Marusho Motorcycles founder Masashi Ito dies at 92.
After apprenticing with Soichiro Honda, Masashi Ito started chasing his dream of building motorcycles when he founded Marusho Shokai Co., Ltd. in Hamamatsu, Japan, in 1948.
Within two years a successful prototype, the 150cc single-cylinder ML, was completed. Mass production of the ML, patterned after a pre-war Zundapp and utilizing Marusho's trademark shaft drive, began in 1951 as the Model LB and later the LC. The name of the company was changed to the Marusho Motorcycle Industrial Co., Ltd.
Within two years a successful prototype, the 150cc single-cylinder ML, was completed. Mass production of the ML, patterned after a pre-war Zundapp and utilizing Marusho's trademark shaft drive, began in 1951 as the Model LB and later the LC. The name of the company was changed to the Marusho Motorcycle Industrial Co., Ltd.
The LB and LC were followed by a succession of 90cc - 250cc upright singles including the very popular JF Baby Lilac "step-through" and two 350cc opposed twins.
But, it was a racing version of the 250cc single, the SYZ, that put Marusho on the map when in 1955 it won the first "All Japan Motorcycle Endurance Road Race", also referred to as the "All Japan Volcano Scramble Race".
DYK: From 1951-'61 Marusho produced 31 models under the Lilac moniker, all but two of which were shaft-driven. Incidentally, the name 'Lilac' was chosen because it was Ito's wife's favorite flower.
Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk
DYK: From 1951-'61 Marusho produced 31 models under the Lilac moniker, all but two of which were shaft-driven. Incidentally, the name 'Lilac' was chosen because it was Ito's wife's favorite flower.
Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk
