Back in 2008, I reviewed Haro’s top of the line BMX race bike, their 2009 Team Issue.  That was a new type of race bike for Haro, representing a new philosophy and a more hardcore approach to serious race machines. Haro factory AA-Pro Derek Betcher designed the Team Issue, and I instantly liked the bike, as did anyone that rode it.  It was well balanced, and had some pretty good components on it and it became clear that the Team Issue was Haro’s first shot across Redline’s proverbial bow on the complete BMX race bike market.  In 2010, Haro stepped up their game yet again, introducing a new colorway and improving the components on the Team Issue.  Although it was an awesome bike as it was, it was rumored that Haro was going even further for 2011 with a completely new race machine, featuring an all-new frame and high-end components.  Well, they did - and it’s the best race bike Haro has ever made.

:: 2011 Haro Race Lite is their lightest race bike yet - click image to enlarge ::

The 2011 Race Lite is Haro’s new top dog, and the redesigned Team Issue remains in the lineup as a more affordable race solution, though even that model has been upgraded.  For starters, Derek once again did the design work on this machine and it shows - it looks fast just standing still.  But that’s not the entire story.  A quick look at this bike shows that Haro is more serious than ever about equipping a high end race bike with pro-level, race-ready components. Adding to that, the flat black-and-gold finish and gold anodized hardware look rad as heck.

:: The Race Lite frame is one of the lightest Pro frames available - click to enlarge ::

The Race Lite is built upon Haro’s new ultra-light 7000-series aluminum Race Lite frame.  That’s the frame their factory pros race on, and it features a redesigned rear triangle, sans the integrated chain adjusters (which I did not like much) and a redesigned internal Campy-spec head tube.  As expected from Haro, the welds are even and clean, with no flaws apparent in the metal or finish.  The Race Lite frame is lighter and stiffer than the Team Issue frame, which was, and still is constructed out of 6061 aluminum.  For those that do not know, 7005 aluminum is lighter and stiffer than 6061-T6, and I’m sure you already spied those massive box chainstays on the bike; I don’t think frame-flex will be an issue there.  To be specific for the weight-conscious, according to Haro’s spec, the Race Lite frame weighs in at 3 pounds, 6 ounces.  That’s lighter than just about any other race frame out there (especially in this price class), and about a full pound lighter than the lightest chromoly race frames today.

:: Haro gets it right with awesome components - click image to enlarge ::

So I had my good friend and former NBL A-Pro Ryan “Z-Man” Zielinski give the new race bike a good workout at our local track here in Cape Coral, Florida.  For those that don’t know, Z-Man does not like to ride clipped in, so this was a perfect chance to also see how the new Hutch Beartrap pedals perform.  This was a lot of fun, so keep reading…

:: Crupi Rhythm Pro cranks and other high-end components are included - click to enlarge ::

At first glance, you’ll notice that the Race Lite (and Team Issue, for that matter) are no longer equipped with the AC Hammer Pro crank set.  I actually liked the Hammer Pro on the 2009 Team Issue, however allegations of these cranks breaking began to make their way on internet forums.  AC redesigned the Hammer Pro as a result, and when I sampled a set on the 2010 Team Issue, I was very disappointed in the crank’s quality.  The crank spindle-to-bearing tolerance was too relaxed, to the point where there was noticeable free play inside the bearing.  That was the first time I had ever seen that kind of issue on outboard bearing cranks, and I removed them before use.  Haro listened to their customers, who seemingly didn’t like the AC crank set either, and now use an unbranded version of Crupi’s Rhythm Pro units.

:: Hutch Beartrap pedals performed flawlessly and stick like glue - click to enlarge ::

The Rhythm Pro is basically Crupi’s answer to the Shimano DXR, and features the same four-bolt 104-BCD chain ring pattern as well as forged [solid] alloy arms with the already-recognizable two-piece, outboard bearing design that Shimano and many other brands use now. Unlike the AC cranks, the Rhythm Pro cranks feature steel pedal inserts, and during testing the crank set willingly accepted some pretty harsh punishment without issue.  Out of the box, there was very little chain-hop and crank arm spacing as well as the chainline were acceptable.  But we’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves here - let me regress a bit…

:: This new machined stem is as good as any high-end aftermarket unit - click to enlarge ::

