This temporary web page was created July 10, 2001, to assist the owner of this unusual bike in finding a buyer. It was last updated August 11, 2002. The bike has a new owner, but I am leaving this site up for those interested in seeing it. The bike is similar to a Lilac product and thus of interest to Lilac owners. It is an authentic copy of a BMW single-cylinder model of the same vintage, probably the R25. It is, therefore, shaft-driven with a single-cylinder 250cc engine. Forks are telescopic, though later DSK A25s copied the Earles Fork of the BMW R27. Lilac also produced shaft-driven 250cc upright bikes at the same time, though Lilac's models were not reproductions of BMWs.
This bike is rough and you will note that some key parts are gone, but it is by no means unrestorable. In the 25 years that I have collected information on the Lilacs and other bikes of this era in Japan, this is the first one which I've known to survive in the US. But since I wrote this paragraph I have learned that the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama, has one.
If you want to see photos of restored DSKs, go to the Yahoo Japan search engine and enter either 'DSK A25' or 'DSK A50'.
Although I know nothing about these bikes, you may e-mail me, Ralph Walker..
And be sure to visit the website of the Marusho Lilac Motorcycle Register.
For more details about the bike, see the text after the photos.
Here are some more details about the bike, in the words of the owner:
The info on the id plate reads:
Daito Seiki Co. Ltd.
Tokyo
DSK
Model: A25
Cylinder Volume: 248
Horse Power: 13
Frame Number: A573464
Engine Number: A573464
Net Weight: 148
Total Weight: 218
Year: 1957
Made in Japan
The numbers stamped on the frame on the right rear near the shock are A57-3464 and begin and end with a symbol that looks like a sun. The engine numbers are stamped on the right side just below the cylinder and are also A573464 with the same characters. The number stamped on the frame just below the seat are 2439. The number stamped on the right side of the cylinder itself (just above the engine numbers) is 2614. There is also a plate riveted to the base of the rear of the cylinder that has Japanese characters followed by "99"
I did get the tail light housing from the guy that I bought it from. He had taken it off. The plastic and the glass lenses are still there but the mounting tabs are broken on the glass lense. The magneto cover is also missing, along with the cover for the speedometer. Also, someone removed the spark plug at some point and never put it back it. There is oil in the crankcase that appears good. The guy that I bought the bike from said it was in there when he got it. He took the tank off and painted it with primer. He also unsuccessfully tried to take the engine out but gave up. He gave me a fruit jar with some rusty hardware that he removed.