Vintage German Motorcycles
Classic German Motorcycles
Classic German Motorcycles
This page lists brand names beginning with the letter "M" for which we currently have only an historical precis. See also the List of German Motorcycles.
Mabret
Operating in 1927 and 1928, the firm used 346 sv and ohv Kühne engines, and sometimes the larger 496cc sidevalve.
Source: Tragatsch p197
Maco
Using DKW two-strokes and 198cc sidevalve engines of their own the firm built motorcycles from 1921 to 1926.
Source: Tragatsch p197
Mada Autino
Manufactured by Maschinenfabrik Danger in Säckingen from 1947 to 1949
A tricycle for disabled war veterans, it had a single wheel at the rear. A 125cc JLO two-stroke engine was perched above the front axle with controls mounted on the handlebars.
A two-seater version with a 250cc engine, 3-speed gearbox and four wheels named the Mada Libelle was revealed in 1947, but this did not sell well and production ceased that same year.
Sources: Oldtimerclub Lachendorf, et al
Mafa
An established bicycle manufacturer, they built motorcycles from 1923 to 1927 using DKW two-strokes and Kühne 348cc ohv and 496cc sv engines.
Source: Tragatsch p197
Maiwald, Mascottchen
Manufactured by Neuköllner Maschinenfabrik, 1952-1953
Address: Berlin SO 36 Köpenicker Str. 147
This was a small scooter with a 50cc engine. Apparently it was underpowered and failed to find buyers.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Mallon
Sportmotorräder + Motoballzubehör manufactured by Jonny Mallon of Meinerzhagen, near Cologne.
Motoball models K2 (98cc AX100), M4 and M4a (Rotax 250cc Type 257), and M6 (TM 250).
Sources: François-Marie Dumas, mallon-motorsport.de
Mammut (Bielefeld)
There were three marques of this name built in Germany, as well as the Munch Mammut. Two were built in Bielfeld.
In 1924-1929 Hermann Froböse of Mammut-Fahrrad-Werke GmbH, Bielefeld, produced a 249 cc two-stroke motorcycle with a Baumi engine.
Between 1953 and 1956 Mammut mopeds with 50 cc JLO, Zündapp and Sachs engines 50cc were produced. These were identical to mopeds sold by Meister and Phanomen, which were also based in Bielefeld.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice, owl.museum-digital.de
Mammut 1925-33 (Nuremberg)
Mamof
Built a lightweight motorcycles using DKW 145cc and Grade two-strokes along with their own 155cc sidevalve engines from 1922 to 1924.
Source: Tragatsch p201
Manderbach 1925-1960
Mas
Limited production of lightweights with 183cc two-stroke engines, 1923-1924.
There was a well-established Italian marque of the same name.
Source: Tragatsch p202
Maasch
Manufactured by Ernst Maasch, Berlin SO., Wrangelstr. 112, 1904
The marque was possibly named "ZIEL".
Zwerad-Motoren und Motor-Zweirädern.
Address also listed as Berlin SO., Mariannenstrasse 31—32
Source: contemporary literature
Matador
Manufactured by C. Klose, Staßfurt, 1924-1926
Well-received by the motorcycle press the firm offered two models, the second of 269cc with a tubular frame. Inflation made it impossible to continue and they closed in 1926.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Maurer 1922-1926
MAW 1950s, DDR
Mawi
Address: Norddeutsche Motorradwerke, Marquardt & Winter, Swinemünde
From 1923 to 1930 the firm built DKW 173cc two-strokes and JAP 198cc to 546cc sv and ohv engines, conventional chassis of sturdy design.
1924 models: 148cc 2½ PS DKW two-stroke, 195cc 5 PS 3-speed four-stroke.
A Marquardt was associated with the Frima marque.
Source: Tragatsch p205
Max
Manufactured by Auto-Motor-Industrie GmbH in Berlin, 1924-1925
The firm produced 180cc two-stroke and 446cc sidevalve single-cylinder motorcycles.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice, Tragatsch p205
Mayrette 1924-33
Meteor 1924-1926 (Two different makes)
Merco
Manufactured by Mercur Motoren GmbH, Berlin 1922-1924
Also marketed as the Record, these motorcycles had frames built by Hugo Gruhn and engines from Franz Krause.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Meybein
Manufactured by Willibald Meyer, Mittfeld
From 1922 to 1926 the firm employed DKW 119cc and 142cc two-strokes engines, along with a 269cc two-stroke and another with a horizontal cylinder. Most if not all had belt drive to the rear wheel. The engines were very low slung in the frame, and the machines were of quite basic construction with rim brake on the rear wheel only.
Sources: Tragatsch p208; contemporary literature.
Meybra
The firm built basic machines powered by their own 168cc two-stroke engines, 1922-1926
Source: Tragatsch p208
Meyfa
Manufactured by Berliner Mopedbau H. Meyer, Berlin-Reinickendorf, 1951-1955
Designed to be marketed to women, some mopeds were powered by AMO FM50K two-stroke bicycle attachment motors similar to the Victoria FM38.
Models include the Teddy and Troll, both with 50cc JLO FP 50 engines.
They were possibly also marketed under the Teddy brand.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice, mo-ped.se
M.F.
Manufactured by Max Fischer, Nuremberg-Johannis, 1922 - 1926
The factory built motorcycles using 492cc BMW boxer engines, and 347cc and 497cc side-valve singles from Blackburne.
Source: meisterdinger.de
MFB
Manufactured by Gerhard W. Lehmann & Co., Hamburg, 1923-1924, who also built automobiles. The motorcycles had wooden frames and used 198cc Nabob and 293cc SV JAP engines.
Hoco of Minden continued construction after M.F.B. ceased trading.
