Classic & Vintage - Any Classic/Vintage BMX Fans Among Us?

A few of you already know I love bikes of the classic lightweight era having owned and ridden for decades.....but my son who is now 22 is coming to love his vintage BMX. The bike is an '81 P.K. Ripper looptail with Landing Gear forks. It was restored and given to him by a neighbor friend of mine that raced Moto's stadium style for years until his knees gave out. He gave the bike to my son in '98 and told me never ever toss it to the curb or give it away. I didnt have any clue of it's value then and at first glance the blue nylon plastic wheels brought the bike snob out in me. He still loves to ride it around town with his little boy pedalling up behind him.

Pretty cool bike.

I have a soft spot for vintage BMX cruisers, the grail bikes of my youth were a Champion, or a Hutch. I had a CW cruiser for a while, but the BMX collectors are even crazier than us when it comes to what they will pay if they want something ;)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/toytechthefirst/IMGP1610.jpg

I have a soft spot for vintage BMX cruisers, the grail bikes of my youth were a Champion, or a Hutch. I had a CW cruiser for a while, but the BMX collectors are even crazier than us when it comes to what they will pay if they want something ;)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/toytechthefirst/IMGP1610.jpg

Ah yes, the cruisers :D

Nice bike.

My son and wife have been offered some silly money on the spot for that aluminum framed looptail. Amazing. It only serves to make him hang onto it longer.

I am still kinda looking for that Champion Cruiser, I just missed one a while back. The SE reissues are pretty cool too, especially the Big Ripper and Quadrangles

In the early 70s I had a Pat Littlejohn, a Webco, and a Redline. In college had a Mongoose "Koz Kruizer". I really miss the Mongoose....

Cheers,
Chris

A friend of mine has a new OM Flyer (SE Racing's retro/reissue 26" cruiser.) It's a fun bike for around the neighborhood, but he commutes daily on it!

I've picked up a few old-school BMX bikes at thrift shops & yard sales and I've put some miles on a few of them, but they don't really do anything for me. This is a fairly modern 24" Haro cruiser that I repainted and rode for a while:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ju0oifdFuVk/Tl2ahjxuUKI/AAAAAAAACB4/hzVxJaPndH4/s800/haro02.jpg

This is another 24" cruiser, a Murray x24 with a chrome frame that was spray painted silver when I got it. The chrome underneath was fine... I'll probably get it back together eventually, but it needs a set of rims.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v_yNSZkfXh4/S-6m8EQ8_kI/AAAAAAAAAck/0N4HqlzJxzg/s800/murray_x24_02.JPG

A Rampar R-10 that I found at a thrift shop, Lester mags and a somewhat collectable MCS stem. It's still in the collection also.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x0d0tKECBZk/TV82-sCGvZI/AAAAAAAABKU/i9i9ZlLgfzQ/s800/rampar.jpg

I've yet to find any valuable BMX bikes.

I love old school bmx! I have quite a few things, one cruiser a cycle pro bonsai. Just picked up a complete 84 Mongoose Californian only thing missing were the original red tires. Collecting bmx has consumed me, I am either online researching, looking online for deals, or out and about driving aound following leads, constantly stopping and creeping past bikes when I see them. I have approached random people and bought there bikes then gave them a ride to wherever they were going. I find them on the side of the road or on rare occasions I find big scores on craigslist. I love it, only problem is I need more storage and more time in the day!

I just found this pic of a Mossberg MX on a classic BMX site.

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp226/wellbiked/322_493658.jpg

I had one, this photo was taken sometime in 1973. That's me on the bike, my younger sister is sitting on the ground. I was ten or eleven. My wife found this poster the other day in the back of a closet; sorry to post it again, but I'm still excited that she found it, the poster was made by my uncle for me as a Christmas present that year........The Mossberg MX was a great little jumping bike.

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp226/wellbiked/DSC03176.jpg

A friend gave me a mid-school Haro that he had sitting in his basement for ages. I don't have any real use for it, and I've had a hard time convincing any of my friends with kids that they should have it to start riding.

My wife picked up a BMX from a garage sale for $1 when the seller said whatever's left you can have for a $1. ;)
Turned out to be a very well made bike. I noted the nice brakes modern bmx's have. Looks just like U brakes on my old mtbs, except for the cable attachment points. Do these modern bmx calipers fit mtb U brake bosses? I want an upgrade to a steel Exage U brake. The fact that they come in a multitude of anodized colors is a bonus.
I appreciate the advice from the BMX experts here.

WNG - the bosses are the same, but the Suntour roller cam bosses do not have the flat plate at the base for the spring end (like cantilever bosses.) Seethe front fork pic in my frankenbike thread for an example.

