think it was called a slingshot, had two steel cables for downtube. anybody have one or interesting details?

I remember a red one from the magazine ads. I never saw one in person.

yep, Slingshot. they still make MTBs. they're from Michigan.

check this link it was just named bike of the year. http://www.vintagebmx.com/community/index....wtopic=27023247

Slingshot is on it's third set of owners and is presently on the market! A couple of guys that went to a rival high school of mine presently own the company.

The guy that originally started it now has a similarly goofy bike called the ERB (Energy Return Bicycle) Very similar to slingshot.

Still in Grand Rapids, Mi.

I have one (slingshot) that I would like to have ready for the Rock this year. But if it is not this year, it will next!

Riderippers, what school?

Yeah, what school?

Todd. your in Grand Haven right? I grew up in Kentwood, but could have been found hanging around at Freewheeler bugging the hell out of Gordy. I remember getting to ride a prototype Slingshot when Gordy had one in the shop. If I remember correctly, it didn't feel "right" to me. Then again I was all of 5'5" and maybe 130lbs.

One guy at my local track in the 80's rode for slingshot for a brief period. The concept was as you pushed the pedal while on the gate the frame would flex or [I tried to curse]. When the gate dropped the bike would spring out of its preload and shoot you out into first place.
Mx Mug

Click to view attachment


BKQuill,

Do you remember / have any photos of your old frame? I believe the one I am building to be one of the proto-types as it is pre serial number and all of the frame tubes are square tubing in addition to having a 5" headtube versus the later 4" headtubes. I have read they only made 7 of this style, the rest of the slingshots you see have two round tubes coming off the head tube.

Also, (off topic - sorry) where did you primarily race / what division in the 81-85 years?
Also, what forks did you run.

brent walk and jeff starbuck rode for slingshot...both were from mich.

As the song says "it was'nt me". A rider who raced in my area rode a slingshot. We raced in northern california. My home track was yuba sutter bmx. I dont remember what forks he ran. I was running tange trx's (it's whats up front that counts) they were the hot fork if the frame manufacture did'nt make forks of there own. I'm not positive of his name, but it may have been brian ruest. He may have lived near sacramento ca.

[quote name='mxmug' date='Dec 1 2008, 12:31 PM' post='665168']
As the song says "it was'nt me". A rider who raced in my area rode a slingshot. We raced in northern california. My home track was yuba sutter bmx. I dont remember what forks he ran. I was running tange trx's (it's whats up front that counts) they were the hot fork if the frame manufacture did'nt make forks of there own. I'm not positive of his name, but it may have been brian ruest. He may have lived near sacramento ca.

Regarding forks; at that time the redline proline and schwinn sting both used five inch head tubes, so either of these forks would have used.

That Proline fork is like the wooly mamoth! Difficult to locate. I have had the chance to buy the sting forks a couple times, but would rather have the proline.

Bought a Webco box fork, but do not feel right cutting it up even though it would look sick on this bike. I will wait till the last minute before I cut her up.

The squared tubed ones came first, and weren't many, then switched to round tubes. There were always gussets added here and there, so there are lots of variations.

those "ERB" frames...a month or so ago i ran into a big group of my local MTB racer friends out on a casual ride. i noticed several guys on what i thought at first were newer Slingshots, but one friend said they were the ERBs and that one of the guys on them was the owner and an original owner of Slingshot. i don't know why they were here in Wisconsin (maybe for a race that weekend).

Next time you see Mark, could you have him return my calls!

The Slingshot was a pretty cool looking frame. This is mine b4 I sold it 2 years ago I should have put it back together. Damn Me

Mxmug

I'll bet the Slingshot kid from Nor Cal was Richard Ruiz? His dad owned Team III BMX shop in Sacramento. They had some of their locals riding Slingshots too. Richard got a sweet full page picture in one of the magazines of him airborn at the ABA Grands on his Slingshot around 84 or so.

I stayed with them once and we raced in Stockton, nice people. They were friends with the Ogorman bros too.

I still have my Slingshot cruiser and MTB, great bikes.

Ted

I remember a rumor that these frames where banned from BMX racing shortly after they were introduced. Any truth to that??? Or just rumor???

I believe the ABA did ban the bikes. Not 100% sure...

Here is another link from a while back. It is not very long, but has a few great photos: http://www.vintagebmx.com/community/index....wtopic=27016387

Pure rumor guys. I had one back in the day and loved it except for the weight. I remember David Spotts riding the prototype that never seemed to handle the everyday rigor of BMX. Does anyone have a pic of that proto that Spotts was riding. If I remember correctly it only had one cable and didnt have all the tubing that the orignals had.

I also remember David Spotts on a early Slingshot back in like 83 or so, he was way quick back then. The White jerseys I remember had like black patchs sewn on where the shoulders and elbows were. Unique style that looked pretty cool.

Nobody ever banned the bikes but that rumor has been around forever. I raced my cruiser on and off until 93 and all I ever got was puzzled looks. People always had odd questions about why the frame was missing a tube etc.

Ted

there was a guy here who rode a Slingshot co-sponsored. he hated it and always took the Slingshot and a regular bike to his races. if no one was around who'd bust him out, he'd ride the regular bike.

i just helped a guy with a build . a mini ,one of two its in the chicagoland area . hes selling it ........i saw it on the bay.
dion

24

Of all the frame gimmicks over the years this one has to top the list. It originaly retailed for around $300 or more (frame only) didn't it?

I believe Jeff (starwarstarbuck) Starbuck still had one.