I bought this ride as a beater from a pawn shop back in 1999 or 2000. I've always kind of wondered what exactly I'm rolling around on, and it finally occurred to me to snap some pics and ask.

I know for a fact that the bars, grips, brakes, levers, pedals and tyres are not originals, as they've been replaced since I've owned the bike. Anything else might be original, or might've been a previous owner's replacements. Looks like the original paint job was yellow (at least at the back), going by the bits showing through where the black has chipped off. It was already black (and chipped) when I picked it up. I don't know what the lines in the black paint are, or whether they're intentional or just poor quality paint wearing out in an interesting way.

Any ideas what this is? What it was meant for? How much of it looks like it's still original? My best guess would be something mid-90's, based on the condition it was in when I bought it (though it could be more recent and just really badly neglected), but I really have no idea.

(Yes, I do ride this without a seat clamp -- it's never had one as long as I've owned it, but the deformed seat tube combined with the slack angle seems to hold the seat in place ok.)

On with the pics:

http://i1.tinypic.com/7w717p1.jpg
http://i9.tinypic.com/8aocnjp.jpg
http://i7.tinypic.com/715l8qu.jpg
http://i10.tinypic.com/6slss3d.jpg
http://i17.tinypic.com/715qfc7.jpg

Any logos or serial numbers on the dropouts, bb, or anywhere else? That will help.

None that I remember seeing in the past, but I don't think I've ever had a good look for them. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they're painted over and invisible, but I'll have a good thorough look tomorrow out in the sunshine and see what turns up.

I've been poking around a bit on bmxmuseum.com. Eyeballing, it looks very much like it might be a 1997 Haro Zippo, though this one thread reckons the 1997 Haro Revo (which I haven't been able to find any other information about anywhere) is more or less the same: http://bmxmuseum.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=20515

(If this is a 1997 model Haro, the previous owner needs to be smacked for bringing it to such a state in only 2-3 years!)

The logo on the seat (you can kinda make it out in the 4th pic) seems to be a Haro logo: two downward-pointing arrows with a stylised H beneath. I've found the same two arrows (minus the H) barely visible through the paint on each of the rear dropouts, so it looks like the frame is a Haro of some sort. One of the rear dropouts looks like it might have something else on it too, but it's so faint I'm not sure it's not just quirks in the paint work.

Had a really close look at the rest of the frame, particularly the head tube, seat tube and bottom bracket, and can't see any other markings, at least not that are visible through the paint.

The rest of it's about as much of a mongrel as I thought: Alex rims, Formula hubs, Mongoose crank and chainwheel, and then all the bits I've added or replaced. My guess is the previous owner couldn't afford a brand name ride new, but managed to scrounge one together out of used parts.

Still curious about the frame's year and model. If there's anything I could photograph in higher resolution that would help, please sing out. :)

Torker was always famous for their dual top tube frames, but I don't ever remember one that came together like that halfway to the head tube.

from the looks of it , just from the sprocket it was of a mongoose and still looking at it it looks like a mongoose design around the 97 and bellow era, definitely only in the mid school range. you are right good observation about the torker but i know it is definitely not a torker. I would say it is a mongoose freestyle bike for sure but dang I just don't remember the model. maybe an Mongoose Californian if I remember perfectly. Yah for sure I put faith on that it is a mongoose californian.

HAHAHAHA I belive i have that type goose frame in my backyard.

It's a Haro. A mid 90's, low-end Haro, but a Haro never the less.
It's NOT a Mongoose Californian. Those were single TT race bikes.
-Bill

my bust you are right. not the californian, i was thinking of hooligan, sniper. But yah like he said it is a Haro, Haro blammo. before 1996. I am having a kick of this, name that frame.