KS 500 Kardan Sport

1939 Zündapp KS 500 Kardan Sport Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Engineered by Zündapp for the sport motorcycle segment, the 1939 Zündapp KS 500 Kardan Sport pairs a 498 cc (30.4 cu in) air-cooled two cylinder boxer, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 24 HP (17.5 kW) at 5,200 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through shaft drive (cardan) final drive. With a specific output of 48.2 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 KS 500 Kardan Sport measures 185 kg (408 lbs) dry, translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.13 HP/kg (7.71 kg per horsepower).

Within MotoLibrary's Zündapp archive, this model family spans 4 indexed model years from 1936 to 1939, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.