The ASB/SB history is, like so many Spanish brands, a complex timeline, with more than one name change along the way. Born in 1908, Antonio Sanchis Bueno, following his early education, trained as a mechanic whilst simultaneously attending evening classes to improve his business knowledge. At 18 years of age, he set up his first workshops in Albacete, but this venture was interrupted by his military service, which was undertaken in Africa. On returning to Spain, he relocated to Calle Maestro Serrano 3, Valencia and started to design and produce custom gasogene kits for commercial vehicles, creating the ASB brand, based on his initials.
The gasogene kits were in demand in the early 1940s owing to the petrol shortages and he combined this demand with his workshops where he renovated automobiles and diesel engines. As interest in motorcycles increased, he designed a small, 72cc, two stroke, auxiliary engine to be fitted to bicycles and use a friction contact roller to drive the rear wheel.
An early, 1949 DAVID brand, 72cc, two stroke engine, part of the Sala Santy Collection
He used the DAVID brand name for these engines, but this created confusion with the Catalan automobile manufacturer of the same name, based in Barcelona. To resolve this, these engines then carried the ASB brand name.
ASB 72cc – 1951. This bike is part of the Sala Santy Collection at Riola
According to certain sources, patent and trademark problems arose because of the similarity between ASB and the British BSA brand. To resolve this, subsequent motorcycles were released under the SB brand name.
The production of SB mopeds and motorcycles started in 1950 under the SB brand name. The first moped engine displacements were small at 72cc and 83cc but were uprated in 1953 to 76cc, 86cc and 97cc. In 1956, the lightweight motorcycle evolved into a 75cc or 98cc model with a three-speed transmission and rear suspension.
This 98cc motorcycle was produced between 1955-59 and was photographed at the Museo de la Moto y el Coche Clasico, 10700 Hervás (Cáceres)
Catalogo Español de Motocicletas 1957 Finanzauto SA
Spanish Motorcycles 