mtb-timeline

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<div column 50% #intro>
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===== Araya =====

Araya is best known in the west for making bicycle rims, most notably the Araya 7x which was equipped on most mountain bikes in the early 80's.  They are also Japan's earliest mountain bike manufacturer, starting with their Muddy Fox models which continue to be made by Araya [[http://araya-rinkai.jp/products.html|today]]((Muddy Fox in Europe is currently an unrelated [[https://www.muddyfox.com/|brand]] which split off from [[sng:start|S&G]] in the early 80's))((Specialized were importing Japanese mountain bikes as early as [[special:start#s1981|1981]].  Perhaps Araya was the first mountain bike destined for the Japanese market?)).

Araya started making wooden bicycle rims in 1903 in Yamanaka, Japan.  ((See google translation of company history: [[https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https://www.araya-kk.co.jp/company/|google]] and also [[https://ja-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%B6%E5%B7%A5%E6%A5%AD?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp|japanese wikipedia]].))
In 1980 it launched its industry changing 7x BMX rim: a light weight, highly robust, 32mm wide aluminum rim.  Not only did it drop pounds off klunkers, it could brake when wet, it could survive Repack and it was cheap ((And only came in 20", 24" and 26" sizes for BMX bikes, setting mt. bike rim standards for decades.)).  In 1982 Araya introduced the Muddy Fox mountain bike, which was famously resold throughout Europe by [[https://mtbtimeline.com/wiki/sng/start#s1983|S&G Cycles]] starting in 1983 and which continues today as an independent [[https://www.muddyfox.com/|brand]] using the same name.
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By 1983, Araya's series of mountain bikes spanned a range of twelve models ((The most models of any brand in 1983 - but the differences were minor.)), all of which were called Muddy Fox.  Prices ranged from $800 for a fillet brazed version ((See 1983 catalog: [[http://araya-rinkai.jp/catalog]])) to $260 for a basic lugged, but quite competent, complete mountain bike.


<blockquote>
The ... Muddy Fox, the first mountain bike in Japan in 1982, [Araya] quickly focused on MTBs that had just sprouted in the United States.
<cite>
Araya history at [[https://araya--rinkai-jp.translate.goog/history.html?_x_tr_sch=http&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp|araya--rinkai.jp]]
</cite>
</blockquote>


{{hq.png?300|Araya headquarters}}
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Odd statue at Araya HQ [[https://www.google.com/maps/place/2-ch%C5%8Dme-12-12+Minamisenba,+Chuo+Ward,+Osaka,+542-0081,+Japan/@34.6754953,135.501423,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x6000e7177395788b:0x8f4ef96cc3e02541!8m2!3d34.6754953!4d135.5036117|google maps streetview]]
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{{sng:2020cat.png?340|2021 Araya Catalog}}
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2021 Araya Catalog
[[http://araya-rinkai.jp/catalog]]

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<div column 50% #rims>
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===== 7x Rim ====

The 1980 aluminum alloy [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Araya.html|Araya 7x]] rim came just at the right moment, chopping many pounds off of the old klunkers with steel rims. ((The 1980 Araya weight table at [[https://web.archive.org/web/20210709225632if_/https://www.araya-kk.co.jp/img/rim/catalog/ca03-05.jpg|link]] shows that a 26" alloy 7x weighed 620g and an equivalent model 17 steel 26" weighed 1070g, for a potential weight savings of 2 pounds off a bicycle.))
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**Araya 7x**: Aluminum alloy.  26"  32.2mm wide.  620g.



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<div column 45%>
{{1980rim.jpg?360|1980 Araya Rim Catalog}}
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1980 Araya Rim Catalog
[[https://web.archive.org/web/20210709162336if_/https://www.araya-kk.co.jp/img/rim
/catalog/ca03-02.jpg|araya archive]]

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<div column 50% #s1982>
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===== 1982 Muddy Fox ====

Araya claims that they started making Muddy Foxes in 1982 and this example may be authentic.  Araya logo on seat stays.  The rear (plastic!) derailleur feels like a cheaper version of 1992 SunTour XCT - and is not original.  Other components are stamped for 1982 (brakes, hubs and the frame have a June 1982 date code.((The serial number is A2F0128, which possibly means: "Araya, 1982, month F, #0128 frame.))  See all pics [[https://offerup.com/item/detail/461560855|here]].)  The stem is not original.
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Five speed freewheel.  The rear derailleur cable mounting goes through a strapped on guide, then through a glued-on? mid cable housing, over the top of the bottom bracket and finally along the top of the chainstay.

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According to [[http://www.italian.sakura.ne.jp/sons_of_biscuits/?p=5572]], Araya originally released their first MTB in 1982 as the "Path Hunter" and the export version was the "Path Finder" and the "Muddy Fox" name came later.

