Ardie VF 125
Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 7:56 am
Hi.
I am the lucky owner of an 1940 Ardie VF125 motorcycle. This was actually made in Nürnberg at the Ardie plant from 1940 untill the factory was bombed in 1942 (or 1943?).
The VF125 was an evolution of the S125 "Junior" wich was builded in 1939-1940 and costed 435 Reichmark. When the VF-model takes over, it might end the Aride-brand as personal motorcycles to military bikes only.
As far as I has found the VF125 is only made as military model and used by Gestapo.
If any has information that it has been used elsewhere, please let me know.
I have begun that major task of rebuilding this 70 year old machinery into something that might again be driving... Tho I have a major task ahead.
The frame which in the end will be the bike is here:
Repainted after the war, but I found a clean spot of feldgrau paint which I want my painter to make an exact match of...
Some parts tho are rusty and can't be safed - but hopefully I will get to find all that I need to make it complete.
I use the factory photo alot to find the right parts and make the work complete - but I also use this photo, which I found on the Internet (on autogallery.org.ru), which should be of a Gestapo soldier on the East Front:
As far as the license place is concerned I agree that it's a Gestapo bike.
One particular thing that I deffently need to ask about, is of anyone knows the correct measures of a German military license plate?
Does you know if I can trace back the bikes history by it's framenumber? Maybe even find the correct license plate?
Apart from the frame I have a gasoline tank, the engine and so on, so my quest isn't entirely hopeless - tho it might seem like it I hope to get to you the complete resault when it ready...
But I hope you can help me out with some of the details.
Ardie VF 125
Engine: Ardie, 123ccm (51x60 mm), 1 cylinder, 2 stroke, 3-speed (food and hand shift)
5 HP @ 5100 RPM
Topspeed of 76 km/h. 20-40 km/h in 3,8 sec (in 3rd speed). 30-60 km/h in 14,5 sec.
10,5 liter gasoline tank with a use of 1,7 liter / 100 km @ 50 km/h - 3,5 liter / 100 km @ full speed.
Wheels: 2,50 x 19 inch with 125mm drum-brakes. Chain and breaks is in the right side.
Measures:
Lenght = 1930mm
Width = 700 mm
Height = 930 mm
Wheel base = 1250 mm
Handlebar = 690 mm
Weight = 78 kg (15,6 kg/HP)
I am the lucky owner of an 1940 Ardie VF125 motorcycle. This was actually made in Nürnberg at the Ardie plant from 1940 untill the factory was bombed in 1942 (or 1943?).
The VF125 was an evolution of the S125 "Junior" wich was builded in 1939-1940 and costed 435 Reichmark. When the VF-model takes over, it might end the Aride-brand as personal motorcycles to military bikes only.
As far as I has found the VF125 is only made as military model and used by Gestapo.
If any has information that it has been used elsewhere, please let me know.
I have begun that major task of rebuilding this 70 year old machinery into something that might again be driving... Tho I have a major task ahead.
The frame which in the end will be the bike is here:
Repainted after the war, but I found a clean spot of feldgrau paint which I want my painter to make an exact match of...
Some parts tho are rusty and can't be safed - but hopefully I will get to find all that I need to make it complete.
I use the factory photo alot to find the right parts and make the work complete - but I also use this photo, which I found on the Internet (on autogallery.org.ru), which should be of a Gestapo soldier on the East Front:
As far as the license place is concerned I agree that it's a Gestapo bike.
One particular thing that I deffently need to ask about, is of anyone knows the correct measures of a German military license plate?
Does you know if I can trace back the bikes history by it's framenumber? Maybe even find the correct license plate?
Apart from the frame I have a gasoline tank, the engine and so on, so my quest isn't entirely hopeless - tho it might seem like it I hope to get to you the complete resault when it ready...
But I hope you can help me out with some of the details.
Ardie VF 125
Engine: Ardie, 123ccm (51x60 mm), 1 cylinder, 2 stroke, 3-speed (food and hand shift)
5 HP @ 5100 RPM
Topspeed of 76 km/h. 20-40 km/h in 3,8 sec (in 3rd speed). 30-60 km/h in 14,5 sec.
10,5 liter gasoline tank with a use of 1,7 liter / 100 km @ 50 km/h - 3,5 liter / 100 km @ full speed.
Wheels: 2,50 x 19 inch with 125mm drum-brakes. Chain and breaks is in the right side.
Measures:
Lenght = 1930mm
Width = 700 mm
Height = 930 mm
Wheel base = 1250 mm
Handlebar = 690 mm
Weight = 78 kg (15,6 kg/HP)