I recently started searching the web for information on Maruishi Bicycles. While I found mention of their touring or commuting bikes (and their website which is in Japanese), I didn't find any mention of mountain bikes. I bought one around 1985 (can't quite remember the exact year), the "Mountace MT18". It featured a lugged frame and a lugged fork (the next year's models switched to a unicrown fork) -- notice the amount of fork rake in the photo.
A decal on the frame proudly proclaims "Original Sports Frame Cr. Mo. Double Butted Tubes", and the bike came equipped with Shimano Deore components, friction shifting for a six speed cluster and Shimano Biopace chainrings.
This bike took me on a fully loaded tour from San Francisco to San Diego in 1988, a couple of fund raising rides for the American Lung Association and has served me well for local rides over the years. I started looking into getting a new mountain bike a few days ago, wound up with sticker shock and realized that because my wife and I primarily ride a tandem I'd never really get my money's worth from a new bike. So it was off to E-Bay to score a good set of Biopace chainrings to replace the worn ones on the bike, and I'll be refurbishing my rolling relic within the next month or two.
Every time I look at the bike I'm reminded of my California tour; the images are fresh and I'm suddenly 20 years younger reveling in the joys of pedaling along the coastline or breathing in the fragrance of the eucalyptus trees in the cool of the morning. This old bike of mine does everything I ask of it, and I can't really justify tossing my old friend into the heap for the sake of something shiny and new. The memories are strong, and there's still the promise of more adventures to come. All I have to do is ask, and this bike will be ready to respond with a good solid ride.
A decal on the frame proudly proclaims "Original Sports Frame Cr. Mo. Double Butted Tubes", and the bike came equipped with Shimano Deore components, friction shifting for a six speed cluster and Shimano Biopace chainrings.
This bike took me on a fully loaded tour from San Francisco to San Diego in 1988, a couple of fund raising rides for the American Lung Association and has served me well for local rides over the years. I started looking into getting a new mountain bike a few days ago, wound up with sticker shock and realized that because my wife and I primarily ride a tandem I'd never really get my money's worth from a new bike. So it was off to E-Bay to score a good set of Biopace chainrings to replace the worn ones on the bike, and I'll be refurbishing my rolling relic within the next month or two.
Every time I look at the bike I'm reminded of my California tour; the images are fresh and I'm suddenly 20 years younger reveling in the joys of pedaling along the coastline or breathing in the fragrance of the eucalyptus trees in the cool of the morning. This old bike of mine does everything I ask of it, and I can't really justify tossing my old friend into the heap for the sake of something shiny and new. The memories are strong, and there's still the promise of more adventures to come. All I have to do is ask, and this bike will be ready to respond with a good solid ride.
20 comments:
I have a red Maruishi mountain bike that I bought second hand in college in 1990 or so. I have literally put a couple thousand miles on it and still really enjoy it. I have a Biopace front chain ring that the bike stores like to laugh at. Oh well.
That's awesome that you are keeping the bike. I bought one of these for $20 bucks at a garage sale two years back, and based on the component package (and the unicrown fork!) i think its an '87. The guy who sold it to me had no idea what he was doing. I fixed it up (all original componentry, just new tires and added fenders) and I use it as a wet-weather commuter.
Yours is the first pic i was able to find of one of these great bikes online, thanks for posting!
I purchased the exact bike July 1986 in Calgary, Alberta and still have. At that time it was a top of the line model with the best Shamino parts. Double butted spokes! Rode it hard in Rockies almost every weekend. I've had to replace some of the components, but it still works fine. It's from a different era of mountain bikes. Cruised a fighting speeds down fire roads. Very heavy.
I was very happy to run across your blog. Maruishi mountain bikes are extremely rare. Although road bikes are more common, I have only run across one other Mount Ace 18, and it was in desperate need of some tlc. Your bike appears to be in great shape. Mine is an '86 with the unicrown fork, Deore XT derailleurs, bio-pace crank, and the large XT thumb shifters. It's metallic teal blue with silver trim.
I would like to encourage you and the other commentors to post pictures of your bikes on MTBR along with a listing of the original componentry as there is such a limited amount of information on the web about these great mountain bikes from the mid-80's.
Also, I would like to know what the original pedals were. I think they may have been Deore XT's but I'm not certain.
Thank you so much.
