Tag: models

The original Moulton Bicycle

Twenty years before the first spaceframe Moulton bicycle, the original F-frame Moulton bicycle was launched. Alex Moulton, an engineer with experience in the automotive industry, and a recreational cyclist, decided to go back to first principles and question every aspect of the design of bicycles.

Questions such as :
Why had the design of the bicycle not changed in any fundamental sense since the "safety bicycle" was developed, replacing the Penny Farthing in the 1880s.
Why, when the wheel sizes of most road going vehicles had reduced with the improvement in road surfaces, had the bicycle wheel remained so large?

After 5 years of development, the original Moulton Bicycle was launched and it was a revolutionary design. The concept consisted of a number of key principles :

  • Small wheels were found to be stronger and lighter than large wheels. They produced less wind resistance, could be more easily accelarated.
  • Small wheels provided no more rolling resistance than large wheels, provided that high pressure tyres (which in 1962 meant 60 psi) were used. The optimum wheel size was found to be 16-17 inches.
  • Small wheels provided a more bumpy ride on paved roads, so the use of suspension was essential.

Additionally, the following features are common to the Moulton bicycle range:

  • The low stepover height compared to the standard bicycle was safer for men, and more convenient for women. It was also safer in the event of a crash insofar as the rider was not "trapped" with one leg either side of the top tube.
  • The ability to carry luggage low down on the centre line of the bicycle, providing more stability.
  • The separable frame, which does not compromise stiffness or stability compared with the non-separable frame, and featured in the f-frame Stowaway model (and in most of the spaceframe models) allows for easy transportation and storage.

    The new bicycle was a revolutionary design, and for a while Moulton was the largest bicycle manufacturer in Britain. The following video dates from the time of the launch of the Moulton bicycle.

    These principles are the core of the Moulton concept, and have remained so through to the very latest spaceframe models.

    The Moulton Range

    The Basic Range

    Continental – the cheapest Moulton with a single speed hub and back pedal brake.
    Automatic – replaced the Continental, had a two speed hub and back pedal brake.
    Standard – the basic model, 4 speed hub.


    Deluxe – a higher spec model, 4 speed hub
    Speed – similar to a standard but with a sportier riding position, 4 speed hub
    Stowaway – the first separable moulton, 2 speed hub with back pedal brake.
    Safari – a fully equipped model for touring. 4 speed hub with optional 2 speed derailleur.
    Speedsix – a racing model with 6 speed derailleur gears.

    The Standard and Deluxe are the most common models by far, and are quite inexpensive to buy. The other models vary in terms of rarity, desirability, and price.

    The S Range

    The S range is very rare, and very collectable. Each model is a higher spec version of the original Deluxe, Safari and Stowaway with slightly larger 17inch wheels, lighter components, and optional chrome finish.

    The picture below is a Moulton S Safari in chrome finish, from Ken Butterfield's photos on Flickr

    Only around 10 S Speeds were produced and the location of most of them is known. However, it looks like there may be a few still unaccounted for. Most F-frame collectors dream of finding an S Speed in a skip or a garage somewhere!

    After the Raleigh takeover the following models were produced:
    Moulton Major – an updated Standard
    Moulton Major Deluxe – an updated Deluxe

    The Mark 3 / Mark III / Mk 3
    This was a new departure in design, with the most recognisable feature being the rear triangle and squashball suspension. This model has a shorter wheelbase than the older Series 1 and 2 models and was fitted with a 3 speed hub with drum brake.

    • There were also a number of other models produced - smaller wheel versions for children/teenagers, export models, and models made abroad under licence. These will be the subject of a post on another day!

    Moulton AM Esprit Separable frame

    One small detail of the new Alex Moulton AM Esprit has thus far escaped my attention.

    The trend in Moulton frame design in recent years has seemed to be move to a straight bottom tube, instead of the older style "knuckle shaped" bottom tube, as seen on the old AM and many other models. In recent years, the non-separable versions of the APB (fx8), New Series (pylon, speed) and the new Pashley Moulton TSR have had this straight bottom tube. More recently, separable Moultons (including the New Series Double Pylon and the Pashley Moulton TSR) have also had a straight bottom tube.

    I expected that the new Moulton AM Esprit would also have this feature in the separable version, but as the photo below (from Dynavector) shows, the separable version looks very like the old AM.

    Contrast this with the more elegant design of the non-separable frame shown below (again from Dynavector)

    New Alex Moulton bicycle from BOA??

    Rumours have begun circulating that a new model in the Moulton range is due to be announced.

    Details are very sketchy at this point, but it seems that this new bicycle will be of spaceframe construction and with ETRTRO 369 /
    17 inch wheels. It is to be built at the Moulton factory in Bradford on Avon.

    All the signs are that this new model is designed to replace the AM. The AM is the classic spaceframe Moulton. In continuous production since 1982, the AM is a high-end high-performance bicycle and over the years it has benefited from technology trickle down from the New Series. For example, the flexitor in the rear pivot, the hydrolastic, and the adjustable wishbone stem are features that first appeared in the New Series, but were later introduced to the AM.

