Private company

Monark

Logo: monark.com.br3

Bicycle, moped and motorcycle manufacturer

Monark, also known as Cykelfabriken Monark AB and Monark AB, is a Swedish bicycle, moped and motorcycle manufacturer, established in Varberg, Sweden, in 1908 by the industrialist Birger Svensson. As of 2016, Monark was valued at 11.5 billion kr.2 It is part of Cycleurope.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1908Founded1
Bergslagssafari Uppland 2012 11 Tobo bruksmiljö 08
Photo: Calle Eklund/ V-wolf, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons5

Monark, also known as Cykelfabriken Monark AB and Monark AB, is a Swedish bicycle, moped and motorcycle manufacturer, established in Varberg, Sweden, in 1908 by the industrialist Birger Svensson. As of 2016, Monark was valued at 11.5 billion kr.2

Corporate structure

Monark is part of a group headed by Grimaldi Industri. 10 entities, 5 countries on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

Built from parent and subsidiary links from GLEIF, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (CC0); subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0). Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

Founded by Birger Svensson in 1908, in Varberg.1

In 1920, Monark produced its Esse model, which employed a British 172cc Villiers two stroke engine in a heavy bicycle frame. They gained popularity in Scandinavian countries because machines of this type were not required to be licensed, taxed or insured. In 1928, Monark hired Robert Ebe-Karlsson away from the Amal Carburettor Company to design a range of motorcycles using engines provided by the Blackburne motorcycle company. During this period, the Monark factory entered riders into enduro off-road events.

In the wake of the economic depression during the 1930s, Monark stopped producing motorcycles in 1936 to concentrate on a 98cc motorbike. During the Second World War, Monark produced a military motorcycle for the Swedish army, using a reliable single cylinder engine. After the war, Monark resumed production of the 98cc motorbike which remained in production until 1950.

In the 1950s, Monark had a successful record in off-road motorcycle competitions. In 1954 they entered 8 bikes in the International Six Days Trial, a form of off-road motorcycle Olympics. All 8 Monark riders finished with gold medals. In 1959, Monark's Sten Lundin won the 500cc Motocross World Championship. When the Monark racing team manager Lennart Varborn unexpectedly died during the 1960 season, Monark management made the decision to withdraw from Grand Prix racing. As compensation, Monark management allowed Lundin keep his race bike. Lundin rebadged his Monark motorcycle as a Lito and recaptured the world championship in 1961. He dropped to third place in the world championship in 1962, finished second to Rolf Tibblin in the 1963 World Championship and third in the 1964 World Championship.

In 1961, Monark merged with Nymanbolagen, Uppsala, Sweden into Monark-Crescentbolagen or MCB. Monark is today part of Cycleurope, belonging to Grimaldi Industri AB. Monark is also a brand of Brazilian bicycles, related to the original Swedish Monark AB.

Bicycle racer, Gösta Pettersson won the 1971 Giro d'Italia riding a Monark bicycle.

The Cykelfabriken should not be confused with the Monark-Silver King, Inc., Chicago, IL, a manufacturer of classic bicycles from 1934 to 1957, (formerly the Monark Battery Company). Nor should it be confused with the Monarch Cycle Manufacturing Company, 1892–1899, Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Toronto, founded by John William Kiser.

From Wikipedia’s article on Monark, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Leadership

Who has led Monark, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Products and brands

Electric bicycle

Monark produces the Elcykel, an electric bicycle, built of aluminum with the same engine system including Posten AB uses. It utilizes a 10 Ah Lithium battery for long running time and fast recharge and is equipped with a Navgenerator, approved locks and immobilizers elimination part.

ECO 1430 – Electric bicycle with an aluminum unisex frame and a Panasonic electric motor with pedal assistance for fast and comfortable cycling. Li-ion battery of 10 Ah for fast recharge and long range.

Transporter

The Transporter is a Unisex steel work bike which is equipped with a heavy-duty front carrier and a robust kickstand. The rims are made of stainless steel and reinforced spokes They are available as Shimano Single or 3-speeds. They only come in black.

Work Bike – The 450-453 Work Bike is a bicycle for business use that meets high visibility requirements. It is equipped with reflectors, sharp safety color, quality components are the obvious arguments. Available in 1 and 3 speed and comes in fluorescent yellow and black.

Read the full text

Bayer – The Bayer is a simple and durable work bike which only comes in a step through frame and mounts a heavy-duty carrier to the front and a rack to the rear.

Truck

The Truck is a work bike, popular in Denmark, It is a steel framed work bike with a front carrier and generator lightning. It is available as a single or three speed and only comes in Black.

Military bike

The military bike is a new version of the Swedish military bicycle, it is available in a men's or women's model. The rims are made of stainless steel with reinforced spokes. The bicycles are equipped with lock and generator lighting. They are only available in red or green and come as single or 3-speeds.

Specialized bikes

Monark produces the following Specialized bikes:

Tricycle with two 20 or 24 inch rear wheels.

Tricycle with two front wheels

Tandem bicycle with 3 or 7-gears

Trailer

Scooters

Monark produces the following scooters:

Scooter 670

Scooter 660

Transport scooter 634 with large front carrying platform

Three-wheel scooter 624

From Wikipedia’s article on Monark, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Subsidiaries and ownership

Parent company

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 1908Founded Founded in Varberg1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
    Company websiteMonark logo
  4. 4
  5. 5