Simson S50

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samson
Pentecost meeting Puetnitz 2018, Ribnitz-Damgarten (1X7A2312) .jpg
S50 B
Simson S50
Manufacturer VEB vehicle and equipment factory Simson Suhl
Production period 1975 to 1980
class Moped
Motor data
Single-cylinder two-stroke - gasoline engine
Displacement  (cm³) 49.6
Power  (kW / PS ) 2.65
Top speed (  km / h) 60
transmission 3-speed
drive Chain
Brakes drums
Empty weight  (kg) 75 / 78.5
successor Simson S51
Simson S50B from 1975 with the original 9.5 liter tank shape. Original first paint: sahara brown

The Mokick Simson S50 is a small motorcycle manufactured by VEB Fahrzeug- und Jagdwaffenwerk “Ernst Thälmann” under the brand name Simson between 1975 and 1980 . The design was created by Karl Clauss Dietel and Lutz Rudolph . A total of 580,700 S50s were built. Despite the maximum speed of 60 km / h, the S 50 can be driven as a moped with an insurance license in Germany and can be driven at the age of 15 in some federal states (driving license class AM). Further information can be found in the article Simson S51 .

Model arrangement

The S50 can be seen as the successor to the Star and Habicht bird series , as these series were discontinued in favor of S50 production. However, the S50 is / was a completely redesigned moped. The basic concept as well as the design essentially came from the designers Karl Clauss Dietel and Lutz Rudolph. The chassis construction was adopted almost unchanged from all successor models , such as the S51 , S70 , S53 etc. The S50 was especially popular with young people in the GDR because of its sporty, modern appearance at the time . Compared to the Jawa Mustang , which is also widespread , the S50 had a number of advantages, which is why the import of Jawa small motorcycles was ended after the S50 was released. In 1980 the S50 was replaced by the S51, which had a newly designed engine / transmission block. Externally, however, there were initially hardly any changes, the only differences were the shape of the headlight housing and the missing fender struts.

Executions

A general distinction was made between the S50 N , S50 B , S50 B1 and S50 B2 variants . The S50 N was only offered in blue and had a simple electrical system (no indicators , no ignition lock , only internal ignition coil ). The S 50 N also lacked a lead battery, there was only a holder for four mono cells for the horn, as the alternator only supplied alternating current. The passenger footrests were attached directly to the swing arm. So the S50N was a bit lighter. As a vehicle requiring little maintenance, it was designed primarily for use in areas with little traffic (agriculture and forestry). The S50B had, among other things, an ignition lock and a 4-light flashing system, for the operation of which a lead-acid battery 6 V / 12 Ah and a charging device are available. In 1976 the B model was replaced by the B1 and B2 models. In addition to the facilities of the S50 B, the S50 B1 had a parking light, a flasher, 25-W / 25-W headlights and an external ignition coil. Finally, the S50 B2 also had electronic ignition and a 6 V 35/35 watt headlight. The S50-B types were delivered in the colors sulfur yellow (former name: rapeseed yellow), cherry red, sahara brown or sap green. With the exception of the rapeseed yellow, the S50 colors were also used later on the S51 models. Little changed in the models during production, in 1978 a newly shaped 8.7 liter tank, popularly known as the banana tank due to its shape , was introduced.

technology

An S50 engine; it differs from its successor, the S51 engine, in the thicker ribbing of the cylinder head and the rounder design of the engine block. Note the internal ignition coil.
Simson S50 with a new tank shape from 1978

The engine of the S50 has been developed from the 50 cc two-stroke engine used in the Schwalbe and the Star . He is called M53 / 1 KF (KF = K ickstarter & F ußschaltung). The M53 / 2 KF used in the S50 differs mainly in the airflow cooling, the engine suspension and the upper connecting rod bearing (change from plain bearings to bronze bushes to needle bearings in order to be able to use the less environmentally harmful oil-petrol mixture of 1:50 instead of 1:33 ) from the M53 / 1 series. The engine was designed for a service life of 25,000 km. Worn cylinder liners (diameter when new: 40.0 mm) could be ground out up to six times in 0.25 mm steps and, paired with a matching new piston, reinserted - an excellent example of material economy. Crankshafts, brake shoes and even spark plugs were also regenerated. One shortcoming of the S50 was that it was only available with a 3-speed engine, while the Habicht had previously been available with 4-speed. In addition, the torque curve of the S50 engine was not yet optimal, so that the vehicle quickly reached its limits in two-person operation in headwinds or on inclines, and on the other hand significantly exceeded the permitted 60 km / h on the flat. At 60 km / h in top gear, the engine speed is approx. 6800 rpm. At this speed, the power has already dropped by approx. 10%. This engine characteristic was later changed with the appearance of the S51 in favor of a higher torque in the medium speed range.

