Hercules Great
Hercules Prima was a moped series of the Nuremberg Hercules-Werke and later - as Sachs Prima - the Sachs Bikes .
Hercules Prima mopeds were first built in the mid-1970s, initially under the name “M” (M1, M2, M5) in the Hercules works. Hercules manufactured the vehicles as a manufacturer or put them together from parts of their own production (frame and small parts) and purchased components (chassis, engine and wheels). The engines were supplied by Fichtel & Sachs (now ZF Sachs AG ), Schweinfurt, at that time a manufacturer of two-wheel, stationary and two-stroke diesel engines, among other things.
Until the beginning of the 1990s, the cheap Hercules mopeds were ridden by many young people and, thanks to their simple technology, liked to "do their hair" . After that they were increasingly replaced by scooters . In 1995 the Dutch holding company Accell Group , which had bought Hercules in 1987 , relocated its headquarters from Hercules to Neuhof and limited the product range to bicycles. The motorcycle production in the former Hercules works in Nuremberg was then continued by the successor company Sachs Bikes . Sachs Bikes continued the Hercules tradition in the field of motorized two-wheelers and produced mopeds in the Prima series until 2005 - most recently only Prima 4 and 5.
Models
In the early days of the Hercules moped series, the M2, M4 and M5 were later added to the rare M1. These can be recognized by the spoked wheels and a lot of standard chrome. The M series was discontinued around 1980 and renamed “Prima”, initially with the nickname “N” (Prima 2N, 4N, 5N). These models are largely identical to the first M models, the only difference being the wheels, which from this time on were manufactured using a casting process, also known as "Snowflake" in connoisseur parlance. There was a second change around 1983. The appearance of the Prima has been extensively revised. Among other things, it received a new speedometer mask, different headlights at the front and rear and numerous new paint jobs. In addition to the "basic models" Prima (2), the series has been expanded to include six further models and the equipment variant "S". Specifically, these were the Prima 3 and 5 models with a 2-speed manual transmission, the Prima 2 and 4 automatic models with a centrifugal clutch . Another variant was the Prima 6, manufactured from 1979 to 1981, which had a factory-fitted indicator system. A Hercules Prima SX was also produced. In contrast to the other Prima mopeds, it had a manually operated 3-speed motor and a one-man seat. Depending on the equipment and year of manufacture, all models had an air-cooled Sachs 505 engine with 47 or 49 cm³ displacement with an output of 1.1 kW and a torque of 3.2 Nm. In addition, the Prima S was produced for a short time in the 1980s / 81s. The model known as the safety moped had a first aid kit, indicators, reflectors on the pedals, two exterior mirrors and leg protection. There were also the Prima 4 and 5 SL models. These were also powered by a Sachs 505. The models differ in that they have a larger 5.2 liter tank, plastic panels that stretch from the tank to the rear of the moped, and a luggage compartment instead of the normal luggage rack. In 1993 there was a third change. Among other things, the shape of the mudguards was changed, which now appeared in a round shape. The choice of paint was limited, as were the many chrome elements. For example, the S models do not have a chrome tank. The normal Prima 5 received open sport struts at the rear and a chrome-look bracket under the headlight. The previous snowflake wheels of the Prima 5 have been replaced by the sportier star wheels of the 5s. The production of the 2-speed Prima 3 was discontinued. As a "highlight", the 5s received a turn signal system and a 2-speed foot switch motor. The more powerful, contactless 12-volt Iskra ignition was also new. When Sachs took over production in the mid-1990s, the choice of colors was reduced to anthracite metallic and silver gold metallic, rarely also blue metallic. Due to new guidelines, Sachs installed an exhaust system with a catalytic converter.
The Hercules Prima GT / GX moped , which also belongs to the Prima moped series, but is very similar to a mokick, occupies a special position . The Prima GX / GT was a sports moped, which among other things made a solid tank-seat combination recognizable. The structure was completely different from the Prima 2-5. The moped was powered by a Sachs 506 / 3B (Y) engine instead of the usual 505 engine. The Prima Presto and Pronto were also similar to the larger mokicks. However, they were discontinued after a short construction period.
The Prima 2 and 3 models were slimmer and lighter and had a narrow tank integrated into the frame (which, at 4 liters, held only 0.5 liters less than the tank on the other models). The other models had a larger oval tank that was attached to the tubular frame. In addition, all models were available in the "S" equipment variant, as was the most famous model, the Prima 5S . While the "basic versions" were equipped with a single-color painted tank and mudguards (partly also chromed mudguards), a steering lock and a square plastic lamp with an integrated speedometer and had no ignition lock, the S version differed in the following points.
- Special features of the S
- Chrome fenders
- Cockpit attachment (separate, higher-lying speedometer, with ignition lock)
- partially chromed tank on the sides (until about 1993)
- larger tail light with brake light
- Suspension struts on the rear wheel with chrome-plated, external coil springs
- larger choice of colors
- round lamp
Optima
The Optima 3 moped series was derived from the moped models . It was also (at times only) available in the S equipment variant.
Optimas from 1974 to 2004:
| designation | model | Construction year |
|---|---|---|
| Hercules | P3 | 1974-1979 |
| Hercules | Optima 3 | 1979-1980 |
| Hercules | Optima 3 S | 1980-1986 |
| Hercules | Optima 3 S | 1986-1988 |
| Hercules | Optima 3 S | 1988-1993 |
| Hercules | Optima 50 | 1993-1995 |
| Sachs | Optima 50 | 1995-2001 |
| Sachs | Optima 50 | 2001-2004 |
The mopeds of the Optima series differed from the Prima mopeds in their larger air filters, carburettors, overflow ducts and exhaust manifolds, as well as a different exhaust, a stronger crankshaft, different cylinders and a longer chain transmission. The output was increased by 0.7 kW to 1.8 kW (2.5 hp) compared to this, the torque was now 3.72 Nm. Otherwise the mopeds were technically the same as the Prima 5S mopeds and only differed in the details of the equipment (e.g. stainless steel mudguards or rear-view mirrors). The speed was limited by law to 40 km / h. The first version of the Optima 3 S had the 505/2-DX-Sachs engine with 50 cm³, a Bing carburetor 85/13/104, a 62 main jet, a ratio of 11 to 44 teeth and an output of 2.0 kW or 2 , 72 hp at 5250 rpm, approval with 40 km / h. The last two Optima 3S got an additional performance increase of 0.3 PS, so that the performance was given as 3.12 PS. At the same time, the maximum speed was given as 50 km / h.
Price list (1/92) Prima 2S (automatic) - 2049 DM (colors: anthracite, magenta) Prima 3S (2-speed manual transmission) - 2249 DM (colors: anthracite, magenta) Prima 4 (automatic) - 2449 DM (colors: prism blue, magenta, platinum graphite) Prima 5 (2-speed manual transmission) - 2549 DM (colors: anthracite, magenta) Prima 5S (2-speed manual transmission) - 2898 DM (colors: magenta, metallic black, jade green) MX 1 (2 -Gear manual transmission) - 2798 DM (colors: black) Prima GT (3-speed manual transmission) - 3698 DM (colors: red / white)