Read About These 6 Best German Motorcycle Brands Trending Now

German motorcycle brands stand tall in the European motorcycle market regarding build quality, high performance, and design uniqueness. According to a 2019 Statista report Germany’s BMW leading Japan’s Honda, Australia’s KTM, and America’s Harley-Davidson in sales in Germany.

Generally, Germans consume most of the products of their brands. While German motorcycle manufacturers don’t enjoy the same dominance as Japanese brands globally, their supremacy locally is noteworthy.

Interestingly, while most people think of BMW Motorrad whenever ‌the topic of German brands of motorcycles pops up, Germany is more than a BMW, and even though it is the undisputed king of the German motorcycle sector, several other ‘small brands’ make some of the finest motorcycles in the world.

This article reviews German motorcycle brands in operation and those closed down but have motorbike models that are still popular.

Let’s get to it!

Top 6 Best German Motorcycle Brands in Operation Today

Based on market size, brand reputation, and the popularity of its motorcycles, here are the top 6 German brands of motorcycles.

1. BMW Motorrad

BMW Motorrad, a product of German motor vehicle manufacturer, BMW, is the undisputed king of the German motorcycle industry.

The company was founded in Bavaria in 1916 and unveiled its first-ever motorcycle in 1922, the R32, characterized by a flat-twin boxer engine. While BMW Motorrad still employs flat-twin boxer technology on some of its bikes today, the manufacturer is known for borrowing most of its frame technology from the aerospace sector.

BMW makes most of its bikes in Berlin and a few others in Taiwan, Austria, and China. Today, its most famous lines are the R1200GS and the R1200GS Adventure dual-sport motorcycles with a 1770cc capacity, which account for 28% of the brand’s annual production.

BMW regularly features in the Dakar Rally, which the brand has won six times. And in recent years, they have enjoyed success in the Isle of Man TT and Superbike world championship, where the S1000RR has been incredible.

2. MZ Motorrad

MZ Motorrad is arguably Germany’s second most popular motorbike brand after BMW Motorrad. MZ (short for Motorenwerke Zschopau) was formed out of DKW (discussed later) post world war II.

When DKW shifted to West Germany, they renamed their motorcycle plant in Zschopau Motorenwerke Zschopau and dedicated the new factory to cheap 2-stroke motorcycles and commuter bikes.

MZ Motorrad began making racing motorcycles a few years later, kick-starting their success. For example, the brand won the highly acclaimed international Six-Days Trials about six times in the ‘60s and the 2-stroke competitions in 1958.

MZ riders also won 13 Grand from 1955 to 1976 and claimed over 105 podium finishers.

3. Horex

Horex was founded in 1923 by the late German entrepreneur and pro racer Fritz Kleemann. But following world war II, the company halted its motorcycle production for a while, only to resume in 1984 and later sell to Daimler-Benz in 1960.

Disappointedly, the engine manufacturer stopped production until Friedel Munch bought the rights. Friedel Munch is famous for making the Horex 1400 T before the company was sold to a Japanese company that started the production of Horex 644 OSCA.

The company declared bankruptcy in 2014, 3C-Carbon Group took over its business operations and is now overseeing the revival of the VR6 engine.

4. Sachs Motorcycles

Having busted onto the motorcycle manufacturing scene in 1904 with its first-ever motorcycle, Sachs has shaped itself over the years to be a reliable component manufacturer.

While the company makes a few complete motorcycles, it’s best known as a component manufacturer. Today, Sachs motorcycle suspension is widespread among many motorcycle brands, including Ducati.

Sachs is known for the Sachs XTC125, a 2006 sporty beginner bike for complete bikes. Though the sales number hasn’t hit expectations, Sachs XTC 125 and the glorious Sachs MadAss remain two of the most sought-after Sachs motorcycles.

5. Maico Motorcycles

It’s hard to talk about off-road racing without mentioning Maico. Though the company produced scooters and two-stroke motorbikes after world war II, it is mainly remembered for its motocross editions in the 70s.

Despite not having the resources that Honda and other leading Japanese race brands enjoy, Maico won the Grand Prix 125cc category in the 70s before fading away in the 80s.

But still, some of Maico’s bikes exist, and they’ve become a sought-after choice by classic motorcycle enthusiasts.

