After the First World War, the former Zünder- und Apparatebau GmbH by Fritz Neumeyer in Nuremberg in 1921 with the construction of motorcycles with the brand name zündappThe first five machines were replicas of the English LevisFrom 1922 onwards Zündapp began to mass-produce his own ideas.

At first, these were "service bicycles," motorized transportation for the masses who couldn't afford a car. Around WWII, the company was producing four-stroke boxer engines, but from the 1960s onward, things really took off; Zündapp became a global success in the 50-100 cc class. Later, even 125 cc powerhouses were added.

But the KS 100 The one that made the village unsafe in my youth? That metallic blue single-cylinder two-stroke with its anorex-style full fairing and the narrowest M-shaped handlebars? BEAUTIFUL II!!!

Technology and construction of the Zündapp KS 100

The brand's hallmark was the die-cast aluminum rear frame with a central steel top tube, which Zündapp had introduced in 1956 with the 423. The production method was expensive, but legendary solidity. The KS 100 of the second series had 98 cc and delivered an impressive 10 hp at 6800 rpm. The measured top speed was 93 – "more" than 100 km/h on the odometer. This series started with a four-speed gearbox, but later gained five. It had the famous "buffalo tank." Its nickname, like that of the C50 Sport moped from 68, which also had such a tank, was "klotenstoter" (ball-puncher). Later, the "flappentank" (flaps tank) came along, which also had one more gear. And of course, the Zündapp KS100 had much more robust rims and brakes than the mopeds. The front wheel of the KS100 with the large drum brake? That was the Holy Grail for Zündapp moped pilots.

The power race

The first KS100 series ran from 1963 to 1966 (100 cc, 8,2 hp, 4-speed gearbox, 90 km/h) and wasn't even produced for that long. It still had the by then outdated, rounded lines of the 1950s and 1960s. The second series, the KS 100/II (Type 518, 10 hp, 5-speed gearbox, 100 km/h), was sold from 1969 to 1973 and already had a much sleeker look. But its appearance at what seemed like the end of the motorcycle era—after all, every worker had a small car by then—didn't lead to huge production numbers either. The later models, with the sleek, low-slung "flap tank," had five gears.

Why the Zündapp KS 100 is still loved

But the Zündapp KS100 was also convincing as an original engine.

It was comfortable, reliable, and had good handling for its time. And then that engine! It delivered performance and stayed intact! The engines we'd already looked askance at in our early adulthood because they were so easy to build into a motocross bike, were robust yet sporty. The large, high-walled cylinder made a real statement.

The smoothly finished crankcase parts, mostly finished with silver-gray 2K paint, were and are a feast for the eyes.

Meanwhile, prices for Zündapps have skyrocketed. And the brand's enthusiasts are huge freethinkers when it comes to originality.

But a cool, original K?
That's still a machine to get very greedy for!

(Below are some more pictures.)