BMX - 1 Old dude, 1 old bike....Hyper LP "signature"

OK, I AM 41...
and I do ride a mountain bike ....
BUT I'm not anti anything and BMX really is kinda interesting (I'm in OK shape), particularly streetriding ( MTN bikes are ok but a little big...)

Have chance to buy a Hyper LP signature. Any comments or info? Hyper's website sux...Help....

Oh man, street riding on a Hyper race frame is such a bad idea.

OK, But as far as I know the LP is aan all CroMoly frame and fork, 48 spoke wheels, etc. Hyper refers to it as a street/dirt jumper . It has gussetted top,down tubes, 3pc crank. tough drop outs. It is not a race bike by any "stretch"

Well, according to their website, they only make race bikes. Is it an older bike or something, because I can't say that I've ever heard of it.

http://www.hyperbicycles.com/canada.htm

check the LP

Hmmm... I don't know much about their bikes but it is worth some research on. I question the bike just for how little information is on their website that I could find easily. No weight, very, VERY little in the way of specifications.

Gearing ratios? sealed/unsealed parts? Full 4130 or just partial? Bars, actual brake models, stem, etc? Weight? Pricing?

Not knocking it, just don't know enough about it to be able to say that it is a good bike for the money. Though I am most definitely not a fan of machined aluminum rims. Chrome plated is the only way to go in the BMX world for superior braking.

Oh. That explains it. There's two bike companies called Hyper. I was looking at this one: http://www.hyperbicycles.com/us/ Still, though, that doesn't really look like the best bike in the world. A Haro, Specialized, Fit, or (higher-end) Mongoose is most definitely a better complete.

edit: Wait... they're the same company. It's just that their US page is absolute crap. Not the Canadian page is much better, with that crappy music that you can't turn off.

Crappy site (I've emailed them for more info), but they do sponsor a full team and the team does place well (I am not saying sponsorship=good bikes). Specifications are on the Canadian site. CroMoly 3 psc cranks, CroMoly fork and frame, sealed bearings, Aheadset, Tekpro brakes, Maxxiss tires, Alex rims, etc.

Information is very sketchy regarding the bikes, reviews non-existant on the net.

Chromoly does not = 100% chromoly
Tektro is a company - not a model - Chevy car does not equal Corvette - it could be a Cavalier.
3-piece cranks vary WILDLY in quality with most being similar in quality to 1-piece cranks, but I don't know the price of this bike... drrrrr
Chromoly Fork - same thing - 100%? Is it a 1-piece steer tube? Most are these days I think.
Sealed bearings on the hubs - how about the cranks?
Aheadsets are about the cheapest out there, but they work.
Tires seem fine
Alex rims - but not chrome plated - so the brakes will work for about a week. Seems a waste to me to have strong rims then not have brakes that work.

The hyper lp signature bike is priced a $350 cnd and is sold mostly at canadian tire. its a decent bike, 1 1/8" fork, decent stem (probably pretty heavy though but as far as i no from the people that ride it they say it dosent slip), pretty wide 2 pc bars (they r alright i guess but a little big for my liking), seald hubs, 48 hole alex rims w/ machines sides, maxxis holy roller tires,tektro U brakes front and back(no model name show anywhere not even on the brake itself, they are black and they just say tektro), 44-16 gearing, unseald bearings in the 3 pc cranks,chromoly crank arms, alumminum unsealed welgo pedals w/ 9/16 spindle, dont know any of the frame geometry, oryg sst gyro, hyper LP signature padded jump seat(really huge and ugly). i think thats all i noe about it, hope that helps

Did I mention that in a past life I sold bikes in an independant specialty shop (bike shop)? I know all the jargon, etc. I understand that CroMoly need not =100% CroMoly.

As far as chrome plated rims, bull****. Almost all Mountain bikes use a machined rim and many are anodized , not chromed . Haven't seen or heard of rims wearing out at an accellerated rate (except a buddy who is over 300 lbs heating up the sidewalls of the rim, prior to discs being available).Tekpro brakes (the brand) are inexpensive, but over the course of several years have proven themselves. Tioga Aheadsets are the originals, everyone else pays them licencing.

