Vintage German Motorcycles
Classic German Motorcycles
Classic German Motorcycles
This page lists brand names beginning with the letter "J" for which we currently have only an historical precis.
For a more complete listing visit the German Index.
JAK
1922-25
Kraftfahrzeuge J.A. Kraut, Gochsheim bei Schweinfurt
Lightweights fitted with 119cc, 142cc and 173cc DKW engines, and with 129cc Bekamo two-strokes (Ladepumpe-Motor).
Sources: Tragatsch p176, motor-hist-foto.de.
Jale
1923-25
Munich firm fitted air- and water-cooled 170cc two-stroke engines of their own manufacture to lightweight motorcycles.
Sources: Tragatsch p176
Javon 1929-1932
Jean Fuchs
Fahrbau Jean Fuchs und Co. Erkelenz
Located at Hindenburgstraße 30, Erkelenz (now Kölner Straße), in addition to building motorcycles Fuchs sold petrol and ran a driving school. He was well-known as a sporting cyclist and motorist in the 1920s.
Fuchs engines of 114cc were first advertised in the latter half of 1922. Villiers engines were fitted to some models, and it is likely that engines from Snob and Struco were also utilised.
Motorcycle production appears to have ceased around late 1925 , but the business continued until perhaps 1935.
A Fuchs motorcycle with a 169cc two-stroke engine has been displayed at Rheinisches Feuerwehrmuseum in Erkelenz-Lövenich.
Sources: aachener-zeitung.de; Motopedia.
J.H.C.
Built in Nuremberg by Johann Hirschmann & Co., 1921-1923
These were single-speed 200cc two-strokes with belt drive to the rear wheel, which had a rim brake.
Source: Wikipedia DE
Joka
Manufactured by Joseph Kanzler GmbH, Motorradbau, Großenhain / Saxony, in 1925.
Type IV used an Esbe two-stroke engine, and later that year models with 130cc and 175cc engines from Adma appeared. Another model was built using a Villiers 172cc two-stroke and a Jardine gearbox.
The trade press announced that the Joka would have more sophisticated engines from Küchen and Kühne for the 1926 season, but there is no evidence that production continued into that year.
Sources: Motopedia; motor-hist-foto.de.
Joma
Manufactured by Joseph Maier Fahrzeug und Lichtmaschinenbau AG Stuttgart, Ostendstrasse. 1920s
Manfred Höllwarth owns the only known survivor. He discovered the maker's details after considerable research in council records.
Source: wirtemberg.de
Jonus
Marketed by Joseph Nussbaum & Co. GmbH, Köln, 1924-1925.
It is believed that the Jonus machines were built by Alfred Wiseman of Birmingham, quite possibly obtained from NV Snob Motor-Cycles of Schiedam, Netherlands.
Jonus Models:
A snippet on German racing during that period states that "Carl Jurisch ...two days before the start of the first Deutschlandfahrt in 1924... the gearbox of his Bekamo broke. He quickly procured a 350cc Jonus from England… and won a gold medal in the difficult winter race."
In 1927 Joseph Nussbaum & Co was a Rudge-Whitworth dealer, and in 1929 was selling Matchless and James motorcycles.
Sources: Motopedia; amc-zirndorf.de.
JSL
1923-25
Manufactured by J. Schätzle, Fahrzeugfabrik, Liegnitz, Jauernstraße 67
Built their own 132cc and 180ccc two-strokes and also fitted DKW 206cc three-port engines.
Sources: Tragatsch p180, motor-hist-foto.de
Jüngerkes
Josef Jüngerkes opened a bicycle shop in Viersen around 1909 and by 1913 was also retailing motorcycles.
He began racing in 1923, riding Villiers-powered Fuchs motorcycles. He had 13 wins on the Fuchs in 1924. In 1925 he was competing using his own brand name, Jüngerkes, and several other men also rode these.
Most were equipped with 150 cc engines, and in 1926 a Villiers 175 model appeared. That year he began racing a DKW, and there is no further reference to his own brand. In 1929 the firm began retailing Dixi products (possibly Cyklon) along with P&M motorcycles and Villiers engines. Postwar, the firm serviced Ilo machines.
Source: Motopedia
Jürgen Mayerle
Schöne Linie
Jürgen Mayerle
Täferroterstraße 9
73527 Schwäbisch Gmünd
schoene-linie.de ✝
Several sidecars were manufactured by Schoene-Linie at their works near Stuttgart. Their site was active 2002-c.2016.
Sidecar models included: Bobby, Bob, Twister and Sidecar One.
Sources: Gespann-Lexikon; schoene-linie.de
Rarer German Marques
