1954 Motorcycle Manufacturing in Communist Poland

[Pawel66]

For those who would be interested in these "technology" topics:

https://www.facebook.com/Powarszawsku/videos/1759960687509659

This is WFM, Warsaw Motorbike Factory, producing 125cc popular bike SHL (DKW "inspired").

[MikeSimon]

Several German motorcycle companies located in what became the "German Democratic Republic" -East Germany- after WWII became communist bloc manufacturers with knock-off designs. In some cases whole plants were transferred to new locations. Happened to BMW and DKW, for example.

[Pawel66]

It did, exactly. Not for this one though - the transfers were effected from German soil to the Ural area. And from Polish soil to the Ural area, believe me. We were plundered.

The WFM was local development and the DKW 125 was just inspirational copying .

[Metrinity]

Oh, those antique bikes fascinate me. It's about their past and what they've accomplished in their existences; it's about pure love. I own a few of them, and it's a lot of fun to just look at them or take a quick trip in them. All of those specifics, whether it's the sound or the rearing engine, ugh. If you don't have a bike, there is a way to do it; I always recommend it to my younger relatives who ride Suzuki and Kawasaki motorcycles. You'll understand what I'm talking about if you go see a place like rent a motorbike in Greece, just go see it for yourself! But be careful, those bikes can say a few things if you don't pay attention to the lane!

[Pawel66]

I do not ride motorbikes (cabin leaking too much during the rain), but I think I can understand what you are saying.
The one shown manufactured was a popular type, 125ccm (a DKW 125RT "inspired", as I wrote before). The two most famous ones from Poland are:

1. One pre-war, Sokół 600: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sok%C3%B3%C5%82_motorcycles
2. One post-war, Junak: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SFM_Junak

My dad used to own Junak. With a side-car, as they were family of 3 before I was born.

[MikeSimon]

I grew up on motorcycles. My dad rode a motorcycle every day to work before he got his first car in the late 50s. This turned me into a motorhead and I remain a motorcycle fan to this day. My passion, however, is for those bikes I drooled over when I was a young man and was able to ride one on the street. My oldest bike is a 1971 and the newest one a 2012. I can see the attraction in some of the pre-WWII, 1950s and 1960s bikes, but they do not raise my pulse as much as a "Superbike" from the 70s. Some of my more valuable bikes approach the value of a decent condition, unrestored W113.