Matthews Monoshock MS-1

[nycet3]

here's another project I hope to get to in the coming months.
Seems to be all there minus the front wheel. I'll track down a proper orphan wheel and rubber.
The "MS-1" seat is there and well preserved.

I'll remove the black and primer spraybomb & get at the original finish. Clean, lube & tune.

Nice example of the early days of bmx racing.

 

[dave429]

Looking forward to seeing it cleaned up!

 

[mongeese]

It's an MX bike - not bmx

 

[nycet3]

It's an MX bike - not bmx

Actually it's BX.

 

[mongeese]

And I'm out of these discussions-
You guys talk amongst yourselves and good luck

 

[mongeese]

Your bike was not raced in the early bmx days. It was mocked up as a motocross motorbike bicycle for kids.

 

[mongeese]

Sorry - wanted to rant much more and stopped myself. How do people bite their tongue !!!!!!

 

[nycet3]

And I'm out of these discussions-
You guys talk amongst yourselves and good luck

Sorry to see you go.
My BX comment was in reference to Scott Briethaupt's early BUMS race posters and newspaper ads that promoted "BX" racing instead of "MX" racing. I certainly wasn't trying to smack anyone down. I come here for fun, not a pissing match.

 

[nycet3]

Your bike was not raced in the early bmx days. It was mocked up as a motocross motorbike bicycle for kids.

My good friend who raced at WSA and Norwalk in 74/75 saw Matthews Monoshocks raced there a lot.

Here's legendary female racer and Team Matthews rider Liz Torres in 1974. (Photo courtesy of bmxsociety.com)

 

[reilley1]

Your bike was not raced in the early bmx days. It was mocked up as a motocross motorbike bicycle for kids.

Hmmm...ok.
I guess myself and a couple of hundred kids who were there at multiple tracks were not racing.
This bike, along with other monoshocks were indeed raced.
BMX Hall of famer Thom Lund raced the Wayne King mono in the early years. Billy McIntyre raced his version of a monoshock well into the years when regular "hard tails" were already the norm.
And while the Yamaha moto bike was a dual shocker, it too was raced quite a bit until we realized it was too clumsy for BMX racer.
A quick look at BMX news, BX weekly and other literature of the time will verify that this, and similar bikes, were indeed raced back in 74 and 75.