Classic & Vintage - The Unofficial Vintage BMX Appreciation Thread

I can't take it anymore you guys. We don't discuss these important and historical machines enough on C&V.

Back in the day we ruled the streets from sunup to well after sunset.
We rode anywhere and everywhere.....The Arcade to play that favorite video game, the railroad tracks and abandoned factories, dirt trails, woods, the swimming pool, that "Moon Fun Shop/Head Shop" your parents didn't want you going into, friends' houses, Spencer's Gifts/The Mall....We rode everywhere. We were "Rad" and we thrashed.

There was always an epic search for the cool jump that nobody had found yet; We pushed ourselves to go higher and faster.
DiamondBack, Mongoose, Redline, GT, ACS, Bullseye, Schwinn, Murray, KHS, Dyno, Haro, P.K. Ripper, Hutch, KKT Lightning, Kuwahara, Tuff-Neck, Tioga, Skyway, Laid Back seatposts, Van's...The list is endless.

Welcome friend, this is the place to discuss and show off your old school "dirt bike" BMX bikes.......


http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/s3.jpg

kids... back in the day, the 20" bike to have was a Chopper or a Stingray.

Feathered hair and slip on Vans made us more aerodynamic as we sailed through the air! Fantastic photo. You?

I recently sold off my entire vintage BMX collection, they are cool little bikes, but just not really useful to keep around. It was pretty much all of the bike stuff I collected as a kid.

I am with you on this topic! I too LOVED everything BMX as a kid. Started with a heavy Murray and transitioned into a pretty sweet Redline. My friends had Hutch, Mongoose, Kuwahara, P.K. Ripper, and Diamond Backs.

Shorts and my Op t-shirt and I was out the door first thing in the morning. Good times. :-)

I recently sold off my entire vintage BMX collection, they are cool little bikes, but just not really useful to keep around. It was pretty much all of the bike stuff I collected as a kid.

Yea. Knees smacking you in the jaw gets old. :lol: :innocent:

That's right. Corduroy OP shorts and t-shirt, Vans, and 8 hours of riding around. Devouring every page of the new issue of BMX Action!

Schwinn SX1000, Race Inc. (early aluminum bike), Kuwahara, GT Pro and, finally, a Haro Master. The GT was the best of the bunch.

I really want a cool old BMX like a Haro Master or something but they are danged hard to find in good shape. I had a guy near me selling this beauty, which I think would have cleaned up really nicely but he never got back to me....I am still annoyed at that.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/jetsanchEz/haro2.jpg

I got this weird little guy from a scrap yard and it will be my nephew's once I find a decent fork for it...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/jetsanchEz/blue005.jpg

Here is my oldish Redline Micro Mini.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r162/jsharr/redline/100_1036.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r162/jsharr/redline/100_1034.jpg

I would love to get a 1977 Webco Replica with Skyway Tuff Wheels or a 1976 Graco full suspension moto bike, as these are the first two bikes I can remember owning.

Feathered hair and slip on Vans made us more aerodynamic as we sailed through the air! Fantastic photo. You?

Hee hee! I forgot about feathered hair!!
Not me; My greatest childhood pal, Dale. There was me, Matt, 2 brothers Steve & Jason who always fought over 1 bike in particular, and my best friend Dale..... That photo seems to be the only remaining bit of our childhood times together. Girls, and later wives, came along and we all went our seperate ways....:(

Matt was the cool kid on the block because he had a Supergoose and at that time Mongoose was a dominant BMX name with many Pro riders,
Steve and Jason had beaters like the photo below because their Dad said bikes were "too expensive" and they "didn't deserve those expensive bikes".
Dale had the bike in the photo which was a POS Murray that everybody made fun of him for riding and being the "poor kid".... He could catch better air and fly further/faster than any other bike in the neighborhood. Everything on his bike came out of garbage cans.....

http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG6899.jpg


My first dirt bikes were Schwinn's, followed by my first brand new bike/1st trip to a bike shop with my grandfather. I still remember how wonderful that afternoon felt.

We came home with my first high-end BMX race bike; A 1983 DiamondBack Pacer 500. Fast forward 25 years to 2008, I am digging around the salvage yard for a lugged road bike stem and I find my first "real" BMX bike:

http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG5022.jpg

I would later go on to race BMX for GT bikes.....Which changed my whole life and very likely kept me out of Juvenile Detention Centers......

You raced for GT? Very cool!

