classic motorcycle forum

Motorcycle Discussions => Identify these bikes! => Topic started by: patchen1 on January 09, 2013, 04:48:37 AM

Title: Mystery Motorcycle Identification help needed
Post by: patchen1 on January 09, 2013, 04:48:37 AM
I need some help identifying this motorcycle that i have. I believe that it is 30's to 40's era and possibly British but not sure. Someone welded some pipe on the frame so a person could ride on it while being pushed around, so those are not original
Title: Re: Mystery Motorcycle Identification help needed
Post by: rogerwilko on January 09, 2013, 09:32:43 PM
Just more 2 stroke grey porridge. ( I love stirring up the porridge boys)!
Title: Re: Mystery Motorcycle Identification help needed
Post by: patchen1 on January 09, 2013, 11:01:56 PM
Very Funny. If I wanted answers like that I would ask my son, he's only 6 and possibly knows more.
Title: Re: Mystery Motorcycle Identification help needed
Post by: patchen1 on January 09, 2013, 11:16:07 PM
More pictures
Title: Re: Mystery Motorcycle Identification help needed
Post by: Bomber on January 09, 2013, 11:30:00 PM
Patchen1... How to make friends and influence people, its a good read.
Title: Re: Mystery Motorcycle Identification help needed
Post by: cardan on January 10, 2013, 12:24:01 AM

Not really my area of specialty I'm afraid, but maybe James? Perhaps ML 1945-48? If so the frame number would begin with ML. Have a look at http://www.simplywizard.co.uk/

Cheers

Leon
Title: Re: Mystery Motorcycle Identification help needed
Post by: rogerwilko on January 10, 2013, 10:35:30 PM
I know a lot more than you boyo. it's still gray porridge. I'm still amazed how many wannabe's waste there money and time restoring these useless things that can't be ridden anywhere in practical terms, get bored with them and try to sell them for what they spend on them.Go ahead waste your time. When did you last see a Bantam rider on the road that wasn't being intimidated by cars and trucks sitting up it's Kyber pass!
Title: Re: Mystery Motorcycle Identification help needed
Post by: chaterlea25 on January 10, 2013, 10:51:20 PM
Hi All,
Going back to trying to ID the "bike"
I would think its of European origin (perhaps French??)
The handlebar levers and cable styles point to this as does the internal scrol twistgrip
The hinged filler cap, alloy fuel tap  and pan saddle also point to European origins
Can the tyre sizes be read from the remains? continental bikes usually have a different method of tyre sizing

HTH
John
Title: Re: Mystery Motorcycle Identification help needed
Post by: R on January 10, 2013, 11:03:57 PM

I would think its of European origin

Think you are on the right track here - that front fork looks decidedly european.
Are the nuts and bolts metric ?  Always a big clue...
Title: Re: Mystery Motorcycle Identification help needed
Post by: cardan on January 10, 2013, 11:46:50 PM

Might be worth looking at Maico?

Leon
Title: Re: Mystery Motorcycle Identification help needed
Post by: esometisse on January 12, 2013, 05:34:03 PM
the fuel tap on Patchen's bike is pre-war German (D.R.G.M. marking visible) and I think Leon nailed it with Maico.
It could well be a MP100 "Fanal" from about 1937/40 which had the 98cc Sachs engine.
If so, I'd say it's quite a rare bike although engines are not that hard to come by.

Cheers
Andy

http://www.muensterclassics.de/sites/default/files/imagecache/Vorschau/images/fahrzeuge/MP%2520100%252002.jpg.JPG
http://www.maicorijdersclub.nl/_wp_generated/wp2ea9c4fe_0f.jpg
Title: Re: Mystery Motorcycle Identification help needed
Post by: cardan on January 13, 2013, 12:13:58 AM

If Andy is right, it would be well worth seeking out a Sachs engine-gearbox to suit. Not often you come across such a complete and  interesting little rolling chassis that takes a motor that is (potentially) procurable.

It just so happens that I have a Maico in the shed: a 1956 ISDT Replica. This was a factory-built model, based on the 250cc Blizzard but with many alterations for off-road use. The cylinder, for example, has the pipe coming out the other side, while the leading link front fork, wheels, etc. have various mods from the road version. In the mid 1950s the Maico was one of the hottest off-road bikes available, and their models remained competitive well into the 1980s. Highly sought after now.

I think a pre-war Maico lightweight, being the predecessor to the fine later Maicos, would be an interesting and fun thing to have, and I'd gladly have one in my shed.

Cheers

Leon
Title: Re: Mystery Motorcycle Identification help needed
Post by: patchen1 on January 14, 2013, 04:24:09 AM
Some more pictures. The writing and marks are German but needing clarification as to what they mean and what company they belong to.

Thanks,
Rob
Title: Re: Mystery Motorcycle Identification help needed
Post by: cardan on January 14, 2013, 09:55:30 AM

I think you'll find it says Fichtel & Sachs AG, which was the full name of the company we're calling "Sachs".

Presumably the the hubs at least were also made by Sachs.

Personally I have no idea about the arrangement at the Maico factory pre war. Did they make bikes using a range of Sachs (and other) parts? Or were the bikes made expressly for them by Sachs? Or were they just re-badge Sachs motorcycles? I think it might be time to search out a source of expert knowledge of German motorcycles!!

Cheers

Leon