DKW 75 cc Hobby Scooter
With Phil Aynsley
In the 1930s, DKW was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world with more than 20,000 employees. It has grown rapidly since its founding in Zschopau, Germany in 1916 by Danish engineer Jørgen Rasmussen.
Rasmussen initially made steam accessories before turning to steam-powered automobiles, which he named the company after (Damf Kraft Wagen – “steam-powered car”).
Their first complete motorcycle, the 142 cc 2-stroke, appeared in 1922. By 1928, Rasmussen was doing so well that he bought a controlling stake in the small car manufacturer Audi Work AG. .
DKW continued to focus on 2-stroke engines for both bicycles and cars (including the forced induction V4 that was fitted to some car models in the 1930s).
In 1932, the Great Depression forced DKW, Audi, Horch and Wanderer to merge into the Auto Union company (the four-circle logo is still used by Audi today).
After World War II, the original factory in Zschopau became the work of MZ and the design of the company’s RT125 was given to the UK and USA as war reparations, where it became BSA Bantam and HD Hummers.
DKW continued to manufacture both cars and motorcycles in Ingolstadt, and 48,000 bicycles were produced in 1955 alone.
However, the boom period ended in 1958 and DKW merged with Victoria and Express to form the Zweirad (Two Wheels) Alliance.
In 1966, Fichel&Sachs bought the ZU along with bicycles manufactured after that time named DKW or Hercules.
A very popular model from DKW’s post-war boom is the Hobby scooter. Introduced in 1954, about 44,000 were built by 1957.
The engine was later sold to Manurhin in France, who continued to produce it with a number of modifications, notably the automatic clutch. In 1960, the name of the scooter was changed to Concorde but production ceased in 1962.
The preference seen here is from the last year of production (’57) and unusual for the time, it used wire spokes instead of solid rims and telescopic front suspension. DKW claims it is “the only two-wheeler equipped with a continuously variable automatic transmission”.
However, a manual clutch was used to allow the engine to idling as if in neutral, via a latch on the handlebar. Other features include a fully enclosed chain pulley starter and final drive.
A 14 mm Bing carburetor powers a 75 cc 2-stroke engine that produces 3 hp at 5000 rpm, allowing for a top speed of 64 km/h.
This particular scooter was sold by Pratt & Osborne dealer Geelong and spent most of its time working the Geelong docks.
