Simson fan René from Sohland with his SIMSON homebuilt

Name:

René Wagner

Place of residence:

Sohland (near Bautzen) in Saxony

Brand Simson

How did you become aware of the brand Simson?
I grew up with Simson. Between the ages of 13 and 18 I owned three motorcycles. The first one was a SR2 from my father. I think most people of my age started with it and rode over the fields of the LPG (Landwirtschaftliche Produktions Genossenschaft - agricultural production cooperative - for the younger ones among you). Black, of course :-) and nobody minded. Then came the S50 of my mother and with 16 the Jawa 125/175 of my father.

The ratio 3:1 was like this: 3 hours tinkering and screwing and one hour riding. Sheet metal was made, fairings folded, paintwork applied and the odd "tuning part" organised if there were any. What was not available, was made by oneself. Someone could always do something...

What do you like most about Simson?
After I left Germany in 1989, there was no more East German technology, the temptations of the technology of the class enemy were too great ;-)
So I left everything behind and gave it away for scrap, which I later bitterly regretted and still do. I would have had tinkering objects for the next years now. Well, that's just the way it was back then.

The revisiting of this technique came over the years, as did the memories of it. The smell of the exhaust fumes, the 2-stroke petrol, the little adversities of the technique. When it rained and you pushed the moped together with your girlfriend next to you and fixed every defect yourself, even if it was only a cellophane bag in which the ignition coil was packed when the road was wet, or a silencer was made from a Coke can from the last visit to the West. It was simple and easy to understand technology - no frills, no electronic frippery, pure mechanics.

Your own Simson

Your Simson is a self-built brand. How did the idea of a self-build come about? Did you follow a certain concept?
I just wanted to get back those days, black fingers from screwing, oil stains on the clothes and of course the Simson brand. The scope for these mopeds is simply gigantic and there are again endless parts and accessories. When an entire industry jumps on a brand that no longer exists, it simply has to be something very special. I didn't have a specific concept in mind. I simply searched for a "corpse" and found it for 200 Euros in our town and tinkered with it.

What parts from which Simson models are used in your own construction? Are there also parts from other manufacturers?
The frame was changed discreetly ;-), so the upper belt was welded around. I wanted to have a sloping line to the rear, like on an Awo Tourer or RT - in contrast to the other conversions, which like to move the rear upwards. An S51 will do anything ... it's a good boy!
It should be a bit oldschool. Corners out, curves in. I experimented with the tank. Originally a SR2 tank was planned, but it looked a bit too small for the bike, so I had to get a Jawa tank. A teardrop shape is a must! It had to be bulged, welded and filled.

The shape of the exhaust should be a cigar. So again SR2 as organ donor, also in terms of air filter, because the heart box had to disappear completely. The basic DNA of a SIMSON makes it possible. The fork is from the KR50, so 6 cm longer - so it will be even more sloping away to the rear to grind with the "little shit" short over the asphalt. The shocks are from MB-accessories, because I couldn't find any shorter ones. I wanted to have the top chord in the sloping line to the main frame, but the swingarm couldn't be pushed down either, or the chain would nibble through the chain tube and drag across the swingarm eye (which it did later when I installed a 12 sprocket, for fear it would be too fast). Optics should come before performance.

Like all parts, I bought the ES rims from AKF. These just do better visually as they are a bit wider and you can put a coat on that matches the one on the bike. We did that with the rims before, just to be able to put on slightly wider tires and it still works today.

How did the custom build go? Did you do the work alone or did you have support?
You can't do such a project as a "normal person" alone, if you don't have a workshop with all the bells and whistles. I made the shapes of the add-on parts like the upper belt and the struts, as well as the position of the swingarm etc. with a lot of cardboard and tape. Afterwards the parts went to a blacksmith, who should bend them to me in such a way and/or manufacture new struts. After that I had to weld the frame by an expert (friend).

After all the corrective work like grinding, flexing and readjusting, the parts (frame, swingarm, rims, hubs etc.) went to sandblasting and powder coating. My friend Matthias Schaffrath specialized in this "on the side" and RepLack Kay Böhme painted my tank and fenders. During this time Patrik Peters reworked the engine to a 60cc and two gigantic "sinuses", so two full channels.

What difficulties arose during the custom build and how did you try to solve the problems?
It was clear to me that the problems, or rather the challenges, would only come when the thing was on the road. As long as it stands, everything looks great, but the everyday test had to show.
Since the moped should look so beautiful for a long time, all screws and spokes were replaced by new stainless steel parts, every bearing was changed. Sometimes the hair dryer of my girlfriend and the coffee table in the living room had to be used, because lacing in the cold outside is no fun. The big questioning eyes of my girlfriend were then also included. I counted the spoke nipples and she my cups, if I still had them all in the cupboard. Everybody has to make sacrifices...

