If you rode a BMX bike in the 1980s, then you remember what Hutch BMX was.  In case you don’t remember, Hutch was considered the Ferarri of BMX bikes and equipment.  There were two types of BMXers back then - those that had Hutches and those that dreamed about owning one, though not many people actually owned a Hutch bike since they were very expensive at the time.  But what made Hutch so special?  Quality, performance, and a flair for the exotic.

:: New Hutch Beartrap pedals continue a reputation for quality - click on image to enlarge ::

Hutch developed a well-earned reputation for making very light and very strong components that performed to world-champion standards while looking incredible at the same time.  The chrome finishes were smooth and nearly perfect, welds were beautiful, and top riders like Mike Miranda, Tim Judge, Woody Itson, and Mike Dominguez gave Hutch winning race and freestyle teams.  In addition to their brilliant chrome finishes, Hutch also produced many signature colors such as candy blue, candy red, “futuristic black”, and “Hutch pink”.  Yeah, it was Hutch that was responsible for making pink a cool color to wear for guys back in the 1980s.

When the BMX industry was headed into a downturn in the late 1980s, Hutch fell by the wayside and eventually died.  The bikes remained sought after and became central acquisitions to most BMX collectors.  Almost every adult that sees a Hutch bike instantly recalls their days looking at photos of them in BMX Action and BMX Plus magazines. Well, Hutch is back, and they are off to an incredible start.

:: New Hutch Beartrap on the left, original Beartrap on right - click on image to enlarge ::

John DeBruin, a BMX collector and racer himself, has bought the rights to the Hutch BMX name and is making a full-time effort to bringing the company back to its glory days of high performance exotic BMX parts and frames.  To start, he painstakingly researched production methods to begin the first reintroduction product, which is the legendary Hutch Beartrap pedal - a pedal that became the icon on BMX racing.   In the 1980s, these pedals cost a fortune - $90 - in a day when most pedal sets were selling for $15 or less.  To professional racers, the cost was worth it, since nothing held your foot in place like the Hutch pedals did.

How do the second-generation Hutch Beartrap pedals compare to the originals?  I have two sets of new-old-stock Hutch pedals from the 1980s to compare the new Beartraps to, and I concluded that the new Hutch pedals are superior to the originals in every way.  The new pedals continue the classic Hutch Beartrap looks, while adding subtle changes such as an extra four grip pins on each side of the body and the new cages are slightly thicker and sharper than the originals.  This is a welcome change, as the originals would dent very easily.

:: Superb casting work and true-to-original stamped cages - click on image to enlarge ::

The new pedals feature sealed cartridge bearings as the originals did, though the new models spin smoother with no play in the spindle whatsoever.  The casting on the bodies is also improved - now there’s no longer a rim of flashing that skirted the bodies, and the chrome finish is also higher quality than the original models.  Yes, these pedals are cast - not produced on a CNC.  This is the way it’s supposed to be, and Hutch has perfected this production technique, as well as the proper stamping on the Hutch cages.  It’s impressive details like this that say a lot about John and his commitment to bringing back the Hutch name.

Hutch Beartrap pedals are available with 4140 chromoly spindles for $189 and 6AL4V titanium spindles for $299.  If you don’t feel like spending the $700+ on the collector market for original Hutch pedals, the second-generation Beartraps are a perfect solution - and you won’t have a guilty conscience about using these on the race track too.

Related Links:

• Hutch High Performance BMX