[ad_1]
By Terry Good and Tom White
When Edison Dye and Torsten Hallman first launched motocross to the U.S. in 1966, one of the vital attention-grabbing and vital eras in motocross historical past had already come and gone. For the reason that sport was so younger in the USA, only a few teenage People ever heard of the Monark/Lito/Husqvarna four-stroke period. Thought of the golden period of motocross, it solely lasted from 1957 to 1965.
After having suffered by means of two World Wars, financial melancholy and tyranny, Europe was rebuilding at an exponential fee by means of the Fifties and Sixties. Motocross was rising in reputation all throughout Western Europe and was rapidly changing into one of many premier sports activities of the working class. To capitalize on this development, a World Motocross Championship was established in 1957, and crowds as massive as 100,000 spectators got here to observe the Iron Males of Motocross muscle their big 500cc four-strokes. Motocross was an enormous deal.
To win the World Championship was a serious accomplishment, and bike producers like Belgium’s FN and Sarolea; Britain’s Norton, BSA, Rickman, AJS and Matchless; and Sweden’s Monark, Lito and Husqvarna designed and constructed very costly handmade works machines of their quest for the championship.
The riders of this period have been family names among the many followers. To trip these big Grand Prix bikes (typically exceeding 300 kilos) at aggressive speeds, you needed to be nearly superhuman. Les Archer, Jeff Smith, Brian Stonebridge, Auguste Mingels, John Draper, Rolf Tibblin, Gunnar Johansson, Rene Baeton, John Avery, Victor Leloup, Invoice Nilsson and Sten Lundin have been simply such human beings.
THE BIKES THEY RACED WERE NEVER INTENDED TO BE SOLD TO THE PUBLIC. THEY WERE THE FIRST
TRUE WORKS BIKES, AND ONLY A HANDFUL WERE EVER BUILT
The bikes these males raced have been by no means meant to be offered to the general public. They have been the primary true “works bikes,” and solely a handful have been ever constructed. The surviving bikes from this 1957 to 1965 period are among the many rarest and costliest motocross bikes on the planet. Extremely coveted by collectors and in extraordinarily quick provide, these machines can simply fetch $100,000 on the open market. Amazingly, there’s even a cottage-industry that builds copies of the originals (and the replicas can promote for astronomical quantities — upwards of $50,000 — for a pretend).
MXA desires to introduce trendy American motocross racers to the three most vital motocross bikes ever made. These handmade, one-off works bikes ushered within the trendy motocross period. They have been the harbinger of manufacturing unit groups, skilled riders, company competitors and works equipment. These booming, 500cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke giants roamed the earth for lower than 10 years, they usually by no means numbered greater than 50, however they left a permanent legacy. Journey again 50 years to satisfy the Monark 500, the Lito 500 and the Husqvarna 500.
The Albin-powered Monark has probably the most assorted historical past of any motocross bike ever made. It was an unbelievable machine and spawned its personal competitors. Monark was the primary Swedish producer to get entangled in Grand Prix motocross, beginning within the late Fifties. They constructed a complete of 5 GP Monark works bikes from 1957 to 1960. As every of those bikes was used and abused, the elements from the unique bikes have been taken and used on the newer bikes. Every bike was individually designed by Monark; no two bikes have been the identical. Years after the manufacturing unit shut down in 1960, a pair bikes have been constructed from leftover elements. No bikes have been ever offered to the general public, and all that survived are accounted for right this moment. There’ll by no means be a barn discover of a Monark 500.
Solely 5 Monark 500s have been made. They promote for $100,000 apiece on the classic bike market.
Sten Lundin’s 1960 Monark GP bike was constructed in the course of the winter of 1959. Your entire bike was made by hand by a handful of Monark engineers on the Monark manufacturing unit in Varberg, Sweden. The power was state-of-the-art, and Monark had the sources to construct the best bike that anybody might conceive. Detailed scale drawings have been made and intensive testing was executed by Sten at a particular observe close to the Varberg plant. The bike was very glossy, effectively balanced and elements have been made out of the highest-quality supplies out there. The swingarm, for instance, was made out of particular, thin-wall, conical tubing to avoid wasting weight. The rear brake rod was transformed to a cable for reliability, so if any rider bumped it throughout a race, it could not bend. Even the chain adjusters acquired particular consideration. The eye to design and building have been wonderful, and the ultimate weight was 282 kilos.
This was the 1960 model of a motocross star — Sten Lundin. Picture: Sten Lundin Archive
The powerplant was the 498cc Albin engine initially developed for the Swedish military in 1942 (based mostly on a design from 1935). The Albin engine was easy, dependable and really slim. It additionally allowed for super efficiency potential. Behind the scenes at Albin was Nils-Olov (“Nisse”) Hedlund, a grasp engine builder and former street racer, whose affect on four-stroke engine design would later culminate in his personal manufacturing 500cc racing engine.
