Who knows anything about the brand Yokota?
One is for sale in my area. Seller says it is from 1991. It looks like a decent mid range bike. I just have never seen one before and would like to be schooled.

Seems to be a few BF threads out there. Try this search. Likely [MENTION=20650]T-Mar[/MENTION] would know more, but it looks like lots of Yokota MTBs from the early 90s have shown up here.

right. there's a thread or two on yokotas. cool bikes. i found a grizzly peak at a thrift store for $25. nothing particular about them that sets them apart, but it is neat having one. they're a bit uncommon as vintage bikes go

I have had two of them. One was a very good mixte frame and the other was a mountain bike that was well used. They were high quality frames, most likely made in Taiwan. I sold both of them, and I wish I had kept the mixte.

Nice upper mid range bicycles to my understanding. A friend had a Columbus Cromor mountain bike made for (made by?) Yokota. Rode very well.

my grizzly peak was made in taiwan.

I bought an early 90's Yokota MTB for my ex-girlfriend. I had a 91 Stumpjumper at the time, and her bike was lighter, better equipped, and just rode better than my Stumpjumper. Every other Yokota I've ever seen has been nice as well. I wouldn't hesitate to grab that if the price is right.

Yokota was a Japanese contract manufacturer that decided to market in the USA under their own brand in the mid-1980s. They marketed a full range, but like most brands of the era, the road bicycle line was pretty thin by 1990, with the emphasis on ATBs. Also, to be competitive in the USA, after the yen revaluation, most of the bicycles were contract manufactured in Taiwan. They had a reputation for good value, though distribution was not very extensive, so they are fairly uncommon.

Based on what I'm seeing, I'd say that the subject bicycle pre-dates 1991 and is closer to circa 1988. The pictures are too blurry to get a positive ID on the components but they appear to be one of the Shimano Exage groups of the era, possibly Sport or Sport LX. Regardless, I'm seeing Schraeder valve stems, which are generally associated with 27" wheels. Given the apparent era and components, I'd classify it as an upper entry level, sports bicycle..

Thanks for all the input!

This one was for sale near me awhile back along with a 1990 Nishiki Ariel with the elevated chainstays. I bought the Ariel and I seriously considered grabbing the Yokota just because it was too cheap and in pretty decent shape but it was a bit too small.