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An unusual and daring project resulted in the heaviest motorcycle in the world: weighing more than 5 tons, the machine is powered by a Soviet tank engine. The construction became an international attraction and entered the record books.
It may seem like a lie, but it isn't. A 5,5-ton motorcycle is traveling the roads of Germany and has become a legend, being the heaviest motorcycle in the world.
She is called Panzerbike and carries that name with pride. Created by two German brothers, it is considered the heaviest motorcycle in the world.
Its engine comes from a Soviet tank. The sidecar was made from the casing of a Russian missile. And the headlight? That came from an old military post in the former East Germany.
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The world's heaviest motorcycle started with a visit to an abandoned barracks
In 2003, brothers Tilo and Wilfried Niebel were exploring the remains of a Red Army barracks in Halberstadt. The area was being demolished. They were known for reusing old parts to create custom bikes.
In the middle of the rubble, they found something curious: a cut-out model of a T-55 tank engine. They took it home out of pure interest.
But the engine became more than just a curiosity. Little by little, an idea began to grow.
What if they build a real motorcycle using a tank engine? The challenge was enormous, but they decided to give it a try.
The real engine only appeared three years later.
The cut-out engine didn't work, so the brothers spent three years searching for a real engine.
Finally, they found one. From there, they dove headfirst into the project.
They spent a year practically locked in the workshop. That was the time needed to assemble what would come to be called the Panzerbike.
The name comes from the Panzer tanks used by Germany.
But the bike is a true hybrid of cultures. Although it was built by Germans, virtually all of its parts come from the former Soviet bloc.
A military project transformed into a symbol of peace
The Panzerbike looks like something out of a movie. It has a robust, industrial, imposing look. But, according to its creators, the intention was to show the opposite of war.
The motorcycle was made only with military parts. Everything was reused. Wheels, tubes, screws.
Even the fuel tank came from an old piece of medical equipment: a transfusion device used in military hospitals.
The sidecar also draws attention. It is so big that it has its own steering system.
This is because the bike's front wheel has such a small turning radius that it cannot turn on its own. Therefore, for the Panzerbike to work properly, it needs at least two people.
A world record that no one dared to challenge
Officially named “Katharina die Große” — Catherine the Great —, the motorcycle took 5 hours to build. About 120 kg of welding wire were used in the process.
In 2007, it entered the Guinness World Records as the heaviest motorcycle in the world. And to this day, no one has managed to take that title from it.
From time to time, videos of the Panzerbike go viral on social media. The images are impressive: a giant, heavy motorcycle, with the noise of a tank, riding calmly at fairs and events.
But anyone who wants to see it up close has to go to Germany. Every year, it appears at the motorcycle show Harzer Bike Rack, where it always attracts attention.
One last curiosity
The Panzerbike may be huge, but it moves. And it really moves. Its 38.000cc engine has plenty of power. Of course, it's not practical for everyday use. But nobody expects that.
It wasn't made to run. It was made to show what creativity can do with old pieces. And to remind us that even what was born for war can gain new meaning.
With a history full of curious details, the Panzerbike continues to be one of the most unusual motorcycles ever built. And, by the looks of it, it will continue to hold its place in the record books for a long time to come.
How much ****.