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Brix · 2010-08-10 4:47pm

1987 Kia Stinger

No, it's not a GT!

(replica 1988 GT Performer)

I bought this bike off eBay. Very little is known about this bike's history. The seller wasn't the original owner. The bike was already customized to its current state when he bought it. He suggested that it was possibly a 1987 Kia Stinger, based on some photos he had seen here in the Museum (I searched but found nothing here). I kept searching online and finally found some pictures of the Stinger (see last 3 photos). Based on these photos, I believe that this bike is in fact one of them. There is no visible serial # from what I can tell. The only parts I can identify are the GT-stamped A'ME Tri grips, the Sate-Lite "Mag-Lite" wheels and Kenda tires, along with the Odyssey Gyro that I added. The sprocket is a plain white disc with a custom-made GT logo sticker (whomever made it did a nice job of replicating the look of a real GT sprocket). If anyone has any information on this bike, especially what the frame/fork are made of, please share your knowledge. Thanks!
P.S. In case you're wondering, yes....this is the same Kia company that makes automobiles! So essentially, this could be the coolest ride that Kia ever manufactured! LOL!!!!!

View Bike In Museum

Brix · 2010-08-10 4:50pm

Here's what I think the bike may have looked like before it got the GT makeover:

Brix · 2010-10-15 9:54am

UPDATE...just uploaded some new pics of the bike after a Gyro was added. I really love the bright blue color of this bike.

redzone · 2011-04-30 12:10pm

Ok this brings me way back, I can remember as a kid drooling over this bike at a toys r us in Phoenix because it was such (to me anyway) a close copy of a GT and within my price range. It was glow pink and there was one in glow green if I remember correctly. The frame stander is what got my attention because it's alot like the performer. I remember the "freestyle" stickers and I wanna say they were going for around $150. Glad now I didnt settle because I got a Redline but I probably wouldnt have minded this stinger either. Nice find!

Brix · 2011-04-30 7:01pm

redzone wrote:
Ok this brings me way back, I can remember as a kid drooling over this bike at a toys r us in Phoenix because it was such (to me anyway) a close copy of a GT and within my price range. It was glow pink and there was one in glow green if I remember correctly. The frame stander is what got my attention because it's alot like the performer. I remember the "freestyle" stickers and I wanna say they were going for around $150. Glad now I didnt settle because I got a Redline but I probably wouldnt have minded this stinger either. Nice find!

Wow...thanks for the info! Seems like you know more about this bike's history than I do. And thanks for adding my bike to your fave list...much appreciated!!

Bling! Bling! · 2011-07-04 11:45am

Awesome! Rare as heck.
I love the lesser known bikes, it's a miracle those survived considering everybody wanted a brand name bike back then.

Brix · 2011-07-04 3:56pm

maxbore wrote:
Awesome! Rare as heck.
I love the lesser known bikes, it's a miracle those survived considering everybody wanted a brand name bike back then.

Thanks! I see you've got some nice rarities in your collection as well.

CWCaliFree86 · 2011-11-19 7:36pm

It's also the FASTEST vehicle Kia has ever made.

Flatlandfox · 2011-12-22 11:26pm

Very cool!!

Brix · 2011-12-23 6:51am

CWCaliFree86 wrote:
It's also the FASTEST vehicle Kia has ever made.

You might just be right about that!

Flatlandfox wrote:
Very cool!!

Much appreciated!

floridabmx · 2012-05-17 4:50am

I have a frame and fork if you know of anyone interested its pink nuts been spray bombed black

FRESSTYLE FREEK · 2012-06-20 10:17am

cool ass bike they shure did rip off GT.

goodfella1177 · 2013-01-27 10:27am

Omg, I had the pink version of this bike when I was a kid. It been driving me crazy trying to remember the name of it! Couldn't afford a GT Performer and dreamed of doing this to mine. Nice treat to see this bike.

Brix · 2014-01-19 10:03pm

So Kia decides to name their latest concept car the GT4 Stinger....wonder if the name was inspired by the bike?

rbell1970 · 2015-08-29 7:43pm

I also had one of these GT look a likes,got it for $10 bucks,all the parts where like the performer,but nothing was stamped,from my research I tracked it down to a company here in L.A.they also made low rider bikes,I ended up selling cause I had to many projects at the time.

evermore · 2016-07-07 8:26am

are those nuts and bolts holding the chain wheel to the spider In the last picture? wow, what the hell. lol

Brix · 2016-07-07 8:20pm

evermore wrote:
are those nuts and bolts holding the chain wheel to the spider In the last picture? wow, what the hell. lol

LOL, good eye...I never noticed that before (the "before" pictures aren't mine). At least they used nuts and bolts and not a piece of chewed-up bubble gum, I suppose.

ritchiecamaro · 2017-11-07 2:10am

I also own a Kia, an '83 Kia Chrome Aero KMX... Not a single one in the museum... I haven't submitted it to the museum yet, I am still working on it slowly, but here are a few pix of it in different stages...

I have since changed direction with this build... I have decided to build it with parts that were more likely to have been closer to what these came stock with... I can not find a single pic of one of these ANYWHERE for reference, so I am using what I stumble across around here that I think might be appropriate for this type of dept. store Hi-Ten bike...

Brix · 2018-03-30 4:22am

^^^
Nice build, Ritchie!!

coolcat70-1 · 2019-02-08 6:07pm

Awesome

Curbdog · 2022-03-08 3:51pm

Here's a pic of a KIA for sale on CL right now

Brix · 2022-03-20 7:40am

^^^Nice! It appears that one does not have the built-in seatpost clamp.

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1987 Kia Stinger

#1 2010-08-10 4:47pm

1987 Kia Stinger

#2 2010-08-10 4:50pm

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#3 2010-10-15 9:54am

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#4 2011-04-30 12:10pm

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#5 2011-04-30 7:01pm

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

redzone wrote:

#6 2011-07-04 11:45am

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#7 2011-07-04 3:56pm

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

maxbore wrote:

#8 2011-11-19 7:36pm

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#9 2011-12-22 11:26pm

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#10 2011-12-23 6:51am

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

CWCaliFree86 wrote:

Flatlandfox wrote:

#11 2012-05-17 4:50am

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#12 2012-06-20 10:17am

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#13 2013-01-27 10:27am

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#14 2014-01-19 10:03pm

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#15 2015-08-29 7:43pm

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#16 2016-07-07 8:26am

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#17 2016-07-07 8:20pm

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

evermore wrote:

#18 2017-11-07 2:10am

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#19 2018-03-30 4:22am

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#20 2019-02-08 6:07pm

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#21 2022-03-08 3:51pm

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

#22 2022-03-20 7:40am

Re: 1987 Kia Stinger

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