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

[Mahoney1978]

Thanks for the update, good to hear you're sticking with the project, and I like your no new parts attitude.

So...pix?

Sunny day here in NZ today, so got outside to take some pics.

Added pictures of Derailleurs (mid clean...still someway to go), saddle (after this photo I added 4 lots of dubbing and it already looks better than this now), Forks (gives a good idea of the 'Safari Red' paint job), frame decal....

 

[Mahoney1978]

And some more......including

Worst rust spot on head tube (help!!!), Araya bottom bracket, seat tube lugging (with embossed 'A' for Araya!) and Deore XT front hub after clean number 1 - plenty more scrubbing to do me thinks...)

 

[Mahoney1978]

And lastly..... (for now)

Rusty stem (have worked on and is now smooth to touch... but you can see rust still!), cable ways under bottom bracket, Tange sticker and general picture of frame (with crank still attached....opps!!)

I did manage some more cleaning today... but it takes so much longer than you think. Still... I have a vision....

 

[Mahoney1978]

Quick update on the Japanese Muddyfox.... all cleaning, polishing, sanding is now finished. I've been VERY slack over the New Zealand summer (we didn't really have a summer this year!!!).

I've put her back together and all original parts that she came with are now installed. Just need to add new cables, grips and I think she will be ready to test out on the trail.

I'm hoping I might have a completion photo for you in the next 1-2 weeks. Please do not expect too much as I have really tried to keep the bike as-is and my aim was to spend $0 in restoring what I could. I suppose, I wanted to see if I could get a well spec'd retro ride for under GBP50.00?? So Far I have spent GBP25 on buying the bike and I am hoping the cables/grips will come in under another GBP25.

Thanks again to those who gave me help/advice.

 

[A_Venables]

That looks really nice, pix, pixs!!!

 

[Archemist]

FWIW (and i bow to DrC completely here)

i believe all the 80's fox's were Araya made - i've only done a little research but i couldn't find an Araya bike of early 90's with the 'UK' wishbone seat stays.

My courier's frame sticker says "made in japan" but it's not conclusive proof that it is not just the tubing (although that seems unlikely) as it also has a assembled in Taiwan sticker on the bike itself).

The seat stays seem to be the giver - and the rack / mudguard mounts - as these appear identical on 80's Araya's and (UK) Fox's.

The rear end of my courier is all but identical to these.

The lugged frames start to disappear in the late 80's Araya / fox ranges - mine is lugged at the seat tube but not at the headtube for instance.

Anyhow as for the OP it's a lovely bike and must be incredibly rare (even) in the southern hemisphere.

Have a look at MadB's thread (just sold) about the Big Foot he uncovered and returned to it's former glories - it's a little brother to what you have ....http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... sc&start=0

look forward to seeing her shine
And

 

[Mahoney1978]

FWIW (and i bow to DrC completely here)

i believe all the 80's fox's were Araya made - i've only done a little research but i couldn't find an Araya bike of early 90's with the 'UK' wishbone seat stays.

My courier's frame sticker says "made in japan" but it's not conclusive proof that it is not just the tubing (although that seems unlikely) as it also has a assembled in Taiwan sticker on the bike itself).

The seat stays seem to be the giver - and the rack / mudguard mounts - as these appear identical on 80's Araya's and (UK) Fox's.

The rear end of my courier is all but identical to these.

The lugged frames start to disappear in the late 80's Araya / fox ranges - mine is lugged at the seat tube but not at the headtube for instance.

Anyhow as for the OP it's a lovely bike and must be incredibly rare (even) in the southern hemisphere.

Have a look at MadB's thread (just sold) about the Big Foot he uncovered and returned to it's former glories - it's a little brother to what you have ....http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... sc&start=0

look forward to seeing her shine
And

Thanks for the info, it's much appreciated. I found the old Araya brochures online and that's what made me purchase the bike as I could see how nice they were when they first came out. I must admit though if the local auction site showed how dirty, scratched and ragged it was, I'm not sure I what have parted with my hard earned GBP25!! (sometimes buying through rose tinted glasses is a good (risky) thing... but for 25 quid.... I wasn't about to let it go).

As I never owned a Muddyfox (normal or Araya) as a kid, I think this is why I've struggled to complete the rebuild. My true love is finding a Dyna Tech and get one of these up and running (although I have a Dyna Tech at my brothers place in the UK, postage does not warrant me getting it sent over).

However, I've put a lot of hours into the Araya Muddy Fox and it's only fair that I see the project through. Also, she has grown on me throughout the last 6-8 months. I've never seen one before in real life and agree with what you say about it being rare.

It will be finished in approximately 2 weeks. Just sourcing some grips and then it will be off to the LBS to help me with the cables etc.

Actually quite excited myself now.

 

[Mahoney1978]

All Finished and uploaded onto the bike forum:

click here for the finished FOX