BMX - 1980s Nostalgia Thread

Okay, this is for all the old, old school dudes to post things from the 'golden era' of BMX.

I'll start with a few great ones:


Eddie Fiola


RL Osborn


Stu Thomsen

-Paul

Redline was a bad ride back in the day, I remember Cook Bros. had a sweet frame, GT was still a small company, Hutch had some good stuff, Mongoose had that chrome frame with the big headtube gusset, there was PK Ripper too, I could go on and on.

Z-rims and Oakley 3's (ergonomic grips) were hot. Arai aluminum rims were strong.

This was way before this ramp stuff, the bikes were super light and precision.

Stu Thomsen was the man, 'cause he was like three times the age of all of the competition. I always figured he was a ringer.

There was that INSANE movie called "Rad", with that scene when they play "Dream weaver" at the dance, and then...........Oh, man.

Brian Blyther


Ron Wilkerson


Mike Dominguez and Woody Itson

Martin Aparijo


Dennis McCoy


Mike Buff

Patterson, CW, Hutch Prostar and Trickstar, GHP, Redline 600a PL20 and RL20 Prostyler, Skyway TA, Thruster, Schwinn Predator, Vector, GT Pro Performer, Haro Freestyler Master and Sport, Dyno, Profile, Diamond Back, Mongoose, Torker II, SE Racing PK Ripper and Quadangle, FMF... what else can you recall?

-Paul

Erzulis I agree 100% about Redline. That was the bike in my mind. I eventually had a white 600a, followed by a PL20 then an RL20II (in radberry!). Like these (not my bikes -- I WISH I still had them!):





I've always loved Redlines!

-Paul

Even that stuff is too new for me!

I was talking like 1980, when the bikes were built for the track races.

We would screw around on the street, and make jumps.

The kid down the street named Wes Barber jumped some huge ramp we made, tried to do the "Tabletop", and never pulled out. He was thrashed. He had a Redline with white Z-rims, and that machine was badass.

Billy Huff had a chrome GT with blue anodized components, it was super fast.

PK Rippers would usually snap at the headtube or bottom bracket after some hard landings.

Diamondback frames were heavy, and were not considered top of the line. That is what I had.

Man, I would have been 10 in 1980, but I got into roadbikes by 12, so I must have missed all the trick bikes.

I first got into BMX with my first bike (Team Murray) in 1981 (age 9), and got big into it 82-88. Raced only a wee bit and then got big into freestyle. As far as the neighborhood gang, my buddy Brad Brand always had the cool bike, from his Predator to his Vector, he always had the cool and unusual ride. Spencer Brown had a Mongoose Californian, Todd Smith had a Diamondback Viper, Trippy Freeman usually had some zoot race bike (GHP, Patterson), Patrick Bader had a Hutch Prostar (then a Trickstar), my brother had a GT Pro Performer (then a couple Haro Masters) and Cliff Sexton had a sweet Redline PL20. There was a guy (I forget his name) that had a PK Ripper and a Quadangle! Big time stuff when you're a preteen! lol

-Paul

Well, here is me in 1985 on my gt pro performer. I know I look like a dork.

Dude, that is awesome. I've totally got pictures just like that of me and my brother! lol

Dude, that is awesome. I've totally got pictures just like that of me and my brother! lol

thanks! its the only one I have of me and my gt, There are a few of me racing bmx but my mom has them. I look like such a dork, but I was so psyched when I got that bike. I wish I still had it!

ODI mushroom grips with the ODI donuts. I remember there was the short lived "I've got the longest cranks" phase.

Oh and here is a little something I foundRadical Rick (http://radicalrick.net/)

Dude! Radical Rick! Oh, my. That brings back memories, man! lol

-Paul

DANG!...to think I offed my Webco frame on eBay last year!! well, I lost track of the matching mag wheels years ago anyway. ..sigh..

I've always loved Redlines!

-Paul
That looks like the one I still own! Mine is radberry, but it's the series before that without the black bottom bracket.

I had a Schwinn Predator which I thought was top notch and could ride a wheelie all day long on it. We spent hours each day at the "Dirt Trails" behind a concrete plant figuring out new ways to wreck ourselves. Somewhere in there I grew up and stopped with the BMX, but lots of memories...those ads you posted are great!

I saved/put together a Hutch ProRacer. Shelled out over $1k in '84...2 years later I got my license then sold it for $150.

I was thinking with the wrong head when I got rid of it.

Are you sure you had a head?

I put a hat on it sometimes, and fixed my hair regularly, so I'd say...yes.

I had the Redline Carrera and 600a. It was all about the track for me, not the park. But that was the early 80's. By 1987 I had a mountain bike.

I still have my first real bmx bike which is a 1987 gt performer. man that bike is knarly.

you mean gnarly? haha

if you didn't know already, www.vintagebmx.com has a ton of old pro's and folks hangin round the forums. talking 'bout the good ol' days.....

you mean gnarly? haha

But the way he spelled it was cool & original, I must say.

My first was a '78 Webco frame that I saved up for and built up with all of my stingray parts, sans banana seat of course ...funny thing was I didn't have enough for a new seat so I rode it around for about three weeks without one. One vacant lot jump too many and Mr. Seat Tube showed me why seats are a good thing and nearly grabbed the jewels! A nice scar from the glory days!

I used to have that Redline, in an avocado like green instead of that pink.

Saved up for a whole year for that bike. Remember the last time you saved all year for something? Yeah, it was probably sometimes back in the 80's! :rolleyes:

i am not quite as old as some of you (1977), but i remember watching "BMX Bandits" multiple times with Nicole Kidman

I had about three raleigh burners with the oval section competition frames, anodised rims, sugino cranks, CW bars and Dia-compe brakes. By god I wish I still had them, they go for a fortune on eBay nowadays.
mx599, is that not something by the fugees?

I had about three raleigh burners with the oval section competition frames, anodised rims, sugino cranks, CW bars and Dia-compe brakes. By god I wish I still had them, they go for a fortune on eBay nowadays.
mx599, is that not something by the fugees?
not the fugees...but there is a connection with the backup singer and the fugees. so you're warm