1953 Nimbus with Bender Sidecar
1953 Nimbus 750 with Bender Sidecar
The two-wheeled tractor
The Danish firm of Nimbus was located in the country’s capital city of Copenhagen – where it built some of the world’s most hardy and reliable motorcycles of all time. With their heavy-duty frames and truck-like engines, the Nimbus motorcycle was affectionately likened to a tractor on two wheels.
A Long Lineage
Nimbus began producing motorcycles in 1919, temporarily halting production in 1928 and then resuming again in 1934. The Nimbus remained in production until 1957. Early on, the Danish firm built an inline four-cylinder in the style of the famous and influential Belgian FN Four. In the 1940s and 1950s, when the company was the most prolific, Nimbus concentrated on continuing production of the four-cylinder 750cc motorcycles, although a 500cc model was added later.
Bender Sidecar
Built with a shaft-driven overhead-camshaft, bulletproof bottom-end and shaft-drive to the rear wheel, the Nimbus was an unstoppable touring motorcycle. The Nimbus truly came into its own with the addition of the popular Danish-made Bender sidecar. Fitted as a three-wheeler, the muscular Nimbus had no problem hauling three or four people – the whole family – on vacation or about town.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 746cc (60x66mm) air-cooled inline four-cylinder four-stroke
Power Rating: 22 hp @ 4500 rpm
Valves: shaft-driven overhead-camshaft
Fuel System: single 3Bmm carburetor
Transmission: 3-speed gearbox; shaft-drive to rear wheel
Suspension: telescopic forks (front); rigid (rear)
Brakes: drums (front & rear)
Wheels: 19 inch (front & rear)
Weight: 40Blb. (without sidecar)
Maximum Speed: 70 mph (without sidecar)
Two hearty Danes – a 750cc inline four-cylinder Nimbus motorcycle fitted with a Bender sidecar.
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