Mystery Bike

Well I thought I'd have a cheeky bid at this http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=164168 that I'd noticed on the ebay, thinking I could use some of the components for other projects.

So reading the comments I sort of agreed it was probable a muddy fox, but at the price I'd payed it still looked worth it. Well I picked it up last nite
an I'm pretty sure its not a muddy fox as it had a riveted on head badge and was welded instead of being lugged.

So this is were your help comes in the frame seams a bit crude but theres some nice components and most things seam original to the bike.

I would think its early to mid eighty's, there is a serial No K41 184 this is how its stamped under the bb shell.

Heres some pics to give you some help




This is my Kili Flyer next to it



Head tube with Campy head set



Seat post and cable holder



Dropouts and rear mech



None drive slidey drop out



Down tube cable stop



Shifter and Leaver



Front mech and crankset


Thanks in advance for any help kaya

Miyata? Drop outs look very similar to their early MTB drop outs :?

Both mechs should have a date code on them
back of the plates somewhere
http://www.vintage-trek.com/component_dates.htm#suntour

on and that rear mech is a piece of history keep it.
It's the first mech ever designed specifically for mountain bikes.

EDIT
I think it's and 82/83 mech.

http://www.disraeligears.co.uk/Site/Sun ... 00%29.html
Version II is introduced ~1984 according to that site.

Check out the link below for an early miyata mtb, looks very similar.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_whtVpXkKwlQ/R ... img049.jpg

Nice one Vern! Looking forward to the freshend up pics!

I bet it was bought abroad on the crest of the early 'atb' craze

looks around 1983/84

no mech hanger though and the frame quality looks a little lower down the food chain.

that Miyata is not even close! Fast back stays, mech hanger, different cable guides...

no cigar.

Frame quality is...... rustic shall we say and the weight says its certainly not 531.

Some things on the frame don't make sense, Like the rear cable stop and the down tube cable stop.
The down tube stops are screwed on and made from alloy and the rear cable stop looks like its mass produced.

Defo don't think its a Miyata, will have to have a look for date stamps on the components.

Thanks for the help so far


Edit:- The components date from 82-84 that would make the bike 84/85 by my thinking.

try the right thread,


my guess is a claud butler as it has the same reflector thing as wireds,frame isnt exact though

or maybe an early dawes,

havent a clue really though :roll: :roll:

Don't think its a Butler, different rear dropouts, cable stop and fork
The Butler looks better quality, don't think its a Dawes ether.

Keep the suggestions coming

As far as I've just gleaned in 2 mins it cannot be claud butler, that one above the Canyon is 1995 and that was there first year of MTB's
http://www.nkilgariff.com/
http://www.nkilgariff.com/CBcats/Cat_85/CB1985_Cat.htm

It uses the newer version II Mountech mechs. This has older components on it dating it older than Claud Butler where producing them.

I can help on what it's not, just no idea what it is, too old for me.
These very old bikes all look the same to me

Someone'll know what the K means in the serial.