This 1951 Imme R100 was restored in Germany and is one of the most interesting contraptions we have ever come across. The full-size spare wheel is tame when compared to the asymmetrical front fork, curved main frame design, and a compact 100cc engine. Find it here on eBay in St. Louis, Missouri with a day to go.
The seller says that the bike includes a special stand for swapping the spare wheel, and the engine looks a but vulnerable but perfectly situated below the main frame tube. This medium green with pin-striping avoids a military look and instead exudes class.
The sprung front fork assembly can be seen below, as can the fuel delivery valve and painted tank logo.
Online searches show that most of these remain in Europe, but we are sure that there a few that have snuck over to North America over the years? Who out there has ever seen one, or better yet ridden one? Here is a video of a gentleman doing just that:
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Damn spiffy, that.
Once again, learn something new every day…
I’ve only ever seen one of these before – running too.
At “only” $3400 bid, I think this bike is a long way yet from meeting reserve. My feeling is that this is a $10,000 motorcycle.
Whatever the sale price, if you want unique, this is it!
A link to more information about the Imme (german word for bee):
http://berniesbikeshed.wordpress.com/imme-r100reidel-1950/
I am copying pictures of the brochure that was forwarded to me by a photographer in Florida (David H Brady Jr) David and I were together at Moroso Park for an event at which this Imme showed up, the owner probably put 10 miles on it at the track.
The pictures will be forwarded to T Y’s e-mail because I see no provision for an attachment on the feed back page. They may possibly show it on the site.
An interesting mechanical inovation, if you look closely enough, the exhaust pipe is part of the frame.
I believe that David knows and stays in touch with the owner, if any one would like to try and close that loop, let me know and I will ask David if he can help.
This is one of those machines that eclipse all the others around. No matter how many exotic superbikes at the show or in your collection, the crowd would be around this little bugger. You gotta love it.
Simply amazing. They sure don’t make ‘em like they used to.
@Phil – Yes to the exhaust pipe. I’d missed that detail, and it makes me love the bike even more.
Gimme an Imme!!
I have several pix of a black example at the 2008 MotoConcorso in Monterey:
http://thevintagent.blogspot.com/2008/07/motoconcorso-2008.html
Super rare in the US, and everywhere else. The construction is ‘inexpensive’, but genius nevertheless.
Thanks for the photos Paul.
Love your website BTW… Been a big fan for years.
There was one of these in the Guggenheim exhibit–haven’t seen anything about them since. It’s amazing what can turn up…
This is truly one of my favorite cycles of all time…and this one looks amazing.
I wonder of the seller would take a Norton in trade?
Hmmm..this one would get parked in the house me thinks!!
Such a cool design…”honey…grab my bib will ya? Im drooling on my keyboard again!”
EBay bidding has only a few minutes to go, reserve still not met.
Yep, ten grand didn’t make it to reserve…
I was at that Moroso event in 2009 with Phil Tegtmeier, above.
I am not that knowledgeable of motorcycles but this one caught my attention in an instant. I thnk it was the mono-shock front suspension. Then there was something about its shape and line told me it was early post WWII European.
As Phil noted the exhaust pipe was a frame member. It was an elegantly engineered length of steel tubing flanged on one end to hold the little engine and flanged at the other end to hold the rear wheel. This single element performed dual functions – engine mount and trailing arm of the rear suspension.
Its owner, was a facinating gentleman who knew what he had. Over lunch he told me about his Imme. The articles at the links , above did a nice job of describing this thing of beautiful simplicity and complexity. As ‘Pogo’ explained it the headlight filament acted as a voltage regulator converting the pulsating current produced by the magneto to dc that could charge its battery.
That was but one of its mant endearing features explained that This was a . Everywhere you looked almost every significant element performed multiple roles through clever, elegant engineering.
I hope these links will take you to a Page 1 of its sales material: https://picasaweb.google.com/davidhbradyjr/ImmeAtMoroso#5589319533656720098
This is Page 2: https://picasaweb.google.com/davidhbradyjr/ImmeAtMoroso#5589319525669884658
Some cool technology, though with a relatively durable three cross spoked wheel, I think a tire change kit would be much preferable weight penalty.
I’ve seen a few of these over the years. Don’ t think they’re quite as rare as $10k might have you believe.
Always loved the bikes with fuel in top tube, water in the tires (rokon), etc, and dual exhaust/swingarm is in that zone.
There was one in the Guggenheim show and you can read more about it on Page 222 in the catalog.
Also, until recently, Blue Moon Motorcycle in Atlanta, who deal in lots of vintage bikes had two, a perfect black one in their collection and an original, in fairly rough, but completely un-molested condition, same green as this one, for sale at $10K.
Always did wonder what the Grinch rode around on. Now I know.
Very cool bike from a aesthetic and mechanical design standpoint. Jim Dillard’s motorcycle museum in Denver has at least two of them. http://www.vintagemotos.com/
I have always regarded this as possibly the most fwd thinking outside of the box bike of its time, and some time after. Never seen one for sale, and wondered what they would go for? What a beautiful example.
Into my virtual garage you go…… Right next to the awesomely deco Killinger & Freund! http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/killinger_freund/Killinger_Freund_WWII_2.htm
When I saw The Art of the Motorcycle show, there were only a handful of things that stood out in my memory: a technical error in one of the placards, having owned examples of *three* of the bikes on display, and the Imme.
IMHO, the Imme R100 is one of the most beautiful and most beautifully-engineered mid-century European bikes.
In this era of “modern retro reproductions” (think of the Mustang, the Camaro, the Challenger) a reproduction in the spirit of the Imme — of course, with all the modern conveniences such as disk brakes — would be a very fun project.
What a neat piece of machinery! Just imagine the creative mind that came up with a unique design like that. Don’t know if I’d want to rely on those brakes, however; they look awfully small.
The engineering achievements of Norbert Riedel are in a word fascinating! The German Wikipedia site gives an insight into Norbert & his Imme: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riedel_Imme. I checked the English text using Google translations, it isn’t perfect but is ok.
BTW contrary to popular belief the name Imme does not refer to a bee in this case but rather to Immenstadt, the city in the Allgäu in southern Germany (Lake Constance proximity), where Riedel’s cycles were built.
Martin
I have the bike you see in the vidio Berni sold it to me, its at Southampton Uk. I have a fuel free engine design that might just elclips Norbert Riedel, but its for power generation, it will power the next generation of vehicles that will probably be electric. It breaks the carbon chain, and you can bury it in the garden. Hope it gets out there , mine is called the Albion.