LITO

500 GP -1961

A successful copy

Following the death of one of the three brothers who ran the company, Monark announced its withdrawal from competition at the end of 1960 . Though the pullout proved short -lived, it prompted Sten Lundin, world motocross champion on a 500 Monark in 1959 and vice-champion in 1960, to seek another ride in order to continue his career, and his quest quickly led him to Kai Bonebusch, who ran a litho print works.

Monark of the Sten

Bonebusch was related to the owners of Monark and crazy about motorbikes. A little while before, he had assembled his own machine from English components, and Lundin had little difficulty in convincing Bonebusch to back his project. They got hold of the plans of the Monark and decided to paint the finished machine green rather than blue - and that was it. The trick was easy enough: The Monark engine was a virtual copy of an Albin, and its gearbox had come from England.

The End of an Era

At the end of 1961, Lundin won back the world crown that he had been forced to abandon the previous year. Lito took advantage of this to market a short series of 30 of its Monark copies. From 1965, sadly, the competition from the CZ two-strokes became too great. Sweden lost no time in avenging this affront to its national pride: Husqvarna, previously devoted to the four-stroke, quickly developed a rwo-stroke with the resulting

success that has become well known.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 497cc (80x99mm) air-cooled single cylinder four-stroke; magneto ignition

Power Rating: 35 hp

Valves: overhead

Fuel System: carburetor

Transmission: 4-speed; chain drive

Suspension: telescopic forks (front); swinging fork (rear)

Brakes: drum (front & rear)

Wheels: 3.00x21 inch (front): 4.00x18 inch • (rear)

Weight: 287lb

Even though the Lito was little more than a clone of the Monark, nevettheless it won a world motocross championship title for Sten Lundin.