Almost all vehicles invented by man, after their appearance immediately attracted close attention from the military. This statement is also true for motorcycles. In 1885, the first motorcycles with internal combustion engines appeared in Germany, and already in 1898, British engineer Frederick Simms built a Motor Scout armed with a Maxim machine gun. This vehicle had a bicycle frame, saddle and handle bars. Despite its four wheels (also bicycle-like), it looked much more like a motorcycle than a car.
During the First World War and after its end, motorcycles confidently settled in the armed forces of different countries. They were often used by scouts, signalmen, medics and supply workers. Motorcycles were of particular importance for the armed forces of interwar Germany, as they turned out to be one of the few types of military equipment that did not fall under the restrictions imposed on the country by the Treaty of Versailles. And by the beginning of the next World War, motorcycles — the most affordable means of mobilization — were acquired by the armed forces of all key participants.
This review presents photos of twenty motorcycles that were in service with the armies that fought in World War II.
If the background of the photos prevents you from reading the reference information for the photos, you can hover your mouse over the text. This will darken the text background.
Sokół 1000, Poland. In the photo — with a sidecar and an anti-aircraft version of the 7.9 mm machine gun Ckm wz. 30. In production since 1934. Engine displacement 995 cm³, power 18 hp, weight (without sidecar) 230 kg, maximum speed — 100 km/h
Norton WD16H, United Kingdom. In production since 1935. Engine 490 cm³, power 16.5 hp, weight 176 kg, speed up to 110 km/h
TIZ AM-600, USSR. In production since 1935. Engine 595 cm³, power 14 hp, weight 185 kg, speed up to 95 km/h
BMW R12, Germany. In production since 1935. Engine displacement – 745 cm³, power — 18-20 hp, weight 162 kg, speed up to 120 km/h
Gnome-Rhône AX II, France. In production since 1936. Engine displacement — 804 cm³, power — 18.5 hp, weight 316 kg (with sidecar), speed up to 85 km/h
Rikuo Type 97, Japan. In production since 1937. Engine displacement 1274 cm³, power 24 hp, weight 500 kg, speed up to 96 km/h
BSA M20, United Kingdom. In production since 1937. Engine displacement — 496 cm³, power — 13 hp
FN M12, Belgium. In production since 1937. Engine displacement 992 cm³, power — 22 hp, weight (without sidecar) 240 kg, speed up to 100 km/h
Moto Guzzi Alce, Italy. In production since 1938. Engine displacement 498 cm³, power — 13.2 hp, weight 178 kg, speed up to 90 km/h
Matchless G3, United Kingdom. Was in service in modifications G3-WO (pictured) and G3/L. In production since 1939. Engine displacement 349 cm³, power — 16 hp, weight 170 (G3-WO) and 110 (G3 /L) kg, speed up to 110 km/h matchlesswd.co.uk
FN 12T-3, Belgium. A tricycle created using the components and assemblies of the FN M12 motorcycle. In production since 1939. Engine displacement 992 cm³, power — 22 hp, weight 425 kg, maximum speed 75 km/h
Norton WD Big 4, United Kingdom. In production in 1939. Engine displacement 633 cm³, power 14.5 hp, weight with a sidecar was about 500 kg
Harley-Davidson WLA, USA. In production since 1940. Engine displacement 740 cm³, power 23 hp, weight 255 kg, maximum speed 110 km/h
Zündapp KS 750, Germany. In production since 1940. Engine displacement 751 cm³, power 26 hp, weight 420 kg (with sidecar), speed up to 92 km/h
Ariel W/NG 350, United Kingdom. In production since 1940. Engine displacement 346 cm³, power — 17 hp, weight 169 kg
Indian 841, USA. In production since 1941. Engine displacement 737 cm³, power 25 hp, weight 240 kg, maximum speed 113 km/h
M-72, USSR. In serial production since 1941. Engine displacement 746 cm³, power 22 hp. Weight without a sidecar 225 kg, with a sidecar — 350 kg, speed up to 110 km/h
BMW R75, Germany. In production since 1941. Engine displacement 745 cm³, power — 26 hp. Weight 420 kg (with sidecar), speed up to 92 km/h
Welbike, United Kingdom. A motorcycle for special forces, folded into a standard parachute landing container (Central Landing Establishment) of the Royal Air Force. In production since 1942. Engine displacement 98 cm³, weight 32 kg, speed up to 48 km/h
Harley-Davidson XA, USA. In production since 1942. Engine displacement 740 cm³, power 23 hp. Maximum speed 105 km/h
Almost all vehicles invented by man, after their appearance immediately attracted close attention from the military. This statement is also true for motorcycles. In 1885, the first motorcycles with internal combustion engines appeared in Germany, and already in 1898, British engineer Frederick Simms built a Motor Scout armed with a Maxim machine gun. This vehicle had a bicycle frame, saddle and handle bars. Despite its four wheels (also bicycle-like), it looked much more like a motorcycle than a car.
