Frankfurt

FRANKFURT

SHOW TIME

SLONIGER

SEEKERS AFTER NOVELTY were not too well served at the 5th International Motorcycle Show in Frankfurt, Germany, though a couple of intriguing trends came through quite clearly. Two of Germany's most successful bike builders - in a sport ing sense - didn't bother to come at all: Kreidler and Maico. Two more, BMW and NSU, brought a full range of tested models but virtually nothing unknown, preferring to fill out their stands with historical doodads. And the English didn't show a single motorcycle, while several Japanese firms -and Honda in particular - made an all-out bid to move into what the German builders think is a shrinking market.

While lands like America are discover ing the joys of motorcycling the Germans still regard the game with a large dose of "can't afford a car" skepticism. It isn't so long ago that two-wheels were family transportation and nobody is more statusconscious than the current German ma jority just getting into the automobile price range. They wouldn't be caught on a cycle right now, though there are defi nite signs of a revival - very small still -of motorcycling for fun. The show, spot tily filled as it was, underlined this with a slogan to the effect that two-wheels keep you young.

The new move, with money getting easier all the time and plenty of teen-age employment, is to larger bikes. Shades of the capacity race in automobiles. 75cc's are fashionable now and it was interesting to see how many firms introduced lOOs, rel ative to the low count of debuts overall. The big bikes are virtually over, again thanks to government blinders on taxation. A Volkswagon is cheaper to maintain on tax and insurance than, say, a BMW 500 these days.

Zundapp brought about as much faith to Frankfurt, in the form of new models, as anybody, though many were simply variations on existing versions. For one thing they are now going over to telescopic front forks, without dropping the short swing suspension as yet. You can order almost any of their small-bore line either way. This is a result of their trials ex perience of course.

More classes on the German crosscountry title lists were taken by Zundapp than any other make this past season and they are making every effort to capitalize on this swing to sports I mentioned. At the same time they offer the entire line in brilliant white to give motorcycling class. The two tendencies could keep them very much afloat for some time to come, despite gloomy prophets. For Frankfurt, Zundapp had one of those new 100cc models to offer with 7 ponies and a four speed box. The motor has hardened crank plus needle or roller bearings wherever it matters. They quote well over 50 mph for the KS 100.

The Zweirad Union (translated literally as Two-wheel Union) moved into the tenth - of - a - liter division too with their super-flowed line from last year's mopeds. This firm, a consolidation of DKW, Victoria and Express, offers the entire line in all three guises by simply changing the paint jobs. This 100 is another to gain from the cross-country game where a Zweirad rider took the title of Best German Cross Country Private Driver for 1962. They figure 8.5 hp at 6200 rpm, a speed of well over 50 mph, and top acceleration.

You probably have noted already that road racing is not figuring prominently in most German motorcycle builder's plans. The trials game - Gelaendesport -is their proving ground now (Kreidler aside and they too have champions in the 50cc trials division), which makes them sturdy for a start.

The USA, in case you were wondering, visited Frankfurt only by indirection, with Aermacchi of Italy doing the honors. The big police 1200s drew mammoth crowds but the prices put most off. On that same line the Czech CZs, Jawas and Manet scooters were priced to make the German mouths water - one suspects with a neat government subsidy somewhere. They are out to win Western markets with a solid product - aided no end by the 6-Day victory in Garmisch not too long before - and the low price tags.

Honda of course are leaning the heavi est on racing honors, and now offer pro duction track machinery in Germany for the first time en masse. They have the full range from 50cc on up, plus cross-country bikes which should be on the trials trail by next season. They also brought the new automatic scooter but declined to mention anything about it beyond the fact that you don't shift.

In the special aggregate field, however, maximum attention went to the Praenafa disc brakes for motorcycles, seen on their own stand in detail. These are intended for bikes in the under-60 mph class at first, with larger sizes to come.

The German motorcycle show was full of such "who's next" and "how will" teasers, with many firms considering the cycle boom in America with very thoughtful eyes. While they are thinking "export" Honda is eying a possible re-stimulation in Germany. Looks like we'll have variety for a while yet. •