Ifma Köin

IFMA KÖIN

Otherwise Known As The Cologne Motorcycle Show

MOTORCYCLING'S RECENT boom in Europe is exemplified nowhere today more than in West Germany, the IFMA, Germany's equivalent of our Motorcycle Industry Council, stages a bi-annual motorcycle show that has in a very short time grown to be the largest show in Europe. On alternate years the show shifts to Milan, Italy. This year over 400,000 square feet of display space was devoted to motorcycles, accessories, and bicycles.

Europeans were treated to the superbike orgy of the year. But among Kawasaki’s 900, 750s from Honda, BSA/Triumph, Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Suzuki, Yamaha, Norton, Laverda, etc. were salted a few things new even to us here in motorcycle Valhalla.

MV previewed its new 750, destined for the U.S. next year; and, Friedl Munch, the Mammoth man, apparently has new financial backing and is reentering the market with an updated version of the NSU engine Mammoth,

now called the 1200TSS. The 1177cc monster was the hit of the show. Weber carburetors have been replaced with Kugelfischer fuel injection. A lighter appearance was achieved with a single head lamp option, and a new exhaust system will appear shortly. Rickman forks are now being fitted. Munch also displayed a stunning three-cylinder, two-stroke snowmobile engine of 700cc, mounted in an entirely new motorcycle chassis.

The Internationale Fahrrad & Motorrad Ausstellung, liberally translated, means simply the International Bicycle and Motorcycle Exhibition. More than 460 firms displayed their goods, representing 21 countries. Cologne is Internationally known for its trade fairs, which are held in the gigantic Kölner Messen, probably one of the largest show building complexes in the world.

In 1973 the German motorcycle industry will return to the CYCLE WORLD Show, bringing some of the display pageantry with them. lâl