Do you remember the German motorcycle brand Zundapp? It’s an e-bike manufacturer now

Many great motorcycle manufacturers of the past have fallen into oblivion and the abyss of memory. Brands like Vincent, Matchless and, more recently, Victory Motorcycles have all either gone out of business altogether or shrunk so much that they are barely a specification in the motorcycle industry. Other brands like Norton and Benelli have revived with the help of the Chinese, with the latter having great success in doing so.

You may or may not be familiar with Zundapp, a German motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1917. The brand played a major role in moving troops during the war, especially with the KS 750 sidecar, and even had a few models notable streets over the years. who followed. The German brand finally closed in 1984 and has since remained defunct, albeit among enthusiasts and collectors who carry on the company’s legacy through their projects and collections.

Interestingly, however, the brand seems to have made a comeback in the e-bike world. Yes, the Zundapp Z801, its flagship model, is an e-MTB that certainly sounds like fun to ride. Italian motorcycling publication Moto.IT found the bike for sale on several e-commerce platforms with a retail price of 2,099 euros, or about $2,372. However, German retail group Lidl is selling the Z801 for an even lower price of just 899 euros, or around $1,015, less than half the recommended list price, and certainly a bargain.

Now I hear you, e-bikes are surely a far cry from the glorious world of motorcycles, aren’t they? Well, if the future is any indication, it’s that electric is the way to go. In fact, major motorcycle brands such as Yamaha, Ducati, and BMW have gone ahead and introduced their own electric bikes. I might be stepping out on a limb here, but who knows, maybe Zundapp could eventually roll out an electric scooter, or maybe even a full-fledged electric motorcycle?

Looking at things as they are now, the Zundapp Z801 is sure to be a fun ride. It is powered by a 250 W electric motor with pedal assistance and a 480 Wh lithium-ion battery. It offers a range of up to 125 kilometers and fully charges in about five hours. An aluminum frame keeps the bike relatively light, while a combination of kit and drivetrain components from well-known cycling brands such as Shimano, Prowheel and Neco come standard. It even comes with a nifty handlebar-mounted dashboard that lets you toggle the level of pedal assist, see how far you’ve traveled, as well as the status of the bike’s battery.