Table of Contents
MT Racing
MT Racing was started as Ming Tien Hang Corporation by Sammy Pai1) in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1975, producing bicycles for other brands such as Canyon, GT, Schwinn, and Scott, before adding their own branded BMX bikes in 1982. Mountain bikes arrived soon after and they obtained a secure European distributors by 1987 where the bulk of their later mountain bikes were sold. Most production moved to Vietnam by 2000 and MT Racing dissolved in 2006.
Early mountain bike frames often had a “Designed in California” sticker, and later would simply state: “Born in the USA” and by the 1990's, the head tube sticker would state: “Designed in Hawaii U.S.A.”
Sammy Pai was granted a patent in Taiwan for a “Method for learning to ride a bicycle” consisting of:
The following steps:
After the above steps the training of riding a bicycle is completed. Because of simple steps, only a bicycle with a special mechanism of easy assembly and disassembly is needed and people can learn to ride a bicycle quickly, easily and safely. https://www.lens.org/lens/patent/024-655-180-672-224/frontpage
Getting the full text of this patent would be interesting.
Resources:
Y. S. (Sammy) Pai, ca. 2000.
wheelgiant.com.tw
1984 Silverlite
“26” 12-speed ALL PURPOSE BIKE“ DNP (Taiwan) front derailleur, Suntour Seven clone (1983?), Sugino cranks, Arai brakes, chromed cromo tigged frame.
1984 Silverlite
bikeforums
1985 Silverlite
Shimano RD-L512 rear derailleiur (1985), FD-Z202 front (1985), chromed tigged frame. Decals stripped. $239.95 new.
1985 Silverlite
bmxmuseum
1986 Mountain Fox
“All Terrain 15 Speed”. Shimano RD-L512 rear derailleur (1985), tig welded frame, wide rear cable stop, Sakae golf putter stem with brace. “Designed and engineered in California”
1986 Mountain Fox
mtbr
1987 Classic Pro
Shimano Deore XT M730 (1986-88). Pic from MT Racing ad, 1987.
1987 Classic Pro
retrobike
1989 Classic Comp
Shimano Deore RD-MT62 (1989-90), Ishiwata EX tubing fork, Tange MTB tubing frame
1989 Classic Comp
mtb-news.de
1990 Classic Pro
Shimano XT RD-M732 derailleurs (1989-90). April 1990 date codes (OD) on cranks. Ishiwata EX forks, Tange MTB frame. No labels?
1990 Classic Pro
mtb-news.de
1991 Classic Comp
Shimano Deore LX groupset (1990-92, 1991-2 thus), tigged frame, MT Racing saddle, Ritchey Force stem.
1984 Classic Comp
retrobike
1992 Team Pro Rockshox II
Suntour XC-Pro (1989-92), Rockshox Mag-20 (1992), Magura Race Line hydraulic rim brakes (original??).
1992 Team Pro Rockshox II
mtb-news.de
1993 MX-S
Shimano Deore M735 derailleurs (1990-92), SGH-X chainrings (1993-94), Tange Ultimate tubing, interesting seattube cable guides, Ritchey MegaBite tires.
1993 MTB
retrobike