The history of NSU vintage motorcycles

NSU – A detour to the motorcycle

In 1880, Christian Schmidt founded the Neckarsulmer Motorenwerke as a knitting machine factory, but the company soon switched to bicycle production and finally, in 1900, to motorcycle production. In 1906, cars were added. Like many companies of the time, NSU also had to struggle with the economic effects of the First World War and so the real upturn did not begin until 1922. In 1929, the NSU 500 SS was produced and in 1932 the success of the motorcycle was celebrated with over 36,000 units sold.

A little later in 1936, another motorcycle was brought onto the market whose success nobody could have imagined at the time: The NSU Quick was sold over 235,000 times and is considered one of the most successful motorcycles.

By Joachim Köhler - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1615188

The post-war period: Here we go!

The Second World War also caused problems for the Neckarslum engine works, but by 1949 production was back up and running with around 3,000 people. The Fox 100 was launched and the tried and tested NSU Quick was also improved with a stylish tank and closed tubular frame. The NSU FOX (fixed drivers drive Fox) in particular quickly established itself on the market thanks to its high performance and low fuel consumption.

The NSU Lux , which went into production in 1950, once again caused a stir with its unusual acceleration and top speed. Its equipment also left nothing to be desired: central press frame, four-speed gearbox with foot gearshift and interchangeable wheels with quick-release axles - the NSU Lux impressed on all fronts. The NSU Max , a further development of the NSU 251 OSL, also impressed with its outstanding technology. Despite the new four-stroke engine, the NSU Max still runs surprisingly quietly today. With outstanding quality and convincing technology, NSU established itself as the largest motorcycle factory in Europe.

By Joachim Köhler - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1632744

The era of SUPER motorcycles

During the sales crisis in the motorcycle market, NSU brought two new high-caliber models onto the market: the NSU Superfox (four-stroke) and NSU Superlux (two-stroke). The latter was also suitable for a sidecar and was available in four different colors: blue, gray, jade green and black. In 1956, the NSU Maxi and NSU Supermax appeared. NSU was also able to record Germany's most popular moped, the NSU Quickly, as a success with a total production of 1,000,000. Before motorcycle production was stopped in 1963 due to the end of the motorcycle wave, over 7,500 people worked at the Neckarsulm Motorenwerke.

This text is based on the source: "The German Motorcycles of the Economic Miracle Period" by Brigitte Podszun, published in 1985 by Podzun-Motorbücher.

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