One of my youthful highlights was going to the 1982 World Cup of BMX (as a spectator) in Knoxville, TN ( I lived nearby). I remember meeting Greg Hill, Jeff Bottema, Harry Leary, Scott "Old Man" Breithaupt, Toby Henderson, and Scott Clark! Man, that just hurt my brain trying to recall their names. I hope I didn't "misremember" too badly.

I loved that old GT. It got stolen from outside of a McDonalds. My dad's homeowners insurance paid out and I bought the Haro Master. But, it just wasn't the same. A few months later, I moved on to road bikes, and girls, and college.......

Here are we are, right back at the beginning?

I can't take it anymore you guys. We don't discuss these important and historical machines enough on C&V.

Back in the day we ruled the streets from sunup to well after sunset.
We rode anywhere and everywhere.....The Arcade to play that favorite video game, the railroad tracks and abandoned factories, dirt trails, woods, the swimming pool, that "Moon Fun Shop/Head Shop" your parents didn't want you going into, friends' houses....We rode everywhere. We were "Rad" and we thrashed.

There was always an epic search for the cool jump that nobody had found yet; We pushed ourselves to go higher and faster.
DiamondBack, Mongoose, Redline, GT, Schwinn, P.K. Ripper, Hutch, Kuwahara, Tuff-Neck, Tioga, Skyway, Laid Back seatposts, Van's...The list is endless.

Welcome friend, this is the place to discuss and show off your old school "dirt bike" BMX bikes.......




Come on, you can't start this thread and not have any (current) bikes of your own posted!

Come on, you can't start this thread on not have any (current) bikes of your own posted!

Oh my Brother... You just opened Pandora's Box....

I was going to pace myself at 1 post/wk on this thread......

Here is my current favorite thrasher, A mid-school Dyno VFR:

http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG6336.jpg


http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG6335.jpg

I hope to retire it soon for this much cooler and older Dyno/GT D-Tour...

Note the Tioga Sawblade and the Kuwahara fork...

http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG6324.jpg

http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG6327.jpg

Here is the rarest-of-the-rare in the world of GT's....

Brainstormed by GT founder Gary Turner in his shop... He had envisioned massive packs of rabid shredders flying down the mountains. That's right, this is the only known vintage Prototype BMX GT suspension bike that you will ever see.....I didn't feel right about hoarding it. It will be shining at the BMX museum in the future....

You don't want to know what kind of $ offers I received on this one....Seriously

http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG6172.jpg

http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG6171.jpg

http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG6173.jpg

http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG6185.jpg

http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG6168.jpg

Whether it was a good or bad idea, it is extremely rare....

Youngsters! The first time I even saw a BMX bike I was probably 17 or so and my friend Sid's little brother David, who was maybe 5 years younger than us, got this outrageous red BMX bike with gold anodized components that cost $450!!! I have no idea what kind it was. Must have been around 1978-1979 maybe. We still had our "10-speeds" but by then we were all into cars, motorcycles, and girls and didn't pay much attention to bikes anymore, at least for a decade or so until we rediscovered the joys of riding. I still scratch my head when I see a 6 foot tall teenager riding a BMX bike with his knees hitting his chin.

Youngsters! I still scratch my head when I see a 6 foot tall teenager riding a BMX bike with his knees hitting his chin.

You may be thinking of these crazy Freestyle kids, the new Freestyle BMX generation, on the bikes w/ the seat lowered all the way down...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLNFN75CYbw&feature=related


Vintage BMX is/was considerably different for many of us... 2:47 :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR_9VlHFOu8&feature=related

YECH! Since when did Spaceballs crash into E.T.?

-Dark Helmet
http://www.jaysmarine.com/darkhelmet.jpg

Vintage BMX was considerably different for many of us... 2:47 :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR_9VlHFOu8&feature=related


Yes, Howard Jones was always the music I listened to while hitting the ramps. :roflmao2:
Cool video though... thanks for posting!

Vintage BMX was considerably different for many of us... 2:47 :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR_9VlHFOu8&feature=related

Is that you? Pretty cool. I was pretty young in those days and just got into BMX a little before getting my first MTB at about 12 and after that there were no more home built neighborhood ramps (except for skate ramps, of course) or BMX bikes. I had a Redline and a PK Ripper. They were both hand-me-downs from my older neighbor that I looked up to and wanted to be like at the time.

Yes, Howard Jones was always the music I listened to while hitting the ramps. :roflmao2:
Cool video though... thanks for posting!

