mtb-timeline

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===== Focus =====

Focus was created in the mid-80's by [[araya:start|Araya]] to managed their own brand bikes in places where more closely Araya branded bikes were not otherwise available.  Araya released Japan's first mountain bike in 1982 as the Muddy Fox which was soon exported to Europe by [[sng:start|S&G]] in 1983.  For the US, Araya worked with many partners who rebadged Araya's exports.  After letting got of the Focus brand in 1986, others also used the Focus brand name to make MTBs:

  * Focus Bikes UK - made late 1980's MTBs with a "Manufactured by Honda Motors" decal starting in 1987.  
  * [[https://www.focus-bikes.com/int/]] : Current German maker of quality bikes since [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_Bikes|1993]].((Focus of Stuttgart is owned by Derby which is now owned by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pon_Holdings|Pon]].))
  * and others 

The 1985 advert, to the right, lists [[leeworld:start|Leeworld]] as their US West import partner, who also imported their own branded MTBs, which looked a lot like Araya MTBs.  The East Coast distributor, Bike Brokers, sold no mountain bikes, nor much of anything with a front derailleur, as Florida has [[https://www.floridianamagazine.com/britton-hill-floridas-highest-point/|no hills]] to speak of.

Araya has supplied MTBs to dozens of early brands.  For example, in 1983 ((Pearl Pass story from: [[http://www.italian.sakura.ne.jp/sons_of_biscuits/?p=4823]])) a Mr. Inamaki of Araya, rode the "Pearl Pass Tour" ((1983 was the the [[https://mmbhof.org/mtn-bike-hall-of-fame/history/pearl-pass-tour/|8th annual]] Pearl Pass Tour.)), and reported that more than 50 of the 250 participants were riding MTBs OEM'd from Araya.  These included:
  * [[brc:start|BRC]]
  * [[colnago:start|Colnago]]((Not yet in timeline as no old pics can be found, just multiple expired ebay links with tantalizing descriptions of old Deer-head components.  Not in Colnago catalogs.))
  * [[db:start|Centurion/Diamond Back]]
  * [[jamis:start|Jamis]]
  * [[kuwahara:start|Kuwahara]]
  * [[norco:start|Norco]]
  * [[peugeot:start|Peugeot US]]
  * [[rm:start|Rocky Mountain]]
  * [[special:start|Specialized]]
  * [[univega:start|Univega]]
  * and Focus ((As Western States Imports VP M. L. Bobrick stated about importing Asian bikes: “Boxes in, boxes out. Everything else is marketing.”.))

Araya also supposedly supplied early MTBs to [[sr:start|SR]] and [[shogun:start|Shogun]].

Resources:
  * [[http://www.italian.sakura.ne.jp/sons_of_biscuits/?p=4823]]

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{{ad2.jpg?360|1985 Ad}}
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1985 Ad [[https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/322367-focus-bicycles.html|bikeforums]]
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===== 1984 MB-400 =====
SunTour Mountech GTL (1982-83), Tange MTB Tubing, made in Japan.
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{{1984.jpg?300|1984 MB-400}}
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1984 MB-400
[[ https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/148170-show-us-your-vintage-mountain-bikes-201.html|bikeforums]]
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<div column 50% #s1985>
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===== 1985 MB-350 =====
SunTour XC rear derailleur (1985-86), lugged Tange frame.
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{{1985.jpg?300|1985 MB-350}}
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1985 MB-350
[[ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10202785052094741&set=gm.10152025199633937|facebook]]
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<div column 50% #s1986>
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===== 1986 MB-450 =====
Lugged Tange tubing, Shimano RD-M700 v2 derailleurs (1985-86), Shimano BR-MT61 rear u-brake (86-88), Shimano FC-6206 Biopace triple, (1984-87), Made in Japan sticker, possibly rebuilt with newer components.
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{{1986.jpg?300|1986 MB-450}}
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1986 MB-450
[[ https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/2766061/|pinkbike]]
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