1928 Neander K500

1928 Neander K500

The story from Mecum Auctions:

A stunning 1928 Neander K500, this motorcycle is surely among the most remarkable and futuristic ever produced in series. The Neander was the design of visionary German Ernst Neumann, who made his reputation as a commercial artist in Munich before moving to Paris around 1900. There, he became interested in vehicles after meeting important figures in the emerging motoring industry and added the nom-de-plume Neander (“new man” in Greek) to his name. He was inspired by new materials and unorthodox solutions to technical problems of motorcycle and automotive chassis design, and he built a series of prototype motorcycles using steel “beam” frames that proved very light and effective. He switched to using lightweight pressed-aluminum beam frames in the early 1920s, steered by forks that swung back and forth using a spring box at the steering head. In 1926, he founded Neander Motorfahrzeug GmbH and went into production using a pressed-channel-steel frame that was cadmium plated and housed a variety of motors from small 122cc Villiers two-strokes to 350cc and 500cc single-cylinder engines by Küchen and large V-twins by JAP and Motosacoche.

All Neander motorcycles had amazingly futuristic styling using an egg-shaped fuel tank with an attached curved, padded seat and very clean lines overall. As almost all other motorcycles of the late 1920s used multi-tube frames and forks with cobbled-up styling, the Neander looked amazingly futuristic in its day, and it still looks fresh today. They also possessed excellent handling using their pressed-steel chassis, and they were successful in competition, although there was no factory support from such a small company. On the street, Neanders have a very comfortable, stable and predictable ride. In 1929, the Opel automobile factory licensed the Neander design and built it as the Opel Motoclub, while Neander continued to produce his self-named machines as well. It’s estimated around 2,000 Neanders were built, with more built by Opel.

This 1930 Neander K500 uses a 500cc Küchen engine with a shaft-driven single overhead camshaft controlling three valves—two inlet and one exhaust. The K500 engine a very advanced and beautifully made motor from an esteemed German designer, who later moved to Zundapp to design the company’s famous K600 flat twin and K800 flat four. This Neander has a beautiful restoration and is in excellent, correct condition. It is a remarkably advanced motorcycle for one produced in the 1920s, and a highly coveted collectible.