You are looking at a 1991 Anlen Sage, and I'd bet that you don't know what it is, even though it looks really familiar.
In 1990, Gary Fisher sold his Gary Fisher Mountain Bikes company to Anlen Bicycles of Taiwan, and by all accounts, it was a disaster for all concerned, as just three years later, a deal was made to sell the Fisher brand to TREK.
As best I can tell, Anlen was a producer for Haro and maybe Nishiki? There are pics out there of other Anlens that look a lot like Haros. So presumably Anlen decided it was time to sell their own bikes, and grabbing the Gary Fisher Brand was the way to do that,
This was a low point for the brand as Fisher said that he was just a 'puppet president' during this period. They had sad trade show stands in 1992 - three bikes and a chair - and I read that despite Anlen telling Fisher dealers nothing would change, suddenly Anlen branded bikes appeared, looking a lot like Gary Fishers, selling for less but being of much lower quality - which brings us to this Sage.
As best I can tell, Anlen was a producer for Haro and maybe Nishiki? There are pics out there of other Anlens that look a lot like Haros. So presumably Anlen decided it was time to sell their own bikes, and grabbing the Gary Fisher Brand was the way to do that,
This was a low point for the brand as Fisher said that he was just a 'puppet president' during this period. They had sad trade show stands in 1992 - three bikes and a chair - and I read that despite Anlen telling Fisher dealers nothing would change, suddenly Anlen branded bikes appeared, looking a lot like Gary Fishers, selling for less but being of much lower quality - which brings us to this Sage.
It just looks so much like a Fisher AL-1. When I saw the ad for it, I didn't know the name 'Anlen,' but it was pretty clear what it was - especially with the Fisher-branded seat, stem, and grips. It is different from the AL-1 in that all the housing stops are riveted on. I can't find an AL-1 with that feature. But, it has a 1 1/4" headtube, a pressed in BB, and S-curve chainstays - all Fisher signature features.
The serial number starts with F9007, which is odd given the timeline we know of Fisher selling out to Anlen. If that '90' means it was made in 1990 for the 1991 model year, or it indicates that it's a 1990 model year bike, either way that's still before the sale, so was Anlen making this Fisher rip-off before buying them? Was Anlen making bikes for Fisher before the sale?
It sure fits with the anecdote of Anlen bikes suddenly appearing on the market looking like Fishers.
Unfortunately, like many aluminium bikes of this era, this one is cracked. Both on the headtube and the seattube. So it became a purchase of a solid DX groupset with good wheels, and a RockShox Judy DH, which was a score even though it had a 1 1/4" steerer, because I just swapped out the steerer for another I had.
I also got some 1 1/4" specific bits, and some Fisher-branded parts. The Fisher stem, seat, and grips - which are potentially worth money to someone needing that final piece. A YST 1 1/4" headset, "infinite band" front derailleur, and the press-fit bottom bracket, a relic of the time. I suppose the spindle might be of some use, but the bearings are trash.
I've always wanted to make an art piece from a frame - an exploded view of the frame. I'd cut it at each of the junctions, separate them a bit, then bolt them to.... something. I haven't worked that out yet. This might be the frame for that project.
The serial number starts with F9007, which is odd given the timeline we know of Fisher selling out to Anlen. If that '90' means it was made in 1990 for the 1991 model year, or it indicates that it's a 1990 model year bike, either way that's still before the sale, so was Anlen making this Fisher rip-off before buying them? Was Anlen making bikes for Fisher before the sale?
It sure fits with the anecdote of Anlen bikes suddenly appearing on the market looking like Fishers.
Unfortunately, like many aluminium bikes of this era, this one is cracked. Both on the headtube and the seattube. So it became a purchase of a solid DX groupset with good wheels, and a RockShox Judy DH, which was a score even though it had a 1 1/4" steerer, because I just swapped out the steerer for another I had.
I also got some 1 1/4" specific bits, and some Fisher-branded parts. The Fisher stem, seat, and grips - which are potentially worth money to someone needing that final piece. A YST 1 1/4" headset, "infinite band" front derailleur, and the press-fit bottom bracket, a relic of the time. I suppose the spindle might be of some use, but the bearings are trash.
I've always wanted to make an art piece from a frame - an exploded view of the frame. I'd cut it at each of the junctions, separate them a bit, then bolt them to.... something. I haven't worked that out yet. This might be the frame for that project.
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