The Kreidler Florett was the model that turned the Stuttgart cable and metal works into one of Germany’s best-known makers of small motorcycles. The first Florett appeared in 1957 as the K 54 with a fan-cooled 50 cc two-stroke, and the name stayed in the catalogue into the 1980s, ending with the 6.8 PS Florett RS.
Kreidler Florett at a glance
| Maker | Kreidler, Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen |
|---|---|
| First model | Florett K 54, 1957 |
| Production | 1957 into the 1980s |
| Engine | single-cylinder two-stroke, 50 cm³ |
| Cooling | fan cooling until 1967 |
| Power | 3.6 PS (1960), 4.2 PS (1962), 5.2 PS (1966), 5.3 PS (1967), 6.25 PS (1972), 6.8 PS (1980) |
| Gearbox | claw-shift; four-speed foot shift or three-speed hand shift |
| Front suspension | leading link, telescopic fork from 1967 |
| Rivals | Hercules K 50, Zündapp KS 50 |
| RS production | 1967–1981, 125,000 built |
| Class rules | 50 cm³ exempt from tax and plates, Class 4 licence from 16 |
History of the Kreidler Florett
The first Florett of 1957
In 1957 Kreidler presented the first Florett, the K 54, its first model in the small motorcycle class. The engine was a horizontally mounted single-cylinder two-stroke with a hard-chromed light-alloy cylinder and fan cooling, and a moped version was offered as well. The name Florett, like Amazone, was devised by the head of Kreidler’s press department, Bruno Moravetz, who later became known as a television reporter at the Winter Olympics.
More power, more versions
In 1960 output rose to 3.6 PS. From 1962 three Florett models were on offer: the Florett with 4.2 PS and four-speed foot shift, the Florett Super with more chrome and accessories, and a mokick version with the engine throttled to 2.0 PS and a three-speed hand shift; the moped version had disappeared by 1962. Technically and visually the models barely differed. The front wheel was located by a leading link, with friction dampers on the mokick and hydraulic units on the small motorcycles, which also had a more powerful ignition and lighting system. Every model was delivered with fan cooling until 1967.
Super TS, GT and RS
Power kept climbing: 1966 brought the Florett Super TS with 5.2 PS, 1967 the GT and RS models with 5.3 PS, from 1972 6.25 PS and, in the last stage shortly before production ended, 6.8 PS in 1980 on the Florett RS. In 1967 the front suspension changed from the leading link to a telescopic fork. The RS, the fastest model in the range and a match for the Hercules K 50 and Zündapp KS 50, was built from 1967 to 1981 and 125,000 examples were made.
Claw-shift gearbox and tuners
The Florett stood out among its rivals with a claw-shift gearbox. Hercules, Rixe, Maico and Zündapp used pull-key gearboxes with a finer internal shift mechanism, and only Puch and the later Zündapp mokicks and light motorcycles also had claw shifting. Florett mokicks were popular with tuners, and a range of tuning kits, the so-called Frisiersätze, was sold for them above all in the Netherlands.
The 50 cc class
Small motorcycles of up to 50 cm³ were exempt from tax and number plates and could be ridden with a Class 4 licence from the age of 16. To stop the spiral of ever more powerful machines, Kreidler, Hercules and Zündapp agreed in 1970 on a voluntary limit of 6.25 PS and a gearbox with a maximum of five gears.
Design and features
- Fan cooling: every Florett was fan-cooled until 1967, and the early engine lay horizontally in the frame.
- Claw-shift gearbox: unusual in its class, where most rivals used pull-key shifting, and one reason the Florett was prized by tuners.
- Leading-link front end: with friction or hydraulic damping depending on the version, replaced by a telescopic fork in 1967.
- Chrome and equipment: the Super versions added chrome and accessories over the standard Florett, and the RS sat at the top of the range.
Kreidler Florett versions
- Florett K 54 (1957): the first model, with a fan-cooled 50 cc two-stroke and a moped variant.
- Florett 4.2 PS and Florett Super (1962): four-speed foot shift, the Super with more chrome and accessories.
- Florett mokick (1962): engine throttled to 2.0 PS with a three-speed hand shift.
- Florett Super TS (1966): 5.2 PS.
- Florett GT and RS (1967): 5.3 PS at launch, 6.25 PS from 1972 and 6.8 PS by 1980.
- Florett RS (1967–1981): the fastest Florett, 125,000 built.
The Florett followed the Kreidler K 50 in the 50 cc class. Its mofa relation was the Kreidler Flory, and the enduro version of the Florett became the Kreidler Mustang. More models are in the Kreidler collection.
Video: Kreidler Florett 50cc 1970 Ride – Gopro Hero 2
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Kreidler Florett RS, English Wikipedia: RS production total, class rules, 1970 agreement
- Kreidler, German Wikipedia: Florett history, power stages, gearbox, suspension
