In Italy and in Germany, former munitions makers were banned from going back to their previous business after World War II. Companies like Aermacchi, Piaggio, Heinkel, Zündapp and more had to turn to other activities. Piaggio, of course, created the Vespa, selling tens of millions. Presumably, three German industrial companies that entered the same market hoped to emulate Piaggio’s success: Zündapp, Heinkel and NSU.
Until the Vespa and Lambretta, powered two-wheelers had mostly followed similar design criteria. They were essentially heavyweight bicycles with an engine mounted in the middle of the frame. While perhaps the optimal arrangement from an engineering standpoint, it left something to be desired in ergonomic terms. The rider was required to straddle the machine, something that, in some socially conservative countries, could be considered immodest, especially…