Griffen
Serotta
Elite
Guru
Javelin
Softride
Aegis
Calfee
Schwinn
Huffy
Kuota
Principia
Titanflex
.
Pretty sure Serotta went bankrupt, the company was based out of my hometown and it was very infrequent we didn’t hear how much the company was suffering.
Think Guru is alive and kicking, believe they primarily do custom frames these days and have a new fitting system.
Kuota I believe is still going but just isn’t behind big names like it used to be.
And most importantly CEEPO bikes are still the best
Serotonin got bought by the same group that bought Mad Fiber and (almost) Blue. They fooled everything to a fair thee well and are out of business. Ben Serotta is now doing various consulting gigs in the industry, including a city bike program (don’t remember the town or supplier)
Softride got t of the bike business, but Alsop is still (last I heard) in business doing office supply products.
Calfee is still in business.
Schwinn went bankrupt in '92 and was bought by Scott Sports Group. They then bought GT in 98 and went bankrupt again in '00 / 01. Bought by Pacific Cycles in '01 and taken to the mass merchants. Pacific is nor part of Dorel Outdoor. They own Schwinn, Mongoose, GT, Cannondale, Pacific and I think Iron Horse. Doing by well and are big hitters in the bike biz.
Huffy still in business, but it’s branded business has taken huge hits and is a much smaller company than they were even 10’years ago.
Kuota is still in business, but focuses more on the Euro market, I believe.
Serotta: Dead. Management mistakes. Went down the road of manufacturing its own carbon tubes, forks, and everything else that went into its frames. Capability of manipulating a frame’s materials was incredible, as was the quality. It all came with an incredible price to match. After the housing bubble, Serotta found $8K frames a hard sell. Its titanium frames, which should have been the company’s bread and butter, were a thousand dollars more than Moots, and that was a really bad position to be in.
Calfee: Still around. It makes really nice custom frames, but the design of the company’s three models has changed little in fifteen or twenty years. Recently introduced a carbon soft-tail road bike. Craig seems to spend his efforts promoting bamboo bikes. Best carbon repair in the business.
Hey! Here’s one, whatever happened to Slingshot?
Hey! Here’s one, whatever happened to Slingshot?
Believe it or not, the company still exists and is still selling frames that use a cable for a downtube.
Hey! Here’s one, whatever happened to Slingshot?
Believe it or not, the company still exists and is still selling frames that use a cable for a downtube.
I’ve heard they are really comfortable
Did you even try google? Several of those companies are still around with up to date websites.
I’ll play.
I eill add that I recall & (& have owned some & even miss):
1980- 2000 MTB & road edition:
Bridgestone
Ross
Univega
Myata
Nishiki
Haro
Muddy Fox
Klein
Slingshot was very nearly my first tri bike. For the right price, I’d love to hang one on my wall.
THAT was when the tri industry really was pushing the envelope. Softrides. Zipps, Slingshot, Litespeed, Quintana Roo, Hotta, Cheetah. The arms race back then was awesome!
Back then you really could spot a trigeek from a mile away, and not just for riding with a Speedo! Ahhhhh, the good old days
The U.S. Division of Bridgestone went under in the mid-late 90’s, but they still make bikes for the Japanese market. The USA division was largely the vision of Grant Peterson, though and the bikes were completely different. Peterson now runs Rivendell.
Nishiki is owned by Raleigh North America (which in turn is owned by Accell). They were using the brand for department stores, but don’t know if they still do.
Haro is still in business.
Klein was bought by Trek in the “Great 90’s Buyout Frenzy” and trudged along for a few years, but is now discontinued.
Going back to my freestyle days.
Kuwahara!
OOB years ago in the states. But never knew why. Should go Google it and find out.
Sekine ?
The RM-10 was my first 10sp, back in 1981.
Griffen
Serotta
Elite
Guru
Javelin
Softride
Aegis
Calfee
Schwinn
Huffy
Kuota
Principia
Titanflex
You can peel my Serotta Colorado CR from my cold, dead hands…
Griffen
Serotta
Elite
Guru
Javelin
Softride
Aegis
Calfee
Schwinn
Huffy
Kuota
Principia
Titanflex
You can peel my Serotta Colorado CR from my cold, dead hands…
Ditto. I love my Colorado ii. I think I bought it in 1992 or so.
Did you even try google? Several of those companies are still around with up to date websites.
Of course I’m aware some are still in business. Some of these brands were all the rage, now have drifted off to non players. Hence, the query, “whatever happened to?”
I’ll play.
I eill add that I recall & (& have owned some & even miss):
1980- 2000 MTB & road edition:
Bridgestone
Ross
Univega
Myata
Nishiki
Haro
Muddy Fox
Klein
I had both a Bridgestone MTB and Klein road bike. Loved 'em both.
I also have a post-Trek Klein road bike hanging up in the garage (frame and fork only right now) . Debating whether I want to turn it into a commuter or not. I also have a Quintana Roo frame that might become the commuter bike.
Griffen
Serotta
Elite
Guru
Javelin
Softride
Aegis
Calfee
Schwinn
Huffy
Kuota
Principia
Titanflex
You can peel my Serotta Colorado CR from my cold, dead hands…
Ditto. I love my Colorado ii. I think I bought it in 1992 or so.
My Colorado II in its current configuration…bought in 91 and still running strong. Note the friction DT shifters.
pretty!!