When the box arrived for this bike, I thought to myself, “This box is awfully light; is the entire bike really in here?”  Yeah, it was all in there, and the Race Lite lives up to its name - the complete bike out of the box weighs in at 20.25 pounds.  I don’t think there’s any other complete Pro XL race bike that’s lighter - and those carbon fiber Sinz forks sure look sweet.  The Race Lite has some pretty awesome components on it, including the above-mentioned Crupi cranks, Alienation Runaway/Deviant rim combo with sealed cassette hubs, the super-rad Sinz carbon forks, pivotal seat, and a really nice machined front-load stem that did not slip no matter how hard we tried.  The Tektro MT-50 brakes did their job well and the carbon Tektro lever looked very cool doing it.  Finally, the Race Lite addresses a former complaint of mine, which was the former use of heavy, high-tensile steel handlebars - I’m happy to report that chromoly bars are now standard, and they’re not overly-large either.  They’re just perfect actually, if you ask me.

:: “Z-Man” Ryan Zielinski getting rad on the Race Lite - click to enlarge ::

As you can see, we’ve forgone the stock DX-style pedals in favor of Hutch’s newly reissued classic Beartrap pedals.  These pedals are basically the same killer units we dreamed of owning as kids, but they’re even stronger. The Beartraps go to show that a classic design like this remains popular because they work extremely well - if your feet slip off these, then it would have to be intentional.  Next to riding clipless, the Hutch pedals rock the BMX world by sticking to your feet like their namesake, and the 4140 chromoly (also available in titanium) spindles they ride on didn’t sweat the abuse they endured.  Speaking of sticky, the Intense Micro Knobby 2 tires give all the grip you could ask for on a modern track, and they’re rated to 110 PSI.

:: After relentless punishment, this Haro kept asking for more - click to enlarge ::

Alright, I’m sure you’re wondering by now how the bike actually rides, and as with any frame designed by pros, it’s nicely balanced.  I heard no complaints from Z-Man as he continually launched the Race Lite off every double and triple in sight.  Over and over, lap after lap, Haro’s super-light race machine performed perfectly, as did the Hutch pedals.  This was no casual riding session - I wanted good photos, and Z-Man kept dishing out the punishment on the bike so I could get what I wanted.  I found the bike to fit me well, which was surprising since I usually ride XXL-sized frames, and it feels fast and stable.  Everything felt right where it should be, which is not surprising on a product designed by race professionals.

:: Intense Micro Knobby 2 tires and Alienation rims rock n’ roll - click to enlarge ::

So at the end of the session, the bike was ready for more.  No dented or tweaked rims, no slipped stems, and nothing out of place. The cranks were as stiff as good race cranks should be, and next to a set of Shimano DXRs or Saints, you’re not going to get a better set on a factory complete bike.  The frame’s geometry feels natural and balanced, with a finish that’s killer.  I don’t think I could have stressed a bike that much in an entire year of riding.  Now that I finally have my turn with this bike, I sure will try, though.

The Race Lite has an MSRP of $860, which is quite a compelling price point considering the parts that make up this bike and its performance.  Right now, this is one of the best race-completes you can buy at any price, and it will get you into the game without having to worry about swapping components to race it hard. How often is it that you can say a complete bike is nearly perfect?  Almost never, but this is that one rare circumstance.

Related Links:

• Haro Bikes
• DB44.net
• Hutch BMX
• Cape Coral BMX
  

Here it is, the first time a 1986 “Dayglo Dark Orange” GT Pro Performer has been found, completely NOS.  This frame and fork are flawless, and it still carries its original warranty card.  The finish is perfect and completely unmolested.  This frame was found on Ebay, along with another NOS light orange Dayglo Pro Performer, which was obtained by a GT collector.  No, this frame will never be built up - it’s much too rare, but that color is so bright it’s unreal.  I would imagine a color like this would fade very easily, so I won’t even keep it in sunlight or near a window.  I need to start asking myself what I’m going to do with all of these NOS BMX frames that I am collecting.

:: 1986 GT Pro Performer in Dayglo Dark Orange - click to enlarge ::

Just arrived - my new GHP Pro XXL in candy apple green.  Since I was so impressed with my other GHP, I figure two is better than one, right?  I already started ordering parts for it, but you’ll have to wait until the build is complete to see what parts are going on this frame.  I’ll say this much though, it will be as cool as my previous build - if not even better.  Just look at how cool that color is.  Oh yeah, and Greg Hill even signed it for me too!  Is it any mystery why I like these frames so much?  I’m pretty excited.