In all S 50 models, the alternator contains three coils, which are circled by a flywheel attached directly to the crankshaft and to which six permanent magnets are attached. One coil feeds the ignition, another just the headlights. The third supplies the stop light, and if it does not light up, the battery (except for the S 50 N) and, if necessary, the rear light. The high-voltage bushing under the cylinder and therefore close to the ground in the ignition systems with an internal ignition coil was, however, prone to failure when wet. In the S 51, only external ignition coils were used. Otherwise the - quite well-proven - alternator technology was retained almost unchanged in the S 51.

The advantages of this moped were the simple, very undemanding technology and an excellent chassis. This is also supported by the range of over 300 km for a small motorcycle, which could also be achieved in pairs. The 60 km / h may also be kept as a continuous speed. Various add-on parts, such as a knee protection cover, leg shield, right rear-view mirror, side luggage rack and pannier rack (for the assembly of the 26 liter pneumatic suitcase also used by MZ ) could individually increase the utility value of the moped. It could also be equipped with a trailer coupling and socket. In principle, the S50 was not available from the factory with metallic paint or chrome-plated fenders; the vehicles were often upgraded by their owners afterwards.

However, there were also some chronic weak points: The speedometer cable, which was particularly stressed when the steering was turned, often broke, when the telescopic fork was fully compressed, oil often leaked, and the very expensive control unit of the electronic ignition, which could not be repaired, only replaced , tended to failure.

The S50 series (model B2) was the first small motorcycle to have a contactless ignition system. The electronic ignition system - SLEZ (electronic swing light ignition) is a high-voltage capacitor ignition (HKZ) and was a special feature for the GDR conditions at the time. Developed in cooperation with VEB Fahrzeugelektrik Karl-Marx-Stadt as well as VEB Keramische Werke Hermsdorf and VEB Fahrzeugelektrik Ruhla , a fully electronic and therefore maintenance-free ignition for small motorcycles was developed for the first time. Due to the functional principle, the ignition voltage builds up in 1/10 of the time that breaker-controlled systems require, so that interference such as moisture or temperature fluctuations no longer have any effect on functional reliability. This ignition system is wear-free because the ignition spark is triggered by a magnet rotating along a pulse generator. In conjunction with the high ignition voltage of up to 30 kV, spark plug mileage of approx. 20,000 km can be achieved. The headlight output on the models with electronic ignition increased to 35/35 W.

Building on the S50 series, there were also tests with 100 cm³ and two cylinders at the end of the 1970s. But since MZ motorcycles were already being built, these developments were never built in series.

The vehicles were also exported from the GDR to various, mostly socialist or developing countries. The S 50 was tax-free in the GDR and could be used without a license plate. There was only a liability contribution of 8.50 GDR marks per year.

Technical specifications

Parameter Simson S50 N Simson S50 B Simson S50 B1 Simson S50 B2
engine Two-stroke gasoline engine, air-cooled
cylinder 1
Displacement 49.6 cm³ (cylinder diameter 40 mm, stroke 39.5 mm)
Torque 5.0 Nm at 4800 rpm
power 2.65 kW (3.6 hp) at 5500 rpm
compression 9.5: 1
Top speed 60 km / h (40 km / h with trailer)
Transmission gears 3, foot control
Brakes Simplex drum brake, diameter 125 mm, front and rear
fuel Two-stroke mixture 1:50 (carburetor fuel RON 88)
Consumption per 100 km 2.8 l (at 60 km / h)
Tank capacity 9.5 l (from 1978 8.7 l)
Empty weight 75 kg 78.5 kg
maximum weight allowed 230 kg
Seats 2
tires 2.75 x 16
Headlights 15 W 25 W 35 W
Number of pieces built 86,300 81,400 287,400 125,000
construction time 1975-1980 1975-1976 1976-1980 1976-1980
New price ( M ) 1200 1510 1680
Others without ignition lock, lead battery
and indicator system		 with ignition lock, lead battery and flashing system with ignition lock, lead battery and indicator,
more powerful alternator
and electronic ignition

literature

  • Erhard Werner: I drive a moped. 6., newly acquired Edition. Transpress - Verlag, Berlin 1982, DNB 203460928 .
  • Repair instructions for small motorcycles of the type series S 50, KR 51, SR 4. 2nd edition. Fachbuchverlag Leipzig, 1977, DNB 208561854 . (Editorial deadline: December 15, 1976)

Web links

Commons : Simson S50  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files