I remember back when I was about 23 I think, so around 1983 I think it was if my memory serves me which with dates it normally doesnt LOL but i digress A friend of my Brothers bought one of the first of these in NZ and he let me take t for a ride, Loved it and for while ther eit was on my list to get if I ever got a Powerful road bike, but I never got into road bikes so never got one