Thanks for this post. I am considering buying one of these, and can find almost nothing about them anywhere. I can't tell what level of bike it was, or how heavy the frame is, but it does look pretty sweet fixed up.
I purchased a 1986 metallic-electric salmon colored version of the Mount Ace 18 from a bmx enthusiast I know who described this rare MTB to me the day I bought it from him this way- before I saw/test rode it.
"...you've got to come check this MTB out, it has a feel to it like nothing I've EVER experienced from ANY bike before." He continued with a fascination in his tone, "It has such balance when I maneuver it. Like the whole bike is made up of just one part, that's it. Where are you? Even if you're not interested, you have to ride this thing."
Though the color was flamboyant, and peculiar, two words I'd never desire to be descriptive of any bike I own, he was right. I had to have it.
The 21in. frame is ALL factory original w/ the bio-pace 48 tooth sprocket,the RM-25 rims by ARAYA w/ SUZAE sealed hubs. SR seatpost and stem. Deraileurs, gearshifts, & front brakes by SHIMANO. Rear brake is mounted behind the bottom bracket-SUNTOUR'S Cunningham Designed XC-Power brake. Crom-moly, dbl-butted tubing & sealed headset by TANGE.
Now every interested cyclist knows what MARUISHI used on the Mount Ace 18 in 1986.
I have a blue Mountace MT15 that I upgraded to 18.
Bought it in 1983 in Calgary at the Bike Shop.
Still rides like the dickens on a new set or tires that were ruined from leaving the bike outside during summers.
It has all its original components otherwise and is still in very fine shape.
My only regret is that I bought it the same size as my former racer
and, being of fairly small stature, I find the bike a bit hard to straddle when it has panier bags installed.
I know this tread is quite old but I recently acquired this same model bike and I know absolutely nothing about it or old bikes in general. I bought it, also for $20, at a used bike sale at my school and it looked quite rough. I gave it a bath but with a little work I think it could be quite nice. The gears are kinda difficult. I did notice it had a lot of the original stuff, even the seat. It rides a but rough for me though; I think mostly because it is a bit too large.
If anyone is still reading this from Calgary - did you purchase the bike from Satelite Cycles?
I got mine there.
First mtn bike I ever owned and there have been many since.
The bike pictured in this blog was purchased in Boise, Idaho (USA)
Picked the bike up from Tuxedo Sports on Centre Street.
I have a blue Mountace 15 in pretty good shape. I have been refurbishing it. I have new tires, bearings, and cables/housing. Otherwise all the parts are original. I would love to keep it but looking to sell. The 15s seem to be more rare than the 18s. I wish there was more information about these. It makes them very intriguing.
I can only wonder if your Mountace 15 was manufactured just a year or two before mine... throwing that extra cog on the rear wheel to give it 6 gears seemed like such a big leap of technology at the time!
I just found a red mariushi 15 in the trash. i could tell it was a decent old bike by the shimano deore components and rims. I need to replace the seat and seat post (26.8 mm??) but looks like a great around town bike and will put a surfboard rack on it. thanks for the info here!!
Eric R:
I think you're right about the 26.8mm seat post. I remember that I tried to put an extra Body Float post I had onto the Maruishi, and the post was too big to fit in the frame. (I've got to use a shim for it to fit in our tandem's seat tube!) It's a shame that people throw these old bikes away... even with friction shifting instead of indexed, they still will get you from Point A to Point B reliably.
Not sure if anyone will see this post, but I just got my hands on a Maruishi mountain bike. But I've never seen this model name, it says Aggressor on the top tube. Which I've only heard of from GT. I think it's a 1983, has the XT M700 group on it. Would be amazing to find info on this bike, but nothing seems to come up anywhere. Anyone ever hear of this model before? No shop sticker on it unfortunately.
I still ride my MT18 bought at the Naval Exchange, Pearl Harbor, Hi in late 80's. After Hawaii, I've ridden this bike in upper Michigan, S. Korea, Alaska, and now Wisconsin. Replaced a few sets of tires a couple of seats and one crank arm. Tough bike.
MSgt USAF: I've still got the bike, although it lives in Florida now. I even have a spare set of "Bio-Pace" chainrings, should the current set ever wear out!
Bought one in Tyler TX for the same 20$ all original and love the way it rides
I have a Maruishi AT18 mountain bike from 1986. Its the only one I have ver seem. They all seem to be MT18, not AT18.
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