Hartmut Schouwer's NSU site: http://www.schouwer-online.de/technik/oldtimer.htm
May 20, 2002
I am trying to locate a Supermax for sale in excellent to show condition.
My E-MAIL is hillhj at aol
-- Thanks -- Jim
See NSU
Motorcycle Forum
May 27, 2001
Recently we inherited a NSU motorcycle, with no engine or transmission.
We need help finding information on this bike. Should there be any serial
numbers or marks that would help us identify model? -- Thank
you , Tonja -- fadedrose39 at hotmail
May 20, 2001
Don't know much about them, I'm looking for info/ parts too!
Haven't seen another like this one yet, the chain is on the left side.
Anybody recognize it? (see attached pics)
Thanks!! -- DrB,
Purveyor of old bikes, obsolete parts, and off-the-wall accessories.
June 1, 2001
Subject: Update on NSU motorbike (Original message 05/20/01)
After many helpful e-mails, we have determined this bike to be a 125cc
Super Fox. I have located a few parts, some original, some "custom". Will
send new pics soon as this project progresses. I am in need of a front
sprocket engine cover for this bike. Can anyone out there help? Also need
info on frame / motor numbers to determine the model year.
Many thanks for everyone's assistance!
recycle at airmail.net
DrB,
Purveyor of old bikes,obsolete parts, and off-the-wall accessories.
http://www.recbikes.com
April 7, 2001
A NSU owner from Bulgaria -- Trifon Plachkov -- tr_plachkov
at yahoo
April 3, 2001
Dear enthusiasts,
I recently bought a NSU motorcycle, probably year 1936, which
I'm having difficulty to identify the model. Can anybody help me?
Attached some pictures of the bike. I'm located in Brazil and answers
in Portuguese, English, Italian and Spanish are welcome.
Best regards, -- Ricardo Prado -- riprado at uol.com.br
From Sheldon: If anyone can identify
this would you please also copy me biker@cwizard.com so that I can post
it here?
February 26, 2001
I already sent a story about my NSU experience in Germany while in
the US Army. I presently own a NSU Maxi that needs work. This past summer
I visited the "Zweirad Museum" in Neckarsulm, Germany, and NSU-Motzke in
Buchenberg.
I am very happy to see this site developing. It is truly an international
brotherhood! Best success and ride happy!
George Roberts -- bmwnomad
juno
February 3, 2001
Hello Everybody
I come from Poland. A month ago i bought the complete NSU 601
osl...
See NSU
Motorcycle Forum
November 30, 2000
I have a 59NSU. It runs but needs work. I bought it for
my friend, still have bike but not the friend. I need some info on
it.I haven't decided if I am going to keep it or sell it. Please help..
Thanks, Michelle -- MICHELLE ANDERSON -- itschelbyyahoo
September 12, 2000
Sehr geehrter herr Webmaster !
Thank You for this beautiful site which I have just discovered, but
not yet studied fully. Although I am afraid I have discovered `ein
Schönheitsfehler`. According to The NSU spare parts catalog
for Maxi, this model didn't have hairpin valve springs as Max and Superfox,
but screw-springs (schraubenfeder) like for instance the NSU1000.
Thank You for `listening`, Yours cordially
Gunnar Petersen -- gunnargeorgpost.tele.dk
August 29, 2000
Hello NSU PEOPLE!
I am restoring a 501 OS-T KONSUL ...
See NSU
Motorcycle Forum
August 28, 2000.
Dear Sirs, I have several tons, NSU new & used original spare parts
those wanted I to verkauffen. ...
See NSU
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August 28, 2000
Hi there,
I live in South Africa and have a 1957 Supermax which has done over
500,000 kms. I've had some nice moments on this bike and first rode it
in 1958 when it belonged to a friend of my late father. I was given the
bike ten years ago and have used it since then. It is now undergoing a
complete restoration. When it is finished can I send you a photograph?
Regards - Brian.
I do not have a scanner so cannot send it to you by e-mail.
Brian, I will send you my snail mail address
so you can send photos for posting. 500,000 km!!! Wow!
That is pretty darn incredible for any motorcycle. - Sheldon (8-29-00
photo is now above)
August 11, 2000
Hello,
On http://www.motorradklassiker.de
, the website of Andreas Jankowitsch, you find information about vintage
NSU-bikes (OSL,T,TS,ZDB,Quick) and restoring-tips.
