Before the Second World War,

DKW claimed to be the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, but in 1945 its factory was in East Germany and became the MZ plant. Production of the RT125, a

Hercules/DKW W-2000

294cc Wankel rotary || 390lb || 90mph || 1974-1977 The DKW W-2000 Hercules was sold for most of the 1970s, and about 1800 were made. As such it was one of the most successful rotaries. It used a Sachs snowmobile engine in a trellis type frame, and made 30bhp from its 294cc displacement. The W2000 was the exception that proves the rule when it comes to German workhorse two-stroke single, restarted in West Germany – and by BSA and Harley-Davidson as war reparations. In the 1970s, DKW went in a radically new direction, using a Wankel engine. build-quality, and the finish was less than perfect. Hard to find and a bit of an oddity, a few were sold in the UK, while the bike was marketed as a Hercules in other markets.

Prices

low £3000 || high £6000