1980
Simson S51 B1-4 - Specifications & Review
Article Complete Info
| Articleid | 735894 |
|---|---|
| Category | Allround |
| Make | Simson |
| Model | S51 B1-4 |
| Price | Euro 1500. Prices depend on country, taxes, accessories, etc. |
| Year | 1980 |
Chassis, Suspension, Brakes & Wheels
| Frametype | Steel Frame |
|---|---|
| Frontbrakes | Expanding brake (drum brake) |
| Rearbrakes | Expanding brake (drum brake) |
Engine & Transmission
| Coolingsystem | Air |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 49.80 ccm (3.04 cubic inches) |
| Enginedetails | Single cylinder, two-stroke |
| Fuelsystem | Carburettor |
| Gearbox | 4-speed |
| Ignition | electronic |
| Power | 3.70 HP (2.7 kW)) @ 5500 RPM |
| Topspeed | 60.0 km/h (37.3 mph) |
| Transmissiontypefinaldrive | Chain |
Other Specifications
| Coloroptions | Red, Yellow, Acid-Green, Dark-Green, Black, Sky-Blue, Navy |
|---|---|
| Starter | Kick |
Physical Measures & Capacities
| Dryweight | 78.5 kg (173.1 pounds) |
|---|---|
| Fuelcapacity | 8.70 litres (2.30 gallons) |
| Powerweightratio | 0.0471 HP/kg |
| Reservefuelcapacity | 0.70 litres (0.18 gallons) |
About Simson
Country of Origin:
Germany (former GDR)
Founder:
Simson & Co., Suhl (origins in 19th-century industry)
Best Known For:
Durable small two-strokes (S50/S51, Schwalbe) ubiquitous across the GDR
Company History
Simson’s mopeds and light motorcycles mobilized East Germany for decades. The Schwalbe scooter and S-series step-throughs were engineered for everyday survival—oil-bath chains, robust electrics, generous ground clearance, and engines that forgave indifferent fuel. Parts were available in village shops; owners learned maintenance as a civic skill. After reunification, Simson machines became cult classics: simple, charming, and legal oddities in some regions thanks to transitional rules. Clubs keep them alive with reproduction spares and shared know-how. Historically, Simson symbolizes transport as infrastructure under constraint: make it fixable, make it last, and let it be the tool that carries a nation to work, to school, and to weekend lakes on the same faithful cylinder.