3 1-2 PS

1913 NSU 3 1-2 PS Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

At the heart of the 1913 NSU 3 1-2 PS sport motorcycle, NSU pairs a 499 cc (30.5 cu in) air-cooled single cylinder, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 5.5 HP (4 kW) at 2,200 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through belt final drive. With a specific output of 11 HP per liter, the engine character is prioritizing low-RPM tractability, mechanical longevity and relaxed throttle response over peak redline numbers.

On the scales, the 3 1-2 PS measures 80 kg (176 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.07 HP/kg (14.55 kg per horsepower).

Within MotoLibrary's NSU archive, this model family spans 13 indexed model years from 1906 to 1918, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.