When did riser bars first make an appearance?

[Osella]

I kept getting told in 1991 that my '87 Raleigh "wasn't a Mountain Bike 'cos it doesn't have flat handlebars"

Interestingly some of the old videos that have surfaced recently show pretty much universal use in Grundig downhill in '93, where most 'amateurs' were using stock bars. Club Roost & San Andreas bikes were all supplied with risers from about '95 on and about that time it was standard #1/#2 upgrade (after beartrap pedals) as soon as you got the bike home, if not sooner

 

[N/B]

My first MTB was from 1989ish, it was a red Falcon and it had handlebars that looked a lot like this.

I'd say those are risers. However, the marketing slang back them was ATB, not MTB. I don't perceive a difference.

Btw, I rode my Falcon into the back of a parked car whilst trying to do tricks with my Coca-Cola yo-yo. Downtube creased like a cheap suit.

 

[Kell]

Pretty sure my first ATB had risers too. I got it at 16, so about 1988 Raleigh Maverick. Unsure on my second. the third is the 94 P7 and the fourth would be the 2000 P7.

When I ordered my 2000 P7 I was asked if I wanted risers and I scoffed at the idea.