Steib Metallbau

Steib Metallbau was a German manufacturing company from Nuremberg best known for producing motorcycle sidecars. Founded in 1914 by Josef Steib Senior, the firm initially operated as a metalworking business before entering sidecar production in 1928. Its move into sidecars followed a commission from the German motorcycle manufacturer Ardie, establishing the product category that would define the company for the rest of its existence. The company produced sidecars in several sizes and configurations for motorcycles across different engine classes. Among its better-known models were the LS 200, intended for motorcycles of up to 200 cc; the LS 350, designed for motorcycles in the approximately 250–350 cc range; and the larger S 500 L and TR-500, intended for motorcycles with engines above 500 cc. This model segmentation reflected the practical requirements of the period, when sidecars were used not only for passenger transport but also as an economical and versatile form of motorcycle-based transport. Steib reached its greatest prominence in the 1950s. The company claimed that its products accounted for 92 percent of all sidecars sold in Germany, and Steib sidecars were offered as standard equipment with BMW motorcycles. This position made the company an important specialist supplier within Germany’s postwar motorcycle industry, even though it was focused on a relatively narrow product category rather than complete motorcycles. The firm later traded under the name Josef Steib Spezialfabrik für Seitenwagen, emphasizing its specialization in sidecar manufacture. Steib Metallbau ceased operations in 1957. The company’s historical designs remain identifiable through surviving catalogues, period motorcycles, and reproduction sidecar outfits. Replica versions of Steib designs continue to be produced by other manufacturers, but these later products should not be treated as evidence that the original Steib company remains active.

Steib Metallbau was established in Nuremberg in 1914 by Josef Steib Senior. The available historical record identifies the company as a German metalworking enterprise that later became particularly associated with motorcycle sidecars. Its early activities are not described in detail in the available reference material, but the company’s decisive specialization began in 1928, when it started manufacturing sidecars after receiving a commission from the motorcycle maker Ardie. The 1928 transition placed Steib in a growing transport niche. Motorcycle sidecars extended the carrying capacity of motorcycles and could be used for passengers or other practical transport purposes. Steib developed a range of designs suited to motorcycles with different engine sizes. The LS 200 was associated with motorcycles up to 200 cc, while the LS 350 served motorcycles in the approximately 250–350 cc class. For larger motorcycles, the company offered models including the S 500 L and TR-500, intended for machines above 500 cc. Steib’s importance increased during the postwar period. The company reached its peak in the 1950s and claimed to manufacture 92 percent of all sidecars sold in Germany. The available account also states that Steib sidecars were standard models offered with BMW motorcycles. These details indicate that the company had become a dominant specialist supplier in the German sidecar market and had established relationships with a major motorcycle manufacturer. The company’s identity during this period was closely tied to sidecar production, reflected in its later trading name, Josef Steib Spezialfabrik für Seitenwagen, which identified it specifically as a sidecar special factory. Despite its strong position in the 1950s, Steib closed in 1957. The available sources do not provide a detailed explanation for the closure, so no specific cause should be assigned. The company’s products remain of interest to motorcycle historians and collectors because of their association with German motorcycles and because original Steib designs have continued to influence reproduction sidecars. Replica outfits remain in production today, although those later reproductions are separate from the defunct original company. Steib’s historical significance therefore rests on its role as a major German sidecar specialist, its product range across several motorcycle classes, and its reported position as the dominant supplier in Germany during the 1950s.

• 1957

  Company closed

  [1]Steib Metallbauen.wikipedia.org

  Steib Metallbau, later trading as Josef Steib Spezialfabrik für Seitenwagen, ceased operations.

• 1950

  Peak period in the German sidecar market

  [1]Steib Metallbauen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1950s, Steib claimed to produce 92 percent of all sidecars sold in Germany, and its products were offered as standard sidecars with BMW motorcycles.

• 1928

  Entry into motorcycle sidecar production

  [1]Steib Metallbauen.wikipedia.org

  Steib began manufacturing motorcycle sidecars after receiving a commission from the motorcycle manufacturer Ardie.

• 1914

  Company founded in Nuremberg

  [1]Steib Metallbauen.wikipedia.org

  Josef Steib Senior founded the company in Nuremberg, Germany.

A specialist German manufacturer of motorcycle sidecars, positioned around durable, model-specific outfits for motorcycles ranging from small- and medium-displacement machines to large motorcycles.

• Motorcycle sidecar

  LS 200

  The LS 200 was one of Steib’s smaller sidecar designs and was intended for motorcycles with engines of up to 200 cc. It formed part of the company’s capacity-based model range, which matched sidecar designs to the performance and size of the motorcycle carrying them. The available historical material identifies the model as one of Steib’s common offerings but does not provide detailed specifications for its construction, equipment, or production volumes.

• Motorcycle sidecar

  LS 350

  The LS 350 was a medium-sized Steib sidecar associated with motorcycles in the approximately 250–350 cc engine range. It represented the company’s approach of offering different sidecar configurations for different motorcycle classes. The model is listed among Steib’s most common designs, although the available reference material does not specify its exact body dimensions, equipment, or production dates.

• Motorcycle sidecar

  S 500 L

  The S 500 L was one of Steib’s larger sidecar models, intended for motorcycles with engines above 500 cc. It belonged to the heavy-duty end of the company’s range and was suited to larger motorcycles than the LS 200 and LS 350. The available material names it as one of Steib’s common designs but does not document detailed technical specifications or individual production periods.

• Motorcycle sidecar

  TR-500

  The TR-500 was another large Steib sidecar design for motorcycles above 500 cc. Alongside the S 500 L, it illustrates the company’s provision for high-capacity motorcycles and its specialization in complete sidecar outfits rather than motorcycles themselves. No detailed specifications, launch date, or production volume are established by the available sources.

1. 1Steib Metallbauen.wikipedia.org