I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:  Haro is very serious about its BMX program now.   I’ve seen a much more focused trend on Haro’s part to make their bikes cutting edge in function, parts, and style.  So here I have the new Forum Pro Lite - Haro’s new top-of-the-line freestyle/street/trails bike that could be the best such complete available today.

:: The Haro Forum Pro Lite is a rock-solid, high performance freestyle bike - click to enlarge ::

The Forum Pro Lite starts with Haro’s lean-and-mean Convert frame with a 21″ top tube and 100% chromoly construction.  The frame itself weighs about five pounds and has removable gyro and brake mounts.  The “acid bath” translucent finish is great without being overstated, and I’m glad to see that there’s a minimalist attitude with regard to the frame’s decals.  The welding quality is, unsurprisingly, fantastic - neat and even.

:: Ryan “Z-Man” Zielinski testing the new Haro Convert frame - click to enlarge ::

Componentry is fantastic for a bike in the $700 price class.  The bike includes Alienation center ridge rims with Haro sealed cassette hubs that are higher quality than you would expect on a factory complete.  25/9 gearing is standard, and the 175mm Haro cranks are clean looking and stiff (and they haven’t bitten my ankles either).  The Dia-Compe Hombre/Tech 77 combo works about as well as a 990-type brake should - very easy action and great stopping performance, aided by the chrome finish on the rear Black Sheep rim.

:: Note Odyssey tires, inverted 45-degree stem, and Haro sealed hubs - click to enlarge ::

I’m a tall person, so I appreciated the Haro 8-inch bars, which are full chromoly, by the way.  They are not small, yet not too wide either - just right for a person between 5′8″ and 6′ 2″.  The bike does not include pegs, though the axles and dropouts can easily accommodate them.   Full bike weight is about 25 pounds, which is light for a freestyle ride.   Adding to the bike’s light weight is a nice pivotal seat and ’stubby’ alloy post.

:: 25/9 gearing and great hubs make this bike a smooth operator - click to enlarge ::

I was a little less impressed with the inverted Haro 45-degree stem.  It works great and does not slip, however the bolts seem to have been forged poorly - my 6mm hex driver could not fully engage the bolts so extra caution was needed to tighten them.  Not a big deal, but worth mentioning.  The grips are awesome and the plastic pedals grip very well.  Finally, the Odyssey tires are a nice surprise - perfect for the street and trails.  Heck, I’ll even take this bike on the race track here for some fun on the tabletops.

:: Rear cassette hub is better than anything I’ve seen on a factory complete - click to enlarge ::

How does it ride?  Fast, smooth, and forgiving.  I like this bike much more than my Eastern - not only because of the components and quality, but simply because of the geometry.  The rear end doesn’t feel quite as slammed as some other street rides, and that’s just fine as far as I’m concerned.  The Convert frame feels great for my 36-inch inseam, and I feel a bit more confident on it as a result.  I’ll post more photos when we’re able to give this bike a real hard workout at the park, but it’s safe to say that this is a complete that freestyle riders should set their sites on.

Related Links:

• Haro Bikes
• Haro Freestyler.com

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

NBL Expert Brian Callahan, who’s sponsored by Scream And Fly, is already flying higher and going faster than he ever did - and that’s due in part to the new Haro Team Issue BMX race frame.  His complete is super light, weighing in at 18.5 pounds, and according to Brian, it’s very easy to manual with.  Haro is very serious about racing now, and it shows in this frame - not only in design, but in price.  You can get one of these frames for around $150.  Seriously.

:: 2009 Haro Team Issue race frame is super light and super fast - click on image to enlarge ::

I’ve had my Haro Team Issue for a few months now and this bike has been a fantastic performer on the track and tooling around town.  I love riding BMX, but now that I’m sponsoring Z-Man, he’ll do the real riding when it comes to serious tests and I’ll do what I do best - shoot photos and annoy everyone around me.

The Z-Man will be riding Street/Park for Scream And Fly and NBL Expert Brian Callahan will be racing a Team Issue this year.   Wait, I bet you may (or may not) want to know what’s going on here with these new riders.  I’ll get into more detail at a later date, but they are both good friends and excellent BMXers, so why not support them?  Heck, it’s a ton of fun and anything having to do with BMX — even if I’m not actually riding — is cool.  Of course, I’ll still ride though.

