Barracuda bikes began at Barracuda Bicycle Company (Durango, USA), shifted to Ross Bicycles in 1996, and later appeared in the UK via Moore Large.
If you’ve run across a Barracuda frame at a garage sale or you’re eyeing a new-old-stock model online, you probably want a straight answer on who builds these bikes and whether the name still points to one maker. This page gives you that answer up top, then walks through the history, the UK chapter, and a quick way to identify what you have.
Who Makes Barracuda Bikes? The Short History
The name started in Durango, Colorado under the Barracuda Bicycle Company in the early 1990s. Founders Dave Southwell and Jon Wege launched the brand as a mountain bike outfit with racing ambitions. Early steel work came from Tom Teesdale, and some alloy race frames were produced by Yeti Cycles. In 1996 the business and trademarks moved to Ross Bicycles, which produced Barracuda-branded models for several years. In the 2010s the name surfaced in the UK as a value line distributed by Moore Large, a large UK distributor. That UK chapter wasn’t a direct continuation of the Durango company; it was a market-specific range managed by the distributor and supplied by contract factories. Vintage model lists and stories live on the Barracuda archive, and side-by-side comparisons there explain when Ross production replaced Durango frames on the comparison page.
| Years | Maker Or Steward | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 1991–1995 | Barracuda Bicycle Company (Durango, USA) | Original US mountain bikes; team program and distinctive tubing. |
| 1993–1994 | Yeti Cycles (select frames) | Alloy race frames built for the team and high spec models. |
| Early 1990s | Tom Teesdale (TET) | Early steel prototypes and production runs. |
| 1996–late 1990s | Ross Bicycles (New York) | Brand and production moved; wider retail reach. |
| 2014 season | Moore Large (UK distributor) | UK relaunch of Barracuda road/urban bikes. |
| 2015–2022 | Moore Large house line | Budget models in UK retailers and catalogues. |
| 2023– | Post-Moore Large auctions | Stock and some IP sold in administration; branding in flux. |
Why The Brand Has Multiple Makers
Barracuda isn’t one continuous factory story. It’s a name that moved through different owners and production partners. The US parent ran short of cash by the mid-1990s, so Ross Bicycles took over. Much later, UK consumers saw the logo on entry-level models because a distributor owned or licensed the mark in its market. That’s why two riders can both say “my Barracuda” and mean very different bikes.
Who Manufactures Barracuda Bikes Now: Brand Status And Rights
In 2025 there’s no single global producer. In North America the original Durango company no longer makes bikes, and the Ross period ended years ago. In the UK, Moore Large went into administration in March 2023 and administrators auctioned stock and brand assets. Retailers continue to sell remaining Barracuda-branded inventory, and the trademark or range could be revived by a new owner, but day-to-day manufacturing is not tied to one factory or group.
Quick Answer For Shoppers
- If you’re buying a vintage US model, it traces to the Durango company; some high-end frames link to Yeti or Tom Teesdale.
- If you’re buying a late-1990s US model, it was made under Ross Bicycles.
- If you’re buying a 2014–2022 UK model, it came through Moore Large’s supplier network.
- Current new stock in UK stores is likely remaining inventory from the Moore Large era.
How To Tell Which Barracuda You Have
Start with three clues: frame details, serials, and decals. US-era frames often show shaped top tubes and gussets, with model names like A2M, A2E, or Dos Equis. Some early steel frames carry TET or US-made tells. Team and high-spec alloy frames from the first half of the 1990s can resemble Yeti work. Ross-era models pivot to mass-market fittings and different geometry. UK-line bikes after 2014 follow modern entry-budget patterns: straight steerer, disc-ready dropouts on some models, and catalogue specs aimed at commuters and new riders.
Serial Numbers And Labels
Serial formats vary. A Union Jack or Moore & Large decal on a head tube or seat tube is a UK clue. A Durango sticker or US dealer tag points the other way. If the bottom-bracket stamp looks like common Asian OEM formats from the 2010s, you’re likely in the UK-line bucket.
Components As A Dating Tool
Part groups tell time. Vintage US builds may carry Shimano Deore DX, LX, or early XT; forks like RockShox Judy date a bike to the mid-1990s. Ross-period rigs trend to Acera/Altus and coil forks. UK-era bikes lean to 3×7 or 3×8 drivetrains, mechanical discs on some models, and square-taper cranks.
Buying Tips For A Used Barracuda
Decide which era you want. A Durango-era frame is about nostalgia and ride feel; budget a service and chase cracks before you commit. Ross-era bikes can be decent around-town rides once serviced. UK-line models are value commuters and trail-path bikes; judge them by condition and parts, not the badge alone.