{{1982b2.jpg?200|1982 Muddy Fox}}
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1982?? Muddy Fox mystery SunTour derailleur
[[https://offerup.com/item/detail/461560855|offerup]]

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<div column 45%>
{{1982.jpg?300|1982 Muddy Fox}}
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1982 Muddy Fox
[[https://offerup.com/item/detail/461560855|offerup]]


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<div column 50% #s1983>
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===== 1983 Muddy Fox MF26-I SPR ====

SunTour Le Tech (1982-4), faux fillet brazing on top of TIG welding, the same rear derailleur cable journey, but now with a proper braze on for the derailleur cable and no weird side cable housing.  Proper logos (was the 1982 above repainted?,) added fender mounts, unicrown fork.
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Alternatively, the 1983 Araya MB-MF26DX ((The 1983-5 Araya [[https://araya--rinkai-jp.translate.goog/catalogue.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp&_x_tr_sch=http|Catalogue ]] shows **12** models of mountain bikes, differing in frame quality and components.)) is most similar to the 1982 Muddy Fox above, with much of the same frame and fork features.
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31 pounds, $800




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<div column 45%>
{{1983.jpg?300|1983 Muddy Fox}}
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1983 Muddy Fox
[[http://araya-rinkai.jp/pdf/araya_archive_1983-85.pdf|1983-5 catalog]]


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<div column 50% #s1984>
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===== 1984 Muddy Fox MB-MF26A =====

This has been rebranded as an S&G Cycles "Muddy Fox" "made by ARAYA."   Technically, this is no longer an Araya, and S&G Cycles would go onto get exclusive rights to "Muddy Fox" throughout Europe and later break its supply arrangement with Araya so that European Muddy Foxes would no longer be made by Araya.  This is a good example of confused triple branding.
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Shimano RD-AL11 derailleur (1984-5.)


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<div column 45%>
{{sng:1984.jpg?300|1984 Muddy Fox/S&G}}
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1984 Muddy Fox/S&G
[[https://www.flickr.com/photos/timandmegan/4617090541|flickr]]


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<div column 50% #s1985>
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===== 1985 MB26L =====
MountTech GTL (1982-83).  Is this a Muddy Fox?  The mixte frame doesn't leave any advertising space for a model name, other than the tiny MB26L on one of the "top" tubes.
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<div column 45%>
{{1985.jpg?300|1985 MB26L }}
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1985 MB26L
[[ https://www.facebook.com/groups/927406034014215/permalink/3380072388747555/|facebook]]
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<div column 50% #s1986>
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===== 1986 Muddy Fox MF24-2 =====

24" version of their small frame Muddy Fox.  Shimano RD-Z501 derailleurs (1986-9)  The outlined lugs do not show up in any of their catalogs.  The cable routing is now reasonable.

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<div column 45%>
{{1986.jpg?300|1986 Muddy Fox}}
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1986 Muddy Fox
[[https://www.facebook.com/Tysons-Bicycle-Museum-Page-2065899410186446/photos/pcb.2616427168466998/2616425085133873|facebook]]



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<div column 50% #s1987>
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===== 1987 Muddy Fox SuperPro =====

Shimano XT M730 (1987-88) gruppo.


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{{1987.jpg?300|1987 SuperPro}}
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1987 SuperPro
[[https://gino.shop-pro.jp/?pid=171094092|gino.shop-pro.jp]]


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<div column 50% #s1988>
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===== 1988 Muddy Fox MF26-SUP-F =====

This was their "expedition heavy-duty model" and the top tube reads "All Terrain Speciality," as in the mid-80s it became fashionable to put English lettering on Japanese products.
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Shimano RD-MT60 Deore derailleurs (1987-8).

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{{1988.jpg?300|1988 Muddy Fox}}
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1988 Muddy Fox
[[http://miyazakicycle.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-874.html|miyazakicycle]]


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<div column 50% #s1990>
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===== 1990 Muddy Fox MF26CRM-K =====

Deore DX/XT, rapidfire shifters.  "Safari Red" paint job.

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{{1990.jpg?300|1990 Muddy Fox}}
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1990 Muddy Fox
[[http://landlordscycling.com/2017/04/muddy-fox-selecter/|landlordscycling]]


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<div column 50% #s1991>
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===== 1991 Muddy Fox MF26EXP-ODA =====

Deore DX.  Starting in 1991, Araya started using triple top tube cable routing.

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{{1991.png?300|1991 Muddy Fox}}
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1991 Muddy Fox
[[http://araya-rinkai.jp/pdf/araya_archive_1991.pdf|1991 Araya catalog]]


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