Zündapp KS 750


The Zündapp KS 750 is a World War II-era motorcycle and sidecar combination developed for the German Armed Forces during the Second World War by the German company Zündapp G.m.b.H.. After entering service in 1941, it served on all the major German battlefronts and was used in a variety of roles.

Development

In 1937, the Oberkommando des Heeres requested the development of a motorcycle with the following criteria:
Up until then all motorcycles used by the military derived from civilian models, but the need for a fast moving army meant that no money should be spared for the creation of a motorcycle and sidecar combination that was supposed to be extremely versatile, performing and dependable. In 1944, production of the Zündapp KS 750 was discontinued because of its high cost.
Initially Zündapp considered modifying their KS 600 model in order to meet the OKH demands, but it was soon clear that the KS 600 was not suitable for further development: the frame, engine, transmission, front fork and many other parts would have to be either reinforced or receive substantial modifications to meet the new criteria. Eventually Zündapp came to the conclusion that what they needed was a new, purpose-built motorcycle and sidecar. By 1939 they had developed two prototypes, which the OKH used for test drives. In both bikes the cubic capacity was increased to 700 cc and the cylinders were lifted on each side by 5° to increase ground clearance. Subsequently the cubic capacity was further increased to 751 cc.
The call for the new motorcycle was also responded by BMW, which produced their prototype of the BMW R75. After long test drives both with the BMW and Zündapp prototypes the OKH was convinced that the Zündapp KS 750 was far superior to the BMW R75. Initially BMW was asked to build the Zündapp KS 750, but BMW refused. However, the OKH asked BMW to adopt the superior characteristics of the Zündapp KS 750, such as the rear wheel drive solution, the hydraulic brake system and wheels. BMW and Zündapp also agreed, as demanded by the OKH, to standardize as many components as possible in order to streamline production and delivery of spare parts, which would then be usable and interchangeable on both models.
Development continued until 1940. Eventually seven bikes were used for longer test drives and to refine the last details. In April 1940 the OKH confirmed full acceptance of the Zündapp KS 750, and despite the satisfaction with the early production models, improvements were included regularly throughout production.
The series production started in the spring of 1941, and in eight years Zündapp produced 18,695 KS 750 in their Nuremberg factory. Military production of the Zündapp KS 750 stopped in early 1945. Production resumed in 1946 for the Finnish Army and the civilian market.
Production YearUnits ProducedSerial Numbers
19392pre-series, no serial number
19407600 000 – 600 006
1941288600 007 – 600 295
19427,228600 296 – 607 523
19437,131607 524 – 614 654
19443,515614 655 – 618 169
1945115618 170 – 618 284
1946205620 001 – N/A
194776N/A
194868N/A – 620 349