Most U-brakes don't need the hole - their spring is on top, and they're tensioned from above. Those will work with either type of boss.

My son's 1981 nickel-plated Mongoose. Araya rims, Redline bars and DiaCompe brake.

http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac311/iabisdb/Bikes/Mongoose001.jpg

I still have my most recent BMX. It's one of these (this isn't mine, just found a photo):

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads3/Mvc+009s1097978304.jpg

I upgraded the cranks to Sugino GTs not long after buying it. The front wheel is a black 80s Ukai that could use some new spokes. The rear is something I got at the LBS to replace the tacoed stock wheel. I also cut the seat post down so I could slam the seat and cut the bars because they were too wide.

We had some awesome woodsy spots with trails through the palmettos and Brazilian peppers where we'd dig huge dirt jumps and hang out all day, every day--especially in the summer.

This just came up on my local CL, it is the BMX bike I had when I was 10 and the seller is asking for $70. I am really tempted, even though it is just a department store bike.

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/859/20bikebreakaway1.jpg

Sellers remorse?

Just sold this today, didn't really want to, but I figured out I had 16 bikes sitting around and this was one of the more marketable BMX'ers:

216939

1999 Schwinn Brian Foster Super Stock 2. Not exactly a classic in the true sense of the word, but one of the last American made Schwinns. COMPLETELY original, down to the tires. Couple scratches here and there from being moved around, but obviously not from riding. I never rode it because it was too well preserved. Just liked the way it looked. Held to my selling price of $150.

The caveat? As the buyer is loading it up, he tells me "I know it's a nice original bike, but my 7 year old is going to ride the snot out of it." I guess I have to give him kudos for getting his kid a decent bike to start out instead of a 100 pound Wal-mart special, but ohhhh....that metallic red paint! The original stickers!

Oh well, time to start hitting the thrift stores for the next score.

Only if they make me money. I feel goofy on them now.

Unfortunately, I don't still have the pics on my system. I found a dead mint '85 Schwinn Predator Team "Z" last year. Stripped down and sold off as parts, the bike brought over $300. The big winners were the super clean Dia Compe MX brakeset, 3pc Sugino cranks, and the obligitory Skyway mags. Even some of the old school tires can bring absurd amounts of money.

At first I was like, neh, not interested. Campy never made BMX stuff. Then I LOL'd when I googled Campagnolo BMX and found out they did! Awesome stuff. Now I want a BMX. With that sexy blue anodized group.

Unfortunately, I don't still have the pics on my system. I found a dead mint '85 Schwinn Predator Team "Z" last year. Stripped down and sold off as parts, the bike brought over $300. The big winners were the super clean Dia Compe MX brakeset, 3pc Sugino cranks, and the obligitory Skyway mags. Even some of the old school tires can bring absurd amounts of money.


Sold some NOS tires a while back for close to 200.

At first I was like, neh, not interested. Campy never made BMX stuff. Then I LOL'd when I googled Campagnolo BMX and found out they did! Awesome stuff. Now I want a BMX. With that sexy blue anodized group.
Cinelli made a lugged bmx frame too...

Cinelli made a lugged bmx frame too...

Actually, the CMX was welded and not lugged.

I could swear I saw a picture of one once, could be fuzzy memory :D

Lugged (and cracked) Scorpion.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6142/6011354668_d81f93ee5e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/6011354668/)
27 514 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/6011354668/) by barnstormerbikes (http://www.flickr.com/people/52448896@N08/), on Flickr

My Jalapeno

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6012/6018965403_9bee8de627.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/6018965403/)
27 530 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/6018965403/) by barnstormerbikes (http://www.flickr.com/people/52448896@N08/), on Flickr



in 1980 I welded 5,000 BMX forks.

I saw a pic of that Cinelli, who would have thought it, a full italian BMX, they appeared to me as bikes either build from gas pipe in Taiwan and ridden by kids or serious, American machines loaded with obscure CNC bits in pretty anodizing. If I have the space and money for a BMX it will be that Cinelli, or one build by Frank:)

I owned one of these back in the day:

http://a1.l3-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/99/2b99bb5f2677625525bfe8b3ada70e10/l.jpg

I was into BMX in the mid-70's when it was an offshoot of motocross racing. I raced in the 80cc class and they would sometimes have bicycle races as well. I would love to come across some of those old DG, FMF, or Redline bikes from that era.

