Nimbus (motorcycle)

The Nimbus was a Danish motorcycle produced from 1919 to 1960 by Fisker and Nielsen of Copenhagen, Denmark, also manufacturers of "Nilfisk" brand vacuum cleaners (now Nilfisk-Advance). Two basic models were produced, both with a 750 cc four-cylinder engine.

In partnership with H.M. Nielsen, Peder Andersen Fisker produced electric motors and, from around 1910, the first vacuum cleaners in Europe. Fisker believed he could develop a motorcycle that had its own form, and in late 1918 decided to construct a prototype to his own design.

The first Nimbus motorcycle had a four-cylinder inline engine of 746 cc (45.5 cu in) capacity, which drove the rear wheel through a shaft drive rather than the chain usually used at that time, and a power output of approximately 10 hp. Its top speed was around 85 km/h (53 mph) with a sidecar fitted. It had both front and rear wheel suspension, and soon acquired the nickname of Kakkelovnsrør ("Stovepipe") due to the thick, round pipe between the saddle and handlebars which as well as forming part of the bike’s chassis contained the petrol tank. Two more machines were constructed in 1919, but mass production did not begin until 'Fisker & Nielsen' became a limited liability company in 1920.

Disappointed by poor sales, Fisker began entering the Stovepipe in all the races that he could, often with a sidecar attached, and built up a good reputation for the machine. The 'Stovepipe' was technically improved along the way, mainly in details, but also with the two main types of fronts forks, which distinguished the Type A (shown) from the Type B. However, the introduction of a sales tax on motorcycles in 1924 and an economic recession resulted in production being phased out from 1926 on after 1,300 machines had been produced.

With his son Anders, Fisker started designing a new machine in 1932 and in 1934 they demonstrated a new Nimbus motorcycle, the Type C. It retained the shaft drive, a completely redesigned ohv and ohc engine of 18 (later 22) hp, and a frame made from steel strips riveted together, which were shaped to go around the gas tank much like on the pressed steel frames on several other motorcycles of the period. Front suspension was by telescopic fork; although this was introduced a year before the BMW R12, the R12's fork had hydraulic damping upon introduction while the Nimbus's fork did not have hydraulic damping until 1939. Its distinctive humming exhaust note led to it being nicknamed Humlebien ("The Bumblebee").

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