DKW RT 125

Although the focus of Tiddlerosis is on models ranging from 1955 through 1975, the little DKW 125 of the Thirties deserves special mention. Dampf Kraft Wagen was founded in Germany in 1916 and began building small, two-stroke motorcycles in the '20's. DKW was the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer in the '30's. After several mergers with Audi, Auto Union, and Benz, DKW joined VW in '64 and the brand name was finally phased out at the end of 1966.

Why do we at Tiddlerosis give a Super Rat's ass about this ancient tiddler? The design of the DKW 125cc two-stroke engine became a significant part of war reparations paid to Allied countries after WWII. All the U. S.-built Harley two-strokes, from the first 1948 Hummer to the last 1966 Bobcat owe their heritage to the DKW RT 125. Would there ever have been a line of Yamaha motorcycles without the RT 125? We shall never know if the inspiration could have come from elsewhere anyway, but we do know that the DKW 125 was the direct predecessor of the first Yamaha, just as with the H-D tiddlers. Although never sold in high numbers in America, the BSA Bantam was yet another model founded upon the DKW tiddler. Yes, I know that Japan was not exactly in on the reparations deal, but Yamaha's 125cc YA-1 was a direct copy of the DKW design.

With their large wheels, triangulated, hard-tail frames, teardrop gas tanks, low handlebars, and sprung, solo saddles, there is no mistaking the similarities of the models by DKW, BSA, Yamaha, and Harley-Davidson described here. There was even a Russian version, the name of which I cannot even pronounce, and MZ continued production of the design later than the other brands. I cannot be sure of the model year of the black RT 125 pictured above. It has been designated as a 1950 model by one source and a 1952-58 model by another. If someone knows the correct year, you can add a comment and I shall update the post. You might accurately call the DKW RT 125 the true founding father of Tiddlerosis!

See Also: The H-D Hummer Chart
The DKW EMU Gallery
Yamaha YA-1 at Wikipedia
BSA Bantam at Wikipedia
DKW RT 125 at Wikipedia