Post-Sale Update: After 26 bids on eBay, this NSU Sportmax sold for $54,100.
In the 1950s, NSU was the world’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer. Possibly the pinnacle of their production was the NSU Sportmax Works Racer, which enable to the company to win the Constructor’s World Championship twice in the 250cc class. The factory race bikes were incredibly expensive, but also worth the money – in 1955, an privateer (though factory-supported) racer named HP Müller actually won the Championship on a Sportmax! We’re blown away to find what is claimed to be one of the 30 original works racers from the NSU factory. The seller claims that the history of this bike is well-document. We truly hope he’s correct.
Müller was the first privateer to become world champion and he was in his mid 40s at the time! The bike he used featured a 247cc, SOHC 4-stroke single that was capable of putting out 30 horsepower above 9,000 rpm. As the seller claims this is a similar works bike, you might be able to expect similar numbers. Head over to Bike EXIF to see a pristine restored example. Or, get yourself one of the base Sportmax’s and find a company like Airtech to get you the replica fairings and dustbin!
This specific NSU Sportmax has made its way from Germany to Guatemala, then to California, with a restoration in Illinois for good measure. Ran in a few AHRMA events across the country, the bike has spent the last several decades in a private museum in Florida. It has not run in the last 15 years, though the seller claims that every month it’s been turned over by hand and the cylinder walls have been lubricated.
Find this NSU Sportmax for sale here on eBay with bidding up to $12,600 in Marathon, Florida. We cannot wait to see what this goes for.
