Motorcycles - Poland: books - history and technology

Polskie motocykle 1918-1945

In the interwar period, there were about 20 factories of motorcycles, mopeds and auxiliary motors for bicycles in Poland. In addition to the famous Sokoł, which can be still encountered today, motorcycles of less known brands were also produced.
Nowadays sought after and highly valued by collectors are makes such as MOJ, Perkun, Podkowa, Niemen, Wul-Gum, Lech, Tornedo, SM, and Zuch.

The history of these motorcycles, their manufacturers and people involved in the creation of Polish two-wheelers can be found in this book. Its third edition features 30 new, unique photographs (including Lech, Lot, Wul-Gum-I motorcycles). The whole is a treasury of knowledge about Polish design and production achievements in the field of two-wheelers in the period of the Second Polish Republic.

Reprint of the 2005 edition. Text in Polish.

Motocykle w PRL: rzecz o motoryzacji i nie tylko...

Commonly they were known as "PRL motorcycles", the bikes of domestic production: WFM, SHL, WSK, Junak.
However, this is a great simplification, because apart from the aforementioned two-wheelers, on the Polish roads you could also meet a dozen or so brands of imported motorcycles: Jawa, MZ, CZ, IFA, IŻ, M-72, K-750, Panonia, Lambretta, Peugeot. Also: BMW, Triumph, Norton, BSA, AJS, Harley-Davidson and many more.

This is what this book tells about. The actual state of Polish motorcycling in the years 1945-1989 is shown here for the first time. This volume in the series "... and not only ..." evokes memories of people who played an important role in motorcycling during the People's Republic of Poland - designers, mechanics, sports drivers, creators of motorcycle movements and great motorcycle enthusiasts. It deals with topics that were previously left unsaid. The multithreaded story is illustrated by an impressive number of over 650 unique photographs, most of them published for the first time here.

Text in Polish.

Polskie motocykle 1946-1985

For several years after the end of World War II, a motorcycle was the only motor vehicle available to ordinary citizens in Poland. In later years, it motorized the Polish countryside. In total, by the end of production in 1985, nearly 3 million motorcycles and scooters had left Polish factories.

This book presents almost forty years of history of the Polish post-war motorcycles and scooters and the people who created them.
Older readers will be reminded of the ancient times when vehicles of the following brands reigned on our roads: WFM, WSK, SHL, SFM, while younger readers will be introduced to these vehicles.

Text in Polish.

Motorowery w PRL

Mopeds hold a significant importance in Polish history. While modern cars and fast motorcycles dominate today, it was the humble Komar, Romet, or imported Jawka that marked many people's first experience with motorized vehicles - their first ride.

Pre-war history saw domestic "hundreds," the predecessors of mopeds. Remembered brands include SHL, Podkowa, Niemen, Perkun, Wul-Gum, and a variety of foreign models. Post-war moped history began in 1956 with models like Ryś and Żak, soon followed by the iconic Komar.
Mopeds became the most numerous motorized vehicles produced in Poland, with 150-200 thousand hitting the market annually, supplemented by imports from brands like Simson and Jawa.

In the 1960s, Komars dominated the Polish roads in various versions, while the 1970s and 80s belonged to Romets, especially their popular models. Mopeds played a significant role in our country's automotive and social history, serving as practical vehicles in rural areas and dreams for city-dwelling teenagers. They were used for various purposes and provided countless adventures.
This book is dedicated to the history, development and models of mopeds in Poland.

Text in Polish.

Motorräder des Ostblocks - Bulgarien, Polen, Sowjetunion 1945-1990 (Typenkompass)

Auf dem Gebiet der ehemaligen DDR fuhren nicht nur MZ und Simson: Im Zuge sogenannter Kompensationsgeschäfte wurden immer wieder Fahrzeuge aus Ostblock-Staaten importiert.
Da der DDR von den RGW-Staaten die Oberhoheit über den Motorradbau bis 250 Kubik übertragen wurde, waren die CZ und Pannonia, die CZ und Ural kaum im Strassenverkehr zu finden, umso mehr allerdings in den Ursprungsländern.

In gewohnter Manier akribisch recherchiert und ausführlich in zahlreichen, oftmals historischen Fotos dokumentiert, bietet Frank Rönicke in diesem Typenkompass einen umfassenden Überblick über die Zweiradfertigung des Ostblocks.