There’s a constant tension in the custom world between motorcycles that are meant to be ridden often, and those that will spend most of their lives parked, on display.
This neon-flavored Hercules GS250 scrambler is an enigma though. It’s tidy enough to do duty as décor in a trendy moto-cafe, but it’s actually heading into a riding season full of abuse.
It belongs to Enrico Pauli, proprietor of The Loose Screw—a communal DIY workshop and creative co-working space in Dachau, near Munich. And even though Enrico brought it back from the dead, he reckons it’s going to be back on the bench, come next winter.
“This year the bike is to be ridden again off-road and on various tracks,” he says. “And therefore, unfortunately, it will be a little bit destroyed again.”
“But that’s why we build motorcycles; to ride, not as dust catchers.”
Enrico found the donor bike almost by accident. He was inspecting an entirely different bike, owned by an older gentleman who had a number of vintage machines in his collection. The sale didn’t work out and Enrico was about to leave—then the old timer told him about a 250 cc motocross bike that had been standing in his basement for the past 25 years.
“After a short inspection—and a price I could not say no to—we carried the motorcycle up the stairs,” says Enrico. “Carried, because the brakes were completely locked up.”
Hercules was a German manufacturer that was bought by ZF Sachs in 1963, and eventually shuttered in 1996. Hercules had been using Sachs motors before the buyout, and this 1970s GS250 was powered by a Sachs single-cylinder two-stroke.
This is a good thing, because Sachs motors are easier to come by than complete Hercules motorcycles. So Enrico was able to source a second motor via eBay, which he used as a parts donor to rebuild the one in his bike.
As for things like rings, seals, gaskets and bearings, those were all sourced from online suppliers.
Once the internals were tighter than a pair of spandex leggings, the motor was repainted in black. But the real trick was getting it back into the frame. The engine mounts were totally shot, so Enrico had to fabricate new brackets and weld them in.
Despite the period incorrect paint, this Hercules is actually more of a restoration than a mod. Enrico refurbished the original Bing carb and the exhaust system, only shortening the silencer a touch for aesthetic purposes. Everything looks factory fresh, and there’s also a newer 12V electronic ignition wired in.
Moving to the suspension, Enrico rebuilt the OEM forks and upgraded them with progressive springs. The GS250 didn’t originally come with Bitubo shocks at the back—but this one had them fitted, so he refurbished those too.
The wheels were re-laced with black-chromed spokes, and shod with Metzeler’s all-terrain Unicross tires.
The Hercules’ bodywork is a mix of original and new parts. Enrico kept the fuel tank, but he swapped the seat out for an aftermarket item. It’s been adapted to fit the bike, and recovered in white vinyl.
There’s a new plastic fender up front, and a classic KTM rear fender that Enrico managed to match up to the Hercules’ rear frame. Since the scrambler’s destined for off-road use only, it’s wearing nothing more than a scrappy number plate up front.
There’s an interesting story behind the handlebars—they’re from a vintage Wasp sidecar rig. Enrico found them at a swap meet, but they were badly warped. So he hacked off the cross brace, straightened them, and welded a new brace in. They’ve been powder-coated black, and wear new grips and controls.
Enrico sent the frame, rims and a few other key parts off for white powder coating. Every other part’s been cleaned up, restored or refurbished, right down to the Hercules’ original sump guard.
As for the zany 80s-style paint scheme, that was beautifully executed by Viktoria Greiner at VAim.me. It’s over the top in the best possible way, and will no doubt turn heads out on the trails as it zooms by.
We applaud Enrico for breathing life back into this neglected classic, and with such a meticulous approach too. The fact that he’s willing to get his white bike dirty is just the cherry on the cake.
Loose Screw | Facebook | Instagram | Images by August Auer
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