Along with MZ, Simson was owned by the East German (DDR) government. Post-WW2, motorcycle production resumed in 1952 at the former Simson-Supra car factory with a range of 250cc four-strokes sold under the AWO brand name. Renamed Simson, the firm concentrated on lightweight motorcycles of less than 100cc from the 1960s onwards, leaving the larger-capacity classes to MZ. Its first introduction - the 247cc AWO 425 - was, not surprisingly, BMW influenced, being an overhead-valve single with inline crankshaft and four-speed shaft-drive transmission, while the cycle parts comprised a tubular cradle frame equipped with telescopic front fork, plunger rear suspension and 180mm diameter brakes on both wheels. Although the first racing version kept to the original's OHV architecture, subsequent developments featured single-overhead and twin-overhead-camshaft engines with varying methods of valve actuation. These racing developments of the AWO 425 enjoyed considerable domestic success, taking the DDR National Road Racing Championship in 1953, '54 and '55, a state of affairs that led to the introduction of a sports version for the road: the 425S. This 250cc AWO racer has a twin-overhead-cam engine with the camshafts driven by chain. A beautiful older restoration, this rare Eastern Bloc racing motorcycle is offered with technical information and photocopied literature relating to the marque (all in German).