The Pannonia motorcycle - resurrection or stillbirth?
A new Hungarian motorcycle based on a previous Hungarian model manufactured by the Csepel Motorcycle Plant between 1954 and 1975 was unveiled on April 6th, totalbike.hu reports. The launch comes after several years of waiting with doubts over the project's viability, with the motorcycle portal still questioning whether it can be successful.
The new motorcycle is called Bol d'Or, which gets its name from the first Pannonia model. The Bol d'Or (Golden Cup) was a 24-hour race held in France that was won by Hungarians riding the original Pannonia model in 1956.
The new model was designed by Hungarians; however, few parts are Hungarian, totalbike.hu points out. The drive shaft, for example, was made in Italy by Moro Racing.
Magyar Motorkerékpár Fejlesztő Kft. CEO Imre Mázló, the "resurrector" of the motorcycle, told the portal that the new model would soon be examined by the transport authority, adding that he could not give a date for the start of mass production before permits are acquired. There are plans to manufacture a limited series of 55 of the first model - the last of which would be completed by next year - while later the company plans to develop six to eight new models.
The government of the town of Várpalota, where the motorcycles are manufactured, has acquired a 10% stake in Magyar Motorkerékpár for Ft 15 million, Mayor Árpád Németh revealed at the unveiling ceremony. He estimated that a few hundred million forints would be adequate for a manufacturing hall and equipment.
Totalbike.hu, however, expressed doubts that any bank or investor would be willing to provide the money. They mention problems with the design and poor construction such as the license plate holder cutting into the tire when springs compress. Suspiciously, Mázló said the model had been driven over 2,000 kilometers during testing, but the counter indicated it had run only four kilometers.
Pannonia is the second Hungarian motorcycle brand to be resurrected following Danuvia two years ago. Due to financial hardships, mass production of that model has yet to begin.
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