A link to my website would be nice. Thank you!
Andreas -- a.jankowitsch at t-online.de
August 8, 2000
If anybody would like to see my Spanish Lube-NSU go to Lube
Another German NSU site (German language only but they
are working on an English version)
http://www.nsu-motzke.de/
July 26, 2000
Hello, I have a 64 Lube-NSU condor 150cc 2-stroke. All I know of the
bike is that it is Spanish and that supposedly NSU was bought out by LUBE.
True or false?
It runs GREAT and is all there. Even has original paint although
a little faded.
What I was wondering was if any of you might know any more info. on
this machine. ANYTHING!!!!! PLEASE!!!!
I'm at a total loss except a 1965 advertisement from CYCLE magizine
that shows my bike. Not much info.
I traded 2 Yamaha RD Roadracers for it. WHAT A DEAL!!!
I hope this list takes off.
And, I hope this gets to everyone.
I no computer wiz, that's for sure. -- rdgafferidworld.net
From Hartmut:
Hello,
This is what I could find about LUBE:
Spanish motorcycle brand (1947-1965[?]), engines (mostly NSU) from 49
to 248cc. The first model had a 99cc engine. The producton
of the 150cc NSU engine model started in 1954. Around that year, the brand
was re-named to Lube-NSU. In 1957 they produced these models: 99 and 99S,
125 T and 125 P, the 150 and the 247 OSB with the old 247cc NSU ohv engine.
In the sixties until 1964 they still used NSU engines with 75, 125 and
150cc, and they built a moped like the NSU Quickly. When the supply with
NSU engines came to a standstill, they started to use other engines.
I couldn't find any pictures, so if you have one, please send me a scan
of it. Thank you !
Old addresses:
1) Louis Bejarano S.A., 17 Gran Via, Bilbao
2) Lube-NSU S.A., 9 Almeda Mazzareo, Bilbao
Best regards
Hartmut Schouwer -- schouwer@t-online.de
July 16, 2000
NSU Race Germany 1952
As a child my Uncle and his friends went with me to a place in Germany
called the Schottenring in Hesse,their where the brothers Robert and Werner
Haas racing their NSU and respectively Adler Machines. I just so
happen to find out that one of the Haas Brothers is or was the Grandfather
of a racing team which is called Newman -Haas out of Northbrook ILL.
I believe that Newman stands for as in Paul Newman the actor.
On the same ring once raced a gentelman by the Name of Georg Meyer,who
became Worldchampion on his BMW Machines. Later on the racecourse
was closed to Motorcycleraces,because the bikes got to fast and the ring
became to dangerous for these speeds. -- Michael Mueller
-- mfmuellernetzero.net
July 7, 2000
hi,
I have found a1954 cool looking nsu bike and want to know more ..
can you help???? -- Robbie Palmer -- r57 at
mindspring
June 19, 2000
RE: '61 NSU Super Max 250 Enduro US
See NSU
Motorcycle Forum
June 16, 2000
I own a NSU 326 ccm3 from 1914...
See NSU
Motorcycle Forum
June 10, 2000
I need information as to how to put a NSU motorcycle engine back together.
-- meezer4 at hotmail
May 31, 2000
Hi everybody,
I am from Czech. I can help some of owners old NSU. I make some
parts for pre-ware models NSU...
See NSU
Motorcycle Forum
March 31, 2000
Hi. I`m from Norway and I have an NSU OSL 501 with a sidecar...
See NSU
Motorcycle Forum
February 14, 2000
Hello; my name is Miguel I have a NSU 250 cc one cylinder 2 stroke
of 1955, it s strange all the people that i talk no one hear about an NSU
250cc 2 stroke I want to know if you have any information about this I
didn't t find any information or picture on internet , can you send me
information about this and if it s really strange the motorcycle .
-- Thank you: miguel -- royo at netex.com.ar
February 6, 2000
Greetings!
I'm from Croatia, and I own a motorcycle type NSU 351 OS-T from the
year 1952...
See NSU
Motorcycle Forum
January 22, 2000
During the 1970's I purchased a nice looking 1962 Supermax...
See NSU
Motorcycle Forum
January 21, 2000
I just need some help .. the subject is a little NSU I bought
a few months ago. I'm not quite sure but I think it's a 1950 125cc
with a two stroke engine... Everything on it is original (the spring
suspension on the front.. NSU logo on the tank... etc) What I don't
know is how much should I care about it.. Is it a valuable make?