Thanks to YouTube and various forums you can find enough instructions for one or the other repair. Many useful tricks, but also a lot of "half-knowledge". I discovered more and more the greatness of the cult SIMSON. On Facebook there are really many groups and fan pages. I think every single moped is as individual as every owner himself.
There is no one-size-fits-all guide to carburetors. You could fill entire libraries with the countless carburetor and engine settings alone. Every moped reacts differently at different revs. I noticed this after the DEKRA inspection when a normal 15 pinion was used again and I experimented with the exhaust system. Soon all carburettor settings were gone again, and I started a new set-up of the carburettor with a DIN A4 sheet and pencil and a handful of jets. That was a Saturday afternoon, I messed it up for my neighbours :-( But that was really no fun - dismantling, changing, reassembling, screwing on, test ride and that about twenty times in a row.

After a complete carburetor and exhaust change everything was in "dry cloths". Whereas I got away from calotte for manifold mounting again and am much happier with the standard nut again. The calotte was never tight, despite reinforced MZ springs. And I believe that many who have installed such calottes, achieve much better performance data in the full throttle range, if they screw it back. I am also only by chance on this phenomenon, when I tinkered with the exhaust for the 1oo-thousandth time. Lo and behold, suddenly noticeably better acceleration numbers. Many discoveries and findings are based on chance.

Again, the feeling was there: There's more here. So I started the pick-up, went to AKF in Bautzen, bought new exhaust parts and had them welded together on the way back. The result: A completely new performance and the old carburettor setting was gone again. Since the standard carburetor was getting on my nerves - with all its screws - I had to do some research and read that RZT manufactures modified standard carburetors and AKF sells them. So I went to Bautzen to get one of those. Quickly home, screwed the thing on and ... nothing! When accelerating always went out ... too fat. Then we put the cart before the horse. The 105 main jet out and the 90 or 95 - which is included - in. From that moment on it was really fun to ride and I didn't change anything. Don't touch a running system! 8,4 hp and a top speed of 87,5 km/h are totally ok for a 60/2 Simme.

How much did it cost to build it yourself?
You should not convert a hobby into money. Hobbies always cost money. Everybody has to decide for himself whether it makes sense or not. It is always the joy and the fun in the foreground. I think I put in around 2.500 Euro. Including the inspection fee of 124 Euro at DEKRA. It was worth it in any case!

What do you use your Simson moped for?
I ride it every day to work and of course on weekends, when family and time allow it, through the beautiful Upper Lusatia. And sometimes I go into the garage and just look at it and enjoy it. Of course I also use it as an advertising medium for my company Kraftwerker Sport Sohland.

What was your greatest or most extraordinary experience? The day of the inspection by DEKRA. The inspector liked how cleanly it was processed and how complete the certificates were. I had shown him a photo beforehand and then I actually already knew what I still had to change, such as the provisional air filter, the too short number plate holder incl. the lighting equipment. I changed it accordingly and a week later I made the appointment for the acceptance.
Of course the feedback of the others is also an "experience" when I ride on meetings or in the forums or on Facebook. Not everyone likes it, but I don't care, because I have to like it and it has to be roadworthy and suitable for everyday use.

What do you use your Simson moped for?
For everything - shopping, the way to university and to work, to switch off after a stressful day, to go to friends or also to get other thoughts. I have fun riding and always come back happy from a tour. I have also ridden from Dresden to the Briesensee. When I arrived there, the exhaust was leaking, but someone always has a Bunsen burner at hand ;) And of course to Bautzen and to other meetings, like the one in Merseburg.

What was your greatest or most extraordinary experience with your Simson?

Other

Are you a member of a Simson club / association?
No, is there anything like that here? I only know the classic car clubs.

Do you take part in Simson events?
As of this year I do. AKF An- und Abgrillen, Simson Treffen Zwickau, Oldtimerclubs of the region like Sohland, Neukirch etc.

Mostly we meet with other members of Kraftwerker Sport in Sohland and then drive around for a little coffee. Some members of us also have the SIMSON fetish in themselves and under the butt.

Doyou have wishes, ideas, plans for the future concerning Simson?
This Simme is ready. Like I said: Don't touch a running system! A Jawa 125 and a SR2 I would build up or rebuild again. I think next winter as a project. I am glad that there is AKF on the doorstep, so you can quickly go and get a little something if something breaks or was forgotten. I have a great selection of different manufacturers and suppliers at different price points.

Anything else you'd like to share?
You from AKF - Just keep up the good work :-) And anyone who screws, go to Dekra or TüV. Talk to them, involve them and you will have peace of mind and above all safety in road traffic.