According to the makers of the Heinkel Tourist, it is a "..de-luxe long range scooter with a world famous engineering name...". If any of out readers were vacationing in Europe somewhere between 1942 to 1946 we are certain they have heard the name before. The Heinkel HE 70 and HE 111 airplanes were some of the most formidable in the air and literally bristled with engineering innovations that were new to aviation. Heinkel's current model is another example of an interesting engineering approach surrounded by a handsome body package. As the name ..Tourist.. implies the Heinkel was designed for comfortable long distance travel. For this purpose it would be difficult to find a scooter more ideally suited. The smooth, one-cylinder. 4 cycle engine is quiet and the rated 12 hp gives an amazing performance considering the size and weight of the machine. In heavy traffic we easily stayed ahead of the main flow of traffic while thoroughly beating many automobiles in the process.
Quite naturally the weight is an asset to riding comfort, though it usually detracts from handling ability. We objected to the weight and bulk of the Heinkel, but considering that it is primarily designed to haul two people, plus a certain amount of luggage or camping equipment. in comfort and for long distances, our objections were easily over-ridden.
The Heinkel takes a back seat to few two-wheeled vehicles in the performance department; the acceleration from a stand-still to average allowable traffic speed is amazing, considering the 175cc engine. Top speed is over 60 mph and it imparts a considerable degree of confidence with its excellent stability at this speed. One of CYCLE WORLD's staffers, when following another in his automobile behind the Heinkel, remarked how much it looked like a full size motorcycle when being ridden through a series of "S" bends. As with any machine, the success, or failure, of its handling abilities lies in its suspension geometry.
We especially liked the front end arrangement. In place of what has become almost common scooter design, the trailing or leading arm system, the Heinkel employs a type more conventional to motorcycle design, straight telescopic forks. We have to confess to preferring the straight fork arrangement as the degree of rider control is greater and it does not have the "spongy" feeling that the multi-link front end system gives. The Heinkel drives through and over the roughest and deepest troughs on the worst street near our offices in a secure manner. The absence of the typical leaping of most scooters through sharp dips further proved the validity of our preferences.
The Heinkel deserves special praise for its styling; not a member of the staff disagreed with the summary of its design - one of the best looking scooters we have ever seen, decorative and yet quite practical in concept. The overall finish is also excellent.
Several claims of unusual construction are qualified for the Heinkel as well, one being the interesting frame upon which the engine and transmission, suspension system and body are mounted. It consists of a tubular atructure that runs in a conventional motorcycle fashion from the steering head down, and then forks over and under the engine. The upper traverse serves as a firm hanger for the body, the lower portion holds the engine in three rubber-bushed mounts that almost completely absorb engine vibrations. The vibration-free characteristics must be considered another excellent feature of the Heinkel.
A brief technical description includes: 4-stroke, single cylinder, 60mm bore, 61.5mm stroke, 174cc capacity, compression ratio 1:7,4, air-cooled engine that is rated at 12 hp @ 5750 rpm. 4-speed gear box operated by a lef hand twistgrip, 4.00x10 tires, 329 lbs total weight, fuel consumption approximately 50 mpg, and electric starting; price is $595.00, FOB West Coast
As printed in Cycle World magazine, June 1962.
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