Monarch 1956ca SP-1 246 cc 1 cyl high camshaft 3607

Monarch 1956ca SP-1 246 cc high camshaft single frame # SP-1-56-1019 

One might say that both American and European influences have put their mark on the development of the Japanese motorcycle industry. Metallurgical know how, quality control, spare part management, dealer management and after sales management were subjects brought in by the licence agreement Harley-Davidson had made with Rikuo in 1929. The HD/Rikuo factory also became a laboratory for the whole Japanese manufacturing society with other factories coming to learn at the HD/Rikuo factory. As to design, many Japanese firms leaned on British products; already in the twenties and thirties various British makes were imported in Japan and were considered as the global state-of-the-art in single-cylinder and parallel-twin four-strokes. British bikes were seen as high-quality benchmarks for engineering and performance.
Post WW2 Japan’s economy and industry were devastated. Motorcycle production restarted with wartime factories converting to civilian products. There was a massive need for affordable and reliable transport amid reconstruction. The Japanese government encouraged technology acquisition and “learning from the West”. High tariffs on imports protected emerging Japanese makers while they learned. This “import substitution” strategy allowed companies to build capabilities before trying to compete globally.
Many early Japanese bikes were outright copies or close adaptations of British singles and twins. British bikes excelled in the types of machines Japan needed initially: practical, mid-sized four-stroke singles and twins suitable for commuting and light touring.
One of the many small makes that were active in the postwar years was Monarch, in business from the early 1950s to 1962. The company was founded by Fujio Murata, who had previously worked at Meguro (one of Japan’s pioneering motorcycle companies and an ancestor of modern Kawasaki models). Monarch produced four-stroke OHV motorcycles, mainly in the 150 cc, 200 cc, and 250 cc range. In the early sixties the company went out of business, together with most small manufacturers, because of the upcoming domination of the “Big Four”: Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki.
The model we offer here, the SP-1, was presented around 1956-57 and is considered as one of the more stylish and advanced Monarch machines. A fascinating aspect of this model is that it does not show design influences of a single British make, but embodies a conglomeration of recognisable British (and German!) features. To name a few: the tank badge is Norton-influenced, the engine has many aspects of a Velocette, as has the dynamo drive chain cover. The primary chain case construction with rubber band an chromed clamping strip comes from AJS / Matchless and the double cradle frame might be inspired by BSA or Norton. The gearbox is Burman-like and as to the German influences: the leading link front suspension and the headlamp with push-in contact switch might have their design origins with BMW. And the front mudguard: isn’t that a bit like that of the NSU Max?
The carburettor is a genuine Amal product, the magneto is from Mitsubishi. The high-camshaft engine is well-finished and has bore x stroke dimensions of 66 x 72 mm. Power delivered is 13.5 hp @ 5,500 rpm. The SP-1 was expensive and well-made and not many have been produced. This very rare surviving Monarch has been excellently restored and was part of an important Japanese collection until recently.
She is an excellent example of the state of the art 1950s Japanese motorcycle industry, which is little known outside of Japan.