Viking Cycles

TheScribbler

I'm not sure if this is the correct thread or not but I wonder if anyone remembers Viking Bicycles back in the 70s? They had a huge range of sports bikes

Ruu_Old

My brother had a racing bicycle that was a Viking (early 80s), I think it even had a metal badge on the front.

TheScribbler

Thanks for that. I was trying to get some information about Viking. They ceased manufacturing in L'Derry in the early 1980s and the fabulous range of bikes just disappeared into oblivion. Now with Raleigh also gone, there is no high volume manufacturing of bikes in Ireland, but specialist racing bikes are made here by various companies.

I know that some company was importing cycles from the Far East badged as Viking for a couple of years but recently that the brand has been bought by Claud Butler in GB.

Back int he 1980s the Viking Warlord was the biggest selling kids sports bike in Britain and Ireland.

breadbin

TheScribbler wrote: »

Thanks for that. I was trying to get some information about Viking. They ceased manufacturing in L'Derry in the early 1980s and the fabulous range of bikes just disappeared into oblivion. Now with Raleigh also gone, there is no high volume manufacturing of bikes in Ireland, but specialist racing bikes are made here by various companies.

I know that some company was importing cycles from the Far East badged as Viking for a couple of years but recently that the brand has been bought by Claud Butler in GB.

Back int he 1980s the Viking Warlord was the biggest selling kids sports bike in Britain and Ireland.

dunno if people are still into this but i had a viking warlord racing bike when i was a kid. bought it for a fiver. steel wheels, simplex back deraileur hard plastic saddle, big bouncy tyres and just remember the spokes all rusted and couldn't be trued:(

also had a friend with a viking vision, way better bike and another one with a viking dream which was even better if i recall. can't remember which was which but one was a lovely light blue and white and the other sort of gunmetal grey with yellow bits and bobs.

great bikes though, didn't know they were made in ireland wow.

oh and here is a bit of info for anyone interested

http://www.re-cycle.com/History/Viking.aspx

Run_to_da_hills

TheScribbler wrote: »

Thanks for that. I was trying to get some information about Viking. They ceased manufacturing in L'Derry in the early 1980s and the fabulous range of bikes just disappeared into oblivion. Now with Raleigh also gone, there is no high volume manufacturing of bikes in Ireland, but specialist racing bikes are made here by various companies.

I know that some company was importing cycles from the Far East badged as Viking for a couple of years but recently that the brand has been bought by Claud Butler in GB.

Back int he 1980s the Viking Warlord was the biggest selling kids sports bike in Britain and Ireland.

Where is L'Derry?

breadbin

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Where is L'Derry?

ah the north is still ireland in my books:)

amdublin

breadbin wrote: »

also had a friend with a viking vision, way better bike and another one with a viking dream which was even better if i recall. can't remember which was which but one was a lovely light blue and white and the other sort of gunmetal grey with yellow bits and bobs.

I think my dad had a friend or relative who worked for them. In 1988 or 1989 for christmas: my older sister got the Viking vision (man's racing bike, light blue & white), my dad got a yellow bike (the viking dream?) and my twin sister and I got a girls/ladies racer each - Red and White. So beautiful. We were starting secondary school in the September and were really looking forward to cyling them to school.

Anyway that summer someone(s) broke into our garage and stole all four bikes!!!!!!! Sob sob sniffle sniffle bawl bawl. Ha ha oh jeez it was traumatic at the time. We had actually been "camping" in the back garden in a tent that night and hadn't heard a thing.

vintagevrs

Think they made them in Swatragh, my brother worked there one summer in the 90s and got a Viking bike for next to nothing. It was just a normal mountain bike though, maybe not the same company?

Capt'n Midnight

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Where is L'Derry?

Stroke City, Norn Iron

scankman

if u need any info on viking let me know my father owned the firm in the north , just browsing tru and found this tread

breffnij

Just on the note of a Viking bike I was ready to purchase one on the cycle to work scheme before it runs out. Have my doubts now as bought a cheap a** bike in Halfords and glad it got robbed!!

Here is the one I'm looking at albeit in a typically more expensive Irish store (selling it for €285!!)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Viking-Road-Single-speed-Fixie/dp/B0048F0E1S

Any advice appreeciated!