When Haro discontinued the Group 1 SX Pro in 2007 for the Group 1 SR Pro race bike, I was disappointed.  The move from the exotic, hydroformed SX Pro frame built up with good components to the more simple SR bike with lower end hardware had me thinking that Haro had given up on BMX racing.  Well, I was wrong - and I’m relieved.

:: Haro’s new Pro Am Team Issue is one mean machine - click on image to enlarge ::

Haro just introduced the new 2009 Pro Am Team Issue, and they scored big with this new race bike.  It has top-flight components such as the new AC Hammer cranks, AC Race Day sealed hubs,  and Sinz Stealth aluminum forks.  The flat black finish and anodized components look sexy and mean, and the updated graphics on the frame are killer.   Haro’s MSRP for this bike is $545, which should translate into a street price of around $500 - and that’s a steal.  Well done, Haro - now correct your blunder with the new Freestyler and we’ll buy that one too.

Related Links:

• Haro Bikes website

You may remember my previous post about the reissue of the Haro Freestyler - a legendary bike that played a large role in the start of the BMX freestyle movement in the mid 1980s.  Early reports were promising - 100% 4130 chromoly twin-top tube frame based on the original Haro Freestyler, but with updated geometry.  It sounded like a retro-BMX dream come true.

:: 2009 Haro Freestyler - click on image to enlarge ::

Well, the bike is finally in production, and the full details have surfaced.  You better sit down for this one:  The frame is not full-chromoly.  I won’t mince words - I think this is a disappointing way to reintroduce and honor Bob Haro’s freestyle machine.  I understand that in business, costs of production are a huge factor, so I’ll try to reserve final judgment until we have one of these bikes to test.  Until them, read below.

Tony Degollado from Haro as made a post on BMX Museum explaining the story behind the decision to use high-tensile steel in place of 4130 chromoly.  Below is a copy of his post:

“Man.  Harsh.  I’ll try to defend MY decision of making the Freestyler the way we did.  This may take a minute.

First of all- the delay.  We’ve undergone some major changes in the past few years.  The major focus was getting the brand back to where it needed to be.  We lost touch a bit with spec, fashion, function, image…well…alot of things.  So what we needed to do was to  get back on track there.  What I wanted to do along with that was to do the Freestyler as a project to have fun with.  To be totally honest, my thoughts were to do a Yellow Blammo first, then do the Freestyler a year or two later.  A great friend of mine from the UK told me we should skip the Blammo (at the time it would have been a 10 yr anniversary model) and jump straight into the Freestyler project.  Based off of photos and a small drawing, we did this. The first were terrible.  Yes they were chromoly, but had a some funky bends and holes in the wrong places.  With the other projects we had going on, the Freestyler project kept getting pushed back, and back, and back.  But the good news is that we’ve picked back up some image, managed to get back quite a few more dealers (and a great team) and are making some pretty kick ass product.

The Freestyler breakdown:  My friend in the UK (DJ) and I solicited feedback.  Original geometry or new school.  Frame or complete bike, etc…  Although it was a mixed bag, the popular decision was to do it with updated geometry so “we could all ride them”.  We did this, and added a Mid Bottom bracket and an Internal Headtube.  I got blasted for the Internal headtube, but not the Mid Bottom bracket.  So I deleted the Internal HT to make it look a little more original.  At about this same time, the bicycle industry got hit with a 50%, then 60% then 77% price increase on Steel.  It didn’t stop there, but thankfully we locked into a price that allowed us to move forward and not worry about another increase.  77% increase. That’s just plain crazy.  Alot of it had to do with The Olympics, most had to do with the rising cost of oil (believe it or not).  Imagine now much steel is in a bicycle, then add 77% to that cost. Bearings, cages, pedals, bolts, nuts, brake cables seat rails, axles…you get my point.  Not to mention the Bars, forks and Frame.  We went from a $550.00 priced bike (that I advertised to all of our retailers and international distributors) to over $700.00…for the same bike.  You can only imagine what the response to that was.  Not many people these days have an extra $700.00 to spend on a (toy/bike/collectors item) a form of transportation.  So either I make the choice to come out with a bike that is $700+ with nothing more than what we originally spec’d, or we make some changed to stay around the same price.  It was my call to make those changes as the look and feel of the bike would remain the same…and the fact that we only committed to 500 of them…and not 500 until they are gone, then another 200 until THEY are gone, then another 150, etc…  500 only.  That’s it for the USA.

The quality of the bike- As stupid as is sounds, we tested the frame.  So unless you plan on half-landing flairs or under rotating 360’s…this frame is legit.  I completely understand the integrity of of having a full chromoly bike.  I promise you this.  But I had to make a decision, and it may be wrong in some eyes, but it was right in others.  Sorry if I offended anyone.

The fact is, no-one will ever be 100% happy with a retro product.  Theirs was different, or the serial number started with a 1 not a 7, or the hole on the rear drop-out was .331mm larger than what the original one was.  We couldn’t make everyone happy, and for that I am very sorry.  Yes it has a large padded seat, yes it’s not 100% the same as the original, but it does look pretty damn decent and given all the lemons we were thrown on this project, I am super stoked we actually got to release it.

I understand if we lost some potential buyers because of the changes.  I would love the opportunity to make it up to you guys.  Throw you a party and have Bob there to talk doo doo and drink beer all night?  Anything.  Just please understand that Haro has not lost it’s integrity, it’s focus or it’s love for what Bob created.  I’m a good friend of Bob’s and to be totally honest, we are going to be working on some really cool projects together here in the upcoming months.  The working name is The Bob Haro Original Collection.

Thank you for your eyes and ears and again, sorry for the let down to some of you.  If you don’t buy one, then just think, you’re giving the new generation a chance to have this bike and I thank you for that.

tonyd.”

Specifications:

Frame: Throwback Haro freestyle design- cr-mo downtube - chrome
Fork: Cr-mo Steer 1-1/8″ threadless - chrome plated
Grips:  Haro Octagon grips
Handlebar: 8″ rise. Chrome plated
Crankset: Haro 3-piece 8-spline cr-mo 175mm, chrome plated
Gearing: 44/16
Tires: Haro MS4 20×2.1 front and rear
Hubset: N/A
Rims: Skyway Tuff wheels
Seat/post: Haro H-Crest saddle w/steel post - chrome plated
Pedals: Haro DX alloy
Rotor: WinZip rotor- black
Pegs: N/A

Related Links:

• Haro Bikes website