:o It's an 80's music medley I tells ya'..... I didn't have anything to do w/ the music selection....I was an Iron Maiden guy....Metallica wasn't around yet...The hair bands were coming soon though....:o :o

http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG5022.jpg

Wow, you found that Diamond Back at the Dump?

I had one similar to that stolen from my Brother after he chained it up at the Lakewood Mall in California.

My dad claimed it on our home Owner's insurance and we promptly bought myself a Super-Goose and a Commodore 64 computer from the change.

I grew up in North Long Beach right around the corner from SE Racing, the company that produced the PK Ripper. Always wanted one of those frames. I remember going to a bike shop in Reno Nevada a couple of years ago an seeing SE Racing, bought by some offshore company, starting to produce the PK Ripper again. Though I imagine the OLD SCHOOL Rippers will bring way more coin than the modern ones for sure!

I could type here for hours going on about how many BMX Bikes I owned and had stolen from me, my brother, and friend's when I was a youth. Many of those times while I was still on my bike! That is the biggest reason I started riding Road bikes when I outgrew my 20 inchers. Too big and the bullies and thieves could never catch me.

Is there a name for the type of seatpost that this little GT has? I need one about this long and don't know what to search for. I also just found out that my fork only fits a 21.1mm stem, any suggestions for something rad but cheap? Cheers!

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG6335.jpg

I am with you on this topic! I too LOVED everything BMX as a kid. Started with a heavy Murray and transitioned into a pretty sweet Redline. My friends had Hutch, Mongoose, Kuwahara, P.K. Ripper, and Diamond Backs.

Shorts and my Op t-shirt and I was out the door first thing in the morning. Good times. :-)

Awsome ZeRinger! I forgot about Ocean Pacific!!

See the photos below for a few of my Redlines.... I am always on the lookout for those elusive baseballs and hotdogs that were stamped on the BB....


itsIRIEpat,
It took me a week to get the chrome back on that DB. It was very rough when I found it....


jet sanchEz,You should have no problemo finding that seat post... It is a pretty standard post called a "Dyno Laid Back/Layback".
You could probably find them on your local Craigslist if you place a "wanted" post, can definitely get them on ebay, but before either of those I would go to this site: http://bmxmuseum.com/forums/

Great bunch of guys and gals, the most comprehensive BMX site that I'm aware of, and it was started by one of the most prolific and influential figures in the sport, Gary Turner: http://bmxmuseum.com/about/




http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG5030.jpg


http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG5037.jpg



A very sweet MX II with the "Holy Grail" of cranks at that time...Hutch

http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG4817.jpg

http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG4812.jpg

http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/CIMG4813.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/v616h2.jpg

This was the project that got me back into cycling. Was a lot of fun to build up and a great learning experience, though it took a while and cost me a fortune cause I got most of the parts one at a time off ebay. (Nevermind all the tools I needed to buy too, cause they'll get used again.)

It's too small to commute on, and too old and fragile for an adult to BMX on, so it just sits in my apartment taking up valuable space.

I need to fix up one last thing (fork crown race is loose and needs a shim) and then I'll be chucking it up on ebay. Unfortunately I'll be lucky if I get 1/3 back of what I put into it, but it was worth it for the experience.

Speaking of Ocean Pacific and other "fashion items"... how about the cool little bits and parts you just HAD to have back in the day?

Remember donuts for your bar grips in all different colors and patterns? Grips themselves... Mushrooms? I think I even had some really funky Oakley (?) bar grips that looked like they belonged on the Batmobile. Pedals (I forget the brand but there were a few must have types.. mine were anodized blue) GT Layback seat posts, and various seats (I think I had a Kashimax Aero or something along those lines)

Colored rim strips for those dotted Mongoose rims which I thought were oh-so-cool.... what else do you remember??

I remember lusting after Skyway Tuff II's and a Gooseneck. 'Member those?

Ascend,
That bad boy is sweeeeet! I don't think you should sell it.. Go find a jump Man!!
Please PM me with the ebay link ok?

I remember lusting after Skyway Tuff II's and a Gooseneck. 'Member those?

Oh of course! I was trying to think of Gooseneck as well as one more brand but the names escaped me.

There's a guy selling odd old-school BMX stuff... this one is for a vintage? Elina lightning bolt saddle:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Cycling/BMX/auction-210771369.htm

Buy now is $230 local currency which is about USD$132 american. I'm not into restorations but would a saddle like that be really worth that much?

