Opel Motoclub
The Motoclub , also known as Motoclub 500 , was an avant-garde motorcycle model from the German vehicle manufacturer Opel and one of the first motorcycles with a pressed steel frame . It was presented at the Berlin automobile and motorcycle exhibition in 1928 and manufactured until 1930. With the end of the Motoclub, motorcycle production at Opel also ended.
Motorcycle production at Opel
"Motorized two-wheelers" were also manufactured in Rüsselsheim since 1901 and with an interruption until after the First World War . Opel was one of the first motorcycle manufacturers in Germany. In 1925 motorcycle production was stopped again due to the fact that the Rüsselsheim plant was fully utilized by the automobile industry. In 1927 the idea was to revert to motorcycle manufacturing. A new model was developed accordingly, but it did not go into series production. The later Opel Motoclub received the likewise newly developed engine of this prototype.
In order to maintain capacity for the production of the new motorcycle, Opel took over the Elite-Diamant Werke AG in the spring of 1928 , whereby the loss-making elite works in Brand-Erbisdorf in Saxony were to serve as a new production facility. Since bicycle and, subsequently, automobile production had already been relocated to the assembly line with great success - Opel advanced to become the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world - it was of course obvious that motorcycle production should also be resumed on the assembly line.
As an interim solution until the Motoclub was presented, a 16 hp model from Diamant-Werke with a Kühne engine, 500 cm³ displacement and tubular steel frame was offered under the Opel logo for a short time, but not particularly successfully. The tubular frame Opel officially bore the name Opel 1.9 / 16 HP , as did the side-controlled Motoclub later in some brochures .
The Motoclub
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In 1928, Opel acquired the license for the production of the steel-framed motorcycle , the Neander P3, presented at the beginning of the year by graphic artist and designer Ernst Neumann-Neander . The "standard frame " was able to accommodate built-in motors between 150 and 1000 cm³ with which Neander equipped the motorcycles manufactured in Düren .
As in the automotive industry, riveted pressed steel profiles were used. Welding and soldering work became unnecessary, which meant a considerable reduction in expenditure compared to the tubular frame of a comparable motorcycle of that time, which was still oriented towards the bicycle. The assembly time sank from an average of 15-20 hours to an almost revolutionary 4 hours. Above all, this made the relatively low price possible despite the complex technology. In addition, the construction was much more durable and torsion-resistant than a conventional tubular frame. The total length of the machine was 2,200 mm, the seat height about 650 mm and the total weight, with the built-in motor, about 135 kg. In contrast to earlier, smaller Neander motorcycles, the Opel Motoclub was made of sheet steel and not, as is sometimes claimed, of duralumin .
The Opel Motoclub had some pioneering design features at the time. One of the ideas of the developer Ernst Neumann-Neander was not to paint the frame of the machine as usual, but to galvanically coat it with cadmium . This also helped to save production costs and also served as protection against corrosion . The seat shell behind the arched dome tank was called the “club chair” because it offered a high level of comfort with an air cushion and leaf springs. The suspension of the front wheel on an elaborately constructed, special shape of the pendulum fork also contributed to the above-average comfort of the Motoclub . Leaf springs combined into packages were attached to the left and right of the steering head under brake shoes on the fork, which was also made of pressed steel. This special design of the front suspension, also developed by Neander, should ensure very good road holding and also be particularly easy on the wrist. The motorcycles had drop center rims measuring 26 × 3.5.
The new motorcycle was enthusiastically advertised in numerous color brochures, advertisements and pamphlets:
“There has never been a more beautiful bike! Purpose, content and form have never come to a happier connection. It is therefore certain: Opel Motoclub, the red and silver bird - be it as touring or super sport, a new, happier era of the motorcycle will begin! "
This advertising text alludes to another, perhaps the most obvious, special feature of the Opel motorcycle: the Motoclub was only available in the color combination red / silver. All metal parts were in matt silver, while the leather and rubber attachments (especially the seat, handles and tires) were in contrasting red. With its color scheme, the Opel Motoclub stood out from the broad mass of black-painted motorcycles with, at most, a contrasting plug-in tank.
The price for the sporty version was 1,290 Reichsmarks (today's equivalent: approx. 4,610 €), the touring model cost exactly 100 marks less. Headlights and horn from Bosch or Hella , including a 6-V battery and alternator , were available as special accessories for an additional charge of 165 marks. A light and elegant sidecar made by Neander in a matching color scheme was also offered.
Versions
The Opel Motoclub was produced in two versions: Tour ("T") with valves on the right in the engine block and 16 HP (12 kW) and Supersport ("SS") with V-shaped hanging valves and 22 HP (16 kW). The maximum speed was 105 and 120 km / h. Both machines had a three-speed gearbox with a gearshift lever attached to the side of the dome tank. It was driven by chains, with rubber dampers in the gearbox and on the rear wheel hub ensuring comfortable and jolt-free power transmission. Outwardly, the super sport model can be recognized primarily by the exhaust system mounted on both sides and the conspicuous guides of the pushrod valve train .
Both single-cylinder engines were Opel in-house designs with a displacement of 496 cm³ ( bore × stroke : 86 × 86 mm), which were based on the Kühne engine previously used by Opel due to their camshaft drive, and had a removable one - not a matter of course at the time Cylinder head that made maintenance easier. The connecting rod and crankshaft were on ball bearings . The cylinder was made of cast steel, the piston was made of aluminum with steel sliding surfaces.
