So Zündapp.
"Zünder und Apparatebau-Gesellschaft mbH Nürnberg". That of course became "Zündapp". And those "Zünder," those were ignition mechanisms for things that convincingly did "BOEM!"
But this Zündapp is long after the war. He started as a 'box project'
For someone who thinks factory-original perfection is the norm, the story starts with reading, scoring a folder from the relevant model year for the details, sorting out and making order lists. A scan of the folder was always included with the Internet orders. The difference between the different KS construction years was mainly cosmetic, but there are some differences in wiring and in the exhaust system.
The parts scarcity
There is a tension between the 50 cc gear that you can buy and the availability of stuff for the 125 cc Dapps. In addition, the matter of supply & demand is apparently not so exciting that the parts supply is already professionally arranged.
At the end of the ride
In the meantime, the Zündapp KS 125 Sport was already a last (two-stroke) belch in the 1972 cc world in 125. Because the extinction of the light motorcycle had already officially started in Germany. And the Zündapp had to share this rapidly shrinking market with, for example, the CZ 125, the Hercules K 125 T, the Honda CB 125, the Maico 125 SS and the Yamaha AS-3. In that field the Zündapp was also the most expensive player. But the name Zündapp stood for top quality. Moreover, the Zündapp KS 125 Sport was nice to see. A kind of slender, sparkling local brightening.
Moped tanks
The first model years had the beautiful 'moped tanks' with chrome flanks and harmonica rubbers around the fork legs. Plus a counter mounted in the headlight. That made them highly elegant and classically sporty. For the later models with 'modern counterpart', the hole in the headlight was sealed with a plestik blind plate.
The engine
The power source was a piston-controlled single-cylinder 123 cc. The block delivered in the later versions a neat 17,6 DIN hp at 7.600 rpm and was therefore the strongest current 125'er and was thermally very healthy. This was due to the thoughtful placement and shape of the cooling fins, especially at the height of the head. The piston only had an 1 L spring and the Dapp inhaled through an 27 mm Bing carburetor of the kind whose choke has proven to be bad for modern gas. That problem can be solved for a few euros and some skill with MZ stuff, by the way. MZ has been making Bing clone carburetors for a while.
The power went via a wet plate coupling to the tensile-shifted five-speed gearbox. The engine block was suspended in rubber. Technically speaking, the KSsen remained largely the same. First they delivered 15 horsepower and were given up for a top of 115 km / h, from 1973 there were - mainly through the other exhaust - 17 with which a KS 120 km / h had to run. 100 + km / h was in any case under all circumstances.
Nowadays
A Zündapp KS 125 Sport is now a motorcycle to dance on the most beautiful roads on sunny days. . Such an 125 cc KS gives its rider as much driving pleasure as a claim during breaks. How much better can you wish for as a motorcyclist?
We received a valuable addition by mail. We would like to share that. Therefore for information and to show that even originality can be challenged:
Nice piece about the Zündapp KS 125 !!
The pictured KS also looks great!
You simply write that factory-original perfection is the norm for the owner of this KS. This is not entirely true, the KS shown is the 1974 model, but with quite a few parts that should not be on it, such as the counters, flashing lights, steering, duo footrests, black rear light (correct model but wrong color) and rear shock absorbers .
The 1974 model includes loose VDO counters, ochsenaugen flashing lights, non-folding duo footrests, Boge rear shock absorbers, handlebar mounting with bolts through the handlebars and the centerstand in the same color as the frame. Nevertheless, even with a mix of parts, it remains a great example.
In the attachment a photo of my 1974 KS 125 with original NL license plate with only aluminum Akront rims instead of the chromed Weinmann rims.
Arno Gaalman, IGM Trading bv
Well-known location 😉