You can find a link somewhere to get to his other listings, there's some really old stuff in there...

.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BMX-HUTCH-AEROSPEED-CRANKS_W0QQitemZ120399787687QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item120399787687&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1307

:eek:

BMX is the NEW Fixie!
(I kid you not)

There's a guy selling odd old-school BMX stuff... this one is for a vintage? Elina lightning bolt saddle:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Cycling/BMX/auction-210771369.htm

Buy now is $230 local currency which is about USD$132 american. I'm not into restorations but would a saddle like that be really worth that much?
.

WOW, I need to go look through my parent's garage attic. I swear I may still have one of those... now if I turn up some old Hutch cranks I can sell the lot and have enough finances to overthrow a small island nation. :thumb:

^ :D

I didn't realize there was a market for this stuff. A couple of years ago I had a brand new BMX Sugino (ano Red) sealed in it's original plastic bag... pristine about 30 years old. I pulled it out and installed it on my wife's commuter bike because I didn't want to waste a used Husselfelt I had lying around.

Dang!!

I still have it, but I'd imagine it's not worth as much as it could've been... :lol:

.

I caught the bug about one year ago and bought an original 1981 Mongoose (like one I had BITD) off eBay that was in pretty rough shape. Probably my most indugent purchase -- no way I fit on this. After a lot of oxalic acid, cleaning and polishing, here it is:

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa254/esclmail/July2007003Medium.jpg

After that, I moved on to an Ames Stormer (tough bike to find these days) and then a ridiculously expensive looptail SE Quadangle build -- Flight Cranks, Bullseye hubs, Tange TRX fork, Tuff Neck, etc. -- which was promptly stolen. I was too big to get another by then. For me, that era was my most fun on a bike and why I have an affinity for single speeds, either big BMX bikes or SS MTB's. There's something about just getting on a bike and riding, and gears seem to interfere with that a little.

Ame Stormer... man that brings back memories I'm not allowed to disclose! My dream bike then was the one with "Landing Gear?" on the forks, can remember the name. Never did get one... couldn't afford it, especially because it had to be imported and all...

Yeah, single speed... we used to ride for miles on our BMX bikes to visit tracks in other towns. Are your shins are just as mashed up as mine from those old bear trap pedals?

.

Landing Gear was an SE Racing product. Fuji owns SE now and still sells a version. I don't recall them BITD. I think they were made after I got out of BMX. My SE Quadangle was sold as a bare frame, no fork.

Oh yes, SE Racing! The light blue one (or was it grey).

Got a pic of your Quadrangle?

There's a guy selling odd old-school BMX stuff... I'm not into restorations but would a saddle like that be really worth that much?



.

Absolutely,
There is a strong market for such things... Some people say that it is because guys like me, middle-aged/approaching middle age are trying to re-capture their youth.
I disagree with this theory. I honestly believe that they fail to recognize what a wonderful time it was to ride/race during the 70's - 80's..... So many of the bikes, especially from Japan and USA, were extremely well made with ultra-smooth bearings and bombproof frames and it was a very special time to be young and riding a dirt bike. BMX was a unique cultural microcosm in America and other countries.

For a real jaw-dropper, watch auctions for 1st generation GT, Mongoose, Hutch and Skyway....

I could own 1, more likely 2 mint-condition Paramount, Serotta or Waterford for less than the price of one of these:
http://http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/bigwoo2/skywaytaxl1.jpg

Oh yes, SE Racing! The light blue one (or was it grey).

Got a pic of your Quadrangle?

You're probably thinking of light blue, SE's racing colors (I've been doing my research). Sadly, I don't have any bike pictures from that era.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BMX-HUTCH-AEROSPEED-CRANKS_W0QQitemZ120399787687QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item120399787687&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1307

Dang Yellowjeep!! :eek: Are you bidding/selling/watching ?


PBR, That bike is freekin gorgeous!! It's the finest Goose I've ever seen.... :thumb:


"For me, that era was my most fun on a bike and why I have an affinity for single speeds, either big BMX bikes or SS MTB's. There's something about just getting on a bike and riding, and gears seem to interfere with that a little...."
This is a very interesting point and I feel it is relevant for me too.

BMX is the NEW Fixie!
(I kid you not)

Actually, it never ceased for a small core group of us... We were just kind of quietly relegated to being "those goofy guys who ride kids bikes.." NOT!

You are right though Unworthy, popularity is growing these last 2 years, big-time....

