Kore Bicycle Components

sales@kore-usa.com

History

Our foray into the bicycle industry began in the early nineties as a manufacturer of lightweight seatposts. We eventually took over the marketing of these posts and opened an office for Kore in `93. Our offerings grew to include the first suspension oriented lightweight skewers and a lightweight stem (now known as the Lite stem). By `95 our offerings had grown to include two product levels; the Elite, our American made products, and the Lite, an assortment of components made in Taiwan.

Though Kore officially began in `93, our roots reach back to the introduction of the Thrashguard in `90. This removable bolt on bashguard paved the way for many of today's “Street” frames. Since then, we've continued to make advancements in the “Street” and “Flatland” scenes and have since added a few main stream products to our BMX line.

Following is a chronological history of Kore:
   

Two cycling enthusiasts (Martin and Charlie Kurke) at Coast West Manufacturing in El Segundo, California begin producing components for the bicycle industry.
  

Bob Morales, founder of Dyno Products and Auburn Cycles, creates the Thrashguard under the Kore Products name.
  

The Kurke brothers create a new lightweight seat post for mountain biking and file for a patent.

In late 92 the Kurke brothers meet with Bob Morales and Jimmy Simeone and together they create Kore Bicycle Components.
  

Kore opens an office in Northridge, California and later receive the patent for the seat post.

Kore’s first line of components included the welded 6061 Lite Post and the first skewers designed for suspension forks.
  

Kore receives a patent for the Aheadlite stem.

The skewers split into two models, Elite and Suspension.  The seat post also split into two models, Elite and Lite.
  

Kore moves some production to Taiwan and expands the line.  New US products include the Elite stem that includes Headshok sizes and the Elite mountain bar produced by Easton.

New Taiwan produced products include a chromoly version of the Suspension skewers, G.A.S.S. clipless pedals and the Chain Reactor.

Kore drops the welded post design in favor of a new bonded post.  The new models are the Lite Post 2 and the US made Elite Post 2.

Kore does a special run of thermoplastic mountain bars.

Kore re-enters the freestyle BMX market with Street and Flatland forks, Rusty and Flatland pegs.

Towards the end of the year Kore stops the production of 1 ¼”Aheadlite stems.

Towards the end of the year, Kore moves to a larger facility in Santa Ana, California.
  

Kore receives a patent for the Elite stem. Kore introduces the Lite 3 stem, the Lite mountain bar, the welded Torsion rise bar, changes the tubing on the Lite Post 2 from 6061 to 2014, and changes the name of the Aheadlite stem to Lite.

Kore tests and then releases in late 97 the US made, fully machined B52 stem.
  

Kore begins testing of the lighter weight Elite Torsion handlebar

Kore introduces the Lite Road stem, the freestyle Candybar, freecoaster cogs, their first forged stem, the Lite 3D and the Elite Speed Rims.

Changes to the line include moving the top two bolts on the Lite 3 stem to the front and dropping production of both the 1” Lite stem and 1 ¼” Elite stem.

Towards the end of the year, Kore stops production of the Torsion bar.
  

Kore introduces a 40mm B52 and drops the 90mm length.

Kore ends production of the Lite stem and Elite Speed rim.

A well known BMX supplier goes under and Kore takes over their line that includes numerous jumping oriented products. 

Kore’s new BMX products include the B’atch post, Speed Hoop rims, the B1B BMX stem, Pistole tensioners and Satellite hubs.

Kore begins testing Scandium seat post tubes.
  

Kore replaces the Lite 3D with the lighter weight Lite Forged stem and replaces the Lite Road stem with the removable faceplate Road 2. 

The Lite 2 mountain bar is introduced, as are the Freeride and Xcountry rise bars, the Strictly-D welded rise bar, the B1B downhill stem and the Platform pedals.

Towards the end of the year, Hoochie hubs, Bigguns hubs and the Sweet 69 stem replace the Satellite hubs and B1B stem.  Other new BMX products include 24-inch Speed Hoop rims, stainless steel tensioners and disc brake mounts for BMX frames.

Towards the end of the year Kore introduces the Elite and Lite road handlebars.

Kore begins production of the Elite Scandium seat post while stopping production of the GASS clipless pedals.

Kore hires Active Sports Products to assist with sales and marketing in Europe and the Middle East.