Zundapp Bella

[Jonny The Goat]

Hi, Bought myself a Bella for my xmas present. Never had one before and not really looked closely at one. It was cheap and in need of some restoration. Its missing a few bits. Does anyone who frequents this site have one? Even though there seem to be quite a lot out there its quite difficult to find out much info on them. Seem to be a big German club but not much of a UK one. Sent off a few emails to what I have found but no one has come back to me
 Cheers, Jon 

[mini-me]

as ever google is your friend

http://www.vmsc.co.uk/zbec/zbecspares.html

http://www.bella-ersatzteile.de/index_e.htm

http://www.zundappfool.com/techstuff/r203bella.htm


plus 50 results for spares on fleabay.

Good luck with it, I knew a bloke who had one back in the 1960s, personally I would not have one as a gift.

[Jonny The Goat]

Thanks for that. I have already sent mail off to most of what you linked but no reply's, maybe as its over the Xmas period. From what I can tell from what I have a ZB is a very well engineered bike. Many cast parts and thick well pressed steel bits. I can see why to many they are regarded as the best of all the scooters. I am not able to comment on the ride. It looks and feels much better than a Vespa I have had in the past and also would seem to be a lot more for the money than many labros. I am looking forward to getting out and about on it, it will take its place along side all my other vintage bikes. I would like to know why you would not want one? Is it just scooters in general or is it a German or non British thing you have?
       Cheers, Jon   

[mini-me]

why wouldn't I want one?
an aversion to scooters, its an ugly old lump in my eyes, and an awareness of the problems of maintainance and expensive spares.

The best of all German scooters were the Maicomobiles. Far above Zundapp, fast, superbly engineered and far too expensive.

Any old continental make of bike, as is being found out by the Peugeot/Terrot buyers should not be undertaken by anyone who does not speak the lingo,have very deep pockets or a a relative based in that country.
Nothing anti about it, I've had a few french bikes but could deal with those problems and I was a frequent visitor to France.
It's wisdom born of experience, and expense.

Lots of continental makers went out of business inthe late 50s/60s, and consequently there are few sources of parts and info. even worse if you get a pre war one.

I always have a quiet chuckle at those folk who expect a detailed manual in english and a spares source here for some totally obscure failed make of bike from  eastern europe or the like.

In this country we have been spoilt for spares supply and information back up.
When asking for spares in Germany, write in German or waste your time.

You could always try Cornucopia spares, an english guy based in Germany, sells mostly british stuff, but he might be able to help; mortgage your house first.

I blame Brexit

[Rex]

Have you been on the mulled wine?
I wouldn't have bothered responding to a post containing >>>or is it a German or non British thing you have?<<< as a postscript.
Too aggressive and childish for me.
Don't know anything about Bellas (other than they took ugliness to a new level) but I wouldn't be surprised if there's not an FB group (German based) set up for them.
I had  a TWN and the amount of info etc available was surprising, but be prepared to use the unwieldy Google Translate when posting.

[Jonny The Goat]

You guys should take it easy. We don't want yet more people popping off due to getting there knickers in a twist. If you check your karma its obvious to see not many people take a blind bit of notice as to what you have to say. As to the more helpful info you did pass on and I managed to gleam from your posts, well thanks .
Now go and have a beer and put your feet up.

[mini-me]

doesn't bother me Rex, I dish it out so have no problem getting it return.

I used to find german bikes a pain purely in the amount of special pullers an other specialist tools they need which were mostly hard to find or expensive.
Like most German stuff over engineered but still nowt special.


Yes the Zundapp is well made, but still, to eyes used to brit stuff, bloody ugly. Its all in the eye of the beholder.

BMWs are overated rubbish, worst bike I ever owned,conversely I had several MZs which while ugly, were a better  made and more reliable bike than the BMW. The Supa 5 I really liked.

NSU made some quirky bikes which were good, like the NSU Max.Maico comp bikes are still a force to be reckoned with.

Mostly I have found that there is a load of BS and propaganda attached to German motors on two wheels or four.  Not nearly coming up to the snobbery attached to them.


As for people getting their knickers in a twist, tough, its a hard world for snowflakes and the dainty. They are the sort that never had to work in industry on the factory floor or in any kind of uniformed service.
People ask for and get free advice thats taken me for one, more than half a century to accumulate,often very expensively.

