Araya Muddy Fox MF26-I SPR

[Gtpulse]

Been doing a bit of research, it’s confusing as I’ve found a few bits of information between the forum here and the Araya catalogues.

The model code would suggest it’s a limited edition, some information was posted by Sinnerman quite some time ago, if you check out the spec list for the MB Super 1/ Limited Edition listed there it’s identical to this one apart from the decals…… https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/muddy-waters-no-more-muddy-fox-the-early-years.284424/

In this thread there are a couple more examples

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/muddy-fox-1984-limited-edition.40406/

I’d guess mine was a Japanese market Limited Edition, identical to the UK one in all but some of the decals?

Here’s a couple of screen captures from the Araya catalogue of 83-85.

 

[narcotitlan]

Good bit of sleuthing. Quite an unusual bit of marketing there with the bike in bits, kind of like it's prepping for a zen-style cold water dip? Or it's just been in and it's now drying in the Sun? Mysterious but stylish

 

[Gtpulse]

It’s a bit of an odd photo isn’t it. With the seat and the bars taken out as well as the wheel! Is it just a nice backdrop to a car park and they’re about to put it in the boot?
Suspect if they’d left the saddle/bars/wheel on they wouldn’t have got the waterfall in the pic so they took them off.

 

[narcotitlan]

Ah you could well be right!

 

[Gtpulse]

Some more up to date photos without the shoulder pad. It’s fair to say this frame looks like it has seen a bit of life!

 

[doctor-bond]

Love it

 

[Gtpulse]

Worth a mention as it’s not really obvious - the rear mech is a Suntour Letech which as well as being hard to get hold of has 3 pivots. The front mech is also Suntour Letech and an unusual design in that it is sprung/tensioned in the opposite way to a conventional front mech - a bit like the Shimano Rapid Rise system I guess. So when selecting the outer chainring you are decreasing tension on the spring, if not under cable tension that’s where it would rest. Selecting the granny ring puts the mech spring under full tension.

https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/suntour_le_tech_derailleur_5900.html

 

[wackizz18]

Glad to found this thread. I have a bike from that catalog. Yours is just straight out of the catalog bone stock so jealous! This one is MBMF26A. I have another one which is MBMF26B