Ride anywhere with this NSU Kettenkrad tank bike

For those of you who are looking for the ultimate motorcycle to go-anywhere, this 1944 NSU Kettenkrad could be the motorcycle you've been looking for.

The Kettenkrad was designed for the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War as a lightweight, multi-terrain, tow vehicle and came with high and low transmission ranges: 'Gelande' - off-road and Strasse ' For a total of six Speeds. Gelande and Strasse are what the GS represents in the GS range of BMW, making the Kettenkrad the first GS.

The Kettenkrad is powered by a 1478cc water-cooled motor from the Opel Olympia car and an advanced track system, which used roller bearings and padded tracks, allowed a maximum speed of 50mph on road surfaces , Making it the fastest vehicle of the WW2.


The bike goes on auction on March 19 at the Goodwood meeting of members and is expected to get £ 60,000-80,000.

Only 8,000 NSU Kettenkrads were produced during the Second World War, compared to more than 600,000 Jeeps and as almost all the equipment of the German army was destroyed at the end of the war, there is very little left. There is no recorded history for this example prior to its acquisition by the current vendor in 2011. The chassis has a stamped VIN of 116381, dated September 1944; It is also stamped 474, which indicates postwar use by the German Forestry Commission.