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:
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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
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?
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.
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.
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.
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
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 ?
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.
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.
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.
Disc brakes? Looks like massive drums to me.
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.
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
quote
” True to its era, the tires seem a bit skinny for the power of the engine.”
This is a touring bike as well as being bloody quick ( the original was anyway ) You don’t want modern fat tyres you’d fine on a street screecher. You need the slimmer tyres for those long trips
Dear Sir: I am looking for a byke from the end of 1950 and middle of 1960 black one, 2 stroke two cylinders two exhausts going up and both sides of the seat with stainless steel protection, I think it was 200 cc or more, very beatiful machine and very low. I remember the fuel tank big one and the mark MAMMUT or similar. I was very fast!!! Can you help me? Thanks you.
i believe that the “byke” alejadro is looking for might be a Scott Flying Squirrel also known as the Flying Merkel. I bought a used 920 RH back in the eighties intending to turn it into a Vincent replica. It never turned out the way I wanted it to. The Munch reminds me a lot of a KZ 1300 I used to own. How much is one of these replicas? How much does a good used Munch go for. I have a tiny plastic model munch in my curio cabinet, i think it was a munch made by Bimota. they’re pretty interesting bikes.