Workshop

Some time ago, I received an NSU 351 motorcycle purchased in Lithuania by my friend Krzysztof. He brought it to me straight from abroad with the order to bring this "safety pin" back to life. From the description over the phone, it was supposed to be a 1937 motorcycle, somewhat incomplete. OK, it arrived, so I'll have to take care of it.

As usual, I started my inspection and determining what was missing and what wasn't from the given year. On the surface, it was quite complete (fenders, tanks, suspension, wheels, and even the headlight were all original). The mechanics, as the seller put it, were "as seen," but apparently the clutch cover couldn't be removed, so no one had looked inside, let alone dug into it, because the starter was missing and the gearbox was "locked." I was a bit surprised to find that the bolts (only three) had come loose on their own, but after opening it up, it became clear why it "couldn't" be removed. The engine block was missing a shaft, the valves were fake stems, and the gearbox was missing some gears and one shaft. Well, the fraud was exposed, but it didn't change the owner's decision to rebuild the machine.

Each restauration project has some parts that can’t be restored to original or are economically unreasonable to restore. In most cases we are talking about the exhaust system. Original systems tend to be bent, dented, rusted and covered with thick soot. Basically, the only option we, pre-1945 NSU owners, have is to buy a reproduction exhaust set. When it comes down to reproduction parts, restores, who are after high originality on their motorcycles, prefer reproductions that are really close to originals. These kind of reproduction parts are usually expensive. But is the most expensive part out there the best and the most similar to the original? Are you able to compare when you don’t own the corresponding original part? That’s the question I tend to ask each time I buy reproduction parts.
This is how I found myself in need of the low-situated exhaust system with later styled exhaust mufflers for my 1937 501 OSL.