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 into a full category, which took After 68 Years Of Alternating Obscurity And Brilliance, Monark away the Esse’s sales advantage. This Is On The Move! / By G eoffrey Wood was, perhaps, motivated by Monark 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 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 . 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 , which used a and 93 mph in tuned trim. An infatuated with competition, especially G erman Sachs two-stroke engine. Bi interesting feature of the M-42 TV was enduro type events where its superior cycle pedals were used for starting and the automatic clutch attached to the quality could be proven. Swedish steels for braking, and no method of suspen gear shift lever. have always been the best, and the sion was provided on either wheel. A NV also designed a unique military well-designed Monark was tough. clutch was fitted to disengage the machine which used a pair of Albin The company began competing in engine, but the two-speed drive limited cylinders on its own V-Twin crankcase. , trials and enduro events in the 2bhp engine to about 20-25 mph. This model developed 36 bhp at 4000 their homeland in the early 1950s, but This 98cc model was sold to the tune of rpm and had a telescopic front fork and they soon changed to international 20,000 by 1939, at which time a 125cc shaft drive. A special drive was provided events when their riders developed into model was added to the stable. to, power a sidecar wheel, and hydraulic championship contenders. Ove Lundell A few years later, in 1936, Monark brakes were used. Only three of these and Bengt Svensson were especially dropped its 250, 350, 500 and 600cc lO O Occ monsters were built, since the successful in Swedish Championships. > Singles to concentrate on its 98cc Army decided that the American Jeep motorbike. This one used a G erman ILO was a better proposition. The Monark works 50 and 500cc road engine, with the bike having an amazing racers are sleek models which have similarity to the Whizzer motorbike that scored some fine "places" in G P events in was so popular in America after World recent years. The big 500 uses the Crescent outboard boat motor tuned for 70 bhp at 9000 rpm.

The Monark Blue Stinget had a G erman Ardie engine and a leading-link front fork. Performance was peppy for 1954.