The "rocket motorcycle"
As part of the RAK projects, Fritz von Opel , also called "Raketenfritz", initiated rocket-powered automobiles (RAK 1, RAK 2 ), rail vehicles (RAK 3, RAK IV) and later also aircraft ( Lippisch-Ente , Opel- Sander RAK.1 ) - also a rocket-powered variant of the Opel Motoclub. The basis for the “rocket motorcycle” was a pre-production model, whose OHV engine was brought from 22 to around 30 hp. In addition there were 6 Sander missiles, 3 on each side, each with 5 kg of black powder. The rockets were attached to large sheet metal panels next to the rear wheel, which were supposed to protect the tire from the rocket's exhaust jet. Ernst Neumann-Neander developed a modified front fork and a handlebar that was pulled down low for the high-speed model. In addition, the motorcycle was given large sheet metal running boards instead of the standard footrests to give the rider more support. The leaf springs under the seat shell have also been removed for the same reason.
The aim was to break the world speed record for two-wheelers, which at the time was 200.6 km / h. To do this, the machine should first be accelerated to around 145 km / h using engine power. Then the clutch should be disengaged and the six rockets fired in three stages:
- The first stage at approx. 145 km / h,
- the second stage at about 180 km / h and
- at approx. 200 km / h the third and last stage.
The projected maximum speed was around 220–225 km / h. However, for safety reasons, the authorities prohibited the planned record drive on a public road between Oberrimsingen and Breisach , near Freiburg im Breisgau . The machine made its only public appearance at the International Motor Show at the end of 1928.
In 2005 Opel showed a replica of the rocket motorcycle based on an original Motoclub at an exhibition.
Long-distance trip to the world exhibition
Irmgard von Opel - the then 22-year-old granddaughter of the company founder - decided to take a long-distance trip to Barcelona with some friends , where the 20th World Exhibition took place from May 20, 1929 to January 15, 1930 . She was accompanied by her cousin Georg von Opel as well as August Euler, Nikolaus Geis, Ulrich Schott and Toni Tambosi - all of whom were employees at Opel. On the way they were on Motoclub motorcycles, three tours and two Super-Sport, as well as a BMW. The group was followed by an escort car with spare parts and fuel.
The route led from Rüsselsheim via Freiburg to Switzerland and from there over the Alps to Nice, then on via Marseille to Barcelona. While the motorcycles were able to cross the Alps without any problems, the heavily loaded support vehicle had difficulties. Later in France he even had an accident, which is why two of the drivers drove back to Rüsselsheim on the train to get a new one.
The success of this trip to Barcelona was impressive proof of the reliability of the Opel motorcycles. Opel used the spectacular campaign as well as the rocket tests to advertise the Motoclub.
End of motorcycle production
Although Opel was astonishingly successful with the Motoclub in the German motorcycle market, which was dominated by established brands such as NSU or DKW , General Motors decided to discontinue motorcycle production at Opel after the final takeover of the company that had been converted into an AG . Since the elite diamond factories made great losses as a result of the global economic crisis, Opel had to part with this company under pressure from the GM management.
Up until the beginning of 1930, a few motorcycles were still being manufactured in Rüsselsheim from existing parts, a successor model already existed in the prototype stage. However, that didn't change the inevitable end of motorcycle production. The Motoclub was the last of around twenty models that had rolled off the assembly line at Opel since 1901. A total of almost 6,000 vehicles were built by 1930.
Elite Opel
After the separation from Opel, the Elite-Diamant-Werke also produced some Motoclub machines from parts that were still available, with the Opel logos being removed and replaced by those from Elite.
As a successor model, the EO was developed around 1930/31 , which stands for "Elite Opel". A duraluminium frame based on the Neander version and a built-in kitchen motor with a displacement of 497 cm³ were provided for the EO model . This model received a so-called overdrive gearbox with which a top speed of 137 km / h, which was remarkable at the time, was to be achieved. Several prototypes were created, at least one of which still exists. Today it is in the Augustusburg Castle Motorcycle Museum .
Collectors market
Around 120 motorcycles are still known today - roughly equal parts touring and supersport models. For models in condition 1 (very good) up to € 20,000 are required. Unrestored specimens are much cheaper, but the search for spare parts is extremely difficult.
See also
literature
- Jürgen Nöll: Opel motorcycles from three decades. In the shadow of the automobile. Heel, Königswinter 2001, ISBN 978-3-89880-012-9 .
- Jürgen Nöll: Despite the Opel Motoclub - the finale of the motorcycle era. In: Eckhart Bartels, Rainer Manthey (eds.): Yearbook Opel 2005. Podszun, Brilon 2004, ISBN 3-86133-366-X .
- Jürgen Nöll: Opel Motorcycles. Podszun, Brilon 2012, ISBN 978-3861336372 .
Web links
- Opel Motoclub on motoclub.de
- Opel Motoclub on Vinagenet
- Original brochure and advertising flyer on odlie-stammtisch.de
- Jürgen Nöll: Opel rocket motorcycle (1928) on classic-motorrad.de
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Jürgen Nöll: Despite the Opel Motoclub - the finale of the motorcycle era.
- ↑ Original brochure "tubular frame Opel"
- ↑ Thomas Trapp: Ernst Neumann-Neander and his driving machines . Heel 2002
- ↑ Opel Motoclub SV and OHV 500 engine overhaul on motoclub.de
- ^ Image on fahrzeugbilder.de , accessed on August 17, 2011