And if so, where can I find the information needed to restore it?
If you could help me, I would be very glad. Thanks... --
turgut -- tuku at turk.net
December 19, 1999
I have a NSU motorcycle frame number #1231744, but the problem is I
do not know the model , the year and how can cost in the market?.
Thank you for your web page: Pedro Herrera from Mèxico country)
-- email: phf66 at yahoo
November 20, 1999
My name is Lauro , I live in Brazil and I have just bought a NSU Fox-1951...
See NSU
Motorcycle Forum
September 21, 1999
RE: NSU Fox
I please need help!!. I have a 125cc?motorcycle....
See NSU
Motorcycle Forum
June 22, 1999
Sirs, I have two pre-war NSU 251 osl. ...
See NSU
Motorcycle Forum
May 18, 1999
My NSU interest has waned and I have one copy of each of the following
ORIGINAL factory NSU manuals (NOT reprints or photocopies) for sale:
See NSU
Motorcycle Forum
March 16, 1999
Hi everybody!
Thought I'd contribute my NSU experience to the site. I was in
Germany with US Army in 1961-62 when I bought my first NSU. I had a choice
of either a BMW R26 or this NSU SuperMax for 400 DM ($100.00 US). I chose
the NSU because of the sweet sound of its idling engine. I was able to
get an international registration and drivers license. (As an enlisted
GI I was not allowed to have a motor vehicle in Germany at that time).
I rode that bike all over Germany and into Luxumburgh, up to speeds
of 100 kph on the autobahn. I would be often passed by a smooth running
BMW twin, but that was OK. I was enjoying the ride.
Now, 37 years later, I came across my 2nd NSU. Here is where I need
some help, because I don't know what kind of an NSU it is. I thought it
was a Supermax, or at least a Max, before I compared it with pictures of
a real SuperMax. Then I saw a number of differences that I don't understand.
A normal Max has the chain on the right and the exhaust on the left. My
bike has THE CHAIN ON THE LEFT AND THE EXHAUST ON THE RIGHT. The air intake
from the carb goes through a rubber tube that bends down toward the air
cleaner on a normal Max. On mine the tube goes horizontally to the air
cleaner. There are a number of other subtle differences too. The engine
number is 3308551 and the frame number is 2133184. The year of the bike
on the registration is 1960. There is no manufacturers tag on the bike.
Does anybody know what this thing is?
Thanks for creating and maintaining this unique website.
Fireball George of Staten Island, NY -- bmwnomad at
freewwweb
March 23, 1999
I received your mail and the mail that was forwarded by Sheldon Aubut.
I think your bike is a NSU Maxi (see enclosed scan), the "little sister"
of the Max with the same special valve train design. It has 174 cc, 12.5
HP, a top speed of 110 km per hour, and 31471 units were built from 1956
to 1959. If your registration says 1960, it must be a leftover 1959
model. Parts and literature (German language) are available, see http://www.gpu.de
[no content]
Best regards -- Hartmut Schouwer
April 12, 2000
Mr. Fireball George was asking about his Maxi -60 and Mr. Schouwer
replied that this bike must have been build from spare parts since manufacturing
ceased -59.
Yes, that is partly true. NSU sold all of its motorcycle production
to Yugoslavia, Pretis and production continued there until -6?.
My own Maxi is from year -62 and all parts seem to be original German
quality: Bosch, Hella, Bing etc. Only oddity is that there was MAX 'swan
neck' rearlamp attached, but I bet they were using what ever parts they
had at the moment. (Like what Mercedes Bentz did with their 170SV car -54).
I think Maxi is a lovely bike and worth restoration whether German or
Yugoslavia build.
Happy driving! -- Petri Ihatsu -- petri.ihatsu
at nokia
March 13, 1999
I'm living in Vietnam and have recently found a NSU that I think is
a 601 TS or OSL...
See NSU
Motorcycle Forum
March 12, 1999
I have a 1958 NSU touring bike, Overhead cam. A 175 or 250 I
think that actually stands higher than my Harley Davidson. It's in
good shape and I use it a lot as a younger lad in the late 60's and early
70's. It's been in my garage since. Do you know of any sources
for Parts for this bike? -- Dave Rhodes --
Dave.Rhodes
at COMPAQ
November 24, 1998
I read with interest the letter from Johann Suess concerning some old
NSU motorcyles he once owned. I have owned a 1957 98cc NSU for some thirty
years and I have decided that I would like to restore the bike to it's
original condition.
