Münch Motorrad was founded in 1956 by engineer and designer Friedel Münch (Friedel Muench) in Frankfurt, Germany. Münch became known for building some of the most interesting and unusual limited-production motorcycles ever created.
In 1956, Friedel Münch purchased one of the Horex Motorrädern (Motorcycle) factories from Horex-Fahrzeugbau AG, a German motorcycle manufacturer which was founded in 1923 by Fritz Kleemann in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, near Frankfurt. Due to low sales numbers, Horex was being broken up by parent company Daimler-Benz.
The first Friedel Münch production motorcycle was the 500er Münch Straßen (road) Horex, and the 500er Münch Renn (Racing) Horex.
Münch 4TTS 'Mammut'
In the late 1960s, while the Japanese were just beginning to contemplate entering the field of large-displacement multi-cylinder street-bikes (vierzylinder strassenbikes), Münch was already building a four-cylinder monster that would go down in history as one of the bulkiest and most powerful motorcycles of the time.
1967 Munch 4TTS Mammut
In 1967, Friedel Münch produced his behemoth under the name 'Munch 4TTS.' The 4TTS, which was marketed in the United States as the "Clymer Munch Mammoth IV" used a modified 4-cylinder NSU 1200 TT from a NSU Prinz automobile, giving the 4TTS the pet nickname of "automotorcycle."
Munch 4TTS 'Mammut' 1200cc 4-Cylinder Motor - Zoom
The stock NSU 1200 TT engine was capable of producing 65 bhp at 5500 rpm. Münch added steeper cam shafts, ported and polished the intake, and raised the compression ratio from 9.5:1 to 10.5:1. These modifications produced 88 bhp at 6500 rpm.
Munch 4TTS 'Mammut' 1200cc 4-Cylinder Motor - Zoom
The name "Mammoth," or "Mammut" in German was added to the 4TTS for its "giant" size and bulk. The Mammut 4TTS was offered in a normally aspirated version with twin Webber carbs, and a fuel-injected version.
Munch Indian Scout & Titan 1800
Friedel Münch also manufactured a hybrid "Indian Scout" in 1968, using a Indian 1200 twin engine. The Titan 1800 (1800cc) was built in 1990, and the Titan 2000 (2000cc) was introduced a year later.
The Munch 'Mammut 2000' Superbike
The reincarnated Münch 4TTS is back as the "Mammut 2000," a 1998cc turbocharged four-cylinder 'naked bike,' that produces 260 bhp with 218 ft lb of torque. The Mammut 2000 will have a five-speed transmission, and a retail price is in the $80,000 price range.
Münch Motorcycle Links
Münch Motorrad Technik GmbH Website
La Münch Titan 2000
The Friedel Münch Story
HOREX Motorrädern (Motorcycles) & Friedrich Kleemann
Horex Motorrädern
Jay Leno's Garage - Münch 4TTS
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