Motorcycle specifications Audi1300 Z02 1977 The hidden son

A motorcycle at Audi? That's more than a little surprising. Mention of this brand leads us to the premium sedan segment, where the battle is epic with the iconic BMW and Mercedes. And yet, a prototype of this highly accomplished machine was almost ready for production. At the end of the 70s, the Z02 was presented to Audi's management, and its fate was decided by a clear-cut decision.

Motorcycles and Germany, it's a great novel. In which carmakers play a significant role. Some traces of a motorcycle excursion can be found in the genealogy of Mercedes-Benz towards the end of the 19th century, with the Daimler Reitwagen. For BMW, there's no need to say more, the image is so strong. For Audi, the 3rd pillar of the segment, part of its history takes us back to DKW, a great motorcycle manufacturer in the first half of the 20th century. But what really interests us is the Z02 proto. Conceived and born in the shadow of the factory.

Would it have had a place in the market of the time? With its face as glamorous as an East German soldier, and the look of its mechanics, its origin would have presented it straightforwardly. We would have instinctively known that we were buying something Germanic, not necessarily funny, but roadworthy and strong. In contrast to the sensuality of an Italian, the Teutonic imposes rigor, the choice of reason, aplomb over emotion. But in a construction without reproach. This first (and only) Z02 wasn't built in a hurry. It exudes seriousness, ready to take on the big machines of the decade. Look closely at the fork head: the mirrors and indicators are perfectly integrated. 12 years ahead of the Honda Pan-European.

in 1975, a small team was set up at the Ingolstadt factory to discreetly develop the Z02. The team included Ferdinand Piëch, grandson of Porsche's founder, father of the Quattro system and later head of the Volkswagen group, as well as engineers Walter Treser and Roland Gumper. For the chassis, they began by stripping a BMW R90S and then modifying the frame to accommodate mechanics from the automotive sector.

Developing a typical motorcycle engine for the occasion was out of the question. The small group decided to transplant the liquid-cooled block from the Audi 50, a small compact car the size of a Polo. Two versions are planned for the Z02: it will be able to accommodate the 1093 cm3 with 70 hp or the big 1272 cm3, the latter calibrated here at 80 hp. It's fed by two Bing carburetors, makes do with one ACT, breathes via two valves per cylinder, and the transmission is handled by a 4-speed gearbox taken from a Norton 850 Commando.
The problem is that a car mill is neither pretty nor light. But with its large displacement, it makes up for it in torque. Good, because the Audi Z02 isn't very light. At 260 kilos, it weighs as much as a Kawasaki Z 1000 ST or a Honda 1000 Goldwing, and much more than the BM bikes of the time.

The cardan shaft typical of Bavarian motorcycles has not been retained. The Z02 does without, thanks to the design of a new swingarm. As a result, final drive will be by chain. The wheels have also changed. This Audi is fitted with 19" and 18" Ronal aluminum wheels. As for starting, it's typical of the period: with a kick.
It was even practical. A small glove compartment was built into the fuel tank.

discreetly testing this Z02 proved tricky. The ingenious little team set about making it look like a Munch during the tests, which took place at night or in bad weather (or both) on the A9 freeway through Ingolstadt. The car reached speeds of 200 km/h in high-risk conditions. To slow it down, a pair of medium-diameter discs were used, with the bite of 1-piston calipers. The proto covered a few thousand km without anyone discovering the reality. There were a few rumors... But between its black Munch-like paintwork and the BMW protos that came out from time to time, the Z02 remained a secret.

They worked hard, and well, to create this Z02. Once ready, it was presented to Werner P. Schmidt, the head of sales. He saw it, raised his voice, replied to Piëch and Gumpert, " We're not bike dealers ", and "encouraged" them to scram. The bike then returned to the back of a warehouse, taking all hopes with it into oblivion.

Much later, with a wave of nostalgia prompting companies to communicate more about their past, the Z02 re-emerged from the shallows. But it wasn't until 2011 that it found a place in the company museum.

M.B - Manufacturer photos / D.R.
We'd like to thank the 4legend.com website for sharing some of this information.
Find out more, along with other shots of the Audi Z02.