Manchester-based Indian-owned Hero Cycles is back together with Reynolds, the tubing manufacturer that provided parts for the 110-year-old Viking brand in its heyday
Hero Cycles, the world’s biggest bicycle manufacturer by volume, revived Viking after a near 40-year absence when it purchased bike distributor Avocet Cycles in 2015. Viking was then formally relaunched as part of Hero’s new UK-designed Insync range in May 2018 (see notes to editors 2).
Birmingham-based Reynolds provided the original parts used in Viking bikes when the brand enjoyed success in the Tour of Britain during the 1950s.
That rich heritage is being revisited in a new range of Insync bikes, the Viking Pro 400 – a limited edition range of just 400 cycles. The range, which consists of four different models, will contain echoes of Viking’s history with features including the classic logo and vintage badge. The range includes a lightweight frame that minimises the impact of vibrations on the cyclist, resulting in a more comfortable ride. Designed in conjunction with Reynolds, the range is suitable for city riding and longer weekend rides.
The Viking Pro 400 range includes the four models, Roadmaster, Racemaster, Tourmaster and Crossmaster and will be available at selected independent bike dealers and will retail at between £699 and £1199.
Reynolds’ managing director Keith Noronha said the business was delighted to rekindle its relationship with Hero Cycles and the Viking brand.
He said: “Reynolds was a supplier to the original Viking brand and it’s great to see that famous name making bikes again. We’ve been working very closely with Hero on the design of the bikes, which incorporate a modern Reynolds tubing. Both companies have a long history and we’re looking forward to seeing our renewed links grow stronger in the future.”
Abhishek Pratap Singh, head of Hero Global Design, said the limited-edition range would appeal to cycling enthusiasts as well as being affordable for the family market.
He said: “We’re delighted to be working with Reynolds again after all these years and we’re aiming to revisit that classic British heritage with this new range. We believe the mix of modern British designed quality with a vintage twist will be popular with consumers, particularly our core family market looking to improve their fitness and health.”
Hero Cycles Limited was founded in India in 1956. It is the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world by volume producing 19,000 cycles per day and 5.2million per year. This represents one out of every 20 of the world’s bicycles. Hero Cycles has manufacturing units in Ludhiana (Punjab), Bihta (Bihar) & Ghaziabad (UP). It is part of the Hero Motors Company which has revenues of $400million and $1.2billion in assets employing circa 8,000 staff.
The company exports to more than 70 countries through a network of circa 250 suppliers and 2800 dealerships. Its bike range includes road bikes, hybrid bikes, children’s bikes, electric-bikes, mountain bikes, BMX and roadster models. Hero in India also manufactures automobile components like chassis for cars, safety components and transmission for motorcycles.
In August 2015, it acquired British brand Avocet Sports with 51pc stake targeting high-end bicycle market in Europe and now has full ownership. In 2015, it also acquired Firefox Bikes – India’s largest premium bicycle brand with an established presence Pan-India through a network of 160 outlets. In 2016, it acquired a majority stake in Sri Lanka’s leading bicycle manufacturer BSH Ventures, further boosting its manufacturing capacity. As part of major expansion plans across Europe it launched the £2million Hero Cycles Global Design Centre (HGD) in Manchester, UK, in January 2017. The design hub is led by creative minds from across the world including innovators from India, Taiwan and Denmark.
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