:: GHP Pro XXL in the new candy apple green color - click to enlarge ::

:: Signed by Greg Hill, one of the greatest BMX champions of all time - click to enlarge ::

Related Links:

• GHP BMX
  

Almost anyone that’s into BMX bikes - both real and toys - will remember the Spinmaster Flick Trix finger bikes from about 10 years ago.  I remember the girl I was dating at the time, Debbie, bought one of these for me when we were at Toys R’ Us one day.  Alright, I’ll tell you more about Deb later, but for now let’s talk about BMX toys, ok?

The Spinmaster finger bikes were miniature BMX bikes licensed from real models of the day - Redline, Hoffman, DK, etc., and they featured die-cast frames and interchangeable parts.  The bikes were designed to do actual ‘finger bike tricks’ (don’t laugh, it’s actually pretty fun) and there were kits with ramps and other obstacles so you could literally build a miniature skate park.  I thought the original Flick Trix bikes themselves were very cool and quite realistic for what they were - but like many toys, these didn’t last long, and soon they were nowhere to be found.

:: Hutch Trick Star Bike Shop kit is very cool and turns us all into kids again - click to enlarge ::

With the resurgence in retro-BMX, Spinmaster created a new line of finger bikes - and these are much better than the originals.  For the first time, popular bikes from the 1980s are available and they are highly detailed.  Retro bikes include the Hutch Trick Star, GT Performer, P.K. Ripper, and Mongoose Supergoose.  Additionally, there are new-school bikes available as well from Mirraco, S&M, Fit, and Hoffman - all of which are accurately modeled as well as a toy this size could be.

:: Original 1999-series Spinmaster Hoffman with included U-lock/stand - click  to enlarge ::

I’m sure you know, I jumped aboard and bought the retro Hutch and GT models.  These are great - the detail on the decals, pedals, Skyway mag wheels, and frames is amazing. I know Spinmaster worked closely with the companies to get these right, and it shows.  Unlike the originals, these new finger bikes have die-cast cranks that are removable and caliper brakes as well as interchangeable pedals and grips.  Even the Hutch Pro pedals are accurately modeled.  Put simply, the level of detail on the new Flick Trix bikes far surpasses that of the original line.  When it comes to miniature replicas, it’s the details that matter - and Spinmaster did their homework here.

At first I thought doing tricks with finger bikes was a bit silly, but pretty soon I found myself running these little bikes inside my bathroom sink and over small obstacles.  I kid you not.  I’m sure if I were younger I would be taking these cool little bikes with me to school, passing the time by doing mini-tailwhips on my desk.  Just last week I went out with some BMX-riding friends and I pull out one of these little Flick Trix bikes.  Pretty soon everyone was passing the little bike around, mimicking real tricks with it to the point where I realized how addicting these toys can be.

:: New retro 1985 GT Pro Performers available in factory colors - image to enlarge ::

The standard kit includes a full bike as well as an extra set of wheels, trick bars, and a stand for about $10.00.  The Bike Shop version includes a full bike, additional frame, trick bars, wheels, pedals, grips, pegs, and tools as well as a display stand.  These sell for about $15.00 each.  Are you asking me if you should buy them?  I say absolutely, but please don’t get them just to resell on Ebay, that’s lame, and you can’t just buy one - you need to have a fleet of these cool little bikes.  If you also want to learn finger bike tricks, by all means do, but I just like having these little bikes on my desk.  Great job, Spinmaster.

:: New Flick Trix bikes offer stunning detail: Note visible welds on gusset - click to enlarge ::

I’ll be posting many more photos and updating this review soon, so don’t forget to bookmark this article!

Related Links:

• Spinmaster Flick Trix
• Hutch BMX

I won’t make this a long, boring post - I think the photo is worth all the words I could possibly say.  What you see here is a brand new, fresh out of the box 1986 GT Pro Performer frame and fork.  These particular frames are tough to find NOS, and this one came from the infamous “Earl stash” that is almost legendary among BMX collectors.  This frame’s serial number indicates that it was built in December of 1985, but its condition would suggest that it was made yesterday.  Yes, it’s that mint - even the paint has that new, grippy feeling.  No, I will not be building it, but I do not think I will be selling it… Yet.

:: 1986 GT Pro Performer freestyle frame and fork, brand new - click to enlarge ::

To me, the GT Performer is one of the quintessential 1980s freestyle bikes - these bikes are the icons of what 1980s freestyle BMX was all about.  This bright green color is also typical of the era - loud colors were a staple of 1980s fashion.

