Mystery Motorcycle Identification help needed

[patchen1]

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

[rogerwilko]

Just more 2 stroke grey porridge. ( I love stirring up the porridge boys)!

[patchen1]

Very Funny. If I wanted answers like that I would ask my son, he's only 6 and possibly knows more.

[patchen1]

More pictures

[Bomber]

Patchen1... How to make friends and influence people, its a good read.

[cardan]

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

[rogerwilko]

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!

[chaterlea25]

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

[R]

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...

[cardan]

Might be worth looking at Maico?

Leon

[esometisse]

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

[cardan]

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

[patchen1]

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

[cardan]

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