1953 Viking Short Base Underslung Tracker

Viking SBU Tracker reproduced by Trevor Jarvis

This interesting track bike was made by Trevor Jarvis, and is a replica of the Viking SBU Tracker from 1953. 

Trevor is well known for his ability to cut intricate and ornate custom lugs, and for reviving unusual designs like this SBU and the Baines-style Flying Gate (check out our Andy Hamel bike for an idea).

Alfred Victor Davies founded Viking Cycle Company in 1908 in Wolverhampton, England.  The company fortune ebbed and flowed with the World Wars and demand for their bicycles.  This model is from a high water mark in the 1950s.

The original SBU bikes are a bit of a rarity, with only seven bikes ever having been produced.  The radical design of the chain stays was meant to produce a more stable, and at the same time a better sprinting, bike for the velodrome.

Original Viking headbadge, Trevor Jarvis’ lugwork

Original Viking decals, great details

Very innovative design, don’t you think?

Trevor cut this dropout by hand

This original ad explained the design

The reality was that the bikes were a bit whippy when sprinting out of the saddle.

If you enjoyed looking at our Viking replica here, you should thank our friend Jeff and understand what a powerful force the desire to “complete” a collection is. As we stated above, there were only seven Viking SBU trackers ever made, and Jeff couldn’t find one, so he had Trevor Jarvis make him one… I’m fairly certain that Jeff has never even ridden it.