Two Esse models were produced, one with chain drive and the other with belt drive. Lights were an optional m m History of « extra, and neither wheel had any form of suspension. The ride was naturally on the “rough” side, but the price was “right.” In 1928 Sweden revised its traffic laws and put motorized bicycles into a Monark full motorcycle category, which took After 68 Years Of Alternating Obscurity And Brilliance, Monark away the Esse’s sales advantage. This was, perhaps, motivated by Monark Is On The Move! / By G eoffrey Wood improving its motorbike in 1925 with a three-speed gearbox and a kickstarter. l AK E FIV E pioneer Swedish driven models. The Four, however, had Monark decided to go into the full- motorcycle firms. Add 68 years of a clutch to disengage the engine. The size motorcycle, so Robert Ebe-Karlsson acquisitions and mergers. Subtract Nordstjernan (FN) was sold as far afield was hired from the famous Amal carbu T a couple of periods when no motoras South Africa, and professor Erik retor company to design the expanded cycles were produced. And you end up Nystrom even took one to the Uni range of machines. The idea was to with MCB, producers of the current versity of Peking. produce a complete line in 250, 350, Monark 125 line. Wiklunds pursued an active racing 500 and 600cc sizes, with the British But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. program in those early days, with such Blackburn company providing the sin It all started in 1901 when Lindblad greats as Erik Friberg, Indian Axel, Erik gle-cylinder engines. began importing a Belgian motorbike Larsson, David Pettersson, Rickard Three models were produced in each called the Minerva. These Single and Svensson and C.G. Wetterstrand winning displacement, one with a side valve V-Twin models were single-speed belt- many races. Wiklunds also imported powerplant for economical transporta drive rigs, with an engine that featured BMWs and Ariels for the Swedish mar tion, a faster overhead valve “Sport” an overhead intake valve and side ex ket at that time. model for touring, and a “Super Sport” haust valve. The next name to appear was model for those who wanted the ulti Several years later the Wiklunds out Nymans Verkstader, who designed a 2.5 mate in performance. These bikes all fit came onto the scene with the Nord- bhp V-Twin called Hermes in 1917. This had rigid frames and girder front forks, stjernan (Northern Star) motorcycle, enterprising company had been produc and a hand shifted three-speed gearbox which had a Belgian F N engine in ing two-stroke engines since the begin was still in vogue. At first an internal Wiklund’s own chassis. A great rivalry ning of the century, with its display at expanding brake was used on only the naturally developed between these two the 1906 Stockholm Exhibition being a rear wheel, but the increased speed soon firms and it surprised no one when a milestone in the Swedish industry. necessitated a binder on the front race was scheduled in Stockholm to It was not until the late 1910s, wheel. prove which was the better machine. though, that complete motorcycles During these years Monark entered The big race was held in 1903, with rolled off the production line at Upp many enduro-type trials as well as some Minerva sending a “works” rider by the sala, with the new Hermes V-Twin using speed trials. Exceptional reliability gave name of deJong to compete against a G erman NSU engine hooked to a belt the marque a respectable reputation, local star Emil Salmson. The Minerva drive. This model was known for its with its finest win being in the 1929 proved to be much faster, but the speed, but this placed a great load on November-Kasan by Rolf Gulich. Northern Star won when the Minerva the caliper brake used only on the rear Meanwhile, Nymans Verkstader had broke down just a short distance from wheel. been busy designing the first all-Swedish the finish. A few years later, in 1920, Monark motorcycle, which made its debut in After this fine display of stamina, came onto the scene with its Esse 1927. The new NV had ohv single the Wiklunds company went on to machine, which had a British 172cc cylinder engine in 250 and 350cc sizes. greater things. In 1905, F N came out Villiers engine. The powerplant was a The engine featured exposed valve with its famous four-cylinder model two-stroke, and the chassis was nothing springs (for cooling), a cast iron cylinder with shaft drive. A Single was also more than a heavy bicycle. Machines of and head, and unit