Zündapp

Zündapp (aka Zuendapp) was a major German motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1917 in Nuremberg by Fritz Neumeyer, together with the Friedrich Krupp AG and the machine tool manufacturer Thiel under the name "Zünder- und Apparatebau G.m.b.H." as a producer of detonators (Zünder- und Apparatebau is German for Igniter and Apparatus). In 1919, as the demand for weapons parts declined after WWI, Neumeyer became the sole proprietor of the company, and two years later he diversified into the construction of motorcycles.

Following WWII, Zündapp expanded into the microcar, moped and Scooter (motorcycle) markets. The company collapsed in 1984.

Zuendap.biz markets markets bicycle and electric bicycles using the Zundapp name and logo. while Zuendapp.com markets "enduro-sport" motorcycles under the Zundapp brand.

Early history: 1919–45

The first Zündapp motorcycle was the model Z22 in 1921. This was the Motorrad für Jedermann ("motorcycle for everyone"), a simple, reliable design that was produced in large series. Zündapp's history of heavy motorcycles began in 1933 with the K-series. The "K" refers to the type of drivetrain that these models used, Kardanantrieb, meaning enclosed driveshaft with two universal joints. Zündapp introduced the enclosed crankcase (then a novelty). The series encompassed models from 200 to 800 cc displacement and was a major success, increasing Zündapp's market share in Germany from 5% in 1931 to 18% in 1937.