mtb-timeline

Dawes Cycles

Dawes Cycles was founded in 1926 by Charles F. Dawes in Wharf Dale, England. Dawes Cycles remained family owned until 1978 when it went sold itself five times over twenty years and became greatly diminished. Throughout this period, up to and including the 1990's, Dawes cycles proudly sported “hand built” decals and all Dawes mountain bikes in this timeline were hand made in Wharf Dale. Today, the brand is owned by Tandem Group Cycles, of Castle Bromwich, England, which sells Dawes branded bikes made in Asia.

The first British made cycle of its type. 1984 Dawes catalog dawescycles

When Dawes printed the above claim in late 1983, there were no other locally grown mtbs. However, Saracen and Evans both introduced MTBs into the UK in early 1984 just before Dawes¹⁾.

Sources:

• wikipedia
• Dawes USA
• TGC
• dawes catalogs

Charles F. Dawes riding off road, ca 1936, 1936 Dawes catalog

1984 Ranger

SunTour MounTech 4900, biplane fork, bullmoose bars, burnt cherry, 28 pounds. It's uncertain whether this catalog version of the Ranger was produced, as all versions which are easily found on the web have slingshot stems and socket forks, which the later 1985 catalog shows. Perhaps only a few 1984's were sold?

1984 Ranger dawes 1984 catalog

1985 Ranger

SunTour MounTech GTL (1982-84), socket fork, sliding seat, slingshot stem, burnt cherry

1985 Ranger reddit

1986 Ranger

SunTour MounTech II (1984-86), slingshot stem, socket fork, sliding seat, indiana red

1986 Ranger facebook

1987 Cougar

Shimano Deore RD-MT60 (1987-88)

1987 Cougar retrobike

1988 Wildcat

Shimano Exage Trail (1988-89)

1988 Wildcat retrobike

1989 Quest

Shimano Deore MT62 (1989)

1989 Quest retrobike

1990 Raw Nerve

Shimano Deore DX (1990-93). By 1990, Dawes had “ranged” out into edgy names, such as Fat Chance²⁾, The Edge, Off Limits, Raw Nerve, Kick Back and Crack Down.

1990 Raw Nerve mtb-news.de

1991 Off Limits

Shimano Deore LX (1990-92)

1991 Off Limits retrobike

1992 The Edge eXTRa

Shimano XTR M900 (1991-1994), TIG welded

1992 The Edge eXTRa retrobike

1993 New Wave

Shimano Deore LX M560 (1993-94), lugged frame. Perhaps named after a mid-70's British musical export ³⁾, the rigid New Wave is decidedly old school for 1993.

1993 New Wave ebay.co.uk