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Thursday, October 23, 2014

2 Unique motorcyccles from the past

After a long time I did not write about antique motorcycles, this time the writing subject is two German made motorcycles which is unique in terms of both design and technical and are made in the period before the second world war.
An art-deco styled front-wheeled drive motorcycle called Friedenstaube Motorrad (Peace Dove motorcycle), developed by Robert Killinger & Walter Freund in the 1938. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/30OLYow)
Discovering motorcycles that defied their time, these peculiar and extraordinary machines, ahead of their eras, continue to cast a timeless allure. With their avant-garde designs and revolutionary features, these unconventional marvels challenge norms and captivate enthusiasts today. Their lasting impression echoes through the years, serving as a testament to innovation that transcends temporal boundaries.

1. Megola
Megola motorcycles designed by three German Engineers named MEixner, GOckerell and LAndgraf in Munich and was made between 1920 to 1925. This bike uses a sv (side valve)-5 cylinder radial engine with 640 cc and 14 hp in the front wheel.

If you look at Megola machine that has great torque, so as to make this motorcycle accelerates from (almost) zero mph up to a maximum speed with only one gear. At the time of stopping, the motorcycle engine must be turned off.
Megola Motorcycle. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1nzYDqL)
And if you want to use it again, the rider must had to push to start the engine again. Imagine if you ride the bike on on a street that has a many traffic lights and vehicles, you must have been exhausted before reaching the destination.
Megola is a motorcycle with a front-wheel drive. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1nzYDqL)
Although somewhat unique and strange, this Megola had to succeeded in the race with riders like Toni Bauhofer, Josef Stelzer and Albin Tommasi. Megola has a top speed record of 140 kph. In its heyday is made up of 2,000 units, making Megola was one of the world's rarest antique motorcycles.

2. Friedenstaube Motorrad
This bike named Friedenstaube Motorrad is developed by Robert Killinger and Walter Freund, which was founded around 1935 by five engineers from Munich, Germany. They are compelled to create, develop and refine a motorcycle-that inspired by Megola motorcycle.
'Friedenstaube' or Killinger und Freund Motorrad. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/ZIJ4Sm)
As quoted of WInd-Water, these bike built by five German engineers and presented at the the Berlin motor show in 1938. The project was run under the names "Friedenstaube" (mean: Peace dove) and "Endsieg" (mean: Final Victory). The project name might be came from the assumption that World War II could be ended very quickly. Robert Killinger is in charge of the machine in which Fritz Cockerell also participated. The frame design is by Walter Freund. 

The motorcycle heavily inspired by Megola motorcycle and then do the research over 3 years to create much more perfect motorcycle than Megola. And it turns out their results far beyond than they expected. They managed to create a motorcycle prototype that using a 2 stroke 3-cylinder engine that has a capacity of 600 cc with an aerodynamic design and a weight of about 135 kg which turned out to be much lighter than the 100 cc motorcycle at the time.
A 2 stroke 3-cylinder engine on the front wheel of Killinger & Freund Motorrad. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1nzZKGK)
From the design they successfully apply the streamlined principles on this bike, that almost never been applied and created for a motor vehicle at that time. While the technical side they also managed to combine in the form of 3-cylinder engine that is compact and lightweight at only 50 kg as a driving force on the front wheel without disturbing the driver and wheel performance!
Rear three quarter of 'Friedenstaube' or Killinger und Freund Motorrad. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1nzZKGK)
This bike is not in mass production due to the outbreak of World War II. One motorcycle was discovered by the US-Army in the spring of 1945 at a German military station but it is not known if this was the original prototype or another Killinger und Freund Motorrad. The location of that captured vehicle is unknown.
One US-Army soldier posed on the 'Friedenstaube' or Killinger und Freund Motorrad. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1zlACJk)
And lastly there is one image that really makes me sad, it seems one unit of Killinger & Freund that has disassembled its components. Because the source is not clear when and where is it located (I think it's the same unit with the Allies booty, see the broken line of paint on the front fenders).
Is this the end of the story of Killinger & Freund Motorrad? (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1ten2Ec)
Then... enjoy the images of one of the rarest motorcycle may be the only one in the world! No one knows if this bike is still there or has been living a story that can only be seen in the pictures only. 
But now, the modern version of this kind of motorbike named The Killer is finished. See it for yourself on display in the Haas Moto Museum in Dallas, Texas.

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of two-wheeled monster and stay alive with the true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIND-WATER.NL]
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