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lawwill:start [2021/12/20 09:54] – mtbtimelinelawwill:start [2025/03/15 17:48] (current) – mtbtimeline
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 ===== Lawwill-Knight Overview ===== ===== Lawwill-Knight Overview =====
 Motorcycle racing legend Mert Lawwill and Terry Knight were convinced by Don Koski to go into making mountain bikes long before they were popular, or commercially successful. Don Koski would later who would go onto making the Koski Trailmaster.  By 1982, Specialized and Univega's entry into mass production squeezed cheaper makers, especially those who had other lucrative careers to pursue. Motorcycle racing legend Mert Lawwill and Terry Knight were convinced by Don Koski to go into making mountain bikes long before they were popular, or commercially successful. Don Koski would later who would go onto making the Koski Trailmaster.  By 1982, Specialized and Univega's entry into mass production squeezed cheaper makers, especially those who had other lucrative careers to pursue.
 +
 +<blockquote>
 +[In 1977] Don and brother Dave used electrical conduit and re-used frame components from a Schwinn Varsity to put together another off-road frame. In 1978, Mert Lawwill, a customer of the Cove Bike Shop and 1969 AMA Grand National Motorcycle Champion, took an interest. Using Don’s frame and Cook Brothers fork as prototypes, Mert had Terry Knight, his welder at the Harley-Davidson “skunk works” in Hayward, produce the Lawwill-Knight ProCruiser. Don and Dave spec’d the parts. By 1979, gleaming chrome-moly steel ProCruisers were filling the ranks of Marin mountain bike rides.
 +<cite>
 +Wend Cragg [[https://www.facebook.com/wende.cragg/posts/pfbid0225PA3BkHtuL69LimL241ft5FFZUCpggp9YNPotyZjhhZ3Sc5vUfJnYU7s46VqTCgl|facebook]]
 +</cite>
 +</blockquote>
 +
 </div> </div>
  
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 <div column 50% #procruiser> <div column 50% #procruiser>
 ---- ----
-===== Lawwill-Knight Pro Cruiser =====+===== 1978 Lawwill-Knight Pro Cruiser =====
 Inspired by the Schwinn Varsity, early Pro Cruisers had "these itty bitty Sturmery-Archer street drum brakes with spiral wound cable housing."(([[https://www.bluetrainpublishing.com/books-blog/being-gary-fisher|Being Gary Fisher]], page 129)) Later upgraded with cantilever brakes and a front derailleur. A clear evolutionary link between cruisers and mountain bikes. Original cost was $500. Inspired by the Schwinn Varsity, early Pro Cruisers had "these itty bitty Sturmery-Archer street drum brakes with spiral wound cable housing."(([[https://www.bluetrainpublishing.com/books-blog/being-gary-fisher|Being Gary Fisher]], page 129)) Later upgraded with cantilever brakes and a front derailleur. A clear evolutionary link between cruisers and mountain bikes. Original cost was $500.
  
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 [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1978_Pro_Cruiser_Red.html|mombat]] [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1978_Pro_Cruiser_Red.html|mombat]]
 </div> </div>
 +
 +<div column 50% #s1979>
 +----
 +===== 1979 Pro Cruiser =====
 +SunTour VX (1970s -> 82), rear cantilevers, Sturmey Archer front drum brakes, no front derailleur.  Unknown stem - it's not a Mert Lawwill stem.  The date is uncertain - but its more evolved than the 1978 model with cable stops and cantilever brakes.
 +Offered for sale March 12, 2023, $2500 on [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/927406034014215/permalink/6019015208186580|facebook]].  Sold in less than 30 minutes.
 +
 +</div>
 +
 +<div column 45%>
 +{{1979.jpg?300| 1979 Pro Cruiser}}
 +\\
 +1979 Pro Cruiser
 +[[https://www.facebook.com/groups/927406034014215/permalink/6019015208186580|facebook]].  
 +</div>
 +
 +
 +
 +<div column 50% #s1981>
 +----
 +===== 1981 Pro Cruiser =====
 +Components from every era: ubrakes on new front fork, Shimano light action rear L532 (1987-88), bullmoose bars, strap on cables, cantilever rears.  The owner bought the frame direct from Don Koski without parts or decals.
 +
 +</div>
 +
 +<div column 45%>
 +{{1981.jpg?300| 1981 Pro Cruiser}}
 +\\
 +1981 Pro Cruiser
 +[[https://www.facebook.com/groups/235433082462/permalink/10156555254872463/|facebook]].  
 +</div>
 +
 +
  
 <div column 50% #s1982> <div column 50% #s1982>
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 </div> </div>
 +
 +
 +<div column 50% #s1984>
 +----
 +===== 1985 Pro Cruiser =====
 +Mid-80's resto-mod of a 1978/79 Pro Cruiser performed by a bike shop and originally sold as seen here.
 +
 +Pro Cruisers were often purchased as bare frames and customers decorated them with parts from every era.  This frame was heavily modified in the mid 80's.  Did it retain some original equipment or was it sold new with cantilevers and u-brakes?  Why then leave the 1970s era derailleurs and cranks?  Or was it originally sold in 1985 as is?  Given the divergent component mix and frame paint patina  - well, it's impossible to say.  For now, this will be classified as a 1985 resto-mod with nods to it klunker/bmx heritage.
 +
 +SunTour V-GT Luxe (1978-82), TA Pro 5 Vis Cyclotourist crankset (1970s), bmx stem and bars (other early Pro Cruisers had custom stems,)  horizontal dropouts, Cook Bros BB, BMX stem, SunTour Rollercam brakes (1985-88), brazed on cable guides, unicrown fork, MAFAC-like cantilever front brakes (no MAFAC logo,)
 +
 +
 +</div>
 +<div column 45%>
 +{{1985.jpg?300|1985 Pro Cruiser}}
 +\\
 +1985 Pro Cruiser
 +[[https://santabarbara.craigslist.org/bik/d/santa-barbara-lawwill-pro-cruiser/7818809228.html|craigslist]]
 +</div>
 +
 +
 ---- ----
 ==== Production Notes ==== ==== Production Notes ====
lawwill/start.1640022849.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/12/20 09:54 by mtbtimeline