HOREX History

The motorcycle – made in Landsberg am Lech

In a small machine factory in the historic city center of Landsberg am Lech, Alois Wolfmüller and a few friends invent the series motorcycle and also patent the word “motorcycle.” A total of 120 Hildebrand and Wolfmüller motorcycles are built.

Getting started with 1 HP

Kleemann, a successful manufacturer of preserving jars since 1918, acquires a majority stake in Columbus Motorenbau GmbH in Oberursel (Taunus). At this point, the company is already producing the 1 hp Gnom auxiliary engine.

The HOREX story begins

At the age of 22, Fritz Kleemann founds HOREX Fahrzeugbau AG and already uses the distinctive company logo. He forms the name from his hometown Bad Homburg and his parents' Rex canning factory.

Fusion with Columbus

To solve financial problems in both companies, Columbus and HOREX merge. The new company is named HOREX-Columbus. The creative period of the great HOREX designer Hermann Reeb begins in 1927.

Reeb's groundbreaking design

Over the years, Hermann Reeb designed several engines for HOREX that were ahead of their time. In 1932, he built a long-stroke parallel twin-cylinder engine with a triple-mounted overhead camshaft.

Success story SB 35

HOREX builds the SB 35 (Sportblock 35), a technical masterpiece of its time. The engine is sold successfully until the outbreak of war.

The legendary Regina

For the first time, a motorcycle is given a woman's name. Groundbreaking design, outstanding chrome finish, and special paintwork make the model a bestseller. A total of around 83,000 machines are built.

Friedel Schön collects victories and titles

Thanks in no small part to its successes in racing, HOREX established itself as a renowned manufacturer over the years. In 1952, Friedel Schön was hired as a factory rider.

The Imperator goes into series production

The Imperator prototype is unveiled at the IFMA 1952. Following its success in racing, it goes into series production in 1954, initially with 392cc and 26 hp.

End of production

From 1954 onwards, sales figures plummeted. HOREX was forced to recognize that automobiles were becoming increasingly popular. In 1956, the company ceased manufacturing motorcycles.

Friedel Münch takes the stage

Friedel Münch, the gifted engineer and son of a HOREX dealer, receives the rights to the HOREX logo with a handshake after the transaction is completed.

Changing owners

From 1980 onwards, motorcycles were repeatedly sold under the traditional name, but these had nothing to do with the original technology.

200,000 at the Werner race

When almost only nostalgics talk about HOREX, a comic strip brings the name back into everyone's mouth: Werner, a fictional character created by Rötger Feldmann.

First VR6 attempt

In 2009, Clemens Neese and his partners purchased the HOREX brand and went public in 2010 with a spectacular plan: the first VR6 in a two-wheeler.

HOREX gets a museum

In 2010, the town of Bad Homburg decided to build its own museum. In September 2012, the €1.6 million building was officially opened.

Rescue by 3C carbon

Motorcycles are nothing new to 3C-Carbon Group AG. In a record-breaking six months, the Silver Edition is created—the beginning of the resurrection.

Glamorous appearance in Landsberg

On January 29, 2016, a big circle will be closed: exactly 122 years after Wolfmüller designed the first series-production motorcycle, HOREX will once again present a two-wheeler from Landsberg.

Series production begins

Series production of the new HOREX VR6 models begins in Landsberg am Lech. Delivery of the motorcycles to the first customers begins.

New presentation at Intermot

HOREX scores a direct hit at the Intermot motorcycle trade fair in Cologne: the reinterpretation of the HOREX Regina, one of the most successful motorcycles of the 1950s, becomes the eye-catcher and talking point of the fair. The HOREX Regina Evo, on display at the trade fair stand, clearly shows that HOREX has mastered the iconic design language of the original model while incorporating state-of-the-art components and technology. At the same time, HOREX also presents the RAW 99, a radically sporty further development of the spectacular VR6 motorcycle, finished entirely in a specially developed black paintwork.

HOREX Regina Evo deliveries

After extensive development, design, and testing work to achieve the final optimization, the time has come: HOREX Regina Evo motorcycles are being delivered from the factory in Landsberg am Lech to their new owners, and serial production is in full swing.