Munch Mammut Replica
July 28th, 2008 by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider"
Last year we had an article about the Munch Mammut replicas being built by Mike Kron of Germany. Over the weekend I had a chance to look one over closely at Vintage Motorcycle Days 2008 at Mid Ohio. Looking at a line of bikes from a distance the Mammut immediately caught my eye because it has a very distinctive shape from almost any angle. When I approached it looked exactly as it should, at least exactly as any photo I had ever seen since this was my first encounter with one in the metal, and if it were not for the information provided, you would assume it was a perfectly restored original.
The workmanship on this bike is phenomenal, every inch is perfect. This is a replica of a 1968 model and as such, it reflects the technology of the time, but there are a lot of things you might miss if you didn’t look carefully.
This bike has Weber carbs which were a high performance option on the originals. The rear suspension is interesting, the chain case on the left is a cast assembly and makes up the left side of the swingarm, a hydraulic chain tensioner does away with the need for adjustment slots for the rear axle.
This bike is not as big in person as it might look in photos and it actually weighs only 470 pounds, (there is some question about this figure, it may be much higher, 675 lbs ?) compared to most cruisers today, it’s a lightweight. True to its era, the tires seem a bit skinny for the power of the engine.
These bikes are accurate down to the recreated castings and, never having seen an original, I wouldn’t be surprised if this one was finished better than they were then. Anyone who enjoys seeing the work of a highly skilled builder would love to look one of these over. Very nice!
More photos below:
Posted in Motorcycle Builders, Vintage Motorcycles
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13 Responses to “Munch Mammut Replica”
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July 28th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Always nice to see another bike with an Enclosed-Chain! A brilliant idea, but I never understood why it wasnt more widly adapted. I have 2 yamaha 920R’s and they are virtualy maintenance free.
Larry
July 28th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Larry, you can keep those things running? My father had a 920RH, and it was horrible to keep going. I thought they were all lemons.
Nice recreation there, Any photos of a restored bike that would compare?
July 28th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
No problem at all. My ‘82 is completly stock and in perfect condition. Runs like a champ! The ‘81 is a project that ran great…3 years ago. Cant let them sit too long…carbs will gunk up. They are actually very reliable and somewhat bulletproof.
July 28th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
So, anyone with this kind of ability want to take a crack at reproducing a ‘79 Yamaha RD400 Daytona Special for me? Oh yeah, it’s got to be under $3k as well…
I’ll keep dreaming for now.
All kidding aside, that’s a very nice job, and it probably is better than the original, but I wonder why one would go to such great lengths and not just design and build their own perfect bike? I don’t want to criticize this effort, but if I had the ability and resources I’d be doing something modern, sporty, lighter than this. If I wanted to do a reproduction machine I don’t think this would be my first choice, but that’s what makes motorcycling great don’t it, variety.
July 28th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Another really interesting find and post Paul!
I was always fascinated by the Munch … and always thought the design was a real failure from an aesthetic perspective.
A lot like being drawn to stare at the aftermath of some horrible accident.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
that intake manifold probably makes it run like a twin. It needs dual webers!
Are the originals really that hard to find that someone goes through the expense of making a new one? Nice work though.
-todd
July 28th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
It’s a kind of 70s german funktional Bauweise or something, reminds me my playmobil toys, or an old swiss milling machine … Interesting.
Just for my education/culture, why did this thing enter the motorycle hall of fame ? That was the largest displacement bike at the time, or the first to have a car engine, back in the days, or something ?
July 28th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Nicolas,
In my opinion its in the hall of fame because in 1966 this bike would to out at 137mph. Nortons where still struggling to do the ton. Think autobahn cruisin. Um im not sure kneeslider but i have some books that list that weight as a wopping 656lbs.
July 29th, 2008 at 4:59 am
Quite correct phgcyclist: dry weight 300kg or 675lbs.
As a kid I couldn’t image riding a bike that big. In middle age I now have a Honda CB1300, which is lighter, faster, more powerful and with an even bigger engine. But the Munch looked like nothing else, and, as you say, went a clear 30mph faster than most other things around at the time. And its 104bhp seemed stratospheric when you were surrounded by 47bhp Bonnevilles and Lightnings. Disc brakes were kinda cool too.
Like others here, I’m not sure why you’d need to build a new one. But its a fine job anyway.
July 29th, 2008 at 7:33 am
pghcyclist and Mr Bee, you may be right about the weight. I did a quick check of one reference and it said 470 but both of you have sources that say otherwise. I’m easily inclined in this case to think it may be the higher weight. I’ll look for more references to see what I can find.
July 29th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Disc brakes? Looks like massive drums to me.
July 30th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Sorry, I didn’t clarify. The models following this one had disc brakes. You are quite right; this one has the earlier alloy TLS brakes.
July 30th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I’ve seen two or three Mammuts in person over the years and I’d say the workmanship on the replica looks better than that on the original. Never the less, it’s difficult in these times to appreciate how astounding the Mammut appeared to be in the middle to late 1960s. Sort of the “Boss Hoss” of it’s day.
Paul, I have an orginal photo of one of the last Munchs ever made, a Munch Titan. Interested?
Doug