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Murray Overview

Murray sold department store level bicycles from the 1930s → 1999 ¹⁾

The 1981 Murray Baja was a crappy converted cruiser which weighted 38 pounds. And only cost $80. It got all of the other makers worried. To be fair, it was a good introduction to the off road concept for kids.

Somebody gave Gary a Baja for Chrismas or his birthday around 1981, because they only cost $80-90 and it was worth it for the humor element . It was such a joke next to a Ritchey that we gave it to a guy who was broke but loved bikes and he rode it into the ground, which wasn't hard, because it was really heavy and a strong rider would tear the frame apart in short order. Charlie Kelley, mtbr

Murray Baja fitrecovery

1983 Baja 9000

After disappearing in 1982, the new Baja 9000 ²⁾ came back, with upgraded name and parts.

1983 Baja 9000 budgetbicyclectr

1984 Murray Baja 5000

After “Baja 9000,” they backed down a few thousand…

The Official Manufacturer of Bicycles for the 1984 Olympics Murray Ad

Luckily, the Murray mountain bike racing team didn't exist yet. However, they did sponsor an olympic road racing team:

Before the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics American manufacturer Murray signed on to sponsor the US Cycling team as well as the legendary 7-Eleven Team. There was one major problem though. As a producer of low-cost bicycles and lawn equipment, Murray didn’t have a clue what sorts of equipment real bike racers used or needed. So they brought in an up-and-coming American frame builder, Ben Serotta, to build their bikes for them. theproscloset

1984 Baja 5000 17qq

1985 Murray Baja 1000

As model numbers shrink, so do profit margins. This time, Murray can't get the trademark, as it's in use by the famous Mexican off road motor race: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baja_1000. The internet nearly has no mention of the existence of this model, other than the one for sale on the right from New Hampshire.

1985 Murray Baja 1000 facebook