Vintage German Motorcycles
Classic German Motorcycles
Classic German Motorcycles
This page lists brands names beginning with the letter "S" for which we currently have only an historical precis.
For a more complete listing visit the German Index.
SAR
Built in Berlin by Maschinenfabrik Raetsch, 1923-1930
Models A 27 and B 27 were powered by their own 125cc two-strokes, later models with engines from Kuehne.
The marque is covered in some depth by Karl Reese in his book "Berliner Motorräder"
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Sarolette, Libelle
Manufactured by Herbert Schulze, Berlin, 1949-1952
The Sarolette scooter was introduced in 1949 with a 100cc Sachs engine. The following year the Libelle 100 (Sachs) and Libelle 120 (JLO) scooters appeared, only to disappear into the mist two years later.
There was also a Libelle 3-wheeler built in Austria 1952-1953.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Sartorius
Bunzlau firm built machines with 195cc sidevalve and 348cc ohv Kühne engines between 1924 and 1926.
Source: Tragatsch p269
Saturn 1908-1927
Schliha 1924-1933
Schlimme
Falkenberg firm built lightweights powered by DKW 1842cc and 175cc two-strokes 1924-1925.
Source: Tragatsch p270
Schlör
Manufactured in 1960 by Karl Schlör, Kleinfahrzeugbau, Ludwigsburg, Karlstr. 28, these were 50cc mopeds with JLO and Sachs engines.
Schlör had attracted considerable attention in 1939 when he built a very unusual aerodynamic car, the Schlörwagen. It was far ahead of its time, but was badly damaged during the war and subsequently disappeared.
Sources: mo-ped.se, en.wikipedia.org, et al
Schmidt, EB
Manufactured by Ehrhardt B. Schmidt in Leipzig, 1924.
It appears to have been a lightweight, single-speed belt drive motorcycle with pedal start.
Source: motorräder-aus-leipzig.de
Schmidt, RS
Robert Schmidt of Leisning and Berlin, 1921-1924
These were lightweight 200cc motorcycles with the engine inclined at 45 degrees offered by Schmidt under his own name and also his initials, RS. Similar machines were marketed by AMAG and it is unclear which of the firms manufactured them.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Schminke 1953-1970s
Schmitz
Manufactured in 1938 by Gebr. Schmitz, Jacobsstr. 1, Trier, established 1908.
These were delivery tricycles based on a motorcycle with a goods container mounted on two wheels at the front. They were also available in pedal tricycle format, without engine.
Source: Axel Oskar Mathieu Archive
Schneider
Manufactured in Görlitz, 1924-1926
Fitted DKW 142cc 175cc and 206cc two-stroke engines to their own lightweight motorcycles.
Source: Tragatsch p270
Schnell-Horex 1952-1954
Schroff-Record
Manufactured by Georg Schroff of Berlin 1923-1925
These were bespoke motorcycles with engines from Franz Krause. They had chain drive and two-speed gearbox, and were available in red or black. The same - or very similar - machines were marketed under the G.S. brand.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Schüler
Manufactured by Luftreederei Max Schüler of Osnabrück, 1923-1925
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Schunk
1926-1928 Zella-Mehlis (Thüringen)
Source: wikipedia.de
Schütt
1933-1934
Paul Schütt of Flensburg designed and built these interesting machines using a transverse-mounted 196cc two-stroke in a Duralumin frame.
Source: Tragatsch p270
Schürhoff 1923~1953
SCK
Manufactured in Cologne 1924-1925
SCK Motorradwerke GmbH, originally a garment company, built motorcycles using 350 and 500cc engines from JAP and MAG fitted to British frames. Sales were slow.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Securus 1906
Seegard
Manufactured in Berlin by Fietz, Paul & Co, 1924-1925
These were motorcycles with 150cc and 200cc engines from Cambra, Alba and Rapid, according to customer choice. Unfortunately, the customers chose not to.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Seel 1974-1990
Seith
Manufactured in Hof (Saale) in the 1950s, these were children's motorcycles powered by 38cc Victoria two-stroke engines. They are believed to be sought after by collectors.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Sept & Unger (S&U)
1925-1926. Michael Sept and Fritz Unger of Schwabacher Straße 67 in Nürnberg
The firm acquired ENAG in 1925 and some machines were built under that marque.
Sources: meisterdinger.de, wikipedia.de
Servos Biene 1952
Sewüt
Schweinfurt und Würzburg, 1924-1926
Built lightweight motorcycles fitted with DKW 142cc 175cc and 206cc two-stroke engines
Source: Tragatsch p272
SFW
1924-1926. The company resumed manufacture of the 2.5hp two-stroke motorcycles which Nordstern had built before it became bankrupt in 1924.
Source: Tragatsch p272
Sieg 1922-1930
Siemens-Schuckert 1899-1908
Sigurd 1954-56, Cassel
Simplex
Manufactured by Orion Aktiengesellschaft of Berlin, 1921-1925
Later known for their Orionette and Motorette marques, the Simplex had a 98cc bicycle auxiliary engine. The "Orion-Simplex" appears in a catalogue for 1922.
