c1965 Marusho Lilac 250cc Motorcycle

Description

The Marusho Motor Company was a relatively short-lived Japanese motorcycle manufacturer founded by a former Honda apprentice named Masashi Ito in April 1948 and despite a reputation for building good quality machinery, the brand only survived until 1967. Although commercially successful, by the late 1950s Marusho's range was falling behind rivals like Honda and 1959 saw the dated 125cc and 250cc line-up of singles replaced with a new V-twin. With an electric start and shaft drive, the new 250cc V-twin was of overhead-valve design, with a rotary four-speed transmission, telescopic front suspension and swing arm rear set-up. The first Lilac V-twin was designated the LS-18 model, available either with a single or dual seat. The V-twin family expanded to include both smaller 125cc and larger 300cc models in the early 1960s but financial difficulties saw a reorganisation of the company in 1963 and it was renamed the Lilac Co Ltd. A larger opposed twin specifically aimed at the lucrative American market was unveiled in an attempt to boost sales and the new 500cc, marketed as the ST (for Sport Touring), bore more than a passing resemblance to BMW's products of the day, right down to the black paintwork. A number of Lilacs found their way to Australia in the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s but the Marusho company remains all but forgotten here, despite a growing awareness in their homeland. With a healthy club and register, Marusho and Lilac owners are well supported and surviving examples are proving popular with collectors around the world.