:: That is Eddie Fiola’s sister in the above late-1985 GT ad - Eddie was on tour at the time ::

Back in the early 1980s Redline introduced the 401-series Flight cranks.  They were the cream of the crop for BMX racers and even freestyle riders.  The tubular chromoly Flight cranks represented a departure from the heavy single piece and weak alloy cranks of the day, finally giving larger BMXers a crank set that they could never break. The Flight cranks were such a good design that even today most BMX crank sets are based off their design, and the modern Redline Flight crank retains most of this original design.

:: Original Redline magazine ad from 1982 showing both 400 and 401 series Flight cranks ::

When Redline introduced the Flight crank series, there were actually two crank sets - the 400 and 401 series.  Most people will remember the 401 Flights as the quintessential Redline Flight crank with its trademark four-spoke chainwheel - a simple and elegant design that stood out at the time as high tech and expensive.  Very expensive.  In the early 1980s, the 401 Flight crank set had a street price of $149.95.  That may not seem like much today, but at the time most BMX crank sets didn’t cost more than $40.00.

:: New, never installed set of Sugino-made Redline 400 series cranks - click to enlarge ::

So what were the differences between the 401 Flights and the 400 series?  To be blunt, the two have more differences than they have in common.  The Redline 401-series Flights are American made tubular chromoly crank arms which use a splined interface and a pinch bolt to secure the arm to the spindle.  The 400-series Flights were designed by Redline and manufactured by Sugino in Japan.  They are tubular chromoly and share the same fluted arm design as the 401 series, however the 400-series cranks utilize the older (and less reliable) square taper interface to secure the crank arms.  The 400 series Flights use a larger spindle size than the Japanese square taper crank interface standard, for adds strength - which was good for the design, but it also means that only a Sugino 400 series spindle will work with these cranks.  Finally, the Redline 401 series cranks used a standard 19mm chainwheel or chainwheel adapter with a single fixing bolt, whereas the Sugino 400 drive arm had a 110 BCD five-bolt aluminum spider permanently installed.

:: Sugino 400 cranks on a 1985 Haro Master (Dan Durr photo) - click image to enlarge ::

So what does this all mean?  Since both crank sets were relatively expensive, most people opted for the Redline 401 series since they were considered the superior product to the 400 series cranks.  If someone was prepared to spend $100 or more on a set of BMX cranks, they would be inclined to simply buy the best they could, rather than a ‘lower model’, which the 400s were designed to be.  Of course the 401 series Flight cranks were better - they were stronger, allowed more chainwheel options, and permitted chainline adjustments, which the 400 cranks did not.  Eventually Redline dropped the 400 series cranks from their product lineup, although Sugino continued to produce them under their own name, as well as for Diamond Back, although those looked much different than the Redline variant.  The Sugino-branded “400″ cranks looked identical to the Redline units, except that the arms are stamped “Sugino” instead of “Redline”, along with the arm length.  It should also be noted that many Redline-branded 400-series Flight cranks were stamped “Sugino”, presumably used when Redline-stamped units were not available during production. Both Redline and Sugino variants are worth the same today on the collector market, which brings me to the point of all of this - the irony of the collector market.

:: Modern Redline Flight cranks retain most of the original design - click to enlarge ::

Since the 401 Flights sold far better than the ‘budget’ 400 series Sugino cranks, the latter are now commanding much more money on the collector market.  As with anything collectible, previously undesirable items become worth a lot of money years later primarily due to their scarcity.  I’ll be honest with you, I think the 400 series Sugino cranks look better too, and I was thrilled when I finally found an NOS set, thanks to BMX Addicts owner, Juan Mattos.  To say these cranks are rare would be an understatement, and NOS sets of these cranks are unheard of.  This is not to say that 401 Flights are not worth much these days - actually, they command quite a value, although ironically, the Sugino 400s will usually bring more money on the collector market, all variables being equal.