The primary questions that I have to do with type of spark plug and
points. How are they gapped. Is there a copy of an old owners or service
manual available for purchase? Should something be available, please share
where I may purchase this information. Thank you for your kind cooperation
and consideration on this request. -- John Briggs jbriggs
at forsyth.tec.nc.us
NSU Racing 50cc... see under Itom
Back in the early 70's I got a 1950 (I think) NSU 500cc single in a
trade. I got the beast running, but it burned up sh ortly after (it had
a SOLID brass fuel line that leaked) that. It was a weird bike with "L"
shaped spring suspension front and rear (the long vertical part of the
"L" was contained in the vertical seat post in the rear and in the forks
in the front. The short horizontal part of the "L" had a formed hole which
held the axels. It was not a light bike, and looked to be a road cruiser
rather than a dirt or combination bike. It had a compression release (sorely
needed) and it seemed to be painted a military color, but I'm not sure
if that was factory or not. My general recollection is that it reminded
me of a military bike but I can't recall why. It was a solo seat.
I only had this bike for a short time, and have never found anyone else
who knew anything about it. I was hoping the greybeards on the list could
help. I don't even know what country it was made in or anything.
-- Jayson R. Jones -- fuzzy22 at juno
Thanks for the reply. I got this bike in about 1973. I was told that
it was a 500cc. Could have been wrong. It was very neglected and it was
given as part of a deal on a Harley I was selling. I cleaned it up and
got it running. That is when I discovered the compression release. There
were no controls to the release, just the cammed part on the head itself.
The solid fuel line may have been added, a lot of the bike was owner modified
(Mickey Moused) together. ( at this point let me apologize for any "Americanisms",
if they do not translate let me know).
I got the bike running and drove it around for a couple afternoons.
As I had no manuals or information about the bike, I came to two conclusions.
First that it was a bike with low top end and high torque.
The fastest I ever got it was about 60 mph, but it had a great low end
torque. Secondly, the suspension gave a very plush ride even over plowed
ground. It was smooth. On the third outing I felt something wetting
my right leg. Looking down while still underway, I realized that
it was gas, and that the solid fuel line was leaking badly. I immediately
headed for home but didn't make it. The gas flashed and I unassed the bike
at about 10mph, rolling to put out my burning leg. The bike wobbled over
to the other ditch and lay there burning. My burns were minor but the bike
burned up completely. (In 1980 a Moto Guzzi Spada I had went over, broke
the petcock at the tank and burned up. Biking is sometimes disastrously
funny.)
I've often thought of that bike but never met anyone who knew much about
it. My new brother-in-law is an avid biker too. I met him for the first
time when I got married (27 June 98) and we got talking about bikes we
had owned. The NSU came up under the heading of "weird bikes we have owned".
It got me thinking so I threw the subject out to the list. I do not have
internet, and my email does not get pictures so I am relying on writing
to match up the bike. My recollections of the bike, while vivid (it was
the first bike to burn up while I rode it), are sketchy due to passage
of time (and lots of bikes, booze and drugs
in the intervening years) and the very short time I actually had the
bike.
Now I may be able to do some library research on it (in conjunction
with other library research for archaeology), though I'm
not too sure of what books on old motorcycles the University Library
will have. At least I now have a starting point. I thank you for the info.
Tell me, are they good bikes? Did I destroy a valuable bike? Did they make
a 500cc version of the Max, as I was told or was it a Konsul? The
exact year of the bike could be off by a few years, there were no papers
with the bike. Were they imported to the U.S.A.? -- Jayson
R. Jones -- fuzzy22 at juno
Von: johann.suess
Gesendet: Freitag, 10. Juli 1998 08:39
An: fuzzy22; Schouwer
Cc: johann.suess; Johann Suess
Betreff: Re: NSU
Hello Jayson,
Let's sort out the exact type of your NSU. I am able to use some time
on my office desk, but do not have any written information with me,
everything is coming from my memories.
There were two lines of possible bikes: The Konsul 350, Konsul
500 or even the older OSL series: OSL 251, 351 and even 600. The OSLs are
pre-war designs relaunched after the war to have something for production.