On a wierd historic observe, the Swedish motocross {industry} owes a debt of gratitude to the 1956 Suez Canal disaster. When Nice Britain was placed on gasoline rationing due to the Suez Canal closing, BSA determined to drag out of European racing. With no BSA help in 1956 and 1957, a gaggle of Swedish motocrossers determined that they may not depend on BSA any extra and began to search for a homegrown product. The Swedish-built Albin engine was chosen, and an exhaustive effort was made — largely by Nisse Hedlund (working for Endfors & Sons) to de-stroke the outdated Albin engine and open up the bore to provide extra horsepower (roughly 27 horsepower) with a really linear and torquey powerband. Not as quick because the Belgian FN engines, however with a way more controllable powerband, the Albin was a superb Swedish engine for a Swedish bike. Hedlund would change into a serious participant within the success of Monark, Lito and Husqvarna.
When Sten Lundin switched from Monark to Lito, he stored on racing his authentic Monark in Lito paint.
Monark was the primary bike producer to chrome-plate the cylinder bore (this might solely be executed in Germany on the time). Completely different frames have been tried, however Sten Lundin settled on the unique design. If there was something that wasn’t fairly proper, adjustments have been made in a short time on the manufacturing unit. It was additionally like this in the course of the season. For instance, the unique BSA gearbox was modified to an AMC gearbox. There was lots of vibration from the engine, and after some time, Sten’s palms would go numb. The manufacturing unit solved this with the first-ever head stays that went from the body to the valve covers.
This Monark drum brake was insufficient for stopping a 280-pound race bike, however was state-of-the-art for the period.
One other time, the entrance forks broke throughout follow at a global race in Italy. Sten made a makeshift restore and nonetheless received the race. A neighborhood man who was working at MV Augusta had seen the difficulty Sten was having and provided to assist. He instructed him that his grandfather owned a manufacturing unit the place they manufactured entrance forks. The younger man invited Sten to the manufacturing unit to satisfy his grandfather, Arturo Ceriani. Ceriani made Sten a particular set of handmade forks. This was really the primary set of Ceriani entrance forks ever made for motocross. Additionally, the distinguished MV street racing manufacturing unit took Sten’s bike and gusseted the entrance downtubes for energy. When performing this mod, the MV Agusta race staff was so involved about any of their race-shop tools being seen that they might not permit Sten within the store whereas the modification was being carried out.
The Albin engine was a primary powerplant till labored on by Nisse Hedlund.
Through the 1960 season, Monark race staff supervisor Lennart Varborn unexpectedly died. Consequently, Monark withdrew from Grand Prix racing. Which will appear odd in right this moment’s high-powered company atmosphere the place a staff would simply change the supervisor and transfer ahead, however it was initially Lennart’s resolution for Monark to be concerned in Grand Prix motocross racing. After his demise, administration determined to not change him. This was an enormous blow to all these concerned with the Monark staff, as they’d labored very exhausting, had a profitable mixture, and it appeared their finest years lay forward. As a comfort, the Monark manufacturing unit gave Sten Lundin his GP bike, however the sponsorship was over.
The Monark, Lito and Husqvarna have been all fueled by Amal carburetors.
When the Monark staff was shut down, one other member of the Monark empire, Kaj Bornebusch, noticed a possibility to choose up the place Monark had left off by constructing motocross bikes for non-factory riders so they may compete on the identical stage because the manufacturing unit groups from Belgium and England. Kaj had competed in British Scrambles races whereas he was going to varsity in England. He named his new bike the Lito (after an organization he owned that specialised in lithographs). The Litos would share lots of the elements of the works Monark, most notably the Albin engine. The Lito was a first-rate bike.
Similar to Monark earlier than them, Lito solely made a handful of race bikes over its four-year life span.
Sten Lundin, now the only proprietor of a works Monark, went to Kaj Bornebusch and made the proposal that if Lito sponsored him, he would paint his Monark inexperienced and race it with Lito logos. Kaj agreed. And on February 10, 1961, Sten Lundin signed a contract with Lito. His Monark was painted inexperienced in 1961 and have become (in title solely) a Lito. Lundin received the 1961 World Championship, took third in 1962, second in 1963 and third in 1964. He additionally received the general on the Motocross des Nations in 1963 on his hybrid Lito.
The care taken in constructing the Lito is obvious within the element of the chain adjuster, rear brake arm and shock mount.
