SHL (motorcycle)
Encyclopedia
SHL is a brand of Polish
motorcycles, produced from 1938 until 1970 by Huta Ludwików, later KZWM Polmo-SHL in Kielce
(small parties were made in the WFM in Warsaw).
1938 it started production of a motorcycle of own design, using British Villiers
98 cm³ engines (parts of engines were locally manufactured). The motorcycle was named SHL 98 - SHL being a short of Suchedniowska Huta Ludwików (Ludwików Ironworks of Suchedniów, for the works were initially owned by a foundry in Suchedniów
). Less than 1,000 motorcycles were manufactured until the outbreak of World War II
in 1939 and the German occupation.
The first model to be produced in Kielce again was improved SHL M03 of 1948, and then SHL M04 of 1949. In 1948 the name Huta Ludwików was changed to KZWM Polmo-SHL (Kieleckie Zakłady Wyrobów Metalowych - Kielce Metal Works). Luckily, the communist authorities decided to keep pre-war SHL brand, which was not a rule. In 1951 it was however decided to stop motorcycle production in Kielce and until 1954, the production of SHL M04 was continued in the WFM in Warsaw, followed by a short series of SHL M05 in 1955, with telescopic front suspension. All these motorcycles were improvements of one design, related to the DKW RT 125, with 125 ccm engines. Some 18,500 motorcycles had been made in Kielce so far. Then, the SHL brand disappeared for a short time, replaced by the WFM brand.
period, from 1958, the KZWM in Kielce returned to motorcycle production. The new model was SHL M06U, which was an improved version of the WFM M06, more luxurious and fitted with 150 ccm engine. By 1959, 10,356 were made, followed by 27,370 of improved model M06T, with improved front suspension.
Most popular model became the SHL M11 - some 180,000 made in 1961-1968. It was a new model, although being a development of the M06T, powered by 175 ccm engine. In spite of its rather limited capacity, it was the second Polish motorcycle at that time, as regards to the capacity and power, after the Junak
. Some M11s were exported, even to the USA, and in 1962 the Escorts group
bought a licence to manufacture this model in India
, under a brand Rajdoot
. According to some information, it became a staple of Indian rural milkmen and its licence production lasted until 2005.
The M11 was followed by an SHL M17 Gazela (gazelle), with stronger 175 ccm engine and attractive-looking fairings. Some 50,000 were made in 1968-1970. Unfortunately, it was the last model with the SHL badge, since the authorities decided, this time ultimately, to stop motorcycle production in Kielce and leave the WSK PZL-Świdnik
as the only Polish motorcycle manufacturer.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
motorcycles, produced from 1938 until 1970 by Huta Ludwików, later KZWM Polmo-SHL in Kielce
Kielce
Kielce ) is a city in central Poland with 204,891 inhabitants . It is also the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodeship...
(small parties were made in the WFM in Warsaw).
Pre-war
The Huta Ludwików (Ludwików Ironworks), founded in 1919 in Kielce, produced first hardware and agricultural machines. Since1938 it started production of a motorcycle of own design, using British Villiers
Villiers Engineering
Villiers Engineering was a manufacturer of motorcycles and cycle parts, and an engineering company based in Villiers Street, Wolverhampton, England....
98 cm³ engines (parts of engines were locally manufactured). The motorcycle was named SHL 98 - SHL being a short of Suchedniowska Huta Ludwików (Ludwików Ironworks of Suchedniów, for the works were initially owned by a foundry in Suchedniów
Suchedniów
Suchedniów is a town in Skarżysko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland, with 9,067 inhabitants . It is the seat of the urban-rural district Gmina Suchedniów....
). Less than 1,000 motorcycles were manufactured until the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939 and the German occupation.
Postwar - the beginnings
After the war the looted works were nationalized and it was decided to continue with motorcycle production. The first postwar model SHL 125 – M02 of 1947 was a mix of pre-war parts and frames and the German DKW RT 125 design, using a copy of the RT125 engine, produced by PZL Psie Pole in Wrocław. A small series of 203 motorcycles was manufactured in State Automobile Workshops Nr.2 in Warsaw (later WFM works) and was similar to Sokół 125 of the same works.The first model to be produced in Kielce again was improved SHL M03 of 1948, and then SHL M04 of 1949. In 1948 the name Huta Ludwików was changed to KZWM Polmo-SHL (Kieleckie Zakłady Wyrobów Metalowych - Kielce Metal Works). Luckily, the communist authorities decided to keep pre-war SHL brand, which was not a rule. In 1951 it was however decided to stop motorcycle production in Kielce and until 1954, the production of SHL M04 was continued in the WFM in Warsaw, followed by a short series of SHL M05 in 1955, with telescopic front suspension. All these motorcycles were improvements of one design, related to the DKW RT 125, with 125 ccm engines. Some 18,500 motorcycles had been made in Kielce so far. Then, the SHL brand disappeared for a short time, replaced by the WFM brand.
Production summit
After the end of StalinistStalinism
Stalinism refers to the ideology that Joseph Stalin conceived and implemented in the Soviet Union, and is generally considered a branch of Marxist–Leninist ideology but considered by some historians to be a significant deviation from this philosophy...
period, from 1958, the KZWM in Kielce returned to motorcycle production. The new model was SHL M06U, which was an improved version of the WFM M06, more luxurious and fitted with 150 ccm engine. By 1959, 10,356 were made, followed by 27,370 of improved model M06T, with improved front suspension.
Most popular model became the SHL M11 - some 180,000 made in 1961-1968. It was a new model, although being a development of the M06T, powered by 175 ccm engine. In spite of its rather limited capacity, it was the second Polish motorcycle at that time, as regards to the capacity and power, after the Junak
Junak
Junak is a Polish motorcycle, the only four-stroke model produced in Poland after World War II. The name meant "brave young man", old-fashioned, or a member of paramilitary youth work organizations in Poland....
. Some M11s were exported, even to the USA, and in 1962 the Escorts group
Escorts group
The Escorts Group1 is one of the highly diversified engineering conglomerates located in Faridabad, Haryana, India. Its turnover is US$461.9 Million per annum.-Tractors:...
bought a licence to manufacture this model in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, under a brand Rajdoot
Rajdoot EXCL t
The Rajdoot Excel T was a 173cc two-stroke motorcycle made in India by Escorts group.With over 16 lakh bikes on the road, the Rajdoot continues to be the favourite of the Indian masses...
. According to some information, it became a staple of Indian rural milkmen and its licence production lasted until 2005.
The M11 was followed by an SHL M17 Gazela (gazelle), with stronger 175 ccm engine and attractive-looking fairings. Some 50,000 were made in 1968-1970. Unfortunately, it was the last model with the SHL badge, since the authorities decided, this time ultimately, to stop motorcycle production in Kielce and leave the WSK PZL-Świdnik
PZL-Swidnik
PZL Świdnik S.A is the biggest helicopter manufacturer in Poland. Its main products are PZL W-3 Sokół and PZL SW-4 Puszczyk helicopters...
as the only Polish motorcycle manufacturer.