All OSL did have ancient forks, a stile which is nowadays delivered by
Harley called "springer" fork, basically two legs each side with a
common spring close to the steering head. The Konsul series were
in principle the pre war 350 /600 engine with a new frame and a nowadays
called upside-down hydraulic damped fork. The Konsul had parallel
rear suspension, the OSL type (if any) I don't know by heart.
All of OSL and Konsul had three things in common: 1. On the right engine
side in parallel to the cylinder a chromed tube where the pushrods were
located in. 2. A separate gear box with primary chain drive below a huge
sized left side aluminum cover, a gear switch control automat located outside
at the right side of the engine/gear combination. 3. Right feed gear lever.
Some OSL had in addition a right hand lever at the fuel tank.
All bikes are rather ancient designs, with a characteristic like a tractor,
terrible to ride, slow, bad suspension etc. However, my Konsul 500 is equipped
with a sidecar and for this the described characteristic is rather an advantage.
That's the most remarkable notes to Konsul and OSL. The Max was a
fantastic engineering master piece during its time. During the 50ies
it was not possible to build ohc engines in serial production,
small sized precise ohc drive chains were not available, timing gears to
expensive. NSU introduced the push rod gear to drive the ohc, which no
one did before. It was used later also for NSU 2 cyl small cars and for
a Mercedes race car. It allowed unusual high revs for the time resulting
in a sporty bike for everyday usage. They had great success, as it offered
almost the performance of 500cc BMW boxer twins but was much cheaper.
You can recognize it by the block design (combined gear & engine) and
the specific looking head design (there is something in..., the cam and
the excenters required some building height). Max was gear switched with
the left feed.
NSU build mainly the 250cc design, later a smaller 175cc version, the
Maxi, but this 175 cc was no success as competitors 250 2-strokes were
in the same price range and performed comparable. My 300 cc version
was an export model. In Austria we had custom protection for the local
build PUCH 250 cc bikes, NSU bypassed this by enlarging stroke and bore
slightly. The last 250 cc offered 18 bhp, the 300 21 which was an advantage
too. It is still a fun to ride it, because of the low rev torque
AND the top end power up to maybe 7000 revs. It offers also reliability,
I am doing some classic bike tours together with friends, 100s of kms and
we even go for some short distance (up the mountain road) races.
Anyway, guess that's enough text now and I have to start some work.
regard Johann johann.suess@sea.ericsson.se
Jayson,
Sheldon Aubut from the EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLE UNIVERSE asked me to look
for information about the NSU motorcycle you remembered. the NSU factory
was located in Neckarsulm, Germany and has a long history. The only large
one cyl. model in the 50s was the KONSUL, available with 350cc and 500cc.
Please look at the enclosed picture and see if that is the correct model.
If not, tell me what is not correct, and I will look for other NSU models.
In 1950, the NSU factory didn't build military bikes, because the German
army didn't exist in the early fifties. Maybe your bike was a World War
II military bike....
I'll send more info when we are sure that we're talking about the same
model.
I'll send a copy of this mail to Sheldon Aubut. (SHELDON; THE NSU HISTORY
IS REALLY LONG, I'll wait for a lazy Sunday afternoon to get it done........)
Best regards -- Hartmut Schouwer
Hello Jayson,
Having 2 NSU restored and in operation and being a native German speaker
(Austrian) I feel responsible to help you. Sorry that I didn't respond
earlier. The fork and rear spring arrangement you describe was offered
together with the famous 4 stroke ohc NSU Max 250cc and with the 2 stroke
200 cc NSU Lux.
However, both were launched later (Lux about 52, Max about 53) and no
one had brass fuel lines in stock condition. I'll rather assume it
was the Max with the compression release pushing the exhaust valve.
The famous ohc design was comprising a pushrod driven steering, two
rods on 90 degree separated excenters, one at the cam and the other one
on an intermediate tooth gear, rotating 1:2 to the crank.
NSU was a German company, producing MC (larges output volume after WW2)
and started cars production during the 60ies. Felix Wankel was a NSU employee
and NSU build first serial production Wankel cars. Eventually the
went bankruptcy and were merged into Volkswagen organization
about 1970.
If above described model does not fit or if you want more information
I should have everything back home to carry out some research.
regards Johann
Johann S.
living green countryside & working Vienna/Austria
johann.suess at sea.ericsson.se
'70 V7 Special MGNOC #16434
'56 NSU Max 300
'54 NSU Consul 500 w sidecar
I like to know from where I get reserve parts my cycle? (NSU supermax
250cc)...
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