construction of the produced. Both were single-speed belt- this type were not required to be licensed or taxed and no insurance was needed, so they became very popular with the Scandinavian riders. The Albin company produced this 500cc engine for Monark's army model in 1940. This early NV featured the first Swedish built engine. The 250cc Single was produced in 1930 and won the Swedish Grand Prix. 106 / C Y CLE W O RLD engine and gearbox. This last feature War II. In 1939 Monark added a faster After the war, both Monark and NV was very progressive for its day. A 118cc model to its range, and then the resumed production of 98 and 125cc change was later made to a foot gear war shut down the production of models, and these remained in produc shift on this model, but the lack of a motorcycles. tion until 1950 when a range of vastly front brake on the earlier versions seems There was, however, one other name improved motorcycles was introduced. rather backward. The new NV proved to to add to the five makes that ended up The first was Monark’s 150cc Blue be tough and dependable, and it was in MCB after the war, and this was the Fighter, which weighed under 165 lb. seen on the roads until after World War Mauritz Berlin and Company in Varna- and thus benefited from the “motorized II. mo. This concern was founded in 1934, bicycle” laws. This Single used a About this time road racing caught and three years later the first Sachs two-stroke ILO engine and was known on like wildfire in Sweden, and NV powered Apollo motorbikes rolled off for its reliability. began building some special works mo the production lines. A switch was soon Next came the Blue Arrow, which dels for the blacktop. This was followed made to a Husqvarna 98cc powerplant, by 1952 looked as modern as anything by some replica models in the early which used a Bosch magneto and a in Europe. A sleek 250cc twin-cylinder 1930s, and in the 250cc class they two-speed gearbox with chain drive. As ILO engine was housed in a swinging- established an enviable reputation. Erike with the other Swedish manufacturers, arm frame, and a big dual seat and Bohlin was the star rider, and in 1930 production ceased in late 1939 with the telescopic front fork provided a new he won all three of Sweden’s biggest advent of war. standard in rider comfort. This was races—the Stockholm, Tvetaloppet and During the war Monark produced a followed in 1954 by the Blue Stinget-a Onsalaloppett. Other riders were Helmer military motorcycle for the Swedish 200cc Single known for its sparkling Lindstrom, D.F. Nyman, Erik Salo- army, which was a 500cc ohv Single of performance. The Stinget used an Ardie monsson and Gosta Roden. By far the remarkable durability. Special alloy two-stroke engine from G ermany. greatest performance came in 1931, frames were made with a plunger rear The NV concern was also busy, and when Bohlin won the 250cc Swedish suspension, while the girder front fork in 1952 it brought out its 125cc Red Grand Prix over all the European stars. used a pair of telescopic tubes to house Ant model that soon established a great After that the NV racers faded away, the springs. The engine was the same as reputation in trials and scrambles since their competitors became faster used by Husqvarna in its 112 TV model events. This was followed by 150, 200 every year. from 1934 to 1936, and it produced 22 and 250cc two-stroke Singles. The 125, A decline in the Swedish industry bhp at 4200 rpm. Bore and stroke was 200 and 250 had DKW powerplants, came after these golden years. The 79 x 101mm, and the four-speed while the 200 came from Sachs. After culprit was worldwide economic depres Sturmey-Archer footshift box had tall this, NV, like the other three com sion, which was felt very severely in ratios of 4.55, 5.75, 7.7, and 12.1:1, panies, was merged into the MCB name, Sweden. This naturally cut into motor although lower three-speed ratios were so that its name gradually faded away. cycle sales, especially the larger and employed for army use. This Albin Before the merger, NV was able to win more expensive models. engine had an alloy head and could be several gold medals in the ISDT—a The NV concern was the first to feel tuned to develop 30 bhp at 5000 rpm fitting end to a make rarely heard of in the pinch. In 1932 it dropped its larger by fitting a sports cam. Top speed of America. motorcycles to concentrate on a new this model was 74 mph in stock trim Meanwhile, Monark had become 98cc motorized bicycle, which used a and 93 mph in tuned trim.