Friedl did better

But better isn't always more fun. Sometimes perfection is even threatening. Every now and then you almost get blocked behind your keyboard. If you're working on a story about Münch, for example. Because Munich is like religion. So much has been written about it already. And besides all that text, there is also the machine itself. What a motorcycle! What a huge amount of work that goes into that! What a genius! Friedl Münch built, with blunt tenacity, the strongest series motorcycles in the world. From 1966 to 1976. And it's only cost him money and his health.

Self-builders also liked to use NSU blocks

We came to Friedl's dream again as a result of our call about DIY motorcycles. Among the reactions were a few people from the Koning Zelfbouw era who had also been inspired by the possibilities of the air-cooled NSU blocks with an overhead camshaft. Building such a four-cylinder engine in a Norton or BSA frame is, with all due respect, a lot more manageable than what Friedl created with Münch. Because it really went down to the hole construction-technically.

The ideal power source

The original 1100 cc version of that block came from the NSU Prinz and was everything Friedl Münch dreamed about. The engine was air-cooled, light, and revved up crazy thanks to the overhead camshaft and short stroke. But to turn it into a motorcycle block, a lot had to be done. A gearbox had to be constructed behind the four-cylinder. A new primary transmission had to be made. Including the link. The oil pan had to be recreated. Not to mention the carburetion and exhaust system. At the time, there were no wheels or brakes, not even bicycle parts, that could handle 100 horsepower. Münch cast and welded everything together himself. The front and rear wheels became structures in their own right. He made the double cradle frame from thick-walled, seamlessly drawn precision tube. The butt, including rear mudguard, a rear fork including oil bath chain case, the fork bridges, the gusset plates for the footrests, and so on.
Of course, all those castings were made of high-quality electron, a magnesium alloy from aircraft construction. And all that beauty had to be painted carefully, otherwise the corrosion would mercilessly strike and the material would crumble.

The Munch-4-TTS–E 1200

Despite its anorexic build, an empty Münch weighed 260 kilos. That was also a high point at the time. The bike was made for the toughest men with the most money. A Munich like this cost as much as two VW Golfs plus a wild vacation. The current Münch prices are best described with the remark: “If you want to know what it costs, you can't afford it.”

Now you pay – if you can find one – up to one and a half tons for a Münch

And that's basically the shame. That is why our biggest goal in the field of motorcycles is no longer owning a Münch, but a ride on one of the Dutch self-build machines with such an NSU block. Because – and that's not a sign of weakness – 'our own' NSU powered four-cylinder is considerably more heartwarming than such a museum-like, priceless Münch. Funny: When such home-built machines are offered recently, they are usually very hard to sell. Because every classic enthusiast or investor wants a Münch. But very few people dare to buy a truly unique motorcycle. And drive it.

Jan Heemskerk did not stop at a special with an NSU block.