Thorn xtc??

[Wilson jr]

Sjsc? So you think the bike could be stolen? Having had bikes stolen in the past I know the feeling of losing one. If I could find out I'd like to know if it is a stolen bike.

 

[Wilson jr]

So I could be in possession of a stolen bike? How would I find this out? Sjsc? Would they be able to help?

 

[Brains]

I think it is Steve freear?

Steve Freer
Looks like he is local to the Midlands area and in the media business

 

[Brains]

Thorn Cycles are sold exclusively by SJSC (they are in effect the same company)

SJSC is here https://www.sjscycles.co.uk
Thorn is here http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/

They are based in Bridgewater in Somerset and sell arguably one of the worlds best touring bikes by mail order all over the world, each one is made to order.
Given the special paint job on the one you have I'd have thought it fairly easy to match to the original owner.

The bikes also came in multiple sizes, like clothing,
No point in keeping it if it's not your size

 

[Brains]

Here is the original brochure

http://web.archive.org/web/20070518003938/http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/xtc.html

 

[Cycleops]

So I could be in possession of a stolen bike? How would I find this out? Sjsc? Would they be able to help?

Contact the local plod and ask if it’s been stolen. Give them the numbers off the B.B. I believe if it’s not claimed or reported stolen after a period you can keep it.
@Globalti will give you the exact details on this.

 

[Wilson jr]

I shall call them tomorrow and give frame number ect. Hopefully be able to contact original purchaser and get the low down.

 

[steveindenmark]

Nice find.

Profpointy, why are we thinking it is stolen? It' probably been left in a garage for years and whoever is throwing it out thinks they have an old knackered bike worth nothing. That's what it looks like. Isnt that scenario more likely in this case?

 

[raleighnut]

Could be either nicked or as @steveindenmark says abandoned and left to rust, my 653 bike was given to Cyclemagic in Leicester for 'recycling' and that's a gorgeous frame.

 

[hoopdriver]

Either way that is a very interesting find. I have a similar vintage Thorn eXp which I bought from new in 1999 and yes, no change from £2000 at the time. I still have the bike, love it, ride it all the time. It has about 90,000 miles on it and looks good fr many thousands more. Thorn make great tourers.

 

[Thorn Sherpa]

Great bikes the best bike I've owned so far I wont be putting mine in the skip I know that for sure! Hope you find out what's what with the bike and if it is stolen can be reunited with the owner

 

[Bodhbh]

Profpointy, why are we thinking it is stolen? It' probably been left in a garage for years and whoever is throwing it out thinks they have an old knackered bike worth nothing. That's what it looks like. Isnt that scenario more likely in this case?

tbh it does look some old 80s MTB. With the seatpost etc missing I could well believe someone thinking the only thing worth doing with it is putting it in the skip. Whatever else they are, Thorns are not blingy bikes. Mind it takes 5mins to google or list on eBay and let it finds it's own worth.

 

[srw]

I think it is Steve freear?

https://engineering.leeds.ac.uk/academic-industry-profiles/single/756/dr-steven-freear

See bottom of the page.

I'd suggest contacting him directly to see if the bike is his and he's missing it.

 

[Wilson jr]

Have spoken to director of thorn cycles this morning and he is on the case.

 

[Steve Freear]

Hi,
Robin at SJSC has alerted me to this post. I'm Steve Freear and it was my bike. It hasn't been stolen, so who ever has it is welcome to keep it and enjoy it. I purchased it in 2001 but it has barely been used for the last 5 years and has been kept outside under a bike cover, hence it probably needing some TLC.
I now live on a narrowboat and don't have room to store it, so now use a Brompton. I moved the boat from Cambridgeshire to Shropshire this year and had forgotten that I had left the bike at my old marina. It wasn't really viable to bring it back, so it was put in a skip at the marina where he was having a clear out. I had already taken the Brooks saddle off to use on the Brompton.
It was a really good bike and has been round New Zealand and done the end to end.
Thanks for the honesty and concern from the finder.
I have also uploaded a photo of it at John O'Groats, to show it really was mine.
Steve Freear