thumb|Share of the Megola Motoren AG, issued 1. June 1923

The Megola was a German motorcycle produced between 1921 and 1925 in Munich. Like Bimota, the name is a portmanteau derived from the names of its designers Meixner, Gockerell, and Landgraf.

Design

The Megola had a unique design, laid down in 1920 by Fritz Cockerell,

The first prototype was the "PAX", built in 1918 with a three-cylinder engine within the rear wheel. This was followed in 1920 by a five-cylinder prototype, but still with the engine in the rear wheel. For the production model, the engine was relocated in the front wheel.

Unusual features on the production models included two fuel tanks. The main tank is hidden inside the extensive bodywork, and the fuel from it is hand-pumped to a smaller tank above the engine. The rear wheel has two independent brakes. Megolas came well-equipped, with a fuel gauge, tachometer and ammeter as standard equipment. Two models were offered: sporting and touring. The touring model has a sprung rear wheel and soft saddle. The sport lacks rear suspension but has a more powerful engine. The top speed is . Motorcycle racer Toni Bauhofer achieved on a sports-model on the AVUS racing circuit in Berlin.

thumb|A Megola touring bike displayed at a 2011 exhibition in Paris - 110 ans d'automobile au Grand Palais

The engine was very flexible, lacking both a clutch and a transmission. To start the engine, the rider had to either spin the front wheel while the cycle was on its stand, or push-start the cycle. About 15 survive. About eight replica Megolas have been built between the 1980s and the present day. One replica, fitted with an original engine, was sold by Bonhams auction house in London in 2016 for £82,140.

Killinger and Freund

In 1935 a group of engineers tried to make an improved version, the Killinger and Freund Motorcycle. World War II ended their plans.

See also

  • List of motorcycles of the 1920s
  • Monowheel
  • RevoPower
  • Front wheel drive

References

  • US2240947A - Front wheel drive motorcycle
  • US5042608A - Front-wheel-drive motorcycle