Today, the company runs a 616cc 2-stroke off-road bike production facility in Leverkusen, producing the bikes under the brand name Maico. They remain the world’s most potent motocross bikes.

6. Kalex Engineering

Kalex Engineering is not a motorcycle maker, but they specialize in designing and developing high-performance motorcycles.

Having won the Moto construction championship in 2013, Kalex deserves its place on this list. The company was formed in 2008 in Bobingen by Alex Baumgärtel and Klaus Hirsekorn, and two years later, it unveiled the Honda-inspired 600cc Moto 2 engine.

German racer Stefan Bradl won the Moto 2 world championship with a Kalex chassis, becoming the first rider to do it. Since then, Kalex riders have dominated the Moto 2 championship.

In 2015, for example, Kalex racers took all the top 3 positions and 9 out of 10 in the overall standings, and in 2016, they took the top 9 positions in the final standings, proving brand dominance.

Other Notable German Motorcycle Brands No Longer in Operation

While the discussed motorcycle brands are currently running and selling the most motorcycles locally, several other brands closed down for different reasons. Still, you can get some of their bikes on sale. Below are some German brands of motorcycles that aren’t in operation anymore.

7. Hercules

Named after the Greek god of strength, Hercules, German motorcycle manufacturer Hercules was all about strength and power during its years of operation.

The company was formed in 1886, making it one of the oldest motorcycle brands in the world. Its specialty was sports competition, but it only lasted until 1997.

8. DKW

DKW had a fantastic stint between world war I and II when it was a leading motorcycle manufacturer. The company is famous for innovating supercharging and front-wheel drive-off-road motorcycles in the 1930s.

Dr. Jorgen Skafte Rasmussen started DKW in early 1916, and around 1932, the company was a part of Auto Union, the giant umbrella that included Audi and NSU motorcycle companies.

9. NSU

While NSU is famous for its fast cars, the company used to be a leading motorcycle producer from 1901 to 1966. In the 50s, NSU was the leading motorcycle manufacturer globally, averaging about 350,000 units yearly.

The brand was known for its speedy, high-performance motorcycles, which claimed five world titles in the Grand Prix from 1953 to 1955.

10. Munch Motorcycles

Most people from the 60s or those who are crazy about vintage motorcycles know about the Munch Mammoth. After making several car-inspired engines in the 60s, Friedl Munch engineered the production of the Mammoth motorcycle.

Several years later, Munch unveiled the Munch 4 1200 TTS, a 1177cc 4-cylinder motorcycle with a 300kg capacity that was hand-built, and by the time they discontinued the line in 1975, they had made not more than 500 units.

11. Zundapp

Zundapp was famously known for small engine capacity mopeds, even though the company made large-capacity 4-stroke motorcycles during world war II.

After the world war, Zundapp focused on making low-cost and affordable scooters and motorcycles, and they did well sales-wise between the 60s and 70s. They even won the 1973/74 motocross championship.

However, the demand for mopeds declined in the 80s, seeing Zundapp go out of business in 1984.

12. Adler

Adler began as a bicycle manufacturer in 1880 and closed down as a motorcycle producer in 1957. The brand has had an exciting history.

While it started as a bicycle company, its founder, who was a bike manufacturer, got a job as a car developer and shifted focus to cars. Later, the company started making typewriters before transitioning to motorcycles.

13. Kreidler

In the 70s and 90s, no motorcycle brand dominated the racing scene like Kreidler. The German motorcycle maker started making racing motorbikes in 1951, popularizing them in Germany and throughout Europe.

Kreidler’s efforts paid off when the brand won 8 titles in the 50cc class between the 1970s and 1980. Sadly, Kreidler shut down in 1982 despite its racing truck success, and the brand name is presently associated with e-bikes.

14. Brennabor

Brennabor was conceived by the Reichstein brothers in 1871 as a manufacturer of not only motorcycles but also cars, strollers, and bicycles.

The Brennabor company made their first-ever motorcycle in 1901 and have taken part in international motorcycle racing events since 1908. Sadly, the company closed down after world war II.

Conclusion

The discussed German motorcycle brands prove ‌Germany is not a pushover in the motorcycle production sector. They dominate the local scene, and it’s only a matter of time before they rub shoulders with the big Japanese hitters, though BMW Motorrad is already doing that.

Read About These 6 Best German Motorcycle Brands Trending Now