N.B. 1. * 1922-1923 are dates given by another source. 2. There is also a post-WWII Italian marque of the same name: MFB
Source: Tragatsch (p208)
MFZ
Manufactured in Berlin by Motorfahrzeug GmbH, 1921-1928
Various addresses including Berlin W 9, Lindenstr. 38
The motorcycles used 200cc, 250cc, and in 1925, 350cc engines.
MOTOR CYCLE DEVELOPMENTS IN GERMANY.
One of the most extensively used lightweights appears to be the M.F.Z., which is fitted with a single-cylinder overhead-valve engine, the valve operation of which is by push rods and rockers. This has the change-speed mechanism combined with the crank case and final drive by belt.
The Motor Cycle October 6th, 1921.
MGF
Manufactured by Mühlbauer & Co., Berlin, 1923-1931
The firm specialised in high-performance two-stroke engines based on the Ruppe / Bekamo principle which were sold in large numbers to other motorcycle manufacturers.
They built belt-drive motorcycles, both with compressors, of 140cc and 175cc. When production of these ceased they continued making accessories.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
MGH
Manufactured by M.G.H. Heilbronn 1927-1939
Maschinenbau-Gesellschaft Heilbronn produced engines designed by Richard and Xavier Küchen from about 1927 and these were supplied to a variety of other companies including Atlantis. The firm built commercial vehicles including Lastendreiräder (cargo tricycles) powered by the "K" engines. MGH was quite a large firm which built locomotives, steam rollers and other heavy machinery. Established in the 1850s, they survived until 2007.
There is a motorcycle in existence with the manufacture ID plate clearly reading "M.B.G. Heilbronn, K-Motor, System Küchen, Baujah 1934", which GTU says was built in Lahr.
Sources: kradblatt.de, wikipedia/de, GTU Oldtimerservice.
Mielke
Felix Mielke built racing machines based on the BMW R75 fitted with a Fiat Topolino 500cc engine from 1947 to 1951.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Mimoa
1923-1925
Manufactured by Mittelbadische Motorradfabrik, Bruno Felbers & Son, Achern, Baden
Used 142 cc two-stroke Rohöl (crude oil) engines from Julius Löwy
Source: Tragatsch p211, wikipedia.nl
Miranda
Built in Dortmund by Pirol Werke GmbH, 1951-1954
Introduced in 1949 as the JLO-powered Schweppe, the Miranda used 150cc Sachs and 200cc Kurchen engines.
See also Schweppe
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice, Tragatsch p211
MJ
1925. Built HO twins of 596 and 746cc which they supplied to other manufacturers including Heller. The Mehne firm purchased the company when it encountered difficulties. MJ also built an interesting two-stroke motorcycle which did not enter production.
Source: Tragatsch p211
M.J.S.
Manufactured by Schönfeld & Schwarz, Nuremberg
The factory produced limited numbers of motorcycles with 245cc two-stroke engines. Possibly also known as N.I.S.
Source: meisterdinger.de
MMM
Produced limited numbers of 148cc two-stroke motorcycles 1925-1927.
Source: Tragatsch p212
Mofa
Built 70cc and 148cc bicycle attachment engines along with complete motor bicycles from 1920 to 1925.
Source: Tragatsch p212
Mohr
In the 1960s and 1970s Alfons Mohr of Hausen (am Nürburgring) built 50cc racing machines, among them Mohr-Kreidler and Mohr-Derbi.
Sources: kreidler-winkelmann.de, et al
MON
Manufactured by Maschinenfabrik Oberndorf Neckar in Oberndorf, 1953-1955
Mopeds powered by 50cc Rex engines.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Monos 1924~1929
Mops
Manufactured by Schmidt & Bensdort GmbH of Mannheim, Germany in 1924-1925.
The Mops (En: Pug) Klein-Kraftwagen three-wheeler was powered by a 13hp 348cc air-cooled engine which drove the single rear wheel. The open-bodied RHD two-seater weighed 185 kg and could achieve a top speed of 75 km/h. None have survived.
Sources: 3-wheelers.com, period literature, Wikipedia (DE), oldtimerclub-lachendorf.de, et al
Mota Wiesel 1948-52
Motorist
Manufactured by Dobron-Motorist GmbH of Berlin, 1923-1925
The first model used a DKW 150cc two-stroke engine, followed by a JAP 350cc model. The machine was also marketed as the Dobron Motorist.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Motor-Treibrad
Manufactured by Luftfahrzeug Gesellschaft of Berlin, an aircraft company, shortly after the end of World War One. In 1919 they built a Fahrrad-Hilfsmotor in the form of a powered trailer which pushed a bicycle, thus putting the cart before the horse.
Source: period advertising
Möve
Manufactured by Walter & Co. in Mühlhausen, 1903-1908
Also known as the Möwe, these motorcycles were fitted with Fafnir 3.5 hp single-cylinder engines and 5 hp V-twins.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Müco
Active 1921-1924, the Muco firm built bicycle attachment engines of 118cc which were fitted adjacent to the rear wheel.
Source: Tragatsch p222
Müller-Gespanne
Mueller/Sauer-Gespannbau has been in business for over 40 years. When her partner Peter Sauer died in 2020, Elsbeth Mueller, an ardent sidecar rider, assumed management of the firm.
Source: sauer-sidecar.de
Mufag of Hanover 1950s
Mufi (Imperator)
Built a basic motorcycle with 348cc three-port deflector piston two-stroke in 1925-26.
Source: Tragatsch p222
MWR
Mathias Winekls was bicycle manufacturer around 1950 from Mönchengladbach Rheydt.
An example has a Sachs engine, probably 50cc. MWR logo on tank and headstock. Has pedals. Ladies model with dropped frame, valanced guards and chainguard. Rather pretty.
Source: Farben-Schiessl
Rarer German Marques