Perhaps I should charge for the advice? I used to give out free advice in the  pub years ago, but at least I got a pint in return.

if you want my opinion,you'll get one, not my problem if you or whoever doesn't like it.

My daily ride, now I am an old git and can't get my leg over a modern bike, is a Piaggo Liberty, electric start, twist and go, apron, screen and all, feel free to take the piss

[Rex]

Well I've learned something Johnny. I now know what that "smite/applaud" thing is. Never paid it any attention before though I don't suppose that'll change.

What you said earlier reminded me of when I was chatting in the pub recently and I said George Michael was never my cup of tea, and someone said "was it because he was gay then?"
"No, I just never thought much of his music".
That strange way of thinking that there must always be deeper and darker reasons behind a simple opinion.

[mini-me]

That strange way of thinking that there must always be deeper and darker reasons behind a simple opinion.

you know nothing Rex, not till you've met my wife


AS for the recently deceased singer, I've just heard a good one, not for here though

[33d6]

Hi Johnny,
You don't say exactly what Bella you have and like most of these things they were steadily upgraded throughout their production life so it's a bit difficult to do more than speak in generalities but you might find some useful info in a book called Scooter Care written by Michael Marriott. It was published in 1961 by Arco Publications and was an Arco Handybook, one of a series of publications for handymen. You will also find the odd snippet in the old Accessory Mart Catalogues if you browse through them. One edition even has dimensioned frame drawings for various Zundapp models including the Bella and another has a little blurb on standardisation between Bosch and Noris electrical systems making it much easier to trace through their electrics.
All in all, there's info around but you might have to dig a little but it's worth it. What's not to like about a 1950's scooter with 12 volt electrics, electric start, 4-speed foot change box, fully enclosed chains and 12" wheels. Personally I'm quite happy with the smaller 10" and 8" wheels but some like the larger size.
Cheers,

[Jonny The Goat]

Its a 55 R200 model with the 200cc and twin seats. Slightly different body work to the single buddy seat model as the vent is part of the seat support. has the horn on the front, I see some have there,s hidden away. It does not have a electric start only the kick start. It missing some trim, oddly most seem to have the port holes on the side like the Maico Maicoletta  but mine does not and do not think it ever has. A bit odd as unable to find a picture of one with no port holes on. As you say whats not to like? The cast alloy wheels are a very nice touch . We hunt out that book.
             Cheers,  Jon     

[mini-me]

Google images show an awful lot of different bikes so there are obviously plenty scattered around the world, I would have bet there weren't more than a dozen in the UK, I've not seen one since the early 70s. and cannot recall any before then.

As an older rider since I started  I never took any notice of scooters, in fact us lads positively ignored their existance, unless one had to be thrown off Chelsea bridge or Brighton pier.

 So they do not figure much in my memories at all. I am having a massive clear out of all sorts of stuff so I'll see if I can find anything in my 1950s magazines.

There were several scooter dedicated magazines about in the 1960s, have you researched those?

What's not to like about a 1950's scooter

er, its a 1950s scooter? is that not enough?

[Jonny The Goat]

I have just done google search and found my model, though still shows port holes for sale in a London dealer. They are asking a whopping 20K for there non running bike. The only difference I can see is the bike they have was used on a Oasis album cover . I will stick it next to my bathtub speed twin as that sort of looks like a scooter
       Cheers, Jon

[mini-me]

20K?

must mean 20 kroner surely?

You'll find the Speed Twin easier cheaper to restore than the scooter, and easier to sell though.

Wish I had a fiver for every Triumph bathtub bits I junked in my youth.

[Jonny The Goat]

I probably have a lot of the bits you discarded hanging in one of my lock ups. I have around 4 or 5 sets of steel tubs and 2 sets of glass ones. Again beauty is in the eye of the beholder as I think its a great looking bike and a really great ride.
Na, it was good old British pound notes. Does not say what they sold it for or if it has sold. Its celebrity status giving the mark up. I could of had nearly 30 Bellas for that amount as mine was cheap at quite bit less than a grand .

 http://www.scooterlab.uk/oasis-album-cover-zundapp-bella-sale-news/