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 DKW - 500 SS
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Photo ou archives : F-M. Dumas
1309

Capacity : 500
Model : SS
Production : 1929 -
Category : (R) Street Bike

DKW

Z500 Super Sport -1929

The Little Wonder

Where would the two-stroke engine be today without the immense work carried out by DKW in this domain? Work from which the whole world has profited, since the patents held by the German company became public property in the name of war reparations after 1945. The various reorganizations over the years resulted in DKW changing its name of Auto-Union, then Audi, while the old factory, founded at Zschopau in what became East Germany after the war, had become IFA-MZ.

An Extraordinary Career

The Zschopau factory had long experience with two-stroke twins, starling in 1926. Its first water-cooled model appeared in 1927, and the 1929 range included two versions of the Z500, the air-cooled Luxus and this watercooled Super Sport. This twin-cylinder twostroke power unit, whose power and torque were equal to those of far larger four-strokes, had an extraordinary career.

Modern and Practical

The modern 2500 SS had a car-type Meco carburetor and three-speed transmission, while the ignition, by flywheel magneto, was innovative. On the practical front, the Z500 SS had wheels that were quickly detachable without disturbing the brake setting, a friction damper for the front suspension which could be adjusted while in motion and a saddle tank with a bayonet-fitting fuel cap.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 500cc (68x68mm) twin-cylinder; thermosyphon liquid cooling; ignition by flywheel magneto

Power Rating: 18 hp @ 4500 rpm

Valves: two-stroke

Fuel System: Meco carburetor

Transmission: 3-speed lever change; primary drive by duplex chain; chain final drive

Suspension: girder fork (front); rigid (rear)

Brakes: drum (front & rear)

Wheels: detachable 3.50x19 inch

Weight: 320 lb

Maximum Speed: 75 mph

 

DKW stands for "Das Kleine Wunder" ("The Little Wonder") the Z500 SS was nicknamed, for obvious reasons, "Das große wunder" ("The Big Wonder")

 

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Le fichier Moto Passion réalisé par François-Marie Dumas réunit près de deux mille photos accompagnées d'un historique très complet des machines présentées.
Il sera progressivement mis à jour ici et toute information complémentaire est la bienvenue sur info@moto-collection.org.

Cette documentation unique, qui constitue sans doute l'encyclopédie la plus exhaustive jamais écrite sur l'histoire de la moto, a été réalisée avec l'assistance de nombreux spécialistes dont principalement Didier Ganneau, Christophe Gaime, Mick Woollett, Jean Goyard, Bernard Salvat, Christian Rey, Yves Campion, Helmut Krackowizer, Michael Dregni, Michel Montange, etc. que je remercie ici.

Disponible sur demande :
- Les fiches originales sur papier
- Les photos et archives signées de mon nom en haute définition ou les documents originaux.
Me contacter sur info@moto-collection.org pour les conditions et droits d'utilisation.