German Motorrad

Motorcycles Built in Germany (R)

Motorräder Hergestellt in Deutschland: Notes on some of the rarer German marques

This page lists brands beginning with the letter "R" for which we currently have only an historical precis.
For a more complete listing visit the German Index.

R

Raakete c.1919


Rapier
Manufactured in 1953 and 1954 by Rapier Fahrradfabrik, Märkische Straße 23, Bielefeld. Initially they offered kits into which appropriate engines from JLO, Sachs and Zundapp could be installed, and also produced complete mopeds.
Sources: Moped Archive, GTU Oldtimerservice


Logo

Ratingia
Built by F. Müller & Co. GmbH, Ratingen im Rheinland, 1923-1925
Lightweights with four-stroke engines of 173 and 195cc (1.5 ps and 2.5 ps.)
The engines were from Snob, but had Ratingia embossed on the engine cover.
Sources: Tragatsch p259, motor-hist-foto.de, correspondence.
N.B. The Snob entry mentions only one engine size.

October 11th 2024

    Dear Mr. Sheldon...
    Here I like to offer two pictures from an engine "Ratingia".
    This engine was mine until I gave it away (this year) to a "freak" who will build a complete motorcycle. The carburator shown here is a Longuemare. Original should be a "ZEFAN" there. The Ruthardt magneto is not original too, it should be a small/little "Bosch".
    That "Ratingia" engine is merely a complete SNOB engine as build in Düsseldorf (close by) - only the cover/lid is different.
    (Images are in "Comments". Contact details omitted by request)


Raumo

Richard Rauscher of Ludwigshafen built Raumo mopeds from 1953 to 1956. Four models were built using 48/49cc Sachs, JLO and Zundapp engines

Ludwigshafen is on the Rhine between Frankfurt and Strasbourg.

Source: mo-ped.se, et al.


Record
1922-24
Built basic machines using two-stroke 147cc engines of their own construction. The engine was mounted high in the triangle of a strengthened bicycle frame, with belt drive to the rear wheel.
Source: Tragatsch p259, motor-hist-foto.de.


Reform

The Reform-Motorrad of 1930 is very similar to the Fels of 1931 and the 1930 Presto Ballon.

Source: oldsachsmotor.de




Rehling logo

Rehling
Founded by Carl Rehling of Bielefeld in 1919, the company changed ownership but not the name and produced 247cc motorcycles in 1924 and 1925.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice


Renner-Original

Rennsteig 1925-30


Rex of Behringersdorf

Rex Kraftfahrzeug GmbH, Behringersdorf near Nuremberg. 1923 - 1925

The company produced a small number of two-stroke motorcycles. At least one remains, and has chain drive to the gearbox and belt-drive to the rear wheel, which has a rim brake. No front brake.

Source: meisterdinger.de

N.B. Several firms used the Rex brand.


Rex of Munich


Ribi
Manufactured by Binnewies & Sprecher, Berlin 1923-1925
These were quality machines of 200 and 250cc which took advantage of the tax and licence-free laws then in effect. They had kickstarter, clutch and a two-speed gearbox.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice


Rinne

Rinne 1924~1930


Rinnerberger 1927-1929


Riwina
Manufactured by the Ridder Brothers of Bielefeld, 1923-1924
Herford König supplied 233cc engines for these machines.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice


Robako
1924-26
Berlin firm which fitted Bekamo 129cc and MGF 132cc engines to lightweights.
Source: Tragatsch p272


Roco
Manufactured by Roco Motorfahrzeuge AG, Berlin-Charlottenburg, 1922-1925
These were robust machines powered by horizontal two-strokes of 110 and 147cc with Bosch magneto ignition. The engines were possibly supplied by Cockerell.
Motorcycle racer Johannes Rössig was associated with the company, along with brothers Hermann and Heinrich Rossner. Rössig went on to form Roconova
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice, wikipedia.nl, Tragatsch p262


Roconova


Roeder
Manufactured by Roeder & Co., Hanover, 1906-1914
Known as Auto-Phaetons, these were effectively two heavy bicycles running side by side with an engine in one and a seat or carrier in the centre, driving via a chain.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice


Roland
Manufactured by Hugo Marschin in Berlin, 1923-1924.
These were light motorcycles with 132cc Bekamo and 175cc DKW engines.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice
N.B. Roland of Dessau, automobile manufacturer 1924-26, is unrelated.


Rolifix

Rolifix-Hamburg Logo

Manufactured by Alfons Lipp, Frankfurt / Main, Freiherrvom-Stein-Strasse 11, 1956-1958

Introduced in 1956 as the Blitz 57, it was renamed to Rolifix in 1957. Powered by a 47 cc Sachs engine, it had good handling characteristics, brakes on all three wheels, and a payload of 250kg.

Source: Axel Oskar Mathieu Archive


Rollfix 1923-1936


Roter Teufel
1923-25
Bismarck Motoren GmbH, Berlin-Charlottenburg, Bismarckstraße 102
Berlin firm which fitted their own 170cc four-stroke sidevalve engines to light motorcycles.
Source: Tragatsch p263


RS
Two different German companies built motorcycles under the RS marque concurrently.
Rogge & Stiller of Berlin built two-stroke engines 1924-1925
Scheid-Henniger of Karlsruhe built RS motorcycles 1925-1928. These were also marketed under the SH brand.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice, Tragatsch p272.


RUD
1927-30
Dresden firm which built handsome roadsters using Kuhne, MAG and JAP engines of 348cc to 748cc.
Source: Tragatsch p265


Ruko

Sidecars manufactured by RUKO Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH & Co. KG, 72555 Metzingen until c.2022.

ruko-fahrzeugtechnik.de ✝

Models: RF, RF1 Targa, Shark, Sportivo, Vector, Xplorer.

Source: SidecarPassion.com


Ruppe 1928-1932


RUT
August Gernet, Motorfahrzeugbau, Nürnberg
Built motorcycles with an external flywheel 132cc two-stroke engine.
Source: meisterdinger.de


Runge 1923-1926


Ruwisch
Karl Ruwisch of Cologne built a light scooter powered by a Victoria 32cc two-stroke mounted above the front wheel, 1949-1959(1).
Notes: 1. Dates vary with some sources giving first production as early as 1947, which would make it Germany's first post-war scooter. Tragatsch gives 1948-49, Wikipedia NL 1948-59.
Source: GTU Oldtimerservice


RWN 1927-1930


German Resources

Rarer German Marques