:: NBL A-Pro Ryan “Z-Man” Zeilinski test the Haro Team Issue - click to enlarge ::

Back on topic here - our Team Issue ran some hard laps at the Cape Coral BMX track today, with Z-Man doing some nice tabletop jumps over the triples.  Yeah, we love this bike - and everyone that sees it wants to ride it.  What happens when they ride it?  Well, they want it, of course.  The bike is smooth and according to the Z-Man, it flies like it has wings.  The rear triangle is a bit long for his tastes, but you know how those street riders like it  - after all, that’s why he’ll be riding a Haro Convert frame anyway.  He sure does seem to like that Team Issue though…  And so does everyone at the local track.  It’s a badass ride for sure, and I think I’ll be keeping this one for a long time.

I’ll update you all soon, for now the weather is perfect for riding, so I’m off.

Related Links:

• Haro Bikes
• HaroFreestyler.com
  

What’s old is new again, or so they say.  The retro-BMX craze is still going strong and Haro has finally released the bike we’ve all been waiting for - the 2009 Freestyler.  This bike owes its lineage to the legendary 1983 Freestyler that Bob Haro created for the then-new trend of freestyle BMX riding.  I’ll have a full test posted very soon, but for now here’s a quick overview of this awesome new ride.

:: 2009 Haro Freestyler pays tribute to the original 1983 Freestyler - click to enlarge ::

First, it’s important to point out that the 2009 Freestyler is not a recreation of the 1983 Freestyler - it’s a retro-inspired bike with some modern characteristics such as modern geometry, 5mm thick, 10mm (3/8 compatible) rear dropouts, a mid bottom bracket shell, and rear 990 brake mounts.  The frame’s geometry is essentially the same as Haro’s top of the line Convert frame.  The result is a bike that looks retro-cool and rides as well as a high-end modern freestyle bike.  Some purists may scoff at this, but I want to ride this bike, not keep it on display indoors.  This bike has the perfect blend of modern and classic elements.  Yeah, I may swap out some parts, but isn’t that part of the fun of BMX?  Customizing your ride is almost as fun as riding it, but I woudn’t want to change much on this bike as it is.

:: Classic twin top tube design dominates the Freestyler’s personality - click to enlarge ::

With that out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff.  This bike looks killer.  My Freestyler arrived and as I unpacked it the first thing that impressed me was the chrome finish - it’s beautiful.  It’s actually the best chrome I’ve ever seen on a modern bike, and it’s on par with the best I’ve seen on old school Hutches.  Yes, it’s that good.  The same goes for the chrome on the cranks, which are 175mm, by the way.  Haro didn’t let us down with the original Skyway Tuffwheel mags, and the bars are a good match to this bike.

:: New, thicker seat tube gusset is much stronger than the original - click to enlarge ::

The frame is not full 4130 chromoly - although I do not think that means that strength will be sacrificed.  The down tube and fork steerer are chromoly, so it has it where it counts. The welds are very neat and consistent, and the seat tube gusset is at least three times thicker than the originals, so no worries about cracking for those wondering.  The twin top tubes should make this frame plenty rigid, and the overall weight of the bike is surprisingly light.  I’m willing to bet many younger riders will think this frame design is something entirely new - that should be funny to witness.

:: Retro 44/16 gearing, Skyway mags, and blinging chrome - retro is rad.  Click to enlarge ::

Since this is just a preview, that’s all you’ll get for now, but they’ll be much more forthcoming on this rad bike. I’ll have NBL A-Pro and awesome freestyler Ryan “Z-Man” Zielinski test this bike at the park, on the street, and even on the race track.  Of course I’ll have many killer photos and videos for you, as well as a full report on how the bike performed.   Until then, I’ll be riding and catching the reactions from the locals at the skatepark when they see this retro-rad ride.

:: Replica of Bob Haro’s 1983 Haro Freesyler, built by Dan Durr - click to enlarge ::

Related Links:

• Haro Bikes
• HaroFreestyler.com

You may have read in a previous entry about my purchase of Dan Durr’s rare pink Haro Sport.  Since then, I’ve been negotiating with Dan about the purchase of his Haro enthusiast website, HaroFreestyler.com.  This website is very well constructed, and its an information-rich location for all technical specifications and historical material pertaining to the Haro Master, Sport, and FST from 1983-1985.

