2cam16

Picked this up today for $20 from it's original owner. He bought it from an up and coming bike shop in his area back in the 80's. It's a size too big for me but I'm keeping it because of the nice components and lugged frame. I didn't find much on the internet other than all the posts about it from GB. Plans are just to refurb it back to original.
On to the pics:
IMG_3470 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3471 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3472 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3473 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3474 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3475 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3476 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3477 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3478 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3479 by 2cam16, on Flickr

2cam16

IMG_3480 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3481 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3482 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3483 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3484 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3485 by 2cam16, on FlickrIMG_3486 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3487 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3488 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3490 by 2cam16, on Flickr

2cam16

IMG_3491 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3492 by 2cam16, on Flickr
IMG_3494 by 2cam16, on Flickr

2cam16

If anyone can shed some light on this brand, please post it here. Thanks!

ArnoldPowers

Hi! I have seen some Araya branded Muddy Foxes before if that helps. Not sure exactly who made them for Araya though, but somebody around here probably does.

clubman 

That's a cool lugged frame and the branded/approved components up the uniqueness. Never heard of an XC 7000, I've got a Cyclone 7000. Rollercam as well, maybe circa 89? I love it. Used to see Muddy Foxes in Toronto back in the day.

curbtender

Wiki says they started as a British BMX maker in the early 80s and switched to mountain when sales dropped. I'll get some pictures of mine when I get healthy.

Glennfordx4 

The shop I work at was a dealer back in the day for Muddy Fox, I think all we have left are some Decals in our decal case of the paw print.

Glenn

Bikerider007

Lots of cool little touches. I would do the Asian serial number check. Appears built to JIS standards. Would be interesting to know who made. I think Novara was Kuwahara made, but this is full lugged. Not sure if you ID'd the Yellow Novara you posted but looks similar level.

2cam16

Thanks for the info,all! Yeah when I have time I'll definitely take the obligatory photo of the serial number. @Bikerider007: My thoughts too about this being around the same era as my Novara. We figured out that one is an'87.

tiredhands 

That's amazing! Love how the stem anodizing has faded into a coffee color, it really compliments the yellow well. Nice score!

clubman 

Sugino had date codes on their cranks althoughit's a little convoluted.

Pompiere

A size too big tends to work well for a drop bar conversion. Then you don't need a crazy high stem to make the drops work. But, with all the Muddy Fox labeled components, I can understand keeping it original.

9volt 

Cool bike.

The calipers should have the 2 digit date code stamped on the back of the arms. I'd guess 86.

2cam16

Thanks again,all! @Pompiere I thought about the drop bar thing too but finding a bike this original and from this era is hard to come by, at least for me. So Keeping it original was my final decision. I have a drop bar GT conversion in the works anyway and that will be in another thread.
Here's the serial number. I'm assuming it's an '87:
IMG_3497 by 2cam16, on Flickr
And while the bike was upside down, I had to take a pic of the roller cams:
IMG_3496 by 2cam16, on Flickr

3speedslow

Braze on cable guides...snazzy class!

2cam16

Yeah just like my Poderosa too:
IMG_0652 by 2cam16, on Flickr

2cam16

@T-Mar: any chance of deciphering who the frame manufacturer is?
Thanks!

T-Mar

^ sorry, no clue to the manufacturer, but it would appear to be April 1987, which is a good fit for XC-7000. I suspect it's Taiwanese, based on the format and 'T' prefix

Bikerider007

The history of Muddy is a little muddy but I found this on Retrobike. And supposedly was the first Mountain bike brand in Europe. That has to be a pretty early one. Definitely the coolest I have seen.

The Company was started by Drew Lawson and a greek shipping magnate whose name, like most greek shipping magnates, is neither spellable nor pronouncable.
The story as I learned it goes thus:
They bought a French bicycle company, which may have been Hirondelle, (or possibly Motobecane) which had gone bankrupt. They opened a shop in Cavendish Street in order to flog off the stock they had acquired, and very rapidly became aware of the burgoning mountain bike movement. The factory in France was still functional, so they quickly designed a MTB and had it built. Added to that was a marketing budget way bigger than any of their competitors. Eventually the bikes were bought in from the far east, where a great variety of machines were on offer, just waiting for the Muddy Fox decals to be applied.

2cam16

Much appreciated as always, T-Mar!

2cam16

Thanks for the info, 007!

Bikerider007

@2cam16 found a 89' Catalog. It says a marriage of CA, Osaka and London Built in Japan. And almost sounds like their first complete catalog.
Muddy Fox 1989 Catelogue | Retrobike

frantik

the suntour roller cam brake is probably worth as much as the rest combined..

Bikerider007

That has value but all of those stamped parts would be picked up by Muddy Fox owners at a premium. Or add to a sale value.

Explorer model is not listed in 89' but has to be near or at the top.