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Mantis Cycles
Richard Cunningham started making bikes in 1981 and founded Mantis Cycles a year later in 1982 1), creating many unusual bike designs. He was also a long time editor of both Mountain Bike Action and pinkbike.
R.C. in the “Ranchita Verde”, the Mantis delivery vehicle.
pinkbike
1982 Mantis Sherpa
Beautifully fillet brazed, with an very nice double crowned fork, it looked like a Ritchey from a distance. The filed fillets, custom stems and dishless rear wheels set it apart as uniquely Mantis.
Mantis also produced a TIG welded version of the Sherpa called the Overland.
1983 Sherpa secondspincycles
1984 XCR
In 1984, Mantis introduced “composite” frames, with an aluminum main frame and a CroMo screwed and glued rear triangle. This was the beginning of many unusual frame designs which became Mantis' true trademark.
1984 XCR secondspincycles
1992 Valkyrie
A bit beyond the current timeline. One of Mantis' most famous creations.
1992 Valkyrie mombat
Production Notes
[1]. Early production numbers unknown. They are not extremely rare, but all are very collectible. Only 10 1983 fillet XCRs made. secondspincycles
[2]. Produced 500 frames per year in the late 1980's. pinkbike
mantis/start.1617589159.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/04/04 19:19 by gchandler