AU G UST 1973 / 107 There was, however, a great change of 198 lb. in Enduro trim and 180 in in the new five-speed 125, since it was Scrambles trim, the new Monarks have produced in the popular enduro or established a reputation for fine handl Monark street-scrambler trim. The idea was to ing and durability. This led to Monark entering a team produce a model suitable for both street The company has also produced a of eight riders in the 1954 ISDT, which use and off-road play, which seemed to 50cc Schoolboy Scrambler since 1967, was held that year at Llandrindod, be the trend all over the world. since Sweden has a program to train Wales. The team consisted of Sven F alk, The man behind these new Monarks boys to be motocross stars of the Bernt Hasselrot, Sven Berg, Bengt was Ove Lundell-the great motocross future. A Sachs 38x44mm engine is Svensson, Ove Lundell, Bengt Winberg, rider of the 1950s and early 1960s. Ove used, which churns out 8 to 11 bhp, Hasse Ring and Bengt Johansoon. These had been the manager of a service depending upon the stage of tune. A eight riders started, all eight finished, station and cafe near the factory, but he six-speed box is used on this little buzz and all eight won prestigious Gold quickly dropped this to return to bomb. Medals. This is a remarkable achieve Monark and design some sporting When MCB began production of its ment, which may never be equaled. motorcycles. He would also head up the new 125s in 1970, it decided to sponsor Monark followed this up by winning competition shop, which was destined a works team in the big enduro-trials all three Gold Medals in the 1956 Swedish to make a name for itself. Lundell’s over Europe. With a wee bit of extra Six Days Trail, with Lundell, Svensson touch was especially obvious in the tuning and preparation, the standard and Allan Eklund doing the riding. frame design. models were remarkably successful. To These bikes had 250ccNSU four-stroke, In 1970 new 125s made their debut, begin, Monark riders won the Swedish ohc, single-cylinder engines, which re with a Sachs engine being mounted in 175cc reliability championship, and mained in limited production for several an MCB chassis. The two-stroke power- from there they went to the ISDT years. plant was a Single with a bore and where they won three gold medals, four During the 1950s Monark made stroke of 54 x 54mm. The piston-port silver, and one bronze. Kurt and Bengt small year-to-year improvements in its engine churned out 18 bhp at 7600 rpm Gustavsson and Bo Thornblom all had range, with virtually its total production on a 9.0:1 compression ratio, but this “clean” sheets, and Kurt finished a being sold in the Scandinavian coun was later pushed up to 21 bhp on a strong 3rd in the 125cc class. tries. The Singles were actually a very 10.8:1 ratio. The first models used a In 1970 a Monark rider also won the good motorbike and probably would 26mm Bing carburetor, but this was 50cc Swedish MX championship, which have sold well in foreign markets, yet increased to 27 mm on the more was repeated in 1971. Monark’s record the company seemed content to satisfy powerful version. in enduros all over Europe began to be home needs and concentrate on other A five-speed gearbox with ratios of impressive in 1971, and in 1972 it industrial products. 25.0, 14.9, 9.9, 8.2 and 6.8:1 came achieved many successes in all but the This policy ultimately proved fatal, next, with the 1972 models featuring ISDT, where it ran into some bad luck at least for a few years, since the market one more gear in the light of works for the first time. for motorcycles completely fell apart in experience in competition. The ignition During 1972 the new Monarks began 1960 when economical small made was handled by a Bosch 6V flywheel to show up all over the world. The their debut. The standard of living had magneto. company had set up an aggressive risen so much that the automobile Two models were produced—one export program, which was aided by the displaced the motorcycle as a means of with lights called the Enduro and the publicity emanating from its competi transportation. Consequently, Monark’s other a stripped-for-action motocross tion successes. Plans were also laid to sales fell drastically. In 1960 the bike. The Enduro has been the most produce a new 125cc road model with a company decided to cease production, popular, since it is a delightful street sporting image, and then it is hoped to and the name looked as if it were dead. legal, dual-purpose rig for both street produce a genuine trials model for this The economy of Sweden continued use and off-road play. popular sport. Prototypes have been to expand, however, so that by 1967 it The double-loop cradle frame has a built, and a thorough testing program is appeared as though a great many people C eriani fork at the front and a pair of underway. With a healthy export rate to could afford a bike as a “plaything”- Girling shocks on the rear, with a America, , , Holland and much like in America. Monark sensed wheelbase of 52.2 in. Tire sizes are England, the future looks bright for this new market and decided to get back 3.00-21-in. front and 3.50-18-in. rear on MCB. into the bike business with 50 and 75cc both models, with ground clearance In 1971 the company also decided models. This was followed in 1970 by a being a generous 10.5 in. With a weight to get into the road racing game—a sport 125cc version, all of which used Sachs two-stroke engines. These bikes found a ready market, so the MC B-Monark name The 1952 Blue Arrow was a was truly on the road to fame again. well-built model with a 250cc ILO twin-cylinder engine. The Blue Arrow was available in both street and enduro trims.

The 1959-61 Monark 500cc motocross model was a beautiful Single with a 312 lb. weight. A Norton fork, Manx hubs, BSA gearbox, and either an Albin or BSA-Albin engine was used. Monark won the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in the 1959 November-Kasan with this bike.