    However, since the introduction of the TSR, many have questioned the AM's right to exist. The buyer with lots of money can spend a little more and get a New Series, or spend a little less and get a similar specification and weight with the TSR. Plus the AM hasn't really been pushed (at least outside of Japan) in recent years. The framesets have been available to dealers for custom building.

    Furthermore, the geometry of the AM is a little outdated. It is the only spaceframe moulton in production without a unified rear triangle. It is also the only Moulton in production with the old style "knuckle shaped" bottom tube, which looked naff on the (separable) APBs and separable New Series', but look rather charming on the AM.

    I would be very sorry to see the AM go out of production, especially before I can afford to purchase one! However, I can see the wisdom in updating and evolving the AM concept. I would welcome a straight bottom tube and unified rear triangle at a more affordable price.

    Finally, it has been suggested that this new model will be priced below the TSR range. Now this is intriguing, especially as the new bicycle is to be produced at BOA. One has always paid a premium for a Bradford built bicycle. One wonders if they can produce a high quality bicycle in low numbers at a mass production price, but in low quantity. Seems unlikely!

    As with many previous models, the new model may be unveiled at the annual Moulton Bicycle Club event at The Hall in Bradford on Avon in September.

    Moulton, Dyson and the new Stowaway

    What have vacuum cleaners and bicycles got in common? More than you might think, when it comes to the Moulton bicycle.

    The word Stowaway will be a familiar one to Moultoneers - it was the name that Alex Moulton gave to the collapsible or separable version of his original Moulton bicycle. Not a folding mechanism, but one that allowed the bicycle to be split into two for transportation and storage. Moultons have never folded, but it could be claimed that the original stowaway was at least part of the inspiration for the folding revolution that followed.

    While the Stowaway disappeared around the time of the Raleigh takeover of Moulton in the 1960s, the concept reappeared with the launch of the AM in 1983. Most Moulton models since then have had the option of a separable frame, although the "Stowaway" name has not been used.

    Well, the Stowaway name has reappeared, not on a bicycle but on a Dyson DC20 Stowaway as shown below

    James Dyson, inventor of the acclaimed Dyson vacuum cleaners is apparently a big fan of the Moulton Bicycles.

    He is quoted as saying "Looking at his intriguing bicycles you can see that Alex Moulton questions every part of the design. His aim is clear: to make lighter, safer and more comfortable bikes whilst improving speed. Good design is about how something works, not just how it looks, which is why I like the Moulton bike so much."

    Speaking of how things look, I think Alex Moulton Bicycles web designers could learn a lot from Dyson's

    eBay – the good, the bad and the ugly.

    First, the good... check out eBay item 330132790082. I can't verify that it's genuine (though the frame number is clearly visible on the seat tube). If it is, it is quite rare indeed. The production of most Moulton frames was outsourced, but Alex Moulton employed the legendary Jack Lauterwasser to run the "S Works" which produced high spec, limited edition versions of several Moulton Models, such as the S Safari, the S Deluxe, and the very very rare S Speed.

    The gorgeous and mysterious Moulton AM Speed S that was for sale on eBay and then disappeared, apparently appeared again last week, only to disappear again. I have heard it alleged that this is an attempt at a scam. The original listing several months ago was probably genuine and the bicycle probably has a very happy owner, However, a common scam on eBay is to clone a previous listing for an expensive item in the hope of swindling an unsuspecting buyer out of their hard earned cash.

    There has also been a red Mark 3 (f-frame) on ebay several times over the last year or more. The seller has more than likely seen Mark 3 models going for high prices and is keen to cash in. The trouble is that he has been putting very high "Buy It Now" price tags on the bike. He started at about £500 and it has slowly dropped after several listings to about £250. But there have been no takers! Part of the problem is that he will not ship the bike abroad, so the buyer must pick it up.

    Anyhow, a couple weeks ago it seemed that the buyer had learned something when he listed the bike for auction, with a 99p starting price and no reserve. Bidding started off slowly but with 4 days to go, the bidding went over £100. I thought that this bode well for the seller, as Moulton prices usually rise exponentially over that last few hours of the auction, so I thought he must be rubbing his hands. Not exactly... he posted an addition to the item, telling the bidders that they should stop wasting his time, and if the bidding didn't reach £200 he was going to withdraw it, which he duly did a few hours later.

    Now, I have seen several Mark 3 models going for over £200, but in my view, the secret to getting high prices for Moultons on eBay is firstly to have a low starting price, to get lots of people interested. Then as the bidding heats up, they bid more than they sensibly should.

    Secondly, if you want to sell rarer models for big money, you must be willing to ship abroad, and in particular to Japan. Buyers in Great Britain are a thrifty bunch, they know the values of each Moulton model and they know where they can get bargains. Additionally, there are lot and lots of Moultons that have been sitting in sheds for 30 years and they pop up at jumbles and in small advertisements all the time. The foreign buyer, however, has to try much harder to get his hands on a Moulton, and is usually more willing to bid more on eBay. And of course, patience is required. The most bidding occurs in the last few hours, so pulling it out with 3 days to go is very very silly indeed.

    I was really keen to see how this bike was going to sell... looks like the saga is going to run on a little longer!