:: Redline/Sugino 400 cranks are highly sought after by collectors today - click to enlarge ::

These days when people see a mint set of Redline/Sugino 400 cranks on a show bike, they instantly skip a breath - and adding to the rarity of these cranks is the fact that restoring them is very tough due to the difficulty in re-chroming the drive side arm, with its permanently installed chainring spider.  You may be wondering, what are these cranks worth today?  A complete set of Redline or Sugino-stamped 400 cranks in good condition will bring between $500-$650, while a complete set of 401 Flights in the same condition would bring about $300-$450.  What are the values of these cranks in NOS condition?  The early 1980s 401 Flights should bring about $750 or more in NOS condition.  As for the 400 series cranks, I could only speculate, since I’ve never seen another NOS set, and no, I’m not going to tell you what I paid for mine. : )

Back in 2005 Shimano started a revolution when they introduced the Saint MTB component group.  Saint components were not designed to be extremely light, rather they were engineered for strength and reliability.  This of course, is where they get their name - the Saint crank set is said to be the strongest and stiffest in the industry.  Soon after its release, BMX racers started using the Saint crank set for racing and found that they worked very well for this application.  Of course, the Saint crank set can accommodate one, two, or three chain rings, and it is compatible with 68, 73, and 83mm bottom bracket shells.

:: 2009 Shimano Saint cranks are 100 grams lighter and 200 percent  stiffer - click to enlarge ::

Shimano soon saw that the Saint crank set was gaining momentum (no pun intended) in the BMX race scene, so they introduced the 68mm BB shell-specific DXR crank set, which is a direct descendant of the Saint unit.  The DXR has had unprecedented success, gaining the Saint virtues of strength and stiffness, leaving previous BMX mainstays such as Profile and Redline in the dust, literally.  Many BMX racers still run the Saint cranks, I suppose because they prefer the black finish to the DXR’s polished look.

This year, Shimano introduced a new Saint crank set, which was redesigned completely.  The spindle design remains exactly the same, however Shimano claims the new Saint crank set is 100 grams lighter and 200 percent stiffer. 200 percent.  I have not personally tested the 2009 Saint cranks yet, but I have a few sets here for evaluation and I’ll say that when I picked them up it became immediately clear to me that these are much lighter than the 2008 Saint or DXR cranks.  The arms are a different shape - more chiseled in appearance and slightly narrower.  The “Saint” logo is represented in appealing brushed aluminum, and the gold bolts and bottom bracket bearings look great.  Another point of interest is the left side bearing cup has longer threads now, which means running double spacers on a 68mm BB shell will not compromise strength at all.  Very nice.

:: Shimano DXR cranks are the BMX-specific version of the Saint - click to enlarge ::

The bad?  So far, all I can see is that the 2009 Saint cranks are available up to only 175mm - no 180mm this year.  Guys like me with longer legs may have an issue with this in a BMX application, but for MTB this is of no concern since I run 175s on my mountain bike.  The real problem for BMX racers is that currerntly there’s a huge shortage of DXR cranks, and the price has gone up substantially, so the Saint crankset may be a welcome return for BMX racers, at least for now until the DXR crankset gets the same redesign.

I’ve had this site long enough, so I guess it’s about time I posted a healthy rant post.  Well, this isn’t a rant post per-say, but I’ll say it’s a dedicated opinion piece on how I view the BMX race scene since getting back into it a few years back.

When I first moved here, I didn’t know anybody and Cape Coral is a pretty laid-back place compared to Massapequa, so I had to actually look for things to do.  While looking through some websites a few years back, I read that Cape Coral had its own BMX track, and that it was only a few miles from my house.  Awesome, I thought - heck, this sounds like a good reason to get back on a BMX bike.  So I went to Paradise Bicycles, purchased a new Haro BMX race bike and signed up with the National Bicycle League (NBL) at the Cape Coral BMX track.

:: As the gate drops: Brian Callahan (right) and I practicing gate starts - click to enlarge ::

Fast forward a few years to where I am today - inspired by BMX and yet disappointed at the same time.  Soon after I began riding at Cape Coral BMX, I soon realized that there are essentially two types of people there - the ‘core’ of the track - those that run it, maintain it, and help instruct new riders - these people are what inspired me to keep riding.  People like Todd Lackey and Mike Powers - racers that are genuinely happy to help people with endless patience - even though I’ve even tested their patience a little sometimes.  Like any good role model, racers like them made me want to improve - they motivated me to gain their respect.  Not just them, there are many others too - respectful, good people. Most of the people at Cape Coral BMX are this way, and I’ve made some great friends there.

Then there’s the other contingent at the track - these people will shake your hand and in the same day talk behind your back.  No big deal I suppose, but some of the things these people say can be pretty alarming.  Yeah, these types are everywhere, not just the BMX track, but in all the performance boat races and events I’ve frequented, I’ve never seen this level of ruthless immaturity.   Why do I care?  Because these people seem to go out of their way to want to upset a great family-oriented community.  Does it kill the fun I had there?  Not really so much, but often times while riding there, the old saying of “too many chiefs in one small tribe” comes to mind.  This brings me to my final thought - the double-edge sword of reaching out.