108 / C Y CLE W O RLD they had never been involved in. The return to 1958 when company execu During the following few years Mon idea was to build a works 50cc model tives decided to make a bid for the ark built a modest number of motor- and a 500cc sidecar rig. Next came a prestigious world motocross champion cross specials in its competition shop. 500cc solo model, all of which have ship. Big and classical looking 500cc Probably no two were alike, since these turned in some impressive perform Singles ruled the roost in those days, so were “works” specials to the extreme. A ances. The 50 even won the 1971 it was obvious that Monark would have BSA Gold Star crankcase and cylinder Swedish championship with Lars Pers- to come up with a truly great motor was even used on some models, mated son on board. cycle. to homemade 99mm flywheels and the The little 50 featured a Sachs six- Monark did not produce any big Albin type head. BSA Gold Star pri speed powerplant converted to a rotary four-strokes then, so it was necessary to mary cases and clutches were also used. valve design by MC B. The engine pro go back into the past for a powerplant. The end result was always a magnificent duced 15 bhp at 15,000 rpm, using a During the war they had produced the and beautiful bike, which the world Krober electronic ignition. A 28 bhp Albin-powered Army bike, so perhaps would soon hear about! 125cc. model was then added to the here was a suitable engine to work on. The battle began in 1958 with team, which also had a modified Sachs According to what little information is Lundin and Lars Gustafsson making up engine. The bikes have been used with available from the factory archives, the the works team. Sten did well the first both a disc front brake and a double 79 x 101mm engine was de-stroked to year, winning the final grand prix of the TLS Fontana binder. 99mm for 490cc, which allowed several season and finishing 3rd behind Rene The two 500cc models have used rebores before the 500cc limit was Baeton (F N) and (AJS- Crescent three-cylinder outboard boat exceeded. Stronger steel flywheels were Crescent) in the world championship. motors. These are water-cooled and very also made up in the process. Monark In 1959 Sten hit his form on the big fast. The engine develops about 70 bhp then hand built an alloy head and Single and swept everyone aside on his at 9000 rpm, and it is coupled to either cylinder, since the original cast-iron way to the title. Lars also finished 8th a Norton Manx four-speed, Quaife five- parts were too heavy and did not that year, which was the first win in the speed, or Schaftlietner six-speed gear dissipate heat fast enough. championship by a Swedish engine. The box, depending upon the circuit. The This beautiful 1935 vintage engine competition was intense in those days, amazing thing about the sidecar rig is its was then dropped into a twin-loop with many fine riders and fine bikes 275 lb. weight, which compares to the cradle frame with added gussets at stress competing. Sten lost his title in 1960 to 418 lb. of the typical BMW rig and 484 points. The front fork was a Norton Bill Nilsson, but his 2nd place was lb. of the Munch-URS Four. unit, although Sten Lundin sometimes followed by a Husqvarna in 4th, a Lito With a very low profile and a speed used one of the very first C erianis. The in 5th, and another Monark in 6th—all of 164 mph, the Monark has proved to front and rear hubs were conical mag of which used the Monark-Albin engine. be a formidable contendor. Driven by nesium units from a Manx Norton, Sten came back strong in 1961 to Rudi Kurth and passengered by Miss while Sten sometimes used Horex hubs again take the title, only this time his Dane Rowe, the Three has gained many from G ermany. The rear shocks were bike had “Lito” on the fuel tank. A fine “places” in grand prix events, often Girling, while a BSA scrambles type Husky and another Lito took 2nd and finishing in 4th to 8th places against the gearbox was fitted. 3rd places. These Litos were actually world’s best. In an effort to reduce weight, the the Monark engine in a lighter 265-lb. The 50cc Single and 500cc Three fuel tank was made of aluminum alloy, package, and were produced by a small have also been entered in selected and the centrally mounted oil tank was group of Swedish motocross enthusiasts. classics, but the success has not been held in place by a strap, as was the fuel In 1962 Gunnar Johansson finished 2nd quite as good as the sidecar rig. The tank. Ignition was by a BTH competi behind ’s Husqvarna with Monark-Crescent 500 does seem to have tion magneto, with the carburetor being Lundin in 3rd and Lundell on an old genuine potential, but usual “teething” a 1-3/16-in. Amal monobloc type. The Monark in 4th. In the team Motocross troubles and a lack of rider talent 3.00-21-in. and 4.00-19-in. front and des Nations that year, the Swedes, on have so far kept it from the winner’s rear Dunlop “Sports” tires were their Albin engined bikes, did their circle. mounted on steel rims. Dry weight of famous four-abreast finish to com There is one final chapter in the this bike was 312 lb., which compared pletely smash the opposition. history of Monark, and for this we must favorably with the 350 lb. BSA Gold In 1963 Tibblin again won on his Star and F N singles. The 36 bhp at 6000 Albin-Husqvarna with other Monark rpm was below what 1958 champion powered models placing well, but in F N was claiming, but so was the weight! 1964 they began to slip behind the new and lighter BSA 440cc and C Z 360cc Singles. Monark had not produced The 1972 Monark 125cc Enduro motorcycles since 1960, of course, so its featured a 21 bhp Sachs engine with interest in motocross naturally dropped a six-speed gearbox. This rugged off. The era of two-strokes began in little bike won eight Gold 1966, so the technically interesting medals in the 1970 ISDT. Monark has won 47 four-strokes faded away to a dull era of Gold medals up to the noisy two-strokes. The great Swedish end of 1972. era had ended. But not quite ended, for in 1969 Sten reappeared in Continental events on a lighter Monark to score a surprising 22 wins against all the two-strokes. He followed this up with 21 wins in 1970, which really staggered the “experts.” The idea was to gain some publicity for the new breed of two-stroke that MCB was producing. It was all very nostalgic. 0

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