Mystery bike. Trying to identify.

[Wunderschlung]

Hello.
I’ve found this bike which I have no idea how to I.d.

Is there anyone who could shed some light on this please?

 

[bikeworkshop]

There was a fashion for complex dh- style bikes in the late 90s by catalogue brands, some ran into the 2000s.
You'll often find the same frame with a variety of stickers on.

It's kind of fun and historic, but need a strong dash of irony

 

[Frankenorange]

Land a big jump on that and you could push the earth out of its orbit!

Joking aside....i bet it is infinitely better than the awful looking cr@p with backwards fitted forks, mag wheels and no-name components being pumped out of China , these days.
Throw a few inexpensive yet better quality bits onto the Craft USA bike and it will make some nearly indestructible fun for kids to smash about on.

 

[Wunderschlung]

Thanks both for replying.
It’s on FBMP for £50. Ono.
I recently bought an old Dawes Edge & a Specialized Hard rock for £40 & £35 respectively. Both ride very nice. I haven’t been ‘corrupted’ by new bikes as I haven’t rode anything since 2004…
Very happy with both as I’m trying to get fitter in my late fifties on a very tight budget.

Just came across this strange bike & it called out to me for some reason.
Nostalgia is a hell of a thing at my age

Should I buy it for myself or will I look a bit silly?

 

[Frankenorange]

I think the two bikes you have already purchased are more suitable and much better. Spend your money on them

 

[novocaine]

these were sold by sports direct. I remember wanting the forks for a cafe racer build. they were awful as you can imagine.

leave it where it is, it isn't worth 50 quid.

 

[bikeworkshop]

I'd put one in my museum of
"How consumerism corrupted the bicycle industry"
The interesting thing is it must've taken more effort (hence real cost) to make than the Hardrock, and yet would have been cheaper to buy.

A classic example of Chinese product dumping that got legislated against, and then worked around.

In a state controlled economy there's no necessity for the output and input costs to match.
You have the mines, the factories, the logistics, and need to keep them running.

I was once offered new Chinese aluminium mtb frames for $5 each (iirc long time ago now, might have been less)
Scrap value at the time £2.

 

[Black_puma]

Hello.
I’ve found this bike which I have no idea how to I.d.

Is there anyone who could shed some light on this please?

View attachment 983096

I remember a friend who bought a similar type of bike and was showing it is to me, he said i could have a go too, so I did. Never again, it felt like riding a pogo stick that lost its spring, and i gave it back to my friend.... so i watched him ride away jumping off kerb and bottoming out badly.
I don't think he kept the bike for very long!
I'd say don't bother wasting money on it by not buying it in the first place!

 

[hamster]

I recently bought an old Dawes Edge & a Specialized Hard rock for £40 & £35 respectively. Both ride very nice. I haven’t been ‘corrupted’ by new bikes as I haven’t rode anything since 2004…

If you got a 653 framed Edge for £40 then you got the deal of the decade - a wonderful frame indeed. They don't go for strong money but ride every bit as well as hand built exotica.

 

[bikeworkshop]

And take modernisation nicely

View attachment 971960
Farewell, Edgy.
A 653 fillet-brazed disc hybrid at £515

£1265 total income (inc Vat)
£550 costs.

(Sounds good,
but it costs £2/minute to keep the shop open!)

And quite a few hours spent:
collecting,
testriding,
selling,
thinking,
brazing,
building,
Test riding
Selling.

It's been a lot of fun, and now you are ready to head back out onto the road to be used properly.

Given this bike was so little used from new
(1 pair of pads were original)...

a race- level 26" mtb from 1993,

But by 95 you would expect a suspension fork and v- brakes, so unlikely on the start line!
(Simmer down there or ill call security)

but it was too expensive to pass straight down to your nephew who wanted a bike for his paper round!

I'm hoping it's going to get a lot more use in its new 27five disc incarnation

It seems a lot more Futureproof.
View attachment 971961

The End.