MARUSHO-LILAC JF-2 Baby Lilac (1953-1956) Specs, Performance & Photos

Marusho Motor Co., Ltd was a Japanese motorcycle manufacturer that produced motorcycles from 1948 to 1967. Their official place of business was in Tokyo, and the factory was in Hamamatsu.

In 1953, the Japanese maker introduced the Marusho-Lilac JF-2 Baby Lilac alongside the JF-1. They were a cross between a scooter and a motorcycle, and the only notable difference between the two models was the front fork, not the different engine displacement.

Marusho's history began in 1946 when Tadashi Ito opened his first Marusho Car Repair Shop, which made truck bodies for Toyota and Nissan. Two years later, Ito founded Marusho Shokai Co., Ltd, a new company that manufactured motorcycles for at least 19 years.

In 1950, the newly founded company rolled out its first ML prototype, also known as LA, LB, or LC, a motorcycle equipped with a 150cc engine. Between 1951 and 1961, Marusho developed and released 31 motorcycle models sharing the same Lilac brand.

The first models had a telescopic fork, while the later ones had a swing front fork. The JF-2 model was also available in 90 and 104cc displacements.

In the power department, the 1953 Marusho-Lilac JF-2 Baby Lilac's soul was brought to life by a 90cc two-stroke single-cylinder engine that delivered 4 hp. The engine was assisted by a two-speed automatic transmission.