:: Click on image to be taken to the HaroFreestyler.com website ::

What are my plans for this website?  For now, I’ll be adding a message board that focuses primarily on Haro collectors and establishing a Haro Owner’s Group of sorts.  The message forums will likely have multiple sections - one for each generation of Haro Freestylers and perhaps a “new-school” section for current Haro bikes.  We’ll also be testing the new Haro Retro Freestyler soon too, so stay tuned.  This is going to be fun.

Related Links:

• HaroFreestyler.com
• Haro Bikes

All of the old school BMXers will remember Bullseye - they were the company that made the exotic cranks and hubs that were super cool and super expensive.  We all wanted Bullseye parts badly.  Very badly.  When BMX died in the late 80s, so did Bullseye, or so it seemed…. Or did they?  Now that BMX is back in full swing and the retro-BMX craze is going full throttle, Bullseye products are back - and they are selling new-old-stock items on Ebay or directly through the company.

:: Bullseye BMX cranks were known as being super strong and super exotic ::

Bullseye director Steven Jackson has brought Bullseye back into the limelight by releasing old stock of  Bullseye cranks and hubs, and creating new, modern stems and pedals for a new generation of BMXers — and us old school people that wanted these products as kids, but could never afford them.  But sometimes having is not so great a thing as wanting, right?  Wrong, I wanted Bullseye parts!

:: Bullseye magazine ad from 1982 - click on image to enlarge ::

I just received my new Bullseye cranks with bottom bracket and alloy spider.  The cranks are 1984 NOS, though they have been show-chromed and include a new Bullseye bottom bracket assembly.  The chrome is drop-dead gorgeous, easily the best in the industry.  The machine work is as good as it gets, and the crank set is even lighter than Shimano DXR cranks.

:: Chrome finish, welding, and machine work is the best I’ve ever seen ::

Coincidentally, the 30+ year-old Bullseye two-piece design is very similar to the popular current two-piece designs being used by Shimano, Supercross, and some others.  Did these manufacturers get their idea from Bullseye?  Maybe, but there’s no doubt that Bullseye’s crank design was many years ahead of its time.

:: Bullseye’s two-piece design likely influenced many of today’s crank designs::

I’m not yet sure what I’ll do with these cranks, but I can at least say that I finally own a set and it was worth the wait.  These will match my Bullseye red and polished hubs perfectly, so whatever I install them on will get both the hubs and the cranks.  Most likely, I’ll install these pieces on my 25th Anniversary Skyway TA, but that’s if I ever even build it.  For now, I’m just happy having a set of these awesome cranks.  when you get a chance, head on over to Bullseye Cycle’s website and check out the photo gallery to relive that awesome feeling of radness again.

Related Links:

• Bullseye Cycle

I am not 100% sure if my pink Haro Sport came with its Peregrine 48s as original equipment, however after talking to a few people, it seems logical that my bike, like all 1985 Haro Sports, came with white Peregrine Master wheels (made by OGK in Japan) and Panaracer Freestyle tires originally and the bike shop this bike was purchased from likely swapped out the mag wheels for Peregrine 48s.  All 1985 Haro Sports came with Peregrine Master mag wheels, and it’s only natural that this bike would only seem factory original with these wheels.

:: Peregrine Master wheels and Panaracer Freestyle tires were OEM equipment ::

The original owner says the Peregrine 48s were original from the bike shop, and this is very likely since the 48s were a brand new wheel at the time that was very hot.  It was a tough call, but after talking to some top Haro collectors, it’s concluded that the pink Sport deserves its white Peregrine Masters and Panaracer tires to be totally factory original.  All other components on the bike are OEM-correct, and it seems fitting that the wheel set should be as well. As noted Haro collector and historian Dan Durr put it, “The Peregrine Master wheels are what came in the box when it was new.”

I’ll keep the Peregrine 48s and Comp Stadium tires as they were, and they will always go with the bike.  Also, the wheels are mounted with plastic washers on the inside and outside of the dropouts, so as not to scratch them.  So, here’s my pink Sport for now.  It took me a long time to find these NOS wheels and tires, but it was worth it, and this is how the bike will remain as long as I own it.