Sold this one a couple months ago.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg93/realestvin7/Bikes/Pro_Performer/For_Sale1256.jpg

I owned one of these back in the day:

Wow, that's cool. What kind of bike is that? That's got to be the most bad-ass banana seat bike ever. As far as BMX in the '70's being an offshoot of motocross racing, the Mossberg MX I posted earlier was a bike marketed for that as well. Motocross and Evel Knievel jumps were the coolest things going.

Yamaha Moto bike. Heavy, but you could jump anything on it. Evel Knievel was the greatest!!!

A few of the more noteworthy of my collection pieces that have come and some that have gone over the past few years...

CW Phase 1 - too friggan cool probably 83 or so
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/k3davis/bikes/CW%20Phase%201%2083/DSC_0259.jpg

1985 GT Pro Performer that I ended up selling to Jamie Bestwick (before and after)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/k3davis/bikes/GT%20pro%20performer%2085/112909_0245copy.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/k3davis/bikes/GT%20pro%20performer%2085/performer_0000.jpg

1983 Redline MXII - my first full, ground up restoration/build - still one of my favorites to date
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/k3davis/bikes/redline%20mx2%2083/112209_0221copy.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/k3davis/bikes/redline%20mx2%2083/DSC_0013_0014.jpg

There quite a few more but im tired of copy and paste right now... those are the coolest anyways

ok fine a couple more of the older ones

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/k3davis/bikes/Murray%20tiger%20cat%2074/20090627_0054.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/k3davis/bikes/schwinn%20stingray%20mx%2072/20090303_0199.jpg

i still kick myself in the but, i use to own 2 hutch trickstars a hutch pro racer and a redline rl22

Here is my cruiser that lives in my shed. Its a Trackmaster, I used to ride for the Michigan team as a kid. I hated riding this bike. Still have my 85 GT pro frame stuffed in a box somewhere in my garage. I built a Dyno VFR 24 to ride around with my kids when they were really little.

http://bmxmuseum.com/image/trackmaster1_blowup.jpg

This came up near me for $300 a little while ago, I really really wanted to buy it but I don't know much about restoring BMX bikes and it looked a little far gone for a newb. There is just something about purple and chrome that gets me...

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

Picked this one up at the thrift yesterday for $7.50. It was amongst several other kids' bikes that were much less interesting. I saw those welds and the chrome frame and dug it out of the pile to find this Mongoose. According to the serial numbers it was made in August of 1980. Tuff II mags, tires in pretty good shape. Just needs a cleanup, but it's rideable as is.
http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp259/enjoybikes/28f3a27f.jpg
http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp259/enjoybikes/4b75d664.jpg
http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp259/enjoybikes/2553acd2.jpg
http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp259/enjoybikes/6cc5523e.jpg

Wow, that Mongoose is a real time machine, congrats!

Picked this one up at the thrift yesterday for $7.50. It was amongst several other kids' bikes that were much less interesting. I saw those welds and the chrome frame and dug it out of the pile to find this Mongoose. According to the serial numbers it was made in August of 1980. Tuff II mags, tires in pretty good shape. Just needs a cleanup, but it's rideable as is.
http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp259/enjoybikes/28f3a27f.jpg
http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp259/enjoybikes/4b75d664.jpg
http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp259/enjoybikes/2553acd2.jpg
http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp259/enjoybikes/6cc5523e.jpg

My first real BMX (after a Schwinn Stingray) was an 1979 Mongoose like that. Black with gold parts and spoke wheels. I love the vintage BMX but the rices are crazy! I' looking forward to building a 79/80 Mongoose like that up for the boy in the next couple of years, that and about ten other bikes I have ideas abour:)

I hear ya... i have two girls and have their queue of bikes almost already set with vintage rides. I'm sure they'll see otherwise, but it's fun nonetheless.


My first real BMX (after a Schwinn Stingray) was an 1979 Mongoose like that. Black with gold parts and spoke wheels. I love the vintage BMX but the rices are crazy! I' looking forward to building a 79/80 Mongoose like that up for the boy in the next couple of years, that and about ten other bikes I have ideas abour:)

I sold my PK Ripper for next to nothing when I turned 16 and thought riding bikes was for kids. Wish I still had it now. It was sweet. Landing gear fork, Redline V bars, the works. Delivered a lot of newspapers and cut a ton of grass to raise the cash to build that sucker up...

I had my pride and joy stolen from me when I was in the 7th grade: a '78 Cycle Pro Macho. Wasn't a high-end bike by any means, but I saved up for it with my paper-route money and up to that point in time it was the nicest bike I had ever owned. I would love to have one again, simply for nostalgic purposes.

I wrote up a whole story about this bike on my (non-commercial) web site: http://www.tundraman.com/Other/Bicycles/ThirdBike.php