The RT 125 was a German two-strokemotorcycle made by DKW in Zschopau in the 1930s, IFA and MZ in the 1950s and early 1960s, and DKW in Ingolstadt in the 1950s and 1960s. "RT" stands for German: Reichstyp, English: Realm Type.
The DKW RT 125 of 1952
In the 1930s DKW pioneered the Schnürletwo-strokeloop scavenging process to dispense with the use of a deflector piston and improve efficiency of the combustion chamber. DKW also developed a highly efficient arrangement of transfer ports. These two features were included in the RT 125 to great commercial advantage. Competitor companies such as Adler and TWN copied the adoption of flat-topped pistons and strove to develop equally efficient transfer port arrangements without infringing DKW's patent.
After World War II the Soviet Union took plans, tooling and even several dozen personnel as war reparations to MMZ in Moscow (later transferred to MMVZ and SMZ) and to a factory in Kovrov, and produced copies of the RT 125 as the M1A Moskva and K-125 respectively. WFM of Poland made a modified version of the RT 125 (under SHL 125 and Sokół 125 brands), developed into 125/175 cc family motorcycles, produced until 1985.
RT 125 plans were also taken to the United Kingdom where they became the basis of the BSA Bantam, and to the USA where they formed the basis of the Harley-Davidson "Hummer" (Hummer is really just a few specific years, but generally people call the Harley lightweights Hummers).
After the Second World War, DKW's factories in Zschopau were in the Soviet occupation zone. As such, they were under the control of the Soviet Union until they were handed over to the government of East Germany. The factory continued production of the RT 125 under the MZ (Motorradwerk Zschopau) brand into the 1950s.[1]
Meanwhile, DKW had reorganized itself in Ingolstadt, where it began production of the RT 125W (for "West") in 1949. Variants of the RT 125W, usually with larger engines, were in production throughout the 1950s.[2]
Postwar German RT 125s
DKW RT 125 W, a West German postwar version of the RT 125
IFA/DKW 125 RT built in Zschopau, East Germany (1954-1956)
In the 1950s, after reestablishing themselves as manufacturers of musical instruments, Nippon Gakki decided to use the manufacturing equipment left over from wartime production to make motorcycles. Since the copyright on the RT 125 had been voided by the Allies, the company reverse engineered it as the basis for their first motorcycle. Nippon Gakki formed the Yamaha Motor Company in 1955 to build their copy of the RT 125 as the Yamaha YA-1, which was in production from 1955 to 1958. The YA-1 inherited design characteristics of RT 125 and, due to its thin body and chestnut brown tank, was affectionately nicknamed the Aka-tombo (赤トンボ, "Red Dragonfly").[3][4][5]
Referencesedit
^Henshaw, Peter (2008-06-15). "1: Origins". The BSA Bantam Bible. Veloce Publishing. pp. 12–15. ISBN978-1-84584-159-1. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
^Henshaw, Peter (2008-06-15). "1: Origins". The BSA Bantam Bible. Veloce Publishing. p. 11. ISBN978-1-84584-159-1. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
^Alexander, Jeffrey W. (Jan 31, 2009). Japan's Motorcycle Wars: An Industry History. UBC Press. pp. 151–154. ISBN978-0-7748-1454-6. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
^Walker, Mick (Nov 1, 2002). Mick Walker's Japanese Grand Prix Racing Motorcycles. Redline Books. pp. 153–154. ISBN0-9531311-8-1. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
german, stroke, motorcycle, made, zschopau, 1930s, 1950s, early, 1960s, ingolstadt, 1950s, 1960s, stands, german, reichstyp, english, realm, type, 1952, 1930s, pioneered, schnürle, stroke, loop, scavenging, process, dispense, with, deflector, piston, improve, . The RT 125 was a German two stroke motorcycle made by DKW in Zschopau in the 1930s IFA and MZ in the 1950s and early 1960s and DKW in Ingolstadt in the 1950s and 1960s RT stands for German Reichstyp English Realm Type The DKW RT 125 of 1952 In the 1930s DKW pioneered the Schnurle two stroke loop scavenging process to dispense with the use of a deflector piston and improve efficiency of the combustion chamber DKW also developed a highly efficient arrangement of transfer ports These two features were included in the RT 125 to great commercial advantage Competitor companies such as Adler and TWN copied the adoption of flat topped pistons and strove to develop equally efficient transfer port arrangements without infringing DKW s patent Contents 1 Copies and variants 1 1 War reparations 1 2 Postwar German production DKW and MZ 1 3 Yamaha YA 1 2 ReferencesCopies and variants editCopies of the RT 125 were built by at least eight different entities in at least six countries War reparations edit See also BSA Bantam Harley Davidson Hummer MMZ motorcycle Minsk motorcycle and SHL motorcycle After World War II the Soviet Union took plans tooling and even several dozen personnel as war reparations to MMZ in Moscow later transferred to MMVZ and SMZ and to a factory in Kovrov and produced copies of the RT 125 as the M1A Moskva and K 125 respectively WFM of Poland made a modified version of the RT 125 under SHL 125 and Sokol 125 brands developed into 125 175 cc family motorcycles produced until 1985 RT 125 plans were also taken to the United Kingdom where they became the basis of the BSA Bantam and to the USA where they formed the basis of the Harley Davidson Hummer Hummer is really just a few specific years but generally people call the Harley lightweights Hummers RT 125 based motorcycles from war reparations nbsp Minsk motorcycle a development of a Soviet built RT 125 copy nbsp Sokol 125 motorcycle made in Poland between 1947 and 1950 nbsp SHL M04 motorcycle made in Poland between 1948 and 1952 nbsp 1955 BSA Bantam D3 Major nbsp Harley Davidson Hummer Harley Davidson made RT 125 derivatives from 1948 to 1966 Postwar German production DKW and MZ edit After the Second World War DKW s factories in Zschopau were in the Soviet occupation zone As such they were under the control of the Soviet Union until they were handed over to the government of East Germany The factory continued production of the RT 125 under the MZ Motorradwerk Zschopau brand into the 1950s 1 Meanwhile DKW had reorganized itself in Ingolstadt where it began production of the RT 125W for West in 1949 Variants of the RT 125W usually with larger engines were in production throughout the 1950s 2 Postwar German RT 125s nbsp DKW RT 125 W a West German postwar version of the RT 125 nbsp IFA DKW 125 RT built in Zschopau East Germany 1954 1956 nbsp 1961 MZ RT 125 3 built in Zschopau East Germany Yamaha YA 1 edit Main article Yamaha YA 1 nbsp Yamaha YA 1 In the 1950s after reestablishing themselves as manufacturers of musical instruments Nippon Gakki decided to use the manufacturing equipment left over from wartime production to make motorcycles Since the copyright on the RT 125 had been voided by the Allies the company reverse engineered it as the basis for their first motorcycle Nippon Gakki formed the Yamaha Motor Company in 1955 to build their copy of the RT 125 as the Yamaha YA 1 which was in production from 1955 to 1958 The YA 1 inherited design characteristics of RT 125 and due to its thin body and chestnut brown tank was affectionately nicknamed the Aka tombo 赤トンボ Red Dragonfly 3 4 5 References edit Henshaw Peter 2008 06 15 1 Origins The BSA Bantam Bible Veloce Publishing pp 12 15 ISBN 978 1 84584 159 1 Retrieved 2012 08 04 Henshaw Peter 2008 06 15 1 Origins The BSA Bantam Bible Veloce Publishing p 11 ISBN 978 1 84584 159 1 Retrieved 2012 08 04 Alexander Jeffrey W Jan 31 2009 Japan s Motorcycle Wars An Industry History UBC Press pp 151 154 ISBN 978 0 7748 1454 6 Retrieved July 28 2012 Walker Mick Nov 1 2002 Mick Walker s Japanese Grand Prix Racing Motorcycles Redline Books pp 153 154 ISBN 0 9531311 8 1 Retrieved July 28 2012 Suprayitno Micky Jan 7 2013 Classic 1955 Yamaha 125YA 1 GoMick Retrieved December 20 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title DKW RT 125 amp oldid 1199736574, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