Related Links:

• HaroFreestyler.com

A few weeks back I mentioned the new Haro Team Issue race bike and based on preliminary details I was impressed.  I ordered one based on that first impression and now that it has arrived, I can see my initial thoughts on this bike are justified.  It’s very clear from this example that Haro is getting very serious about their BMX race program, and now that Haro’s sponsored racer, Kahlen Young won the ABA Pro #1 title, more attention will be aimed at Haro for sure throughout the BMX community.  So let’s have a closer look at the Team Issue…

:: Haro Team Issue includes many high end components - click on image to enlarge ::

The first thing you’ll notice about this bike is the flat black finish, which really adds to the bike’s modern, stealthy look.  The graphics also look good, and are painted on - not decals.  The frame is constructed of 6061-T6 aluminum, and the welds are very neat and even.  The frame features integrated chain tensioners, and  is only available in 21-inch top tube length for this model, though Haro’s ProXL offers larger sizes. The forks are Sinz Stealth aluminum, which is a fairly exotic item to see on a factory-complete, also with matching flat-black finish.  The cranks are AC’s new Hammer Pro two-piece, featuring Shimano-style outboard bearings and a hollow spindle.  They look really cool, although only time will tell how well they hold up.  One area of concern with these cranks is the lack of steel pedal boss inserts.  While this should not pose a problem, it would certainly add to their durability if they were so equipped.

:: Flat black finish and graphics give this bike modern appeal - click on image to enlarge ::

The Team Issue also features Weinmann 36H rims, which seem fine if not somewhat generic.  Sealed cartridge bearing AC Race Day hubs are laced to the rims with black spokes.  Worth noting about this setup is that this is not a cassette hub, rather it’s a flip-flop unit equipped with a somewhat substandard freewheel.  I had thoughts of swapping this freewheel with a White Industries unit until I found out that White does not make a 14T freewheel.  Well, why not install a 16T unit?  This brings us up to an important point - the bike’s factory-equipped 39/14 gearing is fine for its purpose (my GHP has the same gear ratio), however, frame clearance is very right, which precludes installing anything larger than a 40T chainring up front unless your cranks are spaced precisely.  Florida NBL 39X Brian Callahan runs a 44/16 ratio on his Team Issue, using Shimano DXR cranks.   Since this bike is not equipped with a cassette rear hub, spacing the chainline out is not possible, so I’ll be using either this Chinese-made 14T freewheel or I’ll have to find something else other than a White freewheel.  Bummer.

:: New AC Hammer Pro 180mm aluminum crank - click on image to enlarge ::

On on the positive side of things, the chain/seat stays are boxed and very substantial, especially the chainstays.  This could be the reason for the limited gear clearance, and I’m willing to bet this frame won’t flex as much as most frames as a result.  Something else I noticed on this frame - “Team Issue” is stamped on the underside of the bottom bracket next to the serial number.   That doesn’t mean much to most people, but I just think it’s plain cool anyway.

:: Frame features integrated chain tensioners that work well - click on image to enlarge ::

Moving right along, the brakes are Tektro’s carbon MTB units which look and work great.  The seat and post seem generic, but I’m willing to accept some low end parts in exchange for the killer forks this bike came with.  One serious concern is Haro’s illogical decision to use high-tensile steel handlebars on this model - and they weigh a ton too.  I have no idea why a bike in this class does not have chromoly handlebars.  Could it be a safety issue?  I doubt it, since the weight of the factory-equipped unit would suggest that the tubing is quite thick, and yes, it also affects the balance of the bike as well.  I would strongly suggest replacing these for a high end, 4130 chromoly handlebar. While you’re at it, you’ll want to swap that stem out too (keep reading to find out why).  Still if these are my only complaints about the bike, then we’re pretty far ahead of the game here, as the rest of this bike is killer.

:: My Team Issue on the Haro website!  Thank you Tony D - click on image to enlarge ::

So how does it ride?  In a word, smooth.  The frame’s geometry makes it feel larger than it is, and everything just feels in the right place.  The AC cranks feel stiff, and the Intense tires roll nice on soil-tac and pavement.  I remain disappointed in the cheap feeling freewheel, which feels like it has about ten engagement points.  Alright, I’m exaggerating there, but I suppose getting used to the Chris King hubs on my GHP didn’t give the freewheel a fighting chance, though I still think Haro should have included a cassette hub for a bike in this price class.  Unlike the Kuwahara Team model I reviewed, this bike does not feel overly-flighty in front - it’s actually balanced quite well.  Out of the gate, this bike moves quick and straight.

