Matchless GERMAN

HOREX was Germany’s leading motorcycle manufacturer for almost 50 years either side of WW2, and was in many ways comparable to Britain’s older Matchless marque in terms of product and marketplace positioning, as well as in its road-racing involvement. But, curiously, it’s little known outside Germany — despite its products being exported to as many as 65 different countries during the 1950s, though not including the UK. And that’s also despite its wide range of models having an undeniably British air about them in terms of design and styling.

Located in Bad Homburg, north of Frankfurt, Horex was founded in 1923 by Fritz Kleeman, 22, whose father Friedrich owned