Suzuki/SJK Mini Free
1954—1959

Joe Broussard from USA was kind enough to introduce us to these Mini Free bikes he spotted on the Japanese Yahoo web auction site.

Mini Free, photographed in May 2004. Click to enlarge. This motorized bicycle from Suzuki was the last of the three cyclemotors SJK (Suzuki Jidosha Kogyo) introduced in the fifties. The Mini Free (MF1) was introduced in 1954 and it was a 50cc moped, being sold as a complete machine, as well as a engine kit to hang on your bike like the Power Free or the Diamond Free. Placing the engine under the frame for lower weight point improved the handling. The Mini Free won popularity, it became the best selling cyclemotor. Suzuki was producing 6,000 motorcycles per month in 1954 and changed its name to Suzuki Motor Co. Ltd in June 1954.

A closer look at the engine. Click to enlarge. The carburetor looks to be incorrect, but not many of those around? Mini Free was still very cyclemotor-like in appearance, having a conventional bicycle frame. The engine was mounted ahead of the bottom bracket and a V-belt from the engine drove a pulley clipped to the spokes of the rear wheel.

The Fuel tank. Click to enlarge. The Mini Free (the latest model called MF5) continued in production until 1959 and a more conventional moped, the "Suzumoped" replaced it.

Another Mini Free, spotted on the Japanese Yahoo Auction site in May 2006. Click to enlarge. The person who was selling this rarity announced that although the engine wasn't running, the crank was turning and there's spark on the plug. The fly wheel cover was missing, the tyres flat and most of the bike, obviously, quite rusty; but the inside of the fuel tank was clean.

Two more pictures of the same bike . Click to enlarge. It's hard to identify the model year for these early SJK/Suzukis. Different frames were used and details vary between individual bikes. The changes are pretty good that some of the original parts have been replaced or have disappeared after decades of use, although this one seems to be pretty stock. Note the speedometer and the headlight on the right picture - quite charming, aren't they? My guess is that the saddle comes from another bike but that doesn't surprise anyone. After all, these bikes were meant to be used at daily bases and most of them probably were. They haven't always been rarities. If somebody can tell what year this bike was made, please tell us all! You can find my e-mail address on the mail page.

The cover of a Mini Free parts catalog. Click to enlarge. Sent to me by Joe Broussard. A magazine advert, published in a Japanese Motorcycle magazine, January 1955. Found on a Japanese website. The advert says following things: ”Original, Functional beauty, Wonderful, Performance, Ability, Be proud. The dream of the motorcycle world came true. Gentleman, Commuter, Student.” Sounds like a dream come true... Perhaps it was, large parts of Japan was in ruins after the war and 120 million Japanese needed a cheap ways of transportation.

More: SJK (Suzuki Jidosha Kogyo) and Colleda models

More: All Suzuki models

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