Monark 500 Motocross / 1959

Sweden was a major presence in early motocross, noted both for its talented riders and groundbreaking machinery, and Sweden’s Monark is one of the rarest motocross machines from the 1950’s and 1960’s. The marque enjoyed great success in the International Six Days Trials and achieved its motocross zenith in 1959, when Sten Lundin rode an Albin-powered Monark to the FIM World 500cc Motocross Championship.

From its birth in 1913 to its demise in 1975, Monark specialized in chassis and suspension development. The company relied on power from engine suppliers that included Albin from Sweden, Sachs from Germany, and Morini from Italy.

An intense rivalry between four-stroke bikes from Sweden and Great Britain raged throughout the early 1960s, but gave way to the other side of the Iron Curtain in 1966, when East German Paul Friedrichs captured the FIM World Championship on a Czech-engineered two-stroke CZ.

This Monark was purchased from a collector in Amsterdam, Holland who raced it in Vintage motocross. Frans Munsters, a friend from Veghal, Holland was instrumental in the purchase and obtaining correct period wheels and other components for the machine. The meticulous restoration was done by British expert Don Harrell and the machine is owned by the Early Years of Motocross Museum. Enjoy!

Monark 125cc MX / 1971

The Swedish company Monark actually began in the early twentieth century building bicycles. The production of motorcycles didn’t start until the late 40’s and 50’s and the factories prowness was ultimately achieved in 1959 when Sten Lundin won the 500cc World Motocross Championship.

In 1970, Monark introduced its first 125cc motocross model and imported the machines to the USA initially through Rockford Motors in Illinois and later thru Inter-Trends in Burbank, California. The Monark’s used the popular Sachs engine with state-of-the-art chrome moly frame and Ceriani suspension components. They instantly became the Ferrari of the 1/8 liter class!

Ray Lopez won this event on a Penton and Marty Smith finished in second place riding the Monark MX model. Unfortunately for Monark (and Penton), Honda would introduce the all new 125cc Elsinore later than year and that was the end!