When the Litos went into manufacturing, solely 35 machines have been constructed between 1961 and 1965. The Litos have been stunning bikes with all the proper elements to be aggressive in Grand Prix motocross. Sten Lundin did have one Lito-built machine, which he utilized in native Swedish motocross races, however for the five hundred GPs, he raced his 1960 Monark (painted in Lito colours).
Monarks and Litos raced manner earlier than the event of lengthy journey suspension, gasoline shocks, distant reservoirs or piggyback shocks.
The Litos have been constructed on a made-to-order foundation, and lots of the high riders of the day used them, together with 1957 and 1960 World Champion Invoice Nilsson, Sylvain Geboers and Gunnar Johansson. The remaining inventory of the 35 bikes went to privateer GP riders throughout Europe. It was a works bike for the common man.
Not surprisingly, for the reason that Lito rose from the ashes of the Monark race staff, the 2 bikes shared many elements, not the least of which was the Swedish-built Albin engine.
At the moment, many of those authentic Litos stay in collectors’ palms. There’s even a registry for all of the recognized remaining bikes. Within the early Nineties, a gaggle of Swedish lovers constructed a number of replicas which are very near the true factor. These bikes have a distinct serial-number sequence and are additionally very collectible.
Sten Lundin received the 1961 500 World Championship on his Monark/Lito hybrid.
Husqvarna, like Monark, was a really outdated firm in Sweden that produced many issues, together with road and street race bikes. After having witnessed the large success and publicity that Monark was getting from their motocross endeavor, Husky determined to enter the five hundred World Championship for the 1960 season. They’d a “begin from scratch” works bike program, however with a a lot decrease funds than Monark.
Earlier than 1960, Husqvarna made giant displacement four-stroke road bikes and street racers, however they turned jealous of the publicity that Monark was getting in motocross and joined the fray.
This system was headed up by Ruben Helmin, and the bikes can be assembled by Morgan Hjalmarsson on the Husqvarna manufacturing unit. Husqvarna designed their bike across the identical primary powerplant as Monark — the ever dependable Albin 500 single. The entrance forks have been Norton Roadholders from England, and the rear shocks have been Girlings.
1960 500 World Champion Invoice Nilsson.
Though Sten Lundin most well-liked Ceriani forks, the Huskys of Invoice Nilsson and Rolf Tibblin used Norton Roadholder forks.
In an excellent transfer, Husqvarna commissioned Nisse Hedlund, who had constructed a fame with the Albin single, to construct their engines. The 1957 World Champion Invoice Nilsson was employed to trip the bike, together with Rolf Tibblin. Two bikes have been constructed, with Nilsson getting the popular help. Of their debut 500 GP season, Nilsson and his 500cc Husqvarna four-stroke received the 1960 500cc World Championship, defeating Sten Lundin and his Monark by one level. Rolf Tibblin took a decent third. Solely three works Husqvarna Albin 500s have been made, and none have been offered to the general public.
Husqvarna didn’t simply use Hedlund-modified Albins; in addition they employed the younger designer to ramrod the bikes by means of manufacturing.
No leather-based straps for the Husqvarna, they constructed a metallic strap that might double as a surgical scalpel in a crash.
The success Husqvarna had with Nilsson and Tibblin in 1960 prompted many requests for Grand Prix Huskys. Like Monark, Husqvarna had no intention of mass-producing such a machine. However, engine builder Nisse Hedlund had the identical imaginative and prescient that Kaj Bornebush had when he began Lito, and Hedlund, with Husqvarna’s blessing, produced 16 replicas of Invoice Nilsson’s 1960 World Championship bike for the 1961 season. Nisse Hedlund constructed the frames and engines himself and bought the remainder of the elements. Just like the Litos, these bikes have been solely offered to promising GP riders. Ten bikes have been made in 1961, and 6 have been made in 1962. Out of those 16 bikes, solely three stay 50 years later.
These three works bikes — the Monark, Lito and Husqvarna — got here and went within the blink of an eye fixed. By 1965, the writing was on the wall, and it was written in two-stroke premix. By 1966, for those who didn’t have a two-stroke, you didn’t win. The period of the booming singles was over — to not return for 40 years. Most of those unbelievable bikes have been offered low-cost as soon as they turned out of date. Some have been dismembered for his or her elements, and a few have been left to rot. So few examples remained that the game owes a debt of gratitude to the lads who preserved them. No matter their causes for holding on to those items of traditional iron, they did all of us an enormous favor by preserving an vital a part of the golden period of motocross. In MXA’s case, Tom White’s “Early Years of Motocross Museum” had considered one of every that we might {photograph}.
[ad_2]