NSU

Today in Motorcycle History

NSU Max

1) NSU Max Standard (Type 251 OSB)

Production: 1952-1954
Units built (Standard and Spezial): 1952: 62, 1953: 24403, 1954: 25528, 1955: 24254, 1956: 7400
Engine: 1 cylinder 4-stroke, dry sump with external oil tank and oil filter
HP: 17 at 6500 rpm
Engine displacement: 247 cc
Cylinder diameter: 69 mm
Piston stroke: 66 mm
Piston to cylinder wall clearance: 0.05 mm
Compression ratio: 7.4:1
Ignition timing: 7.6 mm or 36 deg. before Top Dead Center (TDC) with mechanical spark advance device in full open position
Spark plugs: W 240 T11, gap: 0.7 mm
Valve clearance (cold engine, piston in TDC, both valves closed): Intake valve: 0.05 mm, Exhaust valve: 0.10 mm
Valvetrain: OHC, camshaft driven by ULTRAMAX rods, hairpin-style valve springs
Carburetor: BING 2/26/25 main jet:105, idle jet 45, needle jet 2.68, needle first groove from top, idle screw 1.5 turns open
Transmission: 4 speed
Frame: solid NSU sheetmetal frame
Brakes: 160 mm drum brakes
Tire size: 3.25-19" (if equipped with sidecar: 3.50-19" at the rear wheel)
Weight: 155 kg
Maximum weight: 310 kg
Length: 2051 mm
Gas tank volume: 12 ltr
Oil tank volume: 2 ltr, summer: SAE 20, winter: SAE10. Change every 2000 km. Let engine idle long enough to pump the oil up into the oil tank; THEN check the dipstick!!!!)
Fuel consumption: 3.2 ltr/100 km
Top speed: 126 km/h (with passenger: 116 km/h)
General information: narrow brake drums. up to frame# 1243066 separate float chamber (fixed to the frame).

2) NSU Max Spezial (Type 251 OSB)

Production: 1954-1956
Engine: 1 cylinder 4-stroke, dry sump with external oil tank and oil filter
HP: 17 at 6500 rpm
Engine displacement: 247 cc
Cylinder diameter: 69 mm
Piston stroke: 66 mm
Piston to cylinder wall clearance: 0.05 mm
Compression ratio: 7.4:1
Ignition timing: 7.6 mm or 36 deg. before Top Dead Center (TDC) with mechanical spark advance device in full open position
Spark plugs: W 240 T11, gap: 0.7 mm
Valve clearance (cold engine, piston in TDC, both valves closed): Intake valve: 0.05 mm, Exhaust valve: 0.10 mm
Valvetrain: OHC, camshaft driven by ULTRAMAX rods, hairpin-style valve springs
Carburetor: BING 2/26/25 main jet:105, idle jet 45, needle jet 2.68, needle first groove from top, idle screw 1.5 turns open
Transmission: 4 speed
Frame: solid NSU sheetmetal frame
Brakes: 180 mm alloy drum brakes
Tire size: 3.25-19" (if equipped with sidecar: 3.50-19" at the rear wheel)
Weight: 165 kg
Maximum weight: 315 kg
Length: 2051 mm
Gas tank volume: 14 ltr
Oil tank volume: 2 ltr, summer: SAE 20, winter: SAE10. Change every 2000 km. Let engine idle long enough to pump the oil up into the oil tank; THEN check the dipstick!!!!)
Fuel consumption: 3.2 ltr/100 km
Top speed: 126 km/h (with passenger: 116 km/h)
General information: frame numbers 1274974 to 1830800, engine numbers 775575 to 3224061, full width alloy brake drums.

Tub Maxson's Special Max

3) NSU Supermax (Type 251 OSB)

  • 251 OSB Supermax
  • 4) NSU Max 300 (Export, Type 301 OSB)

    Production: 1955-?
    Engine: 1 cylinder 4-stroke, dry sump with external oil tank and oil filter
    HP: 21 at 6600 rpm
    Engine displacement: 297 cc
    Cylinder diameter: 72 mm
    Piston stroke: 73 mm
    Compression ratio: 7.6:1
    Ignition timing: 8.4 mm before Top Dead Center (TDC) with mechanical spark advance device in full open position
    Spark plugs: W 240 T11, gap: 0.7 mm
    Valve clearance ?
    Valvetrain: OHC, camshaft driven by ULTRAMAX rods, hairpin-style valve springs
    Carburetor: BING 2/27.5/5 main jet:110, idle jet 45, needle jet 2.66, or BING 2/27.5/7 main jet:100, idle jet 50, needle jet 2.66
    Transmission: 4 speed
    Frame: solid NSU sheetmetal frame
    Brakes: drum brakes
    Tire size: 3.25-19" (if equipped with sidecar: 3.50-19" at the rear wheel)
    Gas tank volume: 14 ltr
    Oil tank volume: 2 ltr, summer: SAE 20, winter: SAE10. Change every 2000 km. Let engine idle long enough to pump the oil up into the oil tank; THEN check the dipstick!!!!)
    Fuel consumption: 3.2 ltr/100 km
    Top speed: ? km/h
    General information: Identification by "300" at cylinder and cylinderhead, extra "3" near engine number
    : 1955-?
    Engine: 1 cylinder 4-stroke, dry sump with external oil tank and oil filter
    HP: 21 at 6600 rpm
    Engine displacement: 297 cc
    Cylinder diameter: 72 mm
    Piston stroke: 73 mm
    Compression ratio: 7.6:1
    Ignition timing: 8.4 mm before Top Dead Center (TDC) with mechanical spark advance device in full open position
    Spark plugs: W 240 T11, gap: 0.7 mm
    Valve clearance ?
    Valvetrain: OHC, camshaft driven by ULTRAMAX rods, hairpin-style valve springs
    Carburetor: BING 2/27.5/5 main jet:110, idle jet 45, needle jet 2.66, or BING 2/27.5/7 main jet:100, idle jet 50, needle jet 2.66
    Transmission: 4 speed
    Frame: solid NSU sheetmetal frame
    Brakes: drum brakes
    Tire size: 3.25-19" (if equipped with sidecar: 3.50-19" at the rear wheel)
    Gas tank volume: 14 ltr
    Oil tank volume: 2 ltr, summer: SAE 20, winter: SAE10. Change every 2000 km. Let engine idle long enough to pump the oil up into the oil tank; THEN check the dipstick!!!!)
    Fuel consumption: 3.2 ltr/100 km
    Top speed: ? km/h
    General information: Identification by "300" at cylinder and cylinderhead, extra "3" near engine number

    5) NSU Max Scrambler (for U.S. market only)

    Production: late 50s
    Engine: 1 cylinder 4-stroke, dry sump with external oil tank and oil filter
    HP: Supermax engines with slightly increased performance.
    General information: Off-road design. Almost no information about this bike available . . . We need YOUR info here!

    Information on this page based on work by Hartmut Schouwer