I am not trolling or looking for a fight or looking to be educated on the basics of bicycle design and creative spec'ing. I was asking about a specific bike, looking for a reply from someone who has person knowledge of the brand and the model. Thanx to all that have replied.

Thanks Fuzzy. Finally someone with a little knowledge about this bike. Thank you for the reply. Prior to V brakes and discs, mountain bikes used side pulls, cantilevers and U brakes.

acctually chrome plate rims increase you braking power alot, most mountain bike use v brakes or disc brakes that why you cant tell the difference

old64 - I'm not trying to pick a fight - but I have designed, specified and been part of building bmx bikes from the ground up - on the front end, not the bike shop end.

Chrome plating is similar to using slick tires on a race car, the physics of it is that bmx freestyle bikes are not designed for all weather riding like mountain bikes, they are designed for dry conditions which provides far superior braking for a much longer period of time than machined aluminum. Machined aluminum does a great job when conditions get wet and muddy, but can't hold a candle to chrome plated rims in dry conditions. This is a VERY common mistake made by mountain bikers who think that just because machined aluminum is best for their riding, it must be best for all riding - and why I just said the chrome was better. Now I've explained it. If you would like I can get further into details of why this is accurate.

If you look at the wheels of 90%+ of pro bmxers who use brakes, they have chrome plated rims. Especially flatlanders who require good braking. The best bikes ($700+ typically come with chrome rims. The best wheelsets are available with chrome rims, etc.

Tektro has proven themselves to have a range of brakes ranging from some of the worst available, to some decent stuff. Nothing they make is as good as some Odyssey Evolvers, they may come close to Dia-Compe AD-990s. But, they also make the brakes on sub $100.00 Wal-Mart bikes - so knowing the model is important, please don't generalize and say "over the course of several years have proven themselves" when you apparently don't know their BMX background and that they most definitely are generally accepted in the bmx world as being mostly low-grade junk.

Finally - Yes, Dia-Compe came out with the Aheadset first - but the Aheadset is not necessarily close to the quality of say their 'Tank' headset, or other versions of their Aheadset which may be a better product. Once again, you are making a generalization that because it is made by Dia-Compe, it is 'the best' when it may just be okay, and there may be better values out there.

MOST OF ALL - You don't know, and it is hard to say because they don't sell those bikes all over the place and online. The specifications for their bikes, including geometry and full details are nearly completely non-existant on their website. Look at what Haro puts out for information on their website. Look at Mongoose. This information is important and despite the few people on those bikes that may very well be newbie riders and not have good information, the best way is from specs.

If you want to look at the best riders as a judgement, then get a Haro - you have Mirra & Nyquist, so the bikes must be good. ;) (obvious sarcasm)

It is just very hard to get by with the specs posted and you have to get by some of the stuff you believe to be a universal truth because it applies to mountain bikes.

Thanx BMXTRIX and all.

OK I did generalize. But as I stated, I am looking for specific info on this model. I understand materials very well and I will give it you that in dry conditions, a hard braking surface is better and weather doesn't usually stop me from riding, and yes, mountain bike specific stuff is quite "specialized" (pardon the pun) for the conditions most often seen.

Slicks on a race (drag) car when heated work in a number of ways. But the heat generally softens the rubber compounds providing more traction and the Tire "grows"in diameter as it accelerates and can effect gearing, etc.

Tektro brakes do vary, but generally are looked upon in mountain bike terms as "good value". Often setting up your brakes for maximum braking and upgrading the pads goes a long ways to increasing the performance of even the worst brakes out there. (But I'd keep a shimano servo wave brake lever/ U brake set up over most).

I have been to other sites and do agree that almost every manufacturer has better specifications and information on their sites than Hyper, I hope they email me back some info.

Perhaps the best thing to do here is kill this thread, but I invite any or all to email me privately to continue the discussion should anyone care to.

Their specifications DO suck (because they are non existant), as do their website(s).