N.B. Several firms used variations of the Simplex brand.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice; motor-lit-berlin.de.
Snob 1921-25
Solomobile
Manufactured by Solomobil GmbH in Berlin 1920 to 1923.
The firm built a tricycle with an air-cooled engine, and also produced an automobile.
Source: motor-car.net
Sommer
Manufactured by Jochen Sommer Motorradmanufaktur, Eppstein, 2002-
With considerable experience as a trader in Indian Enfield motorcycles since the 1990s selling original units along with modified Scrambler and Clubman versions, the firm began building their own machines using Sommer Diesel 462 engines with German frames and Enfield componentry.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice, motorradmanufaktur.de
Sortimo
The ProCargo CT1 electric cargo tricycle was a joint venture by bicycle firm HNF Heisenberg and Sortimo.
Introduced in August 2017, production ceased around 2020.
Sources: velostrom.de, mysortimo.de.
Spindler
Kassel, 1922-25
Built lightweights using Bekamo 149cc two-stroke engines
Source: Tragatsch p276
Spiess
Manufactured by Otto Spiess in Berlin 1902 and 1907, the motorcycles had singles and twin-cylinders engines from Minerva, Zedel and Fafnir.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Staiger 1956-1969
Standard of Lüneburg 1933
Star
The firm was established by HF Günter in Berlin, 1920, and was sold the following year to Deutsche Werke AG (D-Rad), also of Berlin.
The Star was a 391cc horizontally opposed twin.
See also D-Rad.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Steber
Three-wheeler deliver vans (Motor-dreiräder) built in Frankfurt 1926-1927 using two-stroke and four-stroke engines.
An obscure marque of which little is known.
Source: Axel Oskar Mathieu Archive
Steidinger
1925-27
Motorfahrzeugbau Steidinger, St. Georgen, Schwarzwald
Built lightweights with 199cc two-stroke engines mounted in triangulated frames.
Sources: Tragatsch p277, motor-hist-foto.de.
Steigboy 1921-1930
Steinbach
Manufactured by Franz-Josef Steinbach of Saarbrücken, 1984-1989
Known as the Steinbach-Rotax, the 500S was powered by a 504 Rotax and late in the piece the 600S with a 560cc Rotax was built. The frame was designed by Walter Baumgarten, or based on it, and closely resembled the Egli.
The FJS machines were available in race-tuned guise suitable for SOS racing.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice, et al.
Stellbrink
Manufactured by Stellbrink Fahrradwerke of Hillegossen, near Bielefeld, 1934-1950
A limited number of Sachs-powered motorcycles were built before the war, with production resuming in 1945. Post-war models included the MF 98 with a JLO engine, and the MG 125E also with a JLO. There were also mopeds with Zundapp engines.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice, Moped Archive
Steudel 1908-1927
Sticherling
Manufactured by Kraftfahrzeugwerke W. Sticherling & Co., Engeln bei Magdeburg, 1922-1926
The firm's primary and probably only model G 26 was a fairly basic motorcycle powered by a 173cc DKW two-stroke engine, belt drive and long footboards.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice, Tragatsch p278, motorradphoto.de
Stock of Liepzig
Manufactured by W. Stock, Fahrzeugbau GmbH, Leipzig W33
These were commmercial three-wheelers built around 1932, believed to have been sourced from DKW and FRAMO
Source: motorräder-aus-leipzig.de
Stoewer 1904-1905
Stolco
1922-24
Manufacturer: Stollstein & Co., Stuttgart, Ostendstraße 83
Using Grade 148cc two-stroke engines they built lightweights similar to a great many others of the early 1920s.
Sources: Tragatsch p278
Stricker 1931-1955
Struco
Manufactured by Struchtemeier & Co. of Bielefeld, 1921-1924
Founded in 1901 as a bicycle manufacturer, the firm built clip-on engines and powered bicycles. Their two-speed auxiliary bicycle engines drove the rear wheel via chain and were sold to many other companies in the area.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Stukenbrok 1914~1925
Sturm
1923-25
Sturm Fahrzeugwerk Dierssen & Co., Lüneborg
Built lightweights using Alba engines.
The name reappeared in the 1960s as Gebruder Sturm of Plochingen, builders of utility tricycles.
Sources: Tragatsch p278, motor-hist-foto.de, Axel Oskar Mathieu Archive
Sturmvogel 1907
Sudbrack 1949-1951
Superia
1925-28
Built and raced by Adolf Kornmannn of Karlsruhe using 348cc and 498cc Kürchen ohc engines, and also a 496cc sv engine from ECE. Established endurance records with Erich Stolz as co-rider.
Source: Tragatsch p280
S.U.T.
Manufactured by Scholz & Tegener GmbH, Berlin 1921-1927
Their first models had 192cc four-stroke engines, followed in 1925 by tax-exempt 198cc lightweights, and 250 and 350cc motorcycles, the unit-construction engines and frames manufactured in-house.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
Rarer German Marques
