an air-cooled, four-cycle engine that when added to a bicycle, enabled the rider to cruise powered by the motor. During WWII, the company was given permission by the War Production
Schwinn Whizzer Model WZ-1948 Read More »
In 1935 Californian E. Foster Salsbury, an innovative businessman, was impressed when he saw pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart using an old small motorized two-wheeler Motoped around Burbank’s Lockheed Airport. He had a vision for “a cheap and cheerful vehicle that would propel the country forward to prosperous times.” Salsbury hired inventor Austin Elmore to construct
Salsbury Model 85 Standard- 1947 Read More »
NSU began motorcycle production in 1901, four years before they began producing cars. The company prospered with motorcycles , and although air-raid bombing during World War II destroyed their factories, by the mid-1950s, NSU was the world’s biggest motorcycle maker. It is rumored that the name “Konsul” was selected for this motorcycle because it incorporated
NSU 501 Konsul II- 1952 Read More »