In the late eighties, early nineties I had a friend who’s mum worked for muddyfox.
And I often would borrow a 92 alu comp off another friend as I could not afford one myself.
So it saddens me a little bit to see the rubbish sold under the muddyfox banner now.

What year did they stop making mountain bikes and start supplying BSOs. Also what was the best bike they ever offered compared to modern bikes or did they drop out of the competition to early in the game to make anything comparable to today.

After the factory fire. (After 1996 ish), I used to have one of the decent (for the time) muddyfoxes, loved the bike.
Thyley didn’t bake the frame properly on mine so I had it replaced and they upgraded all the stem ect to gt parts as an appology.

That colour.

I think the MuddyFox Interactive was the last ‘cutting edge’ bike they produced, around 1995 IIRC –

would loved to have given one a try.

I’ve still got my muddyfox courier.

I’m pretty sure they last longer than 96, I seem to remember them going into the downhill market with some pretty decent bikes, didn’t the athertons ride for them at one point also?

2003 Team descent 2 £3k

First mtb I owned was a courier and it was truly crap by today’s standards. Forks that bent, indexed gears that didn’t index, rear mech prone to exploding, seatpost that snapped (they all did), anything with a bearing requiring frequent re-builds.

At the time it was almost the only option at that price, even a hotrock was more cash iir. Yet even just a couple of years later bikes at that price were so much better.

Still rode it everywhere though.

She needs to more her levers in a bit so she can brake with less fingers. Plus that seat is way too low for her.

Went to Universal cycles early 2000’s I think and then bought by Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct to supply badge engineered crap for his stores, same as has happened with Karrimor, Lonsdale and a few other legit sport/leisure brands that got into financial difficulties.

Muddyfox went the same way as several other ‘British’ brands, such as saracen, Claude Butler and Dawes, all of whom used to produce great bikes (although Dawes at least still do the Galaxy touring bikes). Cheap labour in the far east killed our own cycle manufacturing industry, which was already onit’s knees anyway by the 80s. Shame.

I had a specialised rockhopper while my mates had Muddy fox explorers and couriers in 88/89 ,then i got a 84 big foot 2 in 1990 that had cycled around the world – 24″ wheels 18″frame and one piece handlebar and stem ,i would love to find one for sale .

Muddyfox went the same way as several other ‘British’ brands, such as saracen…..

You’ve not seen the last few years Saracnes I take it? They’ve been on top form since Madison took them over. My 2012 Kili Flyer is a fantastic bike.

Universal acquired Muddy Fox around 2001 and turned them into a low quality brand. Mike Ashley/Sports Direct then acquired 80% of Universal Cycles around 2008 and they managed to turn them into a lower quality brand.

People in their 30’s and 40’s remember the brand as it was and when they need to buy a bike for their kids, they see a £99 full susser and they believe it is the deal of the century. A Muddy Fox for £100. What a bargain!

Mike Ashley owns so many brand names (both retailers and manufacturers) now a days and every brand he owns produces rubbish. From memory some of his recent acquisitions include USC, Republic, M and M Direct, Firetrap, etc.

When Volkswagen bought Skoda in the 90’s they turned them into a decent brand over time, so much do that the old Skoda stigma has more or less disappeared. When Ashley buys a brand he turns them to rubbish.

I’ve a 1987 Muddy Fox Courier that I need to restore, if anyone can give me some tips?

muddy fox were the brand in the 80’s and in a real position of strength ,people asked for a muddy fox not a mountain bike,could you imagine spesh been in sports direct/argos in a few years and been crap.?

Used to puzzle me why it was called a courier.

Presume because they were marketed for urban use as well as off road?

Teetosugars – Member

I’ve a 1987 Muddy Fox Courier that I need to restore, if anyone can give me some tips?

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/

I’m pretty sure they last longer than 96, I seem to remember them going into the downhill market with some pretty decent bikes, didn’t the athertons ride for them at one point also?

Pretty sure they used someone elses frames and badged them as Muddy Fox.

I saw a mint original Muddy Fox Explorer?? locked up s while ago. Made me smile.

Used to have a loverly steel ht must have been 15 years ago maybe more

Used Fuji tubing and was nice and light

Shame to see the brand sink as low as it is but no unusual

My first MTB should have been a MF Courier, but the LBS could never get them in stock, so I settled for a Rockhopper. Yellow. This was 1987..