A friend with a common interest in Porsche Bikes that I met through Facebook sent me the following information, translated from German, about the history of the Porsche Bike Spyder 9.85 prototype and the Bike Spyder limited 200 production run.
Here's the translated story:
In March 1990, a private initiative was created Mountain Bike, which was presented as 'Porsche Bike-Spyder 9.85' in issue 229 of Christophorus - Porsche's in-house newspaper. This original bike weighed 9,885 grams - this was reflected in the name - had a carbon-chrome-moly frame, a multitude of tuned telephotos, leather-covered grips and saddles and was extremely aesthetic and functional.
In February 1992 Porsche AG transferred the marketing rights to Herm Dr Ulrich Bez, who left the Porsche Executive Board in October 1991 - or a company he controlled. Due to the positive response to a limited edition of a Weissach-BIKE-Spyder, limited to a maximum of 200 copies, the project was tackled.
To improve the negotiating position with many companies, the company CAT Carbon, Aluminum, Titan Produkte GmbH was founded. Thomas Menzel from Weissach, who was already involved in the original bike and ensured that it worked well, was won over to the project. Because the technology does not stand still, this original bike was of course not allowed to come onto the market without sustainable improvements.
The basic ideas of perfection, aesthetics, functionality and the lowest possible weight remained untouched. This implies further development. There were significant improvements in the weight with more than 1,000 grams less!!, in the circuit with a smaller reduction and larger spread of 0.75 to 3.82, in the brakes and in the optics, where the dark anodized rims, the Brakes become scratched, have been replaced by concave, polished AL rims.
The low weight was achieved through increased and optimized use of titanium. Frame sleeves, drive cranks, pedals and stem are now made of titanium. The complete drive with pedals, cranks, axle, bearings and sprockets weighs 850 grams!
The optimization of the AL fork resulted in almost 100 grams less. The Telle come from Germany Fork, handlebars, bottom bracket, quick release stem, V-hub, pedals, saddle, leather frames, brakes, cranks, hoses, tire gears, chains, sprockets, seat posts, spokes, water bottle, Italy, USA, Japan, Switzerland, Holland, many parts, including frames, drive, stem, pedals, V-hub, saddle, handles are "custom-made", ie they are manufactured by specialists for the BIKE-Spyder.
Behind almost every titanium part there is a specialist who can only manufacture one part or a set of parts per day. Some of them work in racing for Formula 1 or in the USA for the CART series.
The delivery of the BIKE Spyder begins in July 1992. Without a doubt later than originally thought. The use of high-tech materials and the corresponding manufacturing processes were not without setbacks. The top priority for quality and perfection justifies this time.
What I'm gathering from this and my other research indicates the following timeline:- March 1990 - Dr. Ulrich Bez, Thomas Menzel and some of the Porsche R&D engineers designed the Porsche Bike Spyder 9.85 prototype.
- May 1991 - Christophorus magazine published a story about the prototype Bike Spyder and mentioned a limited run of 300.
- October 1991 - Dr. Ulrich Bez leaves Porsche Executive Board.
- February 1992 - Porsche AG transfers marketing rights of the Bike Spyder to Dr. Ulrich Bez.
- 1992 - Bez and Menzel form CAT (Carbon, Aluminum, Titan) Produkte GmbH
- 1992-1994 - Delivery of the 200 limited run Bike Spyder begins in July 1992 and continues until 1994.
- 1996 - Porsche AG partners with Votec to produce the Bike S and Bike FS for world-wide sales.
- 1998 - Porsche AG and Votec add the Bike R, along with upgraded Bike S and Bike FS.
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