Vintage German Motorcycles
Vintage German Motorcycles
Classic German Motorcycles
This page lists brand names beginning with the letter "N" for which we currently have only an historical precis. See also the List of German Motorcycles.
Nabob
Built 198cc two-stroke engines which were fitted to MFB and possibly Meister machines in the first half of the 1920s.
Sources: motorrad-oldtimer-photo-archiv.de, Tragatsch under MFB.
Namapo 1901-1924
Nassovia
Limited production of motorcycles powered by 2.7hp Anzani engines, built in 1925 only
Sources: Tragatsch p225
National 1930s-1940s
Necko
Marketed by Neckermann-Versand KG from 1954 to 1960, the Necko used JLO engines and came in three versions, the 100, the 200 and the Luxe. These were built by Geier-Werke.
Neckermann also rebadged mopeds from Komar in Poland.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Niedersachsen
Manufactured by Johs. Tündemann Motor-Fahrzeug-Bau Hermannsburg, c.1920
Powered by a 4-stroke engine, possibly Gruhn.
Source: Source: motor-lit-berlin
Nemalette
Manufactured by Netzschkauer Maschinenfabrik of Netzschkau in Saxony, 1923-1925
This was a two-seater tricycle with front wheel steering. The air-cooled 200cc 2-stroke engine was mounted at the rear driving the axle via chain. Claimed performance was 50 km/h.
In 1945 the company was taken by the Russians and the owners, brothers Franz and Gottwald Stark, were imprisoned in Buchenwald Special Camp No. 2, where they were killed. The Russians seem to have learned much from the Nazis.
Sources: Oldtimerclub Lachendorf, de.wikipedia.org, et al.
Nera, Neroba
Built in Kirchentellinsfurt by Raiser & Söhne from 1949 to 1950, the Nera scooter had a JLO 120cc engine whilst the similar Neroba used a 150cc Sachs.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Nestoria 1923-1931
Neve
Heinrich Neve Motor- und Fahrradwerke, Neumünster, Altonaer Str. 1924-1926
The company was one of the first to fit the then-new 132cc and 170cc ILO engines to their own frames.
Source: Tragatsch p226, et al
NFW
Manufactured by Niedersächsische FahrradWerke
Late 40s early 50s moped
Source: Farben-Schiessl
NIS
Operating from 1925-1926, the firm fitted 269cc JAP two-strokes and 293cc JAP sidevalve engines into their own conventionally styled frames.
They were possibly also known as M.J.S.
Source: Tragatsch p228
NKF
Using Bekamo 132cc engines they built lightweights from 1924 to 1925.
Source: Tragatsch p228
NMK-Radmotor
Manufactured by Navigator-Motoren-G.m.b.H., Karlsruhe i. Baden, Westendstraße
Around 1925 the Karlsruhe firm produced a two-stroke bicycle attachment engine of 42×37mm bore/stroke fitted above the front wheel. It is believed they also built Lastendreiräder (cargo tricycles).
Source: motor-hist-foto.de
Nordap 1950s
Nordstern
Beginning in 1922, Nordstern built motorcycles with 2.5hp two-stroke engines. The SFW firm purchased Nordstern when it failed in 1924.
Source: Tragatsch p229
Norwed
Manufactured 1924-25
Norddeutsche Fahrzeugwerk GmbH of Hanover built motorcycles using 348 and 498cc engines from Kühne. Blackburne engines were also available to order.
N.B. The marque is sometimes referred to as Norved. The firm's name is also given as Norwed Fahrzeugbau Braunschweig. In the 1960s, Norwed & Bauer of Braunschweig imported Wartburg and Trabant vehicles from the GDR.
Sources: Tragatsch p232; period literature; et al.
NUX
Manufactured 1924-1925
Built lightweights fitted with their own two-stroke deflector-piston engines. Another victim of the hyperinflation period.
Source: Tragatsch p235
NWF
Manufactured by Nordwestdeutschen Fahrzeugbau of Wilhelmshaven.
These were microcars built under licence to Elektromaschinenbau Fulda, and were advertised as the Fuldamobil NWF 200. These were fitted with a 175cc Sachs engine to obviate limitations due to German road rules.
The firm was managed by Karl Schmitt, and much of the design work was done by Norbert Stevenson, who left to work with Romanus Müthing at Pinguin early in 1954.
Some 700 of them were built in the years 1954 and 1955. NWF had planned on much higher volume production, but during this period Messerschmit had grown considerably, and BMW had announced the Isetta. Sales had stalled, the warehouse was full of unsold cars, and NWF sold quite a number back to Fulda to recoup the licencing fees. They were in serious trouble, production ceased in September 1955, and the firm entered bankruptcy.
Several have survived, one of which was in the collection of the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum in Georgia, USA.
Sources: Oldtimerclub Lachendorf, motor-car.net, et al
Rarer German Marques
