Megola

The Megola was a German motorcycle from the 1920s, with a five -cylinder rotary engine in the front wheel. Between about 1921 and 1925 about 2000 pieces were manufactured.

History

For the production of Megola especially the German - Megola -Werke GmbH was Founded in Munich. The name Megola originated from the surname of funders and designers: Hans Meixner, Fritz Gockerell (written here with G ) and Otto Landgraf. In 1998, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on the Megola in the temporary exhibition " the art of the motorcycle ."

Technology

The engine was a 3-cylinder counter - rotary engine designed by Fritz Cockerell at the Rapp - engine plants in Munich, first as a two-stroke engine, then in 1919 as a four-stroke engine with name Pax. In contrast to the simple rotary engine in which the crankshaft is fixed, rotating the opposite rotary engine both the housing and the crankshaft - and in opposite directions. ( The Rapp Motor Works were united in 1916 with the Bavarian Aircraft Works to BMW. ) In 1920 from a 5-cylinder engine was, who joined a short time later in the prototype of Megola from the rear wheel to the front wheel. In the rear, the engine still turned opposite to the rotational direction of the wheel and the crankshaft together while cycling between sedentary planetary gear made ​​sure that the power could be used for propulsion. In the later series model, the motor housing and the cylinder turned, however, with the wheel, the crankshaft had a fivefold reduction via a planetary gear to the fixed axle passing through the crankcase. Between the spokes of the front wheel well parts of the engine sticking out. The engine had 640 cc and made 10 to 14 hp.

The chassis of the Megola was as unconventional and consisted of self-supporting curved and riveted steel plates. The driver sat on a comfy " armchair " with backrest or - in the sports versions - on a normal bike saddle of his time. There about 2000 machines were built as a touring and sports model. The tour model had a rear suspension in the form of leaf springs.

Less easily the Megola however, was in city traffic: She had neither manual nor clutch, so had the Megola after each stop pushed or jacked and " runners" the front wheel. On the track, the Megola but was in her element: Toni pointed Bauhofer 1924, the BMW works team to the courts and won on the Megola the title in the 500 cc of the inaugural German motorcycle road championship.