85 Saracen conquest....what have i started!.....Finished!

[Tootyred]

Looks like a conquest from early 84 ish to me....pre shimano deerhead.....

 

[legrandefromage]

except M700 'deerhead' appeared for the 1983 model year?

 

[Tootyred]

The earlier ones were suntour AX.....as far as I have been able to suss out.

Early 84 advert (also cited as june 84 in bike action magazine), with suntour.....by the end of 84 they had gone to deerhead......they only started in 83......the advert cant be much earlier as its in the bluemels involvement period.

But as with most things, the facts seem a little hazy...I approached Brian for an informal interview for retrobike, to try to clear some of this up, but it went kinda dead.....pitty as it would have been interesting to hear some stories and possibly see some photos.......oh and clear up some of this stuff

 

[TobyOakes]

If you post it up here https://www.retrobike.co.uk/forums/the-one-and-only-how-much-is-my-xyz-worth-forum.78/ I'll delete this post for you.

Nice one, thank you

 

[Roadster]

I hope you don’t mind, but can I help with any questions regarding Saracen? There are a number of facts in your piece that are incorrect about its heritage. Saracen cycles were first built at the back of a cycle shop in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. However. These were not mountain bikes, just road bikes and were on frames provided by Knights at one time. The helmet on the badge was that of a Saracen, not a connection to Knight cycles. The first ATB was built by hand in Warwick and sold across the UK. I provided the two bikes to Nick and Richard straight out of our stock and at short notice for their trip up Kilimanjaro. The company was sold to Bluemels to help the Company grow. Actually, it was a successful partnership until Bluemels lost money in their branded goods and went bust. Saracen was hitting every one of its monthly targets and was thriving, but got sold to the Stanforth Brothers who ruined it by buying crap from abroad and using its hard earned reputation to pull them along. You are right one thing though, a great hand built British brand was lost forever. This I know because my dad, Brian Staples, founded Saracen and my mum and myself worked in it right up until Stanforths got their grubby hands on it. Every bike was hand built to order, and size or colour and we were extremely proud of our product.

Hi - Late in the day I know, but I wonder if you are still looking at Retrobike? I ask because I have what I think is one of your father's bikes, a 25" 1984 road bike which I bought new - picture attached. I still have it, it has frame number 000200 - would you happen to recollect the frame numbering sequence by any chance, and does 000200 imply anything about production figures? Thanks.