This page lists brands beginning with the letter "R" for which we currently have only an historical precis.
For a more complete listing visit the German Index.
Raakete
Manufactured by Uelzener Maschinenfabrik Otto Raake
Powered by Alba engines. This factory employed Franz Bücker, who went on to become a major force in the motorcycle industry.
The company was sold by Raake in 1940, recommenced operations in Neuenhain-Taunus in 1948 and remains in business as a manufacturer of concrete mixers.
Sources: faz.net, guenthers-fotogalerie.de, et al.
Rapier
Manufactured in 1953 and 1954 by Rapier Fahrradfabrik, Märkische Straße 23, Bielefeld. Initially they offered kits into which appropriate engines from JLO, Sachs and Zundapp could be installed, and also produced complete mopeds.
Sources: Moped Archive, GTU Oldtimerservice
Ratingia
Record
1922-24
Built basic machines using two-stroke 147cc engines of their own construction. The engine was mounted high in the triangle of a strengthened bicycle frame, with belt drive to the rear wheel.
Source: Tragatsch p259, motor-hist-foto.de.
Reform
The Reform-Motorrad of 1930 is very similar to the Fels of 1931 and the 1930 Presto Ballon.
Source: oldsachsmotor.de
Rehling
Founded by Carl Rehling of Bielefeld in 1919, the company changed ownership but not the name and produced 247cc motorcycles in 1924 and 1925.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Rennsteig 1925-30
Rex of Behringersdorf
Rex Kraftfahrzeug GmbH, Behringersdorf near Nuremberg. 1923 - 1925
The company produced a small number of two-stroke motorcycles. At least one remains, and has chain drive to the gearbox and belt-drive to the rear wheel, which has a rim brake. No front brake.
Source: meisterdinger.de
Ribi
Manufactured by Binnewies & Sprecher, Berlin 1923-1925
These were quality machines of 200 and 250cc which took advantage of the tax and licence-free laws then in effect. They had kickstarter, clutch and a two-speed gearbox.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Rinne
Rinne-Motorengesellschaft mbH of Berlin, 1925-1930, was primarily an engine manufacturer of air-cooled and water-cooled two-strokes of 124, 173 and 247cc which they supplied to other motorcycle firms including Bücker, Lesshafft, Leto, Wecoob, Slevogt amd Schlimme. They also built complete motorcycles designed and raced by Max Hucke, the last of which was produced in 1928.
The 131cc engine was air-cooled and horizontal, and was mounted in a very elegant loop frame with a cylindrical tank.
The 8545[1] site reports that they built Lastendreiräder (cargo tricycles) in 1923.
N.B. Possibly related to Flugzeugwerke Albert Rinne.
Sources:
1. Automobilia 85-45
2. GTU Oldtimerservice
Rinnerberger
Manufactured by Rinnerberger & Co. G.m.b.H., Hamburg 6, Merkurstrasse 32, 1927-1929
Built three-wheel commercial goods transports in four versions, three of which were tax and driving license free. Powered by JLO 100cc, 200cc and larger engines, they had a driven rear wheel and two front wheels supporting a carrier box. Steering was by steering wheel.
They were marketed as "Kondor" in 1927, and "Komet" in 1928.
Source: Axel Oskar Mathieu Archive
Riwina
Manufactured by the Ridder Brothers of Bielefeld, 1923-1924
Herford König supplied 233cc engines for these machines.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Robako
1924-26
Berlin firm which fitted Bekamo 129cc and MGF 132cc engines to lightweights.
Source: Tragatsch p272
Roco
Manufactured by Roco Motorfahrzeuge AG, Berlin-Charlottenburg, 1922-1925
These were robust machines powered by horizontal two-strokes of 110 and 147cc with Bosch magneto ignition. The engines were possibly supplied by Cockerell.
