Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

[Arran]

Re: Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

Apollo Flatliner

[Big Tim]

Re: Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

I had an "Emelle" mountain bike, I would say I got it about the age of 10 in 1990 or thereabouts. I recall it having twelve gears (what's tha' need all them for, I've always managed with my "Sturmey Archer", three's more than enough! - or words to that effect were uttered by my dad). These were the early days of the "thumb switch" type gears, and weren't set to click into place, so you would just move the switch slightly, otherwise clumsy gearchanges often ensued (on more than one occasion I was dismounted after thinking I had engaged gear and proceeded to stand on the pedals to gain momentum, before the sodding thing would jump a tooth and launch me at the scenery!). Other friends around that time had Raleigh Mountain bikes, the one many had featured a green and black paintjob, and was known as the "Raleigh Lizard".

These types of bikes seemed to have a limited shelf life - the gears and brakes in particular seemed fragile, and most of my friends bikes ended up being stuck in gear or nicked (although the "must-have" accessory back then was the supposed unbreakable "D-Lock"). I also thought the "off the shelf" stuff (i.e. Apollo, Raleigh, Emelle etc.) was very heavy and found them quite hard work to ride, especially uphill (bit ironic given they were dubbed "Mountain Bikes") or into a headwind. I eventually got some sort of Raleigh (a "Marauder" I think the name was), before trading up to motorised two-wheel transport in 1996.

[Arran]

Re: Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

Emmelle. That brings back memories. Cheap and crummy bikes with no street cred that would disintegrate under force if ridden off road. I have a feeling that they were a catalogue brand or sold in department stores. There was an even worse brand sold in Toys R Us but I've forgotten what they were called.

The number of gears on your bike was a status symbol for kids back in the 1990s until the revival of BMX towards the end of the decade. I can remember kids at school triumphantly boasting about how they have now moved up to a bike with (5) gears which was then repeated when they moved up to a bike with (15 / 18) gears and two shifters.

[Richard1978]

Re: Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

I remember my early Raleigh Marauder had only 5 gears, & even in 1st was hard to ride up hills.

It was originally my Brother's but handed down when he got a Raleigh Amazon.

[Arran]

Re: Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

Raleigh Max with 20 inch wheels. The first Raleigh kids bike with a twist-grip gear shifter.




The Raleigh Max was a massive range of kids and adult bikes manufactured from the late 1990s to the early 2000s characterised by frames made out of oversized tubing.

[darren]

Re: Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

[darren]

Re: Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

[Arran]

Re: Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

Raleigh Max with 16 inch wheels. Note the unusual frame design. There was a girls version in pink with an inverted frame.

[Arran]

Re: Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

Apollo Space Attack.

[Arran]

Re: Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

Raleigh Extreme. A Raleigh Mustang with fluorescent paint and plastic wheel covers. It was the cool kids bike of the early 1990s but the plastic wheel covers caused the bike to handle dangerously in strong wind. They were also available in fluorescent purple and I vaguely remember that there was a girls version.

[hdz2029@gmail.com]

Re: Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

I always wanted that white and red bicycle . They also come in black and red . I kbow someone who got a black one and only paid £50 and its clean

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[darren]

Re: Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

THE GIRLS VERSION MISSION RALEIGH EXTREME BIKE.

Raleigh Extreme. A Raleigh Mustang with fluorescent paint and plastic wheel covers. It was the cool kids bike of the early 1990s but the plastic wheel covers caused the bike to handle dangerously in strong wind. They were also available in fluorescent purple and I vaguely remember that there was a girls version.

[Richard1978]

Re: Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

I remember some 1980s racers had disc wheels like that, mostly for velodrome racing as they weren't good in side winds.

[Arran]

Re: Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

Team Playway Mega Force One



Is this a rare bike because I have never seen one in the metal? It was on sale in 1990.

Team Playway was the bike division of Lew Ways - a climbing frame manufacturer based in Cannock - which made the Stinger Aero BMX in the 1980s.

[Arran]

Re: Iconic kids bikes from the 1990s

I discovered more information about the Sonic bike in #8 from the Brian Mills Autumn Winter 1994 / 1995 catalogue. It was made by Diamondback and had 5 speed SIS gears. The description reads "Futuristic design with tough ABS technology used on the cladding to frames and forks", and the price was £155.48.

The helmet and Sonic Cyber glove must be super rare items.