KHS Bicycles to shutter US operations after 50 years

American/Taiwanese bike brand KHS has announced that it is closing down operations in the US, with its last day of business approaching on May 31, 2026. KHS Bicycles – an acronym that stands for 'Knowledge, Health, Strength' – got its start as part of the Taiwanese KHS Group, which initially manufactured a range of products under license from Yamaha, including musical instruments and motorcycles. The bicycle division was established in the US in 1974, and over the years created a broad range of bikes across numerous categories, with one milestone being the introduction of the first Taiwanese-made road bike with Reynolds 531 tubing to the US market. The KHS Factory Racing team was a powerful force in downhill and gravity disciplines, with several national and world champions on its roster; the company also founded sub-brands including Free Agent (BMX) and Manhattan (beach cruisers). In a social media post announcing the closure, the company expressed its gratitude to its "employees, riders, bike dealers, vendors, and customers", saying that it was "proud to have been one of the longest running bicycle businesses in the United States." In comments on the Instagram post, KHS noted that the brand would continue in Taiwan.