Table of contents
Artist
23 pictures
Horex
1/23
Horex 6-cylinder motorcycle: working on the model of the cylinder head.
Horex
2/23
Horex 6-cylinder motorcycle: the red compressor is clearly visible. Horex promises 175 to over 200 hp – depending on the setting. It is driven by a toothed belt.
Horex
3/23
Horex 6-cylinder motorcycle: thanks to its compact engine design, it has a comparatively slim design.
Horex
4/23
Horex 6-cylinder motorcycle: the Horex team discusses a design.
Horex
5/23
Horex VR6 – In the center of the action: the unspectacular, but technically highly complex three-cam VR6 engine, behind it the compressor.
Horex
6/23
Horex VR6
Horex
7/23
Horex VR6
Horex
8/23
Horex VR6: The head is flat, so the pistons have to compensate for the cylinder angle of 15 degrees.
Horex
9/23
Horex VR6: It’s a shame that the large radiator covers the manifold battery.
Horex
10/23
The final touch: Horex initiator Clemens Neese (right) and managing director Frank Fischer (left) discuss with designer Peter Naumann, professor at Munich University of Applied Sciences.
Horex
11/23
Horex 6-cylinder motorcycle: the view of the three camshafts.
Horex
12/23
Horex 6-cylinder motorcycle: subtle reference to the six cylinders on or in the exhaust.
Horex
13/23
Horex 6 cylinder motorcycle: this is what it looks like “the new motorcycle”.
Horex
14/23
Horex 6-cylinder motorcycle: the name of the new motorcycle is not yet known.
Horex
15/23
Horex 6-cylinder motorcycle: group picture with model.
Horex
16/23
Horex 6-cylinder motorcycle: six cylinders need six manifolds, those of the rear cylinder bank are led through the head.
Horex
17/23
Horex 6-cylinder motorcycle: the machine will definitely need the large cooler.
Horex
18/23
Horex 6-cylinder motorcycle: the makers promise a unique engine (with VR arrangement) in a motorcycle.
Horex
19/23
Horex 6-cylinder motorcycle: the design clearly shows the interlaced arrangement of the cylinders of the VR engine (V-engine and in-line engine). With this engine concept, a very compact engine can be realized. Volkswagen in particular uses VR motors in car construction.
Horex
20/23
“Does the world really need another motorcycle brand? Probably not necessarily. But motorcycling is more than getting around on two wheels, motorcycling is emotion and always a fascination for technology, for new and exciting things! I am an enthusiastic motorcyclist myself and in recent years I have found very little on the market that touched me emotionally …” Clemens Neese, head of HOREX GmbH
Horex
21/23
Horex 6 cylinder motorcycle:
Horex
22/23
Horex 6-cylinder motorcycle: a classic looking naked bike without disturbing design elements.
Horex
23/23
The result of countless design drafts: The Horex is supposed to combine classic style elements with the latest technology.
counselor
traffic & business
Visit to the Horex factory in Augsburg
Motorcycle production at Horex
Visit to the Horex factory in Augsburg
The start-up difficulties have been forgotten, the schedule has been redesigned, and there is a spirit of optimism in Augsburg: MOTORRAD visited the Horex makers.
Klaus Herder
04/05/2013
Stefan Wolf
The makers (from left): Marc Groth (30), Marco Rossbach (31), Eduard Bauer (54) and Sebastian Lang (26) are the four top-trained Horex fitters who each create a complete motorcycle from fine supplier parts at four stations to build.
Do you actually know who built your motorcycle? Probably not. That could be very interesting, because maybe at some point you would like to congratulate people on their work, report something about their baby’s career or wish them all the best on their anniversary with the company – there are quite a few connecting points. But do humans even exist? Normally not, of course, because with mass-produced vehicles, quite a few people are inevitably involved in the division of labor. Personal reference is only available, if at all, from small series manufacturers such as Bimota. Or at Horex. And all that fresh, because after slight start-up difficulties – the start of production had to be postponed several times – the time has finally come: The first series machines recently left the Augsburg production hall, and the first demonstrator has actually arrived at the Schneider motorcycle company in Voerde in the Lower Rhine region.
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“One man, one bike”
This is what happened in November 2012. All 35 Horex dealers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland should have received their first vehicle by Christmas. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but with a total workforce of 15, that’s a real challenge. Especially when you consider yourself Horex the pithy saying “One man, one bike” wrote on the flags. One man builds a motorcycle completely from the first screw connection on the frame to the functional test on the roller dynamometer. Immediately before the start of series production, MOTORRAD met the four men whose hands build a Horex from many fine parts. Your workplace is a hall in an industrial area in Augsburg, which originally belonged to a transmission production company and is still equipped with practical items from this time such as engine and roller test benches, machine tools and milling machines, welding equipment and a compressed air system. Overhead conveyor or even an assembly line? Nothing. We remember: Manufactory! Work is done by hand here, so instead of the hectic industrial environment there are four bright assembly areas, which can initially only be recognized by the colored markings on the floor. The four fitters hike with them “her baby” from workplace to workplace and complete it piece by piece.
Stefan Wolf
In the first step, the steering head made of tubular steel is screwed to the cast aluminum bridge frame supplied from Italy. This is followed by the triple clamps with the WP upside-down fork, the mighty single-sided swing arm, the steel rear frame and the WP shock absorber. The finale at the first station is the assembly of the rims and tires, which is extremely practical since the whole thing is now rolling. At the second assembly station “got married”: The 161 hp VR six-cylinder, completely supplied by the well-known engine manufacturer Weber from Markdorf on Lake Constance, is placed in the frame from below and permanently connected to it. No bells, but they do “wedding” is done.
At the third station, the fitters take care of the installation of the wiring harness, engine control unit (from Augsburg-based ECU specialist KTS), ABS modulator (the 9MB weighing 900 grams from Bosch) and other electrical components that are connected to the engine and chassis sensors. At the fourth and last assembly area (on the lead picture in the foreground) the VR6 Roadster is now finally being completed.
The Horex fitters attach, among other things, the tank, mudguards, handlebars, instruments as well as the brake and clutch fittings and, like all the others, document these work steps seamlessly on the PC. Then the Horex is filled with all operating materials, then it goes to the roller dynamometer, then even out onto the street and, after approval, finally to the dealer. At the moment, two motorcycles are produced in this way every day. When the processes are well established, there should be four a day. Should you happen to be interested in any of these: www.horex.co
Stefan Wolf
The exclusive on-site appointment was arranged by the Remscheid-based tool manufacturer Hazet, which produces professional workshop equipment in three German plants. The 1868 by Hermann Zerver (whose initials “Ha” and “Zet” form the company name) is well represented nationwide, especially among car manufacturers and garages. The somewhat unusual topic was all the more appealing for Marketing Director Carsten Scholz and his team “Motorcycle manufacture”.
The main focus was on equipping the four assembly stations described in more detail in this story with classic hand tools, from combination wrenches to torque wrenches. Hazet came in handy that Horex technology buyer Max Meyer privately “absolute Hazet fan” and sent an email to Remscheid, expressing interest in working with us. That didn’t change the fact that two other well-known providers were asked for offers – but in the end Hazet was the winner. The Horex managers were particularly impressed by the service workshop trolleys with their pre-assembled tool assortments and the perfect needs analysis. At the end of 2011, a deal was reached, and at the beginning of 2012, Hazet delivered.
The two partners are silent about exact euro figures, but with “a substantial five-digit amount” one is probably not wrong.
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