The manufacture of affordable small motorcycles in Csepel started following the years of the 1929 great depression. The first success was achieved with the so-called ‘red’ model, also referred to as the motorcycle 'with a heart-shaped fuel tank', in 1931. Approximately 1,100 examples were manufactured of this motorcycle which had no gearbox.

Photo: Maróti photograph collection

This was followed by the TURÁN (referred to as the motorcycle ‘with a cigar-shaped fuel tank’) in 1936. The new 86cc model had a performance of close to 2hp and a final speed of 50 km/hour. This was already a real engine-assisted bicycle. Close to 1,800 examples were manufactured of it until 1937.

The Turán was followed by a true small motorcycle, the CSEPEL 128. It had a 3hp engine, two-speed gearbox and a maximum speed of 65 km/hour. The successful continuation, however, was not provided by this, but rather by a new engine-assisted model, the WM-98, in 1939. Motorcyclists simply called this model the ‘nickel tanked' or 'silver tanked' (bottom picture). The back wheel was driven by two chains: one from the pedals and another from the engine. A two-speed gearbox could also be installed on demand.

The last model version before the switchover to war production in Csepel was the WM 100/L. It was a lot more modern than the earlier models, but only 30 examples were manufactured of it. The story continues after the war.