The Opel Raketen Motorrad, a Radical Experiment in Rocket-Driven Speed

WuuZZZ - Long before electric hypercars and experimental propulsion systems filled today’s headlines, the idea of extreme speed already fascinated engineers and dreamers alike. That sense of curiosity—bordering on audacity—defined much of the late 1920s, a period when technology was advancing faster than regulations could keep up. Out of this atmosphere emerged one of the most unconventional motorcycles ever conceived: the Opel Raketen Motorrad, a machine that blurred the line between mechanical transport and pure spectacle.

The 1928 Opel Raketen Motorrad. (Picture from: Silodrome)

At its core, the Raketen Motorrad began life as a relatively conventional sports bike known as the Opel Motoclub 500SS. Opel, now widely recognized as an automobile manufacturer, was deeply involved in motorcycle production from 1901 until 1930. The 500SS itself was a German-built machine powered by a single-cylinder 500cc engine, designed with an overhead-valve layout that delivered around 22 horsepower. Under normal circumstances, this setup allowed the motorcycle to reach roughly 120 kph—already respectable for its era, but nowhere near record-breaking.

Fritz von Opel posed along with the 1928 Opel Raketen Motorrad. (Picture from: Silodrome)

The leap from fast to extraordinary came from Fritz von Opel, grandson of company founder Adam Opel and a passionate advocate of experimental speed. At the time, the world motorcycle speed record stood firmly in the hands of O.M. Baldwin, who achieved it aboard a much larger 996cc Zenith-JAP. Rather than increasing engine displacement or redesigning the drivetrain, Fritz pursued a radically different approach: augmenting mechanical power with rockets. His goal was simple but bold—to challenge the limits of what a motorcycle could do using existing technology paired with explosive innovation.

Otto Luhrs of the Opel Moto Club with another Opel German rocket cycle. (Picture from: Silodrome)

The result was the Opel Raketen Motorrad, a motorcycle that looked almost futuristic even by modern standards. Six powder-fueled rocket tubes were mounted symmetrically on the rear fender—three on each side—adding roughly 30 kilograms of thrust. Once the bike reached its maximum engine-driven speed, the rockets could be ignited sequentially using a foot-operated lever. As each rocket fired, the motorcycle surged forward with increasing force, ultimately pushing the machine to an estimated top speed of 212 kph, or about 132 mph—an astonishing figure for 1928.

The Opel Neander conventional motorcycle upon which the Raketen Motorrad was based. (Picture from: StrangeVehicles)

Plans were made to officially attempt a land speed record on May 19, 1928, at the Hamborner Radrennbahn in Germany, with around 7,000 spectators expected to witness history. However, concerns over safety led German authorities to cancel the attempt before it could happen. Despite Fritz von Opel’s confidence in the machine’s capability, the formal record was never pursued. Even so, the rocket motorcycle was far from a failure; it performed several demonstration runs and became a powerful symbol of Opel’s technological ambition, frequently used as a promotional showcase.

The Raketen Motorrad project quietly came to an end in 1929, following Opel’s successes with rocket-powered cars and even the RAK-1 rocket aircraft. Motorcycle production continued briefly with models like the Opel Neander, while experimental racing efforts lived on under figures such as Otto Lührs. Today, the Opel Raketen Motorrad stands not merely as a curiosity, but as a reminder that innovation often begins with daring ideas that seem impractical at first glance—ideas that continue to inspire engineers, builders, and speed enthusiasts nearly a century later.

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA [24022016] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SILODROME]

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