Museums of Europe – Deutsches Zwierad Museum, Neckarsulm |
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 Ground floor of the Deutsches Zwierad Museum, Neckarsulm Neckarsulm has been associated with motorcycle manufacture for many years, in the form of NSU, whose life began as a conglomerate of sewing machine manufacturers, and ended after a disastrous experience with the Wankel rotary engine, after which they were absorbed by Volkswagen. Their old factory later built the Porsche 924 and 944 series, and currently produces the VW Toureg and Porsche Cayenne 4X4 ranges.  Top floor of the Deutsches Zwierad Museum, Neckarsulm The museum covers a wide range of models and makes, and has become the largest motorcycle museum in Europe, being comparable with the British museum in Birmingham at its (pre-fire) peak. I first visited the museum in 1981, when it was a smaller collection, but since then the Neckarsulm town centre and the museum has been virtually rebuilt, during which time most of the exhibits were lent to the nearby Sinsheim Auto & Technics Museum. The new museum has been extended a little, but the interior has been redesigned to provide far more viewing space than was possible before. The main hall is now surrounded by a gallery, and several other halls of various sizes have been added.  NSU Motorcycles The NSU Collection remains in the cellars, and spans all models from the earliest motorised bicycles and the final motorcycles, to the ‘Prinz’ rear-engined cars and the Wankel-engined Ro80, the unreliability of which brought about the end of the company.  NSU Mopeds Although NSU designed lightweight two-strokes during WW2, their main product was the Kettenrad, a small tracked vehicle with a motorcycle-like front wheel suspended on girder forks. Naturally enough, there is one on display.  NSU Kettenrad (WW2) The sheer number of German manufacturers is amazing, and the variety of machines on display is very impressive, personal favourites being the Zundapp ‘Green Elephant’ flat twin, the front-wheel drive Megola, and the IFA B34 two-stroke flat twin.  Assorted BMW Motorcycles BMWs of various types can be seen, along with displays of record-breakers, mopeds, and racers. Although we tend to regard the ‘Golden Age of motorcycling’ during the mid-war period as a British monopoly, this collection shows that the Germans were equally enthusiastic, their motorcycle industry probably being responsible for many of the great engineers who produced outstanding designs of all types during WW2.  Munch Mammot with 1200cc NSU engine Non-teutonic machines are also included, such as the Ratier, a flat twin built in France during 1939 (Ratier built BMW motorcycles during the occupation, and after the war produced their own version). In a corner of ‘England,’ complete with a red telephone box and a British Bobby, there are some reminders of the peak of the British industry, such as a Velocette LE, Vincent Comet, Scott Flying Squirrel, and Triumph Bonneville.  NSU in the ISDT (International Six Days Trials) Neckarsulm is just off the A6 autobahn to the north of Stuttgart – exit at junction 37 to the B27, and follow the signs for ‘Zentrum,’ which will lead you to Hellbronner Strasse. Turn left at traffic lights into Binswanger Strasse then just before the railway go right into Urbanstrasse – the museum is on the left, with a parking area in front of it. An underground car park is on the other side of the road, just before the museum. Parking is free, but requires a blue parking disc, which can be easily obtained in most post offices and newsagents. Article and photos by Mike Fishwick
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