PBR, That bike is freekin gorgeous!! It's the finest Goose I've ever seen.... :thumb:


"For me, that era was my most fun on a bike and why I have an affinity for single speeds, either big BMX bikes or SS MTB's. There's something about just getting on a bike and riding, and gears seem to interfere with that a little...."
This is a very interesting point and I feel it is relevant for me too.

Thanks, Big Woo. Also, I have nothing against gears and have more geared bikes than singlespeeds (you can't argue with the efficiency), but why not just throw caution (efficiency) to the wind and just ride. You just don't get as far.:)

Man, this thread is making me want to recreate my old Webco. Ashtabula cranks and fork, Cooks Brothers gooseneck, had a set of black Tuff Wheels and a set of Araya race wheels. I still remember just hanging out at the bike shop, agonizing for hours about which prismatic sticker I needed and where I was going to put it.

Bought this for 10 bucks a couple weeks back, checkout the well worn denim seatcover. Jeez.

If anyone wants to tell me anything about it, shoot, I'm largely uninformed, I was a skatekid back in the day, not a BMX kid.

Bigwoo, man do I wish i was the seller or that I had that kind of money to be a bidder. I actually just browse all of the parts sections on ebay because I am a nut like that and that was in the featured section of BMX parts. Not 5 mins later I ran across this thread and figured it fit pretty well.

Bought this for 10 bucks a couple weeks back, checkout the well worn denim seatcover. Jeez.

If anyone wants to tell me anything about it, shoot, I'm largely uninformed, I was a skatekid back in the day, not a BMX kid.

Takara was low to mid end. The one piece cranks and "single gooseneck" stem mark it as low to mid quality. BUT, the Skyway mags and brakes would probably fetch a pretty penny!

To put it in financial perspective, I'd guess that the Takara cost around $200-225 when new? For reference, a Murray or Huffy would've been around $100, and top end bikes were generally $350-500? This is in the '79-84 time range, to the best of my recollection.

Anybody else remember differently? I always bought used from the local Trading Times classifieds or from a shop that sold used. More bang for the buck.

Takara was low to mid end. The one piece cranks and "single gooseneck" stem mark it as low to mid quality. BUT, the Skyway mags and brakes would probably fetch a pretty penny!

To put it in financial perspective, I'd guess that the Takara cost around $200-225 when new? For reference, a Murray or Huffy would've been around $100, and top end bikes were generally $350-500? This is in the '79-84 time range, to the best of my recollection.

Anybody else remember differently? I always bought used from the local Trading Times classifieds or from a shop that sold used. More bang for the buck.


Bob, everybody who's seen it (including my bike mentor) gives it the thumbs down.

Thank you for the input though, personally I thought it was great for the money. I'm going to clean it up and give it to one of my mom's students most likely. Takara also made transformers, and this one's optimus prime colors :thumb:

Bob, everybody who's seen it (including my bike mentor) gives it the thumbs down.

Thank you for the input though, personally I thought it was great for the money. I'm going to clean it up and give it to one of my mom's students most likely. Takara also made transformers, and this one's optimus prime colors :thumb:

Skylar,
If those mag wheels are "Safe-Lite" or "Chicago" then it is so-so... If they are Skyway, you scored big-time and it is NOT a thumbs down bike for $10.... Do you see any writing on them that may say "Tuff Wheel" etc...?
Those look like damned good nylon mags to me! Also, a lot of BMX collectors, self included, would like to have those handlebars (and grips if they are orig)....



"I still remember just hanging out at the bike shop, agonizing for hours about which prismatic sticker I needed and where I was going to put it."

Jsharr,
Thanks Bro... You just brought back a very fond memory for me. I had completely forgotten about doing that after thumbing through the latest/hottest BMX magazine. Good times....

I raced BMX in ABA/NBL from 91 till 96 or so. I generally road Haro but I also had a Diamond Back early on. I really miss racing, moving to Northern VA in 96 was devastating as there wasn't a track within 100 miles. Given I got as high as 3rd for 13X in Texas, I was pretty good.

Very cool Anomaly

On a totally unrelated note, once again, after all of these attempts and years, I am not going to have the bike that I've always wanted. A Skyway......

http://cgi.ebay.com/1983-skyway-ta-t-a-bmx-racing-bmx-bike_W0QQitemZ160325710524QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBMX_Bikes?hash=item160325710524&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1546%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

My Holy Grail, the Skyway T/A (Totally Aerodynamic) ......Sighs......:(