IWL Troll 150 1964

IWL Troll 150 1964

Built in the year I was born, but what was the East German company IWL thinking at the time – maybe they thought it was a modern futuristic design?

The first IWL – the Pity was a strange one with massive bucket fairing, a Scooter I’ve tried to buy but have been out bid a few times so I’ve never made the full collection. The 2nd the Wiesel was a lovely looking Scooter as was the 3rd model the Berlin.

The last model made is the Troll with a 150cc single cylinder MZ engine. Ugly it may be but it does have a following not really in the UK but in Europe where there seems to be a few. The ugly front end is to accommodate the more modern Earls fork design which bikes and Scooters were using around this time. The big gap between the tyre and mudguard was to allow for wheel travel.

People report they are quick – well at 9.5bhp it was quick for it’s time when you consider the Lambretta Gp 200 didn’t come out for a few more years with the same sort of bhp – so people would say they were quick especially for a 150 engine!

These Trolls were aimed at people who were touring more so than commuting, the ride height was increased as was the wheel base over previous models.

Bella has her Bella, Harry has his Heinkel and now Tommy has his Troll.