Motorcycle racer Johannes Rössig was associated with the company, along with brothers Hermann and Heinrich Rossner.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice, wikipedia.nl, Tragatsch p262
Roeder
Manufactured by Roeder & Co., Hanover, 1906-1914
Known as Auto-Phaetons, these were effectively two heavy bicycles running side by side with an engine in one and a seat or carrier in the centre, driving via a chain.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Roland
Manufactured by Hugo Marschin in Berlin, 1923-1924.
These were light motorcycles with 132cc Bekamo and 175cc DKW engines.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
N.B. Roland of Dessau, automobile manufacturer 1924-26, is unrelated.
Rolifix
Manufactured by Alfons Lipp, Frankfurt / Main, Freiherrvom-Stein-Strasse 11, 1956-1958
Introduced in 1956 as the Blitz 57, it was renamed to Rolifix in 1957. Powered by a 47 cc Sachs engine, it had good handling characteristics, brakes on all three wheels, and a payload of 250kg.
Source: Axel Oskar Mathieu Archive
Rollfix
Manufactured by RollfixEilwagen G.m.b.H. of Wandsbek, near Hamburg, 1923-1936
Three-wheeled transport-wagens, some of which came under the tax-free class, fitted with JLO and DKW engines. Produced in both "muzzle-loader" and "breech-loader" forms, they did well until the mid-1930s when stiff competition from Zundapp and Goliath forced them out of the market.
From 1936 construction continued at the Stobernack firm, also of Wandsbek, under the name Motrix.
Sources: Axel Oskar Mathieu Archive, Automobilia 85-45.
Roter Teufel
1923-25
Bismarck Motoren GmbH, Berlin-Charlottenburg, Bismarckstraße 102
Berlin firm which fitted their own 170cc four-stroke sidevalve engines to light motorcycles.
Source: Tragatsch p263
RS
Two different German companies built motorcycles under the RS marque concurrently.
Rogge & Stiller of Berlin built two-stroke engines 1924-1925
Scheid-Henniger of Karlsruhe built RS motorcycles 1925-1928. These were also marketed under the SH brand.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice, Tragatsch p272.
RUD
1927-30
Dresden firm which built handsome roadsters using Kuhne, MAG and JAP engines of 348cc to 748cc.
Source: Tragatsch p265
Ruppe
Manufactured by Ruppe-Motor GmbH of Berlin
Hugo Ruppe (the Sohn in A. Ruppe & Sohn, famed auto maker) has quite a history, having been associated with Piccolo, MAF, Rasmussen (where he developed the engine later known as DKW), and Bekamo, which he founded. He also built the Kaelert & Ruppe in Czechoslovakia.
He produced 100cc auxilliary bicycle engines under his own name from 1927 to 1930.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
RUT
August Gernet, Motorfahrzeugbau, Nürnberg
Built motorcycles with an external flywheel 132cc two-stroke engine.
Source: meisterdinger.de
Runge
Fahrzeugfabrik Harold Runge, Hannover 401. 1923-26[1]
Built limited numbers of motorcycles using 125cc and 148cc DKW two-strokes, and also OHV engines from Paque. They also built their own 197cc sidevalve engines which were supplied to other manufacturers including Freco.
Notes.
1. Possibly built from 1921.
Sources: Tragatsch p267, motor-hist-foto.de, Wikipedia.nl
Ruwisch
Karl Ruwisch of Cologne built a light scooter powered by a Victoria 32cc two-stroke mounted above the front wheel, 1949-1959(1).
Notes: 1. Dates vary with some sources giving first production as early as 1947, which would make it Germany's first post-war scooter. Tragatsch gives 1948-49, Wikipedia NL 1948-59.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
RWN
Manufactured by Rudolf Weide of Nordhausen 1927-1930.
Three-wheeler with engines of 200cc to 500cc from Küchen, JAP and Schliha. The front wheel and forks were motorcycle-style, controlled by a steering wheel. On some models, the driver and passenger sat on a bench seat located directly above the rear axle - others had a motorcycle-style front end and an automotive steering wheel, with the goods compartment at the rear. Production was limited, and it is thought that they produced perhaps 80 vehicles.
Sources: motor-car.net, Automobilia 85-45, et al.
