Moulton Bicycle facts for kids
Moulton Bicycle Company logo
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| Private | |
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | 1958 in Bradford on Avon, England |
| Founder | Alex Moulton |
| Headquarters | |
| Products | Bicycles and cycling accessories |
Moulton is a famous English company that makes bicycles. It is located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire. The company started in 1962. It was founded by Alex Moulton (1920–2012). He was also the person who designed special suspension systems for the Mini car.
Moulton bicycles are known for their unique look. They have an unusual frame design. They also use small wheels and have suspension at the front and back.
Many people think Moulton bikes can fold up. This is not true, unlike bikes from companies like Brompton. However, Moulton bikes did help inspire folding bike designs. Some Moulton bikes can be taken apart easily. This makes them simpler to transport or store. So, while they are often called folding bikes, a better name is small-wheel bicycles. This term describes all bikes with small wheels.
Moulton made bikes for everyone, like the Standard and Deluxe models. They also made faster "Speed" versions for racing. In 2008, Alex Moulton started a new company. It was called Moulton Bicycle. He worked with Pashley Cycles, another British bike maker. Pashley had been building some Moulton designs since 1992.
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The Story of Moulton Bikes
In the late 1950s, Alex Moulton wanted to create a new bike. He felt that classic bike designs were not very good. He thought the usual "diamond frame" was hard to get on and off. It was also difficult to adjust for different riders. He believed that bikes for women, without the top bar, were not strong enough.
He also thought that classic bikes with large wheels were slow. They were hard to store. They did not fit well with how people traveled every day. Many people now combine different ways to get around.
Moulton believed that small wheels with high-pressure tires would be better. They would have less rolling resistance. This means they would roll more easily. They would also have less inertia, so they could speed up faster. He worked with Dunlop to make these special tires.
To make the ride comfortable, he added suspension. This was for both the front and back wheels. This was very new for bikes at the time. Bike suspension did not become common until about 30 years later.
The Moulton bike also had a different frame. It is often called an F-frame or Lazy F. This is because of its unique shape. The F-frame did not have a top bar. This made it easier for people to get on and off. It was helpful for those with movement difficulties. It also worked well for people wearing certain types of clothes.
Moulton's Big Impact
When the Moulton bike came out in 1962, it was a huge deal. It was one of the first big changes in bike design. The last big change was the "safety bicycle" in the 1880s. The 1962 version was called the "bicycle of the future." It was the first Moulton bike with suspension. A racing version was even shown on TV that same year.
Moulton bikes became a symbol of the 1960s. Thousands were sold around the world. For a short time, Moulton was one of Britain's biggest bike makers. Many people loved the original Moulton. If you ride a Moulton bike, you are often called a "Moultoneer." It's a fun play on the word "Mountaineer."
Different Moulton Models
From 1962 to 1967, many models were made. These included the Standard, Deluxe, and Speed bikes. There were also special "S" range bikes. These were very high-quality and made in smaller numbers. After Raleigh took over in 1967, they made the Major and Mark III models.
Selling the Company
The success of Moulton bikes led other companies to make their own small-wheel bikes. One example was the Raleigh RSW 16. This competition caused Moulton's sales to drop. The company faced money problems. In August 1967, Raleigh bought Moulton. Raleigh then made both the RSW and Moulton bikes.
Raleigh made the Major, Major Deluxe, and Mark III models. These new bikes had a different rear suspension. It used a rubber ball instead of a block. In 1974, they stopped making these innovative bikes. Today, some early Moulton bikes are very valuable to collectors.
Moulton's Comeback
In the early 1980s, Alex Moulton bought back the rights to his design. He then created a new series of bikes called the AM series. These bikes were very high-end. They had a special "space frame" design. This made them very strong and light. The AM series is still made today.
In 1998, the New Series Moulton was introduced. It was similar to the AM. It had a special front suspension called Flexitor. It also had a new rear suspension system. The New Series includes the Pylon and Double Pylon models. These are very light and high-performance bikes.
Pashley-Moulton Bikes
To make the new design available to more people, a cheaper version was made. It was called the APB (All-Purpose Bicycle). Pashley Cycles made these bikes under a special agreement from 1992 to 2005. To save money, Pashley used parts that were already available. For example, they used common 20-inch wheels instead of special 17-inch ones.
In 2005, the Pashley-Moulton design was updated. This created the TSR series. These bikes were lighter and had better performance than the APB. In 2008, the TSR became the Moulton TSR. This happened when Alex Moulton Bicycles and Pashley Cycles joined together. They formed a new company called The Moulton Bicycle Company.
Pashley still makes the Moulton TSR bikes in Stratford-on-Avon. In 2022, Moulton bought back its original factory. This factory is in Bradford-on-Avon. Since 2023, all Moulton TSR bikes are made there.
Bridgestone Moulton Bikes
A newer Moulton model was made by Bridgestone. It looked and felt similar to the original Moulton design. These bikes were built in Japan. The ones sold in the UK were put together at the Moulton factory. Like other Moultons, they were available in versions that could be taken apart or rigid ones for performance. These were modern bikes with advanced designs.
Moulton Bicycle Company Today
As of 2015, The Moulton Bicycle Company offered several models. Their prices ranged from about £950 to £15,500.
See also
- List of bicycle brands and manufacturing companies
- Me and My Moulton
