US bike manufacturer Lynskey Performance Products, LLC has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In an April 30 filing, the Chattanooga, Tennessee-based company reported between $1 and $10 million in liabilities, and assets valued between $0 and $50,000. Another filing suggests the company had $59,000 in cash on hand as of April 30, 2026.
The Lynskey family has been building titanium bikes since 1984
In 1984, members of the Lynskey family started Litespeed Titanium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Fifteen years later, in 1999, the family sold that business, and Litespeed continues to operate independently today. Seven years later, in January of 2006, Lynskey Performance Products was formed. This year marks Lynskey’s 20th anniversary, and 100% of the company is owned by members of the Lynskey family.
Lynskey is known for producing high-quality titanium bike frames in the USA and is credited with many manufacturing and design innovations, including Helix tubing, shown in the photo above. According to a Wikipedia entry, “Helix tubing consists of a twisted titanium tube to gain the benefits of both a round tube and a beam.”
The brand is beloved among buyers, who praise the bikes’ ride feel and durability. Known for particularly helpful and friendly employees, Lynskey built a loyal following over the years. The company employed 31 full-time workers as of the bankruptcy filing.
In addition to building and marketing mountain, gravel, and road bike frames under their own name, Lynskey has reportedly manufactured bicycle frames for other brands, including Salsa, Kona, and Sage.
Chargebacks and increasing prices reduced cash flow
Singletracks first learned of the Lynskey bankruptcy filing via a post to the r/Cycling Reddit forum and has confirmed details based on public legal filings. The original Reddit poster noted their bike order was significantly delayed, leading them to initiate a chargeback with their credit card company. An April 30 letter to the customer informed them of the company’s bankruptcy filing.
Paperwork filed by Lynskey notes the company fell behind on order fulfillment due to reduced cashflow, which limited their ability to purchase certain components. Shopify chargebacks put a further strain on the business, according to a filing by a company representative.
Rising material costs were also cited. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis data shows that titanium prices are up about 40% since 2021.
The bankruptcy filing suggests more than 200 creditors are owed. Top creditors include component brands FSA ($161,594.91) and SRAM ($108,623.25). An $80,000 credit card debt to Chase Visa is listed as well.
Chapter 11 is not the end, it’s just a reset
In the United States, Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows a business to continue operating while restructuring its debt through the court system. The Lynskey website remains operational and shows that most bikes and frames are still available for purchase. Frames in particular are offered at a significant discount.
For example, a Live Wire hardtail mountain bike frame, originally priced at $1,650, is on sale for $875, a nearly 50% discount. A complete Live Wire, with a Shimano Deore mechanical drivetrain and a Cane Creek Helm or Fox Factory 34 SL fork, is priced at $2,975. Even at full MSRP, Lynskey bike frames are priced significantly lower than competing brands like Moots, which charges $5,399 for their Womble hardtail frame.
US bike and component manufacturers have suffered recently
Earlier this year, Paragon Machine Works announced their abrupt closure after 43 years in business. Paragon, located in California, manufactured “a wide variety of bicycle frame building components in titanium, steel, stainless steel, and aluminum,” and supplied those parts to many US-based frame builders and consumers alike.
A previous wave of restructuring and closures hit bike brands in the US and abroad following supply chain struggles that began in 2020.
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