I strongly suggest you swap the stem and bars.  A-Pro Ryan “Z-Man” Zielinski put the Team Issue through its paces and though he felt the frame’s geometry was fantastic, the bars slipped back after landing a large triple, resulting in a pretty bad crash on an asphalt berm.  I had fears this could happen the moment I saw the stem when I unboxed the bike.  I swapped the stem and bars with S&M Race XLT units and the problem was solved.  I also saved nearly a pound of weight in the process, so I suggest making this change if you’re a jumper.

:: A cassette hub and 4130 bars would make the Team Issue nearly perfect - click to enlarge ::

At an MSRP of $545, no other factory-complete can touch it.  Do the math - the Sinz Stealth forks alone retail for $160, and the AC Hammer Pro cranks weigh in at close to $200.  Word is that the Team Issue frame will sell at the absurdly-low price of $150.  More photos and feedback to come, so stay tuned!

Related Links:

• Haro Bikes

A few months ago, Dan Durr from HaroFreestyler.com - a well known vintage Haro BMX collector - managed to find an extremely rare 1985 Haro Sport in near NOS condition.  What makes this particular Haro so rare?  It’s color - only five were made in pink - or so the story goes.  Up until recently, the facts surrounding the infamous pink Sports were unclear - or even if they existed at all.  Apparently, it was a sort of test-marketing experiment, since GT was going to offer a similar color for 1986 in their competing product, the Performer.

:: This pink 1985 Haro Sport is one of only five made - click on image to enlarge ::
For a 1920×1200 pixel high resolution version of the above photo, click here.

I generally do not take  the words of most people at face value, however Dan is a bit different - his collection, experience, and known relationship with Bob Haro makes him an authority on Haro bikes.  George M.Y. in Naperville IL., the original owner, verified the authenticity of the bike, and consequently Dan and I talked about this rare bike and made a deal for its purchase.

A week later, I was in possession of this Sport. This particular bike is an all-original survivor in near-new condition.  When I say near-new, I mean that literally.  The paint is near flawless and the parts have zero wear.  Only very slight brake rub on the rear rim would indicate that the bike has been ridden, though very briefly.  The wheelset is also bit of a mystery - all Sports in 1985 came equipped with Peregrine Master wheels, so why does this one have Peregrine 48s?  The original owner indicates that these are original with the bike, so either the bike shop he purchased it from upgraded the bike or Haro included this wheelset with the bike as part of its unique offering with the color.  There’s no way to know for sure, though the wheelset is correctly dated, and the Peregrine 48s were considered a new exotic option for freestyle bikes during the time.

:: This is the only known pink Haro Sport to survive completely intact - click to enlarge ::
For a 1920×1200 pixel high resolution version of the above photo, click here.

The shade of pink on this Haro is somewhat similar to the color GT used at the time, though this is a bit lighter.  Not surprisingly, the shade of pink Haro chose is right between Hutch’s light-creamy pink and GT’s more fuchsia color.  Apparently, Haro also produced a few 1985 Masters in this color as well, and as of yet only one has surfaced, though its condition shows much age.  Perhaps I’ll be able to obtain all the facts on these mysterious bikes someday from Bob Haro himself.

:: Hard to believe this Haro has never been restored - click on image to enlarge ::

All other components are Haro-spec correct for this model, with no signs of wear or age.  Even the rare Dia-Compe FS-880 freestyle brake set looks unused, and the levers do not have a scratch.  The Anlun stem appears brand new, and even the underside of the plates show almost no evidence of having clamped on a set of handlebars.  The tires are Mitsuboshi Comp Stadium (yellow label) and though they have very little actual use, the sidewalls are beginning to dry from age.  It’s a very beautiful example of 1980s freestyle BMX history.

:: Rare Dia-Compe FS-880 freestyle brake set is original - click on image to enlarge ::

What are my plans for this bike?  Well, I won’t ride it in case you were wondering.  It’s just too rare and there’s no need to - I just enjoy having it in my possession and it will reside in my office where it will remain in its current condition, hopefully for a very long time.

Related Links:

• HaroFreestyler.com
• BMX Museum
• Vintage BMX
• Table Top BMX