Mantis Pro Floater 1992/1993 ??

[Masbimo]

Hey, this is my very first thread on the forum.
I’ve lurked for ages and resurrected a handful of ‘90-era rigs like Ritchey P23, Checker Pig CPX 9000, Breezer Storm, Cannondale M800, Orange Prestige, Yeti Fro (though I never got around to documenting that one) but never felt the urge to document the process—until this bike landed in my garage . Maybe it’s the history, maybe it’s the lines, maybe it’s just me finally giving back to a community that’s saved me countless times… whatever the reason, this Pro Floater deserves its own spotlight.

Why the Mantis Pro Floater sits at the top of my grail list​

• Boutique roots. Richard Cunningham’s Mantis Cycles (founded 1981, SoCal) was the skunk-works that gave us the X-frame Valkyrie, elevated-stay XCR, and finally the Pro Floater (1992-1995)—a concentric-pivot, motocross-inspired full-suss frame built in well under 300 units.
• Ahead of its time. A sub-27 lb dualie when most “F.S.” bikes were boat anchors; the rocker isolates pedalling forces so well it still feels contemporary.
• Details that reward nerds. TIG-welded Easton 7005, boxed wishbone stays, bolt-on cable guides, pastel factory paint—every corner whispers small-batch craftsmanship.

For years that resume kept the Mantis Pro Floater parked at the very top of my one-day list. Then, while casually scrolling Facebook, I caught a post from John Grafton showing his own baby-blue Pro Floater dripping in Grafton CNC candy. Seeing a modern photo of a bike I’d only ever admired in grainy magazine scans flipped a switch: I was going to track one down no matter how long it took.



A few months later, I heard that a local collector had a medium Pro Floater hanging in his workshop—original paint, straight tubes, linkage still tight. I showed up with coffee, cash, and the grin of a 13-year-old… and wheeled out with the frame that’s about to star in my first Retrobike thread.

So here we go!



So the next step is i wanted a rider, not a museum piece: early-’93 spec, silver alloy bits everywhere, black accents, and just enough anodised flash to make the purists twitch. Everything had to be era-correct (or at least era-believable) without going full NOS-only madness.

Still can't decide about the groupset, XT or XTR or maybe Suntour XC Pro. Can you guys help me to decide?
also i’m torn on decals: leave the slightly yellowed originals or re-pop a fresh set?

Thanks for reading, happy to hear suggestions, or just let me know if I’ve committed any period-incorrect sins!


Cheers,

 

[Mace4130]

Beautiful. I remember that test article like it was yesterday.

 

[Canuckbiker]

Signing in for updates

Always loved these as well and the Mantis brand, love the colour

Personally I'd keep the original decals, even if a bit yellowed, they look in great shape otherwise

You really can't go wrong with XT, XTR or XC Pro, it may depend on your ability to round up the needed parts of a specific group choice, the right donor bike would be sweet

I'd be partial to M900 though

 

[Dr Dremel]

Great frame and lovely colour! I also remember the article, great memories.

If it was mine, I´d go for a Mag20/21, gold and green Otherwise I´m with @Canuckbiker. For a rider- M900. And I would keep the OG decals. Originals are almost always screen printed and thus especially light coloured decals on dark frames have superior cover. Repros are inkjet and tend to look washed out in comparison.

 

[sam_white]

rocker isolates pedalling forces

I've not come across a Mantis before. Despite scrutinising the photos, it looks like a standard single pivot swingarm. Care to elaborate? The shock and upper link are very much in the style of an Amp B3, but is there some clever trickery with the swingarm?

 

[Masbimo]

Signing in for updates

Always loved these as well and the Mantis brand, love the colour

Personally I'd keep the original decals, even if a bit yellowed, they look in great shape otherwise

You really can't go wrong with XT, XTR or XC Pro, it may depend on your ability to round up the needed parts of a specific group choice, the right donor bike would be sweet

I'd be partial to M900 though

Thank you, always cool to meet another Mantis fan!
I’m with you on the decals; the slight patina matches the frame’s age and I’d hate to lose the original silkscreen vibe just for bright-white repros.


Groupset-wise I’ve already rounded up most of an XT M735 kit plus the silver Grafton cranks, but if an M900 donor bike fell into my lap I’d be seriously tempted. For now I’ll get it rolling on the XT parts I have, keep my eyes peeled for any tidy XTR bits, and see where the parts gods lead me.


Appreciate the input—stay tuned for more pics once everything’s bolted up!

 

[Masbimo]

Great frame and lovely colour! I also remember the article, great memories.

If it was mine, I´d go for a Mag20/21, gold and green Otherwise I´m with @Canuckbiker. For a rider- M900. And I would keep the OG decals. Originals are almost always screen printed and thus especially light coloured decals on dark frames have superior cover. Repros are inkjet and tend to look washed out in comparison.

Thanks for the kind words—and glad someone else remembers that article!

Fork:
I’m currently sitting on a freshly-rebuilt Manitou 3, but you’re really tempting me with the gold-stanchion Mag 20/21 idea. Green frame + gold tubes would be peak early-’90s bling. I’ll keep an eye out for it


Groupset:
I’ve gathered most of an XT M735 kit already, yet the M900 keeps whispering to me


Decals:
Totally agree on keeping the originals. The screen-printed white still pops, and the slight ambering actually ties in with the vintage vibe. I’ve seen too many repro sheets that look a bit “inkjet grey” once they hit the paint.


Appreciate the advice—stay tuned for updates (and maybe a surprise gold fork if the parts gods smile).

 

[Masbimo]

I've not come across a Mantis before. Despite scrutinising the photos, it looks like a standard single pivot swingarm. Care to elaborate? The shock and upper link are very much in the style of an Amp B3, but is there some clever trickery with the swingarm?

Actually it isn’t a plain single-pivot.
On the Pro Floater the swing-arm’s main pivot is concentric with the bottom-bracket shell. In other words, the BB spindle and the swing-arm share the same axle. That “floating” concentric pivot keeps chain tension from fighting the suspension, so it pedals more like a hardtail while still giving 2–2.5″ of travel.

Above that you’ve got a short boxed-aluminium rocker that links the seat-stays to the shock (very Amp-looking, as you noticed), but the key trickery is all down at the BB:

• No instant-centre migration—the rear axle arcs around a fixed point, so geometry stays constant.
• Minimal pedal-induced bob because chain torque doesn’t pull on a separate pivot.
• Compact packaging: the shock sits neatly under the top-tube, rocker just clears the seat-tube.

Amp’s (as far as i know in the B3) uses a conventional pivot just ahead of the BB, whereas the Mantis actually wraps the pivot around it. That little difference is what earned the “Floater” name, and that's why the design still feels remarkably modern for something penned in ’92.

 

[Masbimo]

Quick update: I’ve settled on polished-silver KOOKA brake levers paired with ControlTech cantilever. They just feel right against the forest-green frame.





That said, I’m still hanging on to a set of black Tech Lite levers and XT M735 cantilever in case the mood (or a future parts shuffle) calls for a stealth swap. For now, though, the shiny alloy combo wins. On to the next step!

 

[kingofthescratchmonkeys]

Awesome bike. Crying out for XTR, but for me with SRAM Attack shifters and SS5 levers, but that's just me. Oh, and black Syncros seatpost / Flite Alpes...