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Polish Motorcycles

Today in Motorcycle History

Motorcycles Built in Poland

Notes on some of the rarer Polish marques

This page lists brands for which we currently have only an historical precis.
For a more complete listing visit the Polish Index.

Fabjanski
Henryk Fabjanski of Pilica built a motorcycle c1942 fitted with a Sachs 98cc engine. Only one was constructed.

Source: Zabytkowemotocykleirowery Poland


Kempisty
Manufactured by Jan Raczynski in Warsaw 1929-1939
These were 50cc auxiliary bicycle engines mounted within the triangle of a strenghened bicycle frame.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice


LOT 1929


Malcherek
Stefan Malcherek of Poznan built 50cc and 98cc motorcycle engines from 1937 to 1939, and possibly post-war until the early 1960s.
Source: Zabytkowemotocykleirowery Poland


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MK

In the years 1933-1934 or a little earlier, Eng. Mikolaj Karpowski, a former major in the motor army, built a successful touring motorcycle powered by a 350cc two-stroke engine.

It did not enter production. Previously Karpowski had created an interesting modern passenger car, the Polonia, built in 1924. He was also the author of small inventions which improved cars; for example in 1924-1925 he built a simple fuel economy device, the last version of which was named "MK3".

Source: Polish History Archive


MOJ 1937-1939


Nieman


Perkun 1938-1939


Promot

Manufactured in Warsaw, 1969-

Using Puch engines in locally produced frames the company built road-going and off-road motorcycles with 4-speed and 6-speed gearboxes.

Promot 125cc Puch 1969

Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice



Rys 1958-1965


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SFM
Manufactured by Szczecinska Fabryka Motocykli in Szczecin (Stettin), in the buildings formerly occupied by Stoewer Werke AG.
The firm built four-stroke motorcycles from 1956 to 1964. These were Junak M07 models, which they improved over the period. Lack of demand for the model brought an end to production.
Source: Wikipedia PL


SM 500, SM, WNP, ZUCH
There were two SM marques built in Poland.
1. 1930-1935 Alfred Schweitzer & Eduard Mandelot, Warsaw, built the SM 500.
2. 1937-1939 Stefan Malcherek of Poznan built the SM 98 two-stroke, the engines being used by other manufacturers under the marques WNP 98 and Zuch 98. When Poland was attacked by both the Germans from the West and the Russians from the East under the pact which Putinists now deny existed, the motorcycle industry, along with all others in Poland, came to a halt.
SM 98, 1935-1939


Tornedo 1937-1939


WFM
WFM (Warszawska Fabrica Motocyklowa) built, among others, the successful Osa scooter.

WFM M06


Wisła 75

Manufacturer Unknown. Year of production around 1926.

An expert in the field, Mr. Stanislaw Rolinski has identified a previously unknown Polish motorcycle. It was probably built in the years 1925-1926 and so far no mention of it has been found in archival materials and professional press from the interwar period. According to Mr Rolinski, the Wisla moped was equipped with a 2-speed 75cc Sachs engine developing about 1.5 HP (1.1 kW), fitted to a chassis of Polish production - a simple tubular frame with rigid suspension and the fuel tank between the two upper beams of the frame.

The use of low-pressure balloon tyres was to ensure greater driving comfort, and the red paintwork was an additional incentive to buy. Apparently a shop with sports and tourist goods on Traugutta Street in Warsaw offered Wisla mopeds, but did not find buyers. Perhaps the reason for the lack of interest was that the price was too high in comparison with imported machines and to the quality of the moped itself.

There is very little information, but it is thought that the Wisla moped was probably the first utility two-wheeler built in Poland.

Source: Polish History Archive



Zak 1960-1963