BMX - Goodbye, Haro

My '89 Haro Master (with all parts from my old '87 Team Master) was stolen. This bike was the holy grail form my childhood, bought new with money earned mowing lawns. I was 14 when I got that frame and merged it with my '87, and I rode in small town Ortonville, Michigan from sun-up to sun-down on Summer breaks.

I remember building my quarter pipe at 13 years old with my Dad, and the look on his face when he realized what exactly I was going to do with it.

I remember flatlanding at the fire station on Sashabaw Rd.- some of the only flat concrete within several miles from my house.

I remember riding down to the Cracker Barrel and getting a Snickers and a glass-bottle Gatorade.

I remember cutting half the height off that same quarter pipe and trailering it out to my friends grandma's house and lake jumping into the Holloway Lake reserve, the most beautiful lake in the woods I have ever seen to this day. I vividly recall the smell of the lake water and the pine trees being so intoxicating.

I remember riding the invisible half-pipe (rope slung over a tree branch tied to a motorcycle tire) in my best friend's driveway.

I remember riding in Union Lake with Taj and Ron one day and realizing these guys were gonna be pro some day.

I remember riding home in the pitch dark from friend's houses on cool Summer nights, being frightened by the sound of the rustling corn stalks just off the side of the road, yet invisible in the ink black darkness.

I remember riding home from my girlfriends house in that same inky darkness one night with a smile on my face after becoming a man.

Now, at 34 years old with 3 young boys, I was looking forward to passing this bike on to my oldest son when he was big enough to ride it.

Knowing that I'll never see my Haro again and that my son will never get to ride it breaks my heart worse than any girl ever has.

Goodbye Haro. Thank you for the best times of my life. I pray that God one day gives me the strength to forgive the one who stole you from me. I hope in the end you end up in one piece, with a child somewhere making memories the way I did with you. :thumb:

sorry to hear....

how'd it get stolen?

how'd it get stolen?

Back in 2000 I gave it to my cousin, when he was 16. Well he's 24 now and hasn't ridden it in years, so I asked for it back so I could ride it 'till my oldest kid would be big enough to ride it. His Dad died last month and I went up for the funeral, but I live in Texas now and had no way to get it back. He was going to get it and ship it down after the Holiday weekend, but some of the **** bag ass hat losers in my family broke into his Dad's garage and looted, including my bike.

I've checked Ebay and Craigslist for Metro Detroit but it hasn't come up.

That really stinks dude, I wish the best for you and the bike.

That really stinks dude, I wish the best for you and the bike.

THX

You and Taj were friends?

Ya. We met at Waterford Oaks BMX track and rode together from time to time back in the day.

Sad story. Sorry to hear about that.

dude that sucks. all of those memories on the bike, pretty much gone. that really sucks

dude that sucks. all of those memories on the bike, pretty much gone. that really sucks

To the contrary, I always have the memories. That ****head that took my bike can't get those.

I went to lunch here in downtown Austin and a buncha dudes jumped out of the back of a truck, grabbed their bikes out and rode out. Austin is a mecca for riding street, not to mention the 9th street BMX scene. Ya it's time to get back in it... maybe I'll stop by Empire BMX on the way home and see what's goin on.

Any suggestions before I go? I need a bike that can do it all, and I'm old school so I'm not into this no brake **** I see happening. I'm not into that trimoly high-tensile crap either. 100% chromo. I don't want a flatland bike since those things have no or almost no head tube angle, but I will do some flatland. I'll probably never go to a park, but I will dirt jump.

Now, at 34 years old with 3 young boys, I was looking forward to passing this bike on to my oldest son when he was big enough to ride it.

Knowing that I'll never see my Haro again and that my son will never get to ride it breaks my heart worse than any girl ever has.

I feel your pain! Sorry to hear about your loss. Sounds like you had the best of times with that bike, bro. It's hard not to wish horrible afflictions on the thieves in a situation like that. Indeed, retribution will find them in time.

On the bright(est)side, you have three boys to share your passion with now. Teach them. Ride with them. They have a lot to learn from you. When they're old enough and you've taught them the basics, they'll be off creating their own life-long memories. My two younger brothers and I started out helping each other learn to ride our old hand-me-down Schwinn in the parking lot around the corner - no dad, no training wheels. No doubt, some of my best memories.

Summer has barely started and my 9yr old son has been bugging me everyday to ride with him. I say "bugging" because I'm old(also 34) and I'm running low on youth hours. I realized however, that I need to take advantage of his enthusiasm while I can. Soon he'll meet more kids his age to ride with and he'll stop asking me to go with him. He has given me the best excuse to visit all the hottest bmx spots in Austin. It should be a great summer to ride! So, go get yourself another 20" and get back in the game! Your memories will never die. New memories are always waiting to be created.:thumb:

Now, at 34 years old with 3 young boys, I was looking forward to passing this bike on to my oldest son when he was big enough to ride it.

Knowing that I'll never see my Haro again and that my son will never get to ride it breaks my heart worse than any girl ever has.

I feel your pain! Sorry to hear about your loss. Sounds like you had the best of times with that bike, bro. It's hard not to wish horrible afflictions on the thieves in a situation like that. Indeed, retribution will find them in time.

On the bright(est)side, you have three boys to share your passion with now. Teach them. Ride with them. They have a lot to learn from you. When they're old enough and you've taught them the basics, they'll be off creating their own life-long memories. My two younger brothers and I started out helping each other learn to ride our old hand-me-down Schwinn in the parking lot around the corner - no dad, no training wheels. No doubt, some of my best memories.

Summer has barely started and my 9yr old son has been bugging me everyday to ride with him. I say "bugging" because I'm old(also 34) and I'm running low on youth hours. I realized however, that I need to take advantage of his enthusiasm while I can. Soon he'll meet more kids his age to ride with and he'll stop asking me to go with him. He has given me the best excuse to visit all the hottest bmx spots in Austin. It should be a great summer to ride! So, go get yourself another 20" and get back in the game! Your memories will never die. New memories are always waiting to be created.:thumb: