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[[Image:1957-DKW-RT175.jpg| | [[Image:Germany.jpg|right]] | ||
[[Image:1957-DKW-RT175.jpg|right|thumb|260px|1957 DKW RT175]] | |||
Founded by Danish-born Joerge Rasmussen, DKW was known for their expertise with [[two-stroke]]s. DKW began building bikes in 1920 and by 1928 had become the world's largest manufacturer with a production of over 100,000 machines. In 1932 DKW merged with Audi, Horsch and Wanderer to form Auto Union, giving the four-circle logo still used by Audi. Numerous racing successes included Ewald Kluge's 1938 Junior TT win on a supercharged 250cc split single. Following the Second World War, the Zschoppau based firm was taken over by [[MZ]], and moved all its facilities to Ingoldstadt, West Germany. In 1957 the firm joined the Victoria and express companies in the Zweirad Union, but in 1966 this was bought by [[two stroke]] engine manufacturer Fichtel & [[Sachs]], who dropped the DKW name. | |||
==Post WWII== | |||
DKW's pre-war [[DKW RT125|RT125]] two-stroke was awarded to various Allied manufacturers as war reparations. BSA produced it as the [[BSA Bantam|Bantam]], the Russians made their own version and for Harley-Davidson it became the Model S, or [[Harley-Davidson Hummer|Hummer]], and Yamaha integrated into their first bike ever; the [[Yamaha YA-1]]. | |||
[[Image:1936-DKW-Sport-250.jpg|left|thumb|250px|1936 DKW Sport 250]] | |||
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[[Image:1936-DKW-Sport- | [[Image:1936-DKW-Sport-500.jpg|left|thumb|250px|1936 DKW Sport 500]] | ||
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[[Image: | [[Image:1937-DKW-SS250.jpg|left|thumb|250px|1937 DKW SS250]] | ||
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[[Image: | [[Image:1956-DKW-IFA-BK350.jpg|left|thumb|250px|1956 DKW IFA BK350]] | ||
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[[ | ==Models== | ||
*[[DKW RT125]] | |||
*[[DKW RT175]] | |||
[[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers]] | |||
[[Category:German motorcycles]] |
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