Whatever happened to....

[Crell]

Morpeth Bikes?

There seems to be an unhealthily large population of FUNK lovers on here considering the number of bikes made. It got me thinking about bike shops I've "known and loved". I got my Bonty from there, and they were a FUNK retailer too (that's the tenuous link).

Anybody know what happened to them?

 

[toons]

Morpeth Bikes?

There seems to be an unhealthily large population of FUNK lovers on here considering the number of bikes made. It got me thinking about bike shops I've "known and loved". I got my Bonty from there, and they were a FUNK retailer too (that's the tenuous link).

Anybody know what happened to them?

It was called Northumbrian bikes, it went bust.

 

[Drewson]

Northumbrian Bikes was located in the Sanderson Arcade in Morpeth and it was run by a Mr Frank Hutton (much facial hair and glasses, as i remember). It has since been a florist, but the shop is making way for a multi-million pound scheme to regenerate the arcade, so most of the business' have now moved out.

I bought a FUNK from Northumbrian Bikes around 1990. Its was bright green with black splatter (Nice paint, if not a little nauseos). Unfortunately, within 1 year the forks started to crack where the steerer tube meets the crown!! I had quite a job getting in touch with Frank as the shop had gone out of business by then but my problem was eventually sorted and FUNK sent me a replacement pair of forks with titanium steerer tube (quite flash at the time as i remember).

I also raced on one of Franks' bikes (an elevated chainstay Rocky Mountain) when a few of us entered a race at Prudhoe Riverside Park in the late 80's/early 90's. Nice change from my Team Marin at the time.

Nice chap Frank, shame about the shop....

Drewson.

 

[Crell]

That's the place...and Frank...it's all coming back now. I assumed it had gone bust, but didn't realise it happened in the early 90s.

Got any pics of your Funk paint job? Collecting ideas

 

[Drewson]

Not sure i have any photos unfortunately. If i find any i'll post em up.

Was a nice bike though...v light.

Drew.

 

[dave69]

Re:

dragging up an old thread , heres a pic of two bikes sold by frank at Northumbrian bikes.