Zündapp KS100, impressive enough

A metallic blue 1968 Zündapp KS100, a second generation, with clip-ons and fitted with a white, full fairing that was about as wide as an envelope on its side. I was barely sixteen, I stood there and looked at it. I also had a Zundapp. An old CS50 with a manual three-speed gearbox and forced cooling. My moped ran well over sixty. Or at least almost.

The skinny owner of the Zündapp KS100 replied to my question how fast the KS ran condescendingly "Vlak 130". I winced.

Zündapp delivered top quality

The Zündapp KS100 from 1968 was also equipped with the die-cast aluminum rear frame with central steel top tube, which Zündapp had started with the 1956 in 423. The production method was high-quality and expensive, but legendary solid. The KS100 of the second series had 98 cc and delivered an impressive 10 hp at 6800 rpm. The measured top speed was 93 – on the counter 'more' than 100 – km/h. This series started with four-speed, but later got five gears. He had the famous 'buffalo tank'. It was a little higher than usual. In the event of heavy braking or collisions, this caused the necessary stress for the driver. Its nickname, like the '50 C68 Sport moped that also had such a tank, was 'klotenstoter'. Later there was the 'flap tank' which also had a gear more. And of course the Zündapp KS100 had much tougher 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.

From 8,2 to 10 pk

The first KS100 series 'ran' from 1963-1966 (100 cm³, 8,2 hp, 4-speed, 90 km/h) and was therefore not even made that long. He still had the old-fashioned round fifties/sixties lines. It was a dated robust appearance, with a solid appearance. The second series, the KS 100/II (Typ 518, 10 hp, 5-speed, 100 km/h) was sold from 1969-1973 and already had a much sleeker look. But its appearance in what appeared to be the end of the motorcycle era - after all, every worker already had a car - did not lead to huge production numbers. The later models with the sleek low styled 'flap tank' had five gears. Actually, a Zündapp KS100 was just an übermoped and largely identical to the German Mokicks and 'Mopeds' (our mopeds). The combination frame of die-cast light metal and the thick steel central top tube was unique and extremely stiff. The 100 cc block was no problem for that masterpiece either. 125 and 175 cc? No point either. In Zündapp circles there is a happy anarchy about factory originality. Today, therefore, any arbitrary Zündapp block is happily spooned into any arbitrary frame. Please keep that in mind when purchasing.

But the Zündapp KS100 . also convinced as an original engine

It was comfortable, reliable and had good handling for its time. And then that engine block! That delivered performance and remained intact! The blocks that we looked at with a crooked eye at the very beginning of our adulthood, because they could be built so beautifully in a crosser, were robust but sporty. The large high 'knit wall' cylinder was a huge statement.

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

More stories about classic engines you can read via this link.

Kick!

That kickstarter was an option that really appealed to us as moped speakers at the time. The telescope and rear suspension were hydraulically damped, the KS had 16 inch wheels with 2.75'er tires and drum brakes of Ø 150 mm. 12,5 liter of mix lubrication went into the tank and, when ready to drive, such a 'Fat Dapp' weighed a hair apart from 90 kilos. According to 'Motoren en Scooter' from the Alken series of 1968 / 1969, such a German piece of solidity cost new 1.598 rock hard guilders. At a time when a gross weekly wage of 200 guilders was nicely paid, that was quite a lot of money.

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