What To Check In Person
- Alignment: sight down the stays; look for ripples or dents near welds.
- Suspension: old coil forks may stick; plan for a service or swap.
- Brakes: UK-era mechanical discs often need new pads and cables.
- Wheels: spin for hops; many budget rims bend easily.
- Drivetrain: chain stretch kills cassettes; check with a gauge.
Who Makes Barracuda Bikes? Current Retail Picture
In UK stores you’ll see Barracuda tags on closeout mountain and hybrid models. Those are sell-through bikes from warehouses cleared after the 2023 administration. A few retailers still list them alongside other house brands. That doesn’t mean one factory is behind everything; distributors source from multiple OEM plants based on price and spec.
Model Names You Might See
Common UK-line names include Rock, Draco, Mayhem, and Corvus. Vintage US names include A2M, A2E, A2Z, and XV. Ross sold a spread across entry and mid-range with more generic spec sheets. If you see a women’s trekking model or a city hybrid with rim brakes and a triple crank, that’s squarely in the UK distributor chapter.
Care, Safety, And Parts Availability
You can still keep any Barracuda rolling with mainstream parts. Headsets, bottom brackets, cassettes, chains, pads, and tires all have modern replacements. For odd hanger shapes on vintage frames, hunt small-batch hangers or take the chance to run a single-speed. Keep cockpit torque sensible on older alloy to avoid crushed tubes.
Price And Value By Era
Values track era and condition. Clean Durango hardtails fetch the most; Teesdale or Yeti links add a premium. Ross-period completes sell lower. UK-line hybrids and MTBs are the cheapest; buy on straight frames and fresh service.
Fit And Sizing On Older Frames
Early-1990s geometry runs long and low. Check standover and reach, not a size sticker. Many use 26-inch wheels; tire choice is narrower than 27.5/29er.
Safety Note On Brakes And Forks
Inspect rim-brake tracks for wear lines. Retire cracked or binding elastomer forks. On UK-era mechanical discs, new pads and caliper centering restore bite.
Why The Question Keeps Coming Up
People often ask, “who makes barracuda bikes?” because search pages mix US race bikes with UK store models. The answer depends on year and market. Listings rarely name the era clearly.
Parts Sources And Manuals
No master site. The vintage archive covers the US story; retailer support pages carry PDFs for UK-era bikes. Use those for torque specs and assembly videos.
| Clue | What It Suggests | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Union Jack or “Moore & Large Co LTD” sticker | UK distributor era | Check UK-spec parts and rim/tire sizes. |
| RockShox Judy or Deore XT on a ’Cuda | Early-mid 1990s US race spec | Inspect alloy welds; budget for elastomers or spring conversion. |
| Serial like AM97020100 | Late 1990s UK-linked | Search retailer manuals and support pages. |
| “Ross Bicycles” paperwork | Post-1996 US production | Verify headset/fork sizes before upgrades. |
| Flat top tube with gusset and US decals | Durango origin | Look for cracks near seat cluster and BB shell. |
| Disc mounts with 3×7 drivetrain | 2010s UK budget | Plan pad/cable refresh and tire upgrade. |
| Catalogue spec names like Draco or Rock | UK house line | Value the bike by condition, not badge. |
Where This Information Comes From
The Durango chapter is documented by long-running Barracuda archival pages and first-hand histories. The Ross transfer appears in period accounts and model comparisons. The 2014 UK relaunch and the 2023 administration are covered by mainstream cycling outlets and auction case studies. For a clear UK news piece on the relaunch, see BikeRadar’s 2014 brand update. For the administration and auctions that followed, see CyclingWeekly’s 2023 report. A typical UK retailer support page, such as Argos Barracuda Energy, also shows Moore Large as the contact on product paperwork.
Real-World Examples By Era
Take a clean A2M with Deore LX and a Judy fork. That places it in the early-mid 1990s Durango chapter. A hardtail with Altus, a coil fork, and a Ross warranty card sits in the takeover years. A 27.5-wheel Draco with mechanical discs and UK sizing stickers signals a Moore Large catalogue bike. Three badges, three builders, one name across decades.
A Straight Answer You Can Use
Ask the question sellers hear: who makes barracuda bikes? US-made frames trace to Durango company, some with Yeti or Tom Teesdale work. Late-1990s paperwork points to Ross. UK bikes link to Moore Large. Once you place the bike, buy parts by standard sizes.