Re: [CR]Arctic bikes, a small mystery solved

(Example: History)

Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2007 12:34:59 -0800 (PST)
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Arctic bikes, a small mystery solved
To: Steve Birmingham <sbirmingham@mindspring.com>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <026901c761d9$a662aa70$6401a8c0@steve>


I saw Arctic bikes at an Ohio shop in the eary/mid 70's. Definitely French made, but apparently a private label, of an importer perhaps. This shop was actually a lawn mower shop that sold bikes as a sideline. The shop didn't sell snowmobiles, but perhaps Arctic made lawn mowers also.

Regards,

Jerry Moos Big Spring, TX

Steve Birmingham <sbirmingham@mindspring.com> wrote: I have a bike, not particularly high end labeled as an Arctic. It's made by Stella, but was supposedly sold through Arctic Cat snowmobiles. I've heard this, and also that Arctic bikes had no connection to the snowmobile company.

Last week I bought a reflector set on ebay that answers the question. It's labeled Arctic Enterprises, Thief river Falls, Minn. along with the same logo that's on the bike. Arctic Enterprises was Arctic Cat snowmoblies from about 1960-1982 when they went out of business. They're back, but not with bikes.

Any other info would be great, or maybe someone into snowmobiles knows a longtime dealer who might recall what years they offered bikes. Mine is pre 1973, my father bought it used in early 74 or75

Steve Birmingham
Lowell, Ma
USA