The MAX-driver's Homepage

The NSU-MAX model family

A picture tells more than thousand words, as we say in Germany. So we show you here pictures of the various types of the NSU MAX model family.

These small pictures are for preview. Click on the picture to get the picture in better resolution.

After WW2 NSU started the production with the 251 OSL

NSU 251 OSL 1952 (77 kByte)

Predecessor of the MAX was the NSU 251 OSL from the successful OSL series.

The prewar OSL series were built from 1933 to 1940. After WW2 the production started in 1948 with a minimal modified prewar model. The picture shows the 1952 model.

And then came the MAX.

1952 - 1954 STANDARDMAX

STANDARDMAX 1953 (60 kByte)

In late 1952 the MAX was for sale. It was a hit. Roaring 17 hp (13 kW) from only 250 ccm capacity were a lot of power, especially in a reliable motorbike for everybody, not in a pure sports bike.
The MAX, later called STANDARDMAX, had small cast iron brake drums and a little petrol tank, containing 12 litres.

1954 - 1956 SPEZIALMAX

SPEZIALMAX 1954 (40 kByte)

In 1954 came the SPEZIALMAX with the bigger "buffalo style" fuel tank, containing 14 litres and with big aluminium alloy brake drums, which provided much better brake performance.

1956 - 1963 SUPERMAX

SUPERMAX 1956 (31 kByte)

In late 1956 came the SUPERMAX. Everybody could recognize her by the two external springs/dampers at the rear suspension. (The earlier STANDARD- and SPEZIALMAX had one single rear spring/damper inside the frame like modern motorbikes) But if you look on the details, nearly each part of the SUPERMAX is a little bit different from those of the STANDARD- or SPEZIALMAX. This makes SUPERMAX parts hard to get...

The STANDARD-, SEPZIAL- and SUPERMAXes were the bikes which everybody could buy from his local NSU dealer. But there were some other MAXes, which were only built for export to certain countries or for competition and not available for everybody:

The MAX-Scrambler for the USA:

MAX-Scrambler 251OSB - S 20

In 1957 the US-importer ordered a small series of 230 special made NSU MAX bikes for the american "Scramble"-events, a mixture from Moto-Cross and Endurance. Developed from the Gelände-Max, the MAX-scrambler had the following features:

A longer front fork with external dampers; shorter mudguard; 21"- front wheel; smaller headlamp with electric connector, easy to take off; smaller fuel tank from the MAXI; wide off road handlebar; high mounted foot rests; high mounted exhaust system; dual seat; big tail light (like on BMW R 27) on the shortened rear mudguard; rear dampers like on the SUPERMAX. The engine was the normal SUPERMAX engine with 18 bhp, but there was a tune-up-kit available to increase performance. The special made silencer was built to the order of the US-importer, who wanted a "strong sound". It made the "strong sound" but also less power than the series silencer.

12 bikes were delivered to Jugoslawia. In Germany the MAX-Scrambler was not official sold.

(From: Stephan Thum, NSU Max 1952 - 1962, alle Ausführungen)

The fast sisters of the MAX:

GELÄNDEMAX (61 kByte)

First choice for off-road racing, especially with sidecar, was the GELÄNDEMAX:

The GELÄNDEMAX was a competition bike, which won the German championship for off-road racing in the 250 cc class from 1955 to 1960.

Early GELÄNDEMAXes had a 21" front wheel and a longer front fork. Later models had a 19" front wheel and external shock dampers at the front fork.

The engine was tuned and offered a performance somewhere between 19 and 25 german DIN hp.

More features of the GELÄNDEMAX were:

Wider rear fork with rear tyre 4.00-19
Engine protection shield
Typical off-road accessories, tyre fill bottle, VDO clock

There were only a few "real" GELÄNDEMAXes, which were built by the research department of NSU and there were much more "replica" GELÄNDEMAXes, which were built by the off-road drivers, using more or less original NSU GELÄNDEMAX spare parts.

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Webmaster Last updated: July the 27th, 1998

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