Description
Nimbus 1952 746 cc OHC four in line frame & engine # 10398
In April 1934 the “Nimbus II” is brought out. The flat steel strip frame is a feature in common with the earlier “stove pipe”, but most other features are totally new: the top half of the crankcase is cast in one piece with the ribbed air cooled cylinder block. The iron cylinder head sports an overhead camshaft. The crankshaft drives the overhead camshaft through the upright mounted dynamo via sets of bevel gears. Its distinctive humming exhaust note leads to it being nicknamed Humlebien (Bumblebee). After World War 2 the design is updated with a new type of front fork and mudguard, headlamp and full width hubs. The dashboard-mounted VDO speedometer is exchanged for a side-fitted Smiths instrument. Later the speedo will go into the headlamp. The round identification plate on the dashboard becomes a rectangular plate that is positioned on the left hand side of the bodywork behind the engine. 12,715 Nimbuses are produced between 1934 and 1959. A Nimbus is a real touring motorcycle; it provides 18 hp @ 4,000 rpm and weighs 185 kg. Both brakes have ample dimensions of 1800 mm and the top speed is about 120 km/h. The petrol tank holds 12.5 litres with 1.5 litres on reserve tap. The Bumblebee is a pleasant and unusual design with a good spares situation and a relaxed ride with a comfortable cruising speed of around 90 km/h. The good spares situation results from the extensive use the Danish army makes of Nimbus machines: they are in full use till around 1968 when 350 cc BSAs are purchased. Several army departments continue to use Nimbuses right up to the early 80s. The postal services all over Denmark are also large-scale Nimbus users. The machines, fitted with a box sidecar, are particularly used for emptying the pillar boxes in towns, for years after the end of Nimbus production.
The machine on offer was first registered on March 24, 1953 and is an older restoration in good mechanical condition. She is fitted with the aluminium valve enclosures that were available as extras at first and became standard in the course of 1956.