N.O.S. Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 A friend just spotted this 1944 bike in Tuscany, I have never heard of it, but I said I might know some folk who have! Can anyone enlighten us a little? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Zundapp KS750 and BMW R75 were heavy m/cycles specifically designed to be used with the sidecar which had a driven wheel, sidecar could mount a machine gun or mortar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted July 1, 2008 Author Share Posted July 1, 2008 .. specifically designed to be used with the sidecar which had a driven wheel.... Now that's interesting, thanks Degsy - did we/US have anything similar with driven sidecar wheel?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 Now that's interesting, thanks Degsy - did we/US have anything similar with driven sidecar wheel?? I did and it was called a Ural Russian made and apart from electronic ignition and jap controls it was the same'ish since the war, always a big debate as to who nicked the design from who. Probably start one now :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
79x100 Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Now that's interesting, thanks Degsy - did we/US have anything similar with driven sidecar wheel?? Nortons did and made about 6000 of them. Based on a pre-war Baughan design originally used for sidecar trials, it had no differential. Those sold off post-war had the dogs cut off because they just go straight on with swd engaged on tarmac. The trials heritage is clearly visible in this shot. Plenty of possibility for the 'monkey' to get his weight over the chair wheel. The picture is taken from a Pathe film and shows 4th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers training at Fontaine in March 1940. They went on to take part in the Arras counter-attack. To quote Blaxland in 'Destination Dunkirk' - "The left or inner column had meanwhile reached Dainville, which stands on a spur overlooking Arras. Y Company 4th RNF came into action here, making what would appear to be the first and only attack ever launched by British Motorcyclists. Having surrounded the village, the company commander, Major Clarke, attacked with a platoon dismounted, supported by a troop of tanks. Forty miscellaneous prisoners were taken and the village was won." They were also used in some roles in North Africa but a number of later contracts were amended to an "A.A. box" (A commercial box sidecar with an angled front) and were used for traffic control etc. There is a lot more information on Rob van den Brink's WD Norton website. http://www.wdnorton.nl/Specification%20BIG4.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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