1949 HMW bicycle (Austrian) with 1953 Fuchs FM40S engine

1953 Fuchs FM40 Hilfsmotor (“help-motor”) 2-speed on 1949 HMW Gent’s Bicycle (Austrian)

01_fox

This rare restored Austrian Fuchs cyclemotor is fitted to an Austrian HMW bicycle. Made by the same company, this would have been an original pairing.

Both the bicycle and the engine are in good restored condition.

02fox

My friend Patrick restored it for me. And, as I’ve stored it for over a year, I sent it to my mechanic a few weeks ago.

03fox

He serviced the engine and the bicycle and I took a short video clip of it running.

04fox

Like other German bicycles I’ve ridden from this era, it’s a well-built heavyweight frame that handles well.

fox1-copy

This makes it ideal for cyclemotor use.

07fox

The handlebars are tarnished with age, but otherwise the bicycle is in fine fettle.

06fox

The saddle is in good condition (and comfortable). Tyres are good.

08fox

As you might have guessed from the logo, ‘fuchs’ is German for fox.

05fox1

SUMMARY:

Like all cyclemotors, these engines are not particularly efficient. They were not in production for long enough to be improved sufficiently to be as good as the mopeds that replaced them by the mid-fifties. But this one works well enough for local use, shows, rallies, etc.

I know of only one other in the UK, and that was in rather a poor state when I last saw it (Bonhams auction, summer 2008).

**********************

A BRIEF FUCHS HISTORY

There are two models of Fuchs hilfsmotor. The first was produced between 1949 and 1951 (below).

Here’s a picture of my 1951 Fuchs cycle-attachment. As you can see from the advert above, it’s almost identical to the Victoria FM38.

In fact, Fuchs was one of the original designers of the Victoria cyclemotor. But he then returned to Austria and brought out his own model, the Fuchs FM40S (below) in direct competition with Victoria in Germany.

fuchs_sweden

This second version of the Fuchs FM40 was manufactured from 1952 to 1955. Many were sold in Sweden (the above ad is Swedish).

**********************

Mit 1 PS Durch Nordafrika – ‘With 1 hp around North Africa’

I have a copy of this book, by Richard Waldegg.

It was printed in 1957, and tells the story of buying a a bicycle fitted with a Fuchs cycle-attachment and cyclemotoring on it around North Africa.

I can’t read or speak German. But I have been known to take my copy of this book with me when I venture out on my Cyclemaster. It helps to inspire me whenever I break down to think that if I’m too far away to get home by pedal power only, at least I can get a bus or a taxi back home to get my van to recover it. I don’t suppose that would have been a luxury available in the Sahara!