Description
For the 1933 model year, the Küchen brothers developed various single- and multi-cylinder engines, including the first Zündapp twin-cylinder boxer engine, with which the brand would become so famous. In that year, Zündapp presented no fewer than four boxer models. The smallest was the K 400, a 400cc side-valve boxer engine that delivered only 10 hp. The competing machine from BMW was the R 4, a single-cylinder overhead-valve engine that delivered 12 hp initially, but later even 14 hp. The K 400 was constructed like the single-cylinder OK 200, featuring a double cradle plate frame, shaft drive, and a trapezoidal fork. The K 400 remained in production for only one year. The K 500 had a larger bore than the 400 and delivered 14 hp in 1933, but was later upgraded to 16 hp. This motorcycle would remain in production until 1940. The 100, 000th Zündapp in September 1933 was a K 500. The K 600 was a four-cylinder side-valve engine which, remarkably enough, had the same stroke of 66. 6 mm as the 400cc and 500cc twin-cylinders. Consequently, the bore was drastically reduced to 53 mm. With its 15 hp and a top speed of 100 km/ h, this machine also had to compete with the BMW R 4. In terms of power, it might have succeeded, but the single-cylinder BMW weighed only 120 kg, whereas the four-cylinder Zündapp weighed 193 kg. Moreover, the BMW was considerably faster. After one year, the K 600 disappeared from the market. The K 800, however, became a great success and would remain in production until 1938 (when the production of civilian motorcycles was replaced by the military K 800 W). Consequently, this four-cylinder engine delivered 20 hp (later models even 22 hp) and reached 125 km/ h. Moreover, the model was very neatly finished, with beautiful heat shields over the rear exhausts and cover plates above the swingarms. In any case, the K 800 was larger than the largest BMWs of that time, the 750cc R 11 and the R 16.
The K800 motorcycle presented here is a fully restored bike. This top-of-the-line four-cylinder model from Zündapp rode wonderfully. From every angle, this motorcycle is a beauty. It features a lot of chrome, and the Zündapp emblem on the rear indicates that it is an 800cc four-cylinder engine. An absolute beauty from Zündapp's pre-war period.