:: A typical summer evening at Cape Coral BMX - click to enlarge ::

I won’t get into a long dissertation here, but since I am in a position to, I’ve always felt that helping others is a moral obligation for those that are able to.  Without getting into the details, I’ll just say that sometimes feeding the dolphins baits the waters for sharks.  I wasn’t looking for cred or respect - or even appreciation, I just like helping people.  Sometimes, once people get what they want, they have little or no use for you afterward - a sad truth.  In the end, it’s a shame because a feel-good thing like having fun at the BMX track and contributing in a positive manner becomes complicated and a catalyst for stress.  Do I lose sleep over it?  Nah, it’s not worth it, but in my life I’ve learned never to burn the wrong bridges.

Some people take BMX very seriously, even to a fault.  I do not.  I’m there just to have fun and socialize.  But it’s not as fun as it used to be, and I’ve come to realize that somtimes I can’t march lock-step with everybody.  Sure, I’ll still ride, but I think I’m due for a break.  Before BMX I was an avid mountain biker, and I understand Florida has some great cross-country trails.  One thing I’ve always liked about MTB riding is the independance and much less structured riding environment - it’s essentially the rider and the trail, and nothing else.  BMX will always be in my blood though.   So, thank you and a shout-out to Todd, Chuck, Brian, Chris, Mike, Paul, and everyone else that made Cape Coral BMX a great experience for me.

I guess I’m addicted to collecting new-old-stock BMX parts and frames from the 1980s - among my favorites are Haro frames.   Over the years my collection of frames and parts has grown substantially, and I guess I just can’t stop collecting - or in my case, stockpiling, especially when it comes to NOS Haros.

:: This 1985 Haro Master is still in its original wrappings - click to enlarge ::

This is another 1985 ‘envy green’ Haro Master, complete with the forks and frame standers in original packaging, presumably from the famous “UK stash” of NOS Masters that has been liquidated years ago.  This frame is another victim of the early-1990s freestyle BMX crash, and it still remains entombed in its original wrappings from the day a worker at Anlun in Taiwan packaged it in 1985.  What will I do with this frame?  Probable nothing - I suppose it will be a future display in my music studio along with the others someday.  Life is good.

Related Links:

• Haro Freestyler.com

For a long time I’ve been looking for a NOS (new-old-stock) GT Performer frame and fork.  For some reason, it’s virtually impossible to find a 1980s-era Performer.  Why is this the case when NOS Haros seem to surface now and then?  I have no idea - maybe because GTs were more popular back then and as a result easily sold out in bicycle stores.  I know the Performer was a less expensive bike than the Haro Master and Sport, but I’m still surprised that only very few NOS frames have surfaced.

:: 1986 GT Performer, powdered by C4 Labs, stickered as an ‘85 model  - click to enlarge ::

Although I did not want to buy a used frame, an exceedingly clean 1986 Performer appeared on BMX Museum and I got it for a great price.  How clean is this frame?  Aside from the factory pink paint having some chips and scratches, the frame appears new.  No washer marks, no dents - nothing.  It’s a rare find in itself, so I thought this would be my candidate.  I sent the frame, forks, and an NOS purple set of Performer bars off to Chip at C4 Labs to be stripped and powdered the same color, and the frame returned in a beautiful, color-matched state.  High quality reproduction decals were purchased AJK Bicycles, although the round “Santa Ana” decals are actual NOS GT decals from the 1980s.  From the photo, you’ll note that I stickered this frame as a 1985 model, rather than the 1986 model that it is.  My reason for this is quite simple -  I prefer the 1985 decals, and the frames are exactly the same anyway.

It took several months, but I located all the proper parts as NOS, and this will be a GT Performer as I would have wanted it back in the 1980s - close to factory stock with some minor upgrades.

Here’s the parts rundown:

• Frame and Fork: 1986 GT Performer, pink
• Rims: ACS Z-48, white
• Tires: GT freestyle, black
• Hubs: GT 48H Superlace, chrome
• Cranks: SR Turbox, 175mm
• Disc: GT, aluminum
• Chainring: Sugino, 44T, pink
• Stem: GT freestyle, white
• Handlebars: GT Performer, pink
• Pedals: MKS Grafight-X, white
• Brakes: Dia-Compe 880/901, white
• Seat: Viscount Dominator, white
• Seatpost: GT layback, pink