Araya Muddy Fox 1990 (FINISHED 29/04/12)

[Mahoney1978]

Just picked up this 1990 Araya Muddyfox MF26CRM-K in Safari Red! Full Deore XT Group set and a Tange Prestige Frame (and forks).

An interesting little find, but a little gutted as to it's condition! I found this on a local auction site and thought I may be able to use some of the bits from the pictures... after picking it up today and having a quick look, I may be lucky. Only paid GBP25.00

However, I will give it a very good clean and take stock of what I have. If anything it's a very interesting bike and one I have never come across before. Being a Muddyfox by name, I immediately thought of the British brand... but no this one is made by Araya, the Japanese rim manufacturer.

Very little about them on the internet that I could find... but any help would but appreciated.

Some Pics

 

[drcarlos]

All UK sold Foxes were made, firstly in Japan (by Araya I think) and later in Taiwan, none to my knowledge were made in the UK. They are very much like Specialized in that respect.
What you have I there I think is a Japanese home market Fox passibly made alongside UK models but painted, specced and marketed by a different company (possibly Araya themseleves) for the Japanese and Asian markets.
Lugged prestige and XT is nice and I would say probably quite a rare beast and worth restoring.
It is rare to see a Muddyfox in the UK with any Deore groupset let alone XT.

Carl.

 

[mechagouki]

That bike has so many cool features I don't know where to start!

Lugged prestige!

Lugged with 1-1/8" head tube!

Araya branded!

Awesome paint!

That bike really needs a full restoration, very rare I'm sure.

 

[DeletedUser006]

Now that's what I call a bike

Love it ! With lugged prestige and XT groupo has all the ingredients for a great restoration. I also love the pantwork very of it's time.

 

[Mahoney1978]

Well first up It'll get a good clean. I have degreaser and am tempted to bath it in the stuff!!

Can anyone point me in the right direction for 'how to start a restoration'? I know it sounds silly, but I didn't even get this bike with restoring in mind (I was going to use some of the XT parts on my Kona!!). However I am always up for a challenge and maybe this little beauty deserves it.

I'm a real novice when it comes to what cleaners, polish etc to use... so any help or advise will be greatly received.

Check out this link for a scan of the original bike in Araya's catalogue:

http://www.araya-kk.co.jp/bicycle/Archive/until2009/catalog/1990/90_07-08.htm

Not sure if I lucked out with the colour I got or not?? haha.

 

[mikee]

nice find ,look forward to progress

interesting history lesson from drcarlos too

 

[drcarlos]

nice find ,look forward to progress

interesting history lesson from drcarlos too

I wouldn't take it as gospel but both my Foxes are made in Asia and Baz77 has an '89 Sorcerer and Courier Comp that I am sure have a made in Japan sticker on them. My '91 Sorcerer Mega had a made in Taiwan sticker on it.
I also found an old Japanese catalogue online with lots of different Muddyfox's in to but I don't have a record of the web address unfortunately.

Carl.

 

[Mahoney1978]

nice find ,look forward to progress

interesting history lesson from drcarlos too

I wouldn't take it as gospel but both my Foxes are made in Asia and Baz77 has an '89 Sorcerer and Courier Comp that I am sure have a made in Japan sticker on them. My '91 Sorcerer Mega had a made in Taiwan sticker on it.
I also found an old Japanese catalogue online with lots of different Muddyfox's in to but I don't have a record of the web address unfortunately.

Carl.

Hey Carl, thanks for the info. Maybe via this link for Japanese MF's. All in the local lingo, but pretty good for finding old skool Muddy's (albeit Araya badged ones!)

http://www.araya-kk.co.jp/bicycle/Archive/until2009/cats_mf.htm

Cheers Mark

 

[mrkawasaki]

Fascinating Japanese brochures - thanks for those links! Makes me think my Araya MF is a lot earlier than 1986... and that the name 'Muddy Fox' wasn't necessarily an original 'English' contrivance!

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/mai ... emId=71215

Did Araya make the earlier Stumpjumper Ritchey clones then (as they obviously have a penchant for running dual production lines)?

 

[drcarlos]

Have a look at the 1991 range, seems there might have been some badge engineering going on over here in the UK?

Carl.