Before Hyperbikes Existed, There Was the Mammoth

Monstrous Intent - In an era when modern superbikes dominate headlines with electronics and performance figures, there is a certain magic in looking back at machines that rewrote the rules with little more than raw engineering courage. One such legend is the Münch 1177cc TTS “Mammoth,” a motorcycle whose name alone hints at excess, ambition, and a refusal to follow convention. Though unfamiliar to many casual riders today, this rare machine occupies a special place in the world of high-speed motorcycle collecting.

The Clymer-Münch 1177cc TTS 'Mammoth'. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

The story begins not with a large manufacturer, but with a personal challenge. The Mammoth was born from the vision of Friedl Münch, a skilled Horex racing technician, who was commissioned by French racing enthusiast Jean Murit. Murit wanted something extraordinary—faster, stronger, and more daring than the motorcycles of its time. Münch responded by stepping outside the motorcycle industry entirely, selecting a four-cylinder, air-cooled engine from the NSU TT Sport car, originally built between 1965 and 1967. What began as a 40-horsepower automotive engine was refined and upgraded, eventually delivering far more power than anyone expected to see on two wheels.

Left side view of the 1970 Clymer-Münch 1177cc TTS 'Mammoth'. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

Performance quickly became the Mammoth’s defining trait. Early versions already exceeded 190 km/h, an astonishing figure for the period. More impressive was how it delivered that speed: the Mammoth could pull from just 30 km/h in top gear and surge relentlessly toward 177 km/h without hesitation. At a time when many motorcycles struggled for flexibility and smooth power delivery, this ability made the Mammoth feel less like a traditional bike and more like a muscle machine built for endless straights.

Right side view of the 1970 Clymer-Münch 1177cc TTS 'Mammoth'. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

Equally radical was its construction. Münch mounted the massive engine into a custom frame inspired by the Manx Norton, blending racing heritage with brute strength. Weight reduction was treated as seriously as horsepower, leading to the use of electron magnesium alloy in components such as the gearbox cover, rear chain cover, suspension sliders, and braking parts. Early estimates placed the bike’s weight at just 196 kilograms, although production models were heavier. Even so, the Mammoth remained a technical marvel, earning attention from figures like Ernst Leverkus, founder of the Elephant Rally and journalist for Das Motorrad, who tested the bike as early as 1966.

Rear side view of the 1970 Clymer-Münch 1177cc TTS 'Mammoth'. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

Public reaction was immediate once the production version debuted at the Cologne Show in September 1966. Orders arrived from across the globe. The standard production model featured a 1,085 cc engine producing 70 horsepower and reaching a top speed of 225 km/h, already placing it among the fastest motorcycles available. For customers seeking the ultimate expression of excess, Münch offered a special 1,177 cc NSU engine capable of producing up to 104 horsepower. These numbers were almost unbelievable for the time and helped cement the Mammoth’s reputation as a no-compromise machine.

The motorcycle’s journey did not stop in Europe. American publisher and entrepreneur Floyd Clymer, founder of Cycle Magazine, recognized its potential and brought it to the United States under the name Clymer-Münch Mammoth. Marketed with the bold slogan “Built up to a standard, not down to a price,” the Mammoth lived up to that promise—especially in cost. Priced around $3,995, it dwarfed competitors like the BMW R69S, which sold for less than half that amount. Fewer than 500 units were produced up to 1975, and rarity has only amplified its mystique. In 2018, a 1970 Clymer-Münch 1177cc TTS Mammoth set a new benchmark when it sold at auction for £154,940, proving that this audacious machine still commands staggering respect—and prices—in today’s collector market.

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of two-wheeled monster and stay alive with the true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA [20092018] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | HEMMINGS DAILY | BONHAM ]

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