During the First World War and after its end, motorcycles confidently settled in the armed forces of different countries. They were often used by scouts, signalmen, medics and supply workers. Motorcycles were of particular importance for the armed forces of interwar Germany, as they turned out to be one of the few types of military equipment that did not fall under the restrictions imposed on the country by the Treaty of Versailles. And by the beginning of the next World War, motorcycles — the most affordable means of mobilization — were acquired by the armed forces of all key participants.
This review presents photos of twenty motorcycles that were in service with the armies that fought in World War II.
If the background of the photos prevents you from reading the reference information for the photos, you can hover your mouse over the text. This will darken the text background.
Sokół 1000, Poland. In the photo — with a sidecar and an anti-aircraft version of the 7.9 mm machine gun Ckm wz. 30. In production since 1934. Engine displacement 995 cm³, power 18 hp, weight (without sidecar) 230 kg, maximum speed — 100 km/h
Norton WD16H, United Kingdom. In production since 1935. Engine 490 cm³, power 16.5 hp, weight 176 kg, speed up to 110 km/h
TIZ AM-600, USSR. In production since 1935. Engine 595 cm³, power 14 hp, weight 185 kg, speed up to 95 km/h
BMW R12, Germany. In production since 1935. Engine displacement – 745 cm³, power — 18-20 hp, weight 162 kg, speed up to 120 km/h
Gnome-Rhône AX II, France. In production since 1936. Engine displacement — 804 cm³, power — 18.5 hp, weight 316 kg (with sidecar), speed up to 85 km/h
Rikuo Type 97, Japan. In production since 1937. Engine displacement 1274 cm³, power 24 hp, weight 500 kg, speed up to 96 km/h
BSA M20, United Kingdom. In production since 1937. Engine displacement — 496 cm³, power — 13 hp
FN M12, Belgium. In production since 1937. Engine displacement 992 cm³, power — 22 hp, weight (without sidecar) 240 kg, speed up to 100 km/h
Moto Guzzi Alce, Italy. In production since 1938. Engine displacement 498 cm³, power — 13.2 hp, weight 178 kg, speed up to 90 km/h
Matchless G3, United Kingdom. Was in service in modifications G3-WO (pictured) and G3/L. In production since 1939. Engine displacement 349 cm³, power — 16 hp, weight 170 (G3-WO) and 110 (G3 /L) kg, speed up to 110 km/h matchlesswd.co.uk
FN 12T-3, Belgium. A tricycle created using the components and assemblies of the FN M12 motorcycle. In production since 1939. Engine displacement 992 cm³, power — 22 hp, weight 425 kg, maximum speed 75 km/h
Norton WD Big 4, United Kingdom. In production in 1939. Engine displacement 633 cm³, power 14.5 hp, weight with a sidecar was about 500 kg
Harley-Davidson WLA, USA. In production since 1940. Engine displacement 740 cm³, power 23 hp, weight 255 kg, maximum speed 110 km/h
Zündapp KS 750, Germany. In production since 1940. Engine displacement 751 cm³, power 26 hp, weight 420 kg (with sidecar), speed up to 92 km/h
Ariel W/NG 350, United Kingdom. In production since 1940. Engine displacement 346 cm³, power — 17 hp, weight 169 kg
Indian 841, USA. In production since 1941. Engine displacement 737 cm³, power 25 hp, weight 240 kg, maximum speed 113 km/h
M-72, USSR. In serial production since 1941. Engine displacement 746 cm³, power 22 hp. Weight without a sidecar 225 kg, with a sidecar — 350 kg, speed up to 110 km/h
BMW R75, Germany. In production since 1941. Engine displacement 745 cm³, power — 26 hp. Weight 420 kg (with sidecar), speed up to 92 km/h
Welbike, United Kingdom. A motorcycle for special forces, folded into a standard parachute landing container (Central Landing Establishment) of the Royal Air Force. In production since 1942. Engine displacement 98 cm³, weight 32 kg, speed up to 48 km/h
Harley-Davidson XA, USA. In production since 1942. Engine displacement 740 cm³, power 23 hp. Maximum speed 105 km/h
