This sounds scary. The 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmuller motorcycle that just went on sale at an auction in Bonhams proves that old-fashioned motorcycles were made of something more than we are today.
We took the gearbox for granted, but in 1894 this motorcycle was in direct drive. The connecting rods for the Hildebrand pistons are connected directly to the rear wheel and it has no clutch. Blurry white bands on the frame? Those are rubber bands that help pull the pistons back to the return stroke.
Brake? Well, they are simply a “spoon” that presses a metal pad into the tire, when you press the brake, the throttle automatically closes. Speaking of the throttle, it’s simply a screw. Since there’s no clutch, that means you have to start the bike and hop on while it’s moving. Sorry. But what do you expect from the world’s oldest motorcycle?
Although the Hildebrand was crude and intimidating, it was at the time a state-of-the-art motorcycle that set competition records and is today recognized as the first mass-produced motorcycle. This particular model sold at a Bonhams auction in Paris for €195,500, or about $209,000, last week. Interestingly, the term “motorrad,” German for “motorcycle,” was patented by Hildebrand in 1894, according to Bonhams.
Also at Bonhams auction, an early 1924 BMW R32 motorcycle was sold for €143,750, or about $154,000. This particular bike has had a sales record since December 1924, and it has a BMW Club membership since 1925. Its price is likely to increase thanks to BMW celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023. .
Compared to Hildebrand, it seems very modern. The BMW R32 had a twin-cylinder side-valve engine with two cylinders horizontally facing each other, an arrangement that many BMW purists still favor today. Today’s R bikes still use the internal transmission and bearing layout of these early BMWs. Thankfully, the drum brake has long since been phased out.
Today, we know Maybach as the premium brand of Mercedes-Benz. But in the 1920s, the company built special high-performance engines for other manufacturers, and one was introduced into the German market. White Mars MA 20 motorcycle was introduced in 1920. The two-cylinder 956cc side-valve engine was placed horizontally in the frame (in contrast to the BMW) and had a two-speed or three-speed twin-chain transmission inside. While most motorcycles of the era were built on a bicycle frame, the Mars had a box steel frame construction that set it apart as a high-end steed.
Mars sold for €95,450, or about $102,000, at Bonhams auction. Most modern racers can hop on a BMW, and possibly a Mars, without too much trouble. But would you like to try driving a push-button start, direct drive, Hildebrand?
