Vintage BMX folk; a question for you

I'm thinking about a BMX for tootling around town, and I'd like a quality older bike, rather than something modern.

Is this Haro (race bike?) anything decent? I'm pretty BMX-ignorant.

The main issue I've found with vintage BMX bikes vs. modern ones is the sizing. Modern bikes seem to fit adult riders better. I can comfortably ride my '99 Gary Fisher Lush Rush (w/ many upgrades), but feel cramped on my old Schwinn Predator from my youth.

Otherwise, that Haro looks pretty good.

The frame I am unfamiliar with. Looks newer than when I got out. The cranks look like Profiles, and they are stout. Pedals are hutch or some derivation thereof, and are also good. Stem is a DK - good. Bars are some kind of hi-rise take on the Redline bars, and are probably a good option for an adult. Tires are dead. Can't tell enough to know about the rest.

Probably a decent buy for $100, not so much for $250 unless those pedals and cranks will part out for more, though that's not why you're buying it.

DILYSI Dave wrote: The frame I am unfamiliar with.

I vaguely remember it - mid/late 80's, I think. Before Haro went full-on freestyle and was still making racing frames.

Thanks guys.

Tyres are definitely shot, but I work in a bike shop, so consumable parts are cheap to get hold of. $100 is exactly how much it is, too. Sounds like a go.

Re sizing, I'm only 5'8, so not too worried about that.

Any chance the frame is US-made?

Luke wrote: Any chance the frame is US-made?

Possible. That looks like a later frame than 80's to me, so I'm guessing Taiwan. On the upside, Taiwan was making decent stuff by then.

$100???? BUY IT!!!!

That is a early '90's Haro Group 1. As Dave said it looks to have Profile cranks and sprocket. A DK 1-inch stem, Odyssey Triple Trap pedals, but the thing that caught my eye the most is the handlebars - they look like BOSS Ladder bars. Very well worth more than the rest of the bike.

As far as being US made, I would probably say it's not. By the early 90's Haro had already moved most of it's production to Taiwan, although I very well could be wrong.

For a cruiser it's a great ride and would be awesome to have.

Yeah... those bars... you don't see them often. Those are big money on the used market IIRC for freestyle builds.

Luke wrote: Re sizing, I'm only 5'8, so not too worried about that.

It's not so much the height, it's the 'feel'. Hard to dscribe... especially if you've been riding mtn bikes for awhile.

But for $100 - yeah buy it. If they are Profiles, then the cranks alone are worth more.

Thanks y'all. Buying process initiated.

edit: E36 M3balls. Looks like it's sold. I'm next in line should the deal fall through.

FWIW, I think that frame had some sales into the early 90s as well. I would ditch those bars and get a set of center pull brakes that will actually stop you, but aside from that and some new rubber, thats a very rock-able bike

I had one of those frames, I liked it. My set up was similar to that bike in the pic. I had chain tensioners, double walled rims, V-brakes,etc.too

The newer ones definetly suit adults better for sure and you can do a lot more tricks compared to the older ones but still that is a sweet bike! any person over 25 that still rides today is awesome in my book

NickF40 wrote: any person over 25 that still rides today is awesome in my book

36 year old fat Dave at Nationals last year...

DILYSI Dave wrote:

NickF40 wrote: any person over 25 that still rides today is awesome in my book

36 year old fat Dave at Nationals last year...

Mental note: if I ever go to Nationals, pack the BMX bike. We'll have a drunk bunny-hopping comp.

Ian F wrote:

DILYSI Dave wrote:

NickF40 wrote: any person over 25 that still rides today is awesome in my book

36 year old fat Dave at Nationals last year...

Mental note: if I ever go to Nationals, pack the BMX bike. We'll have a drunk bunny-hopping comp.

One discover I made at Nats a couple of years ago that was certainly unexpected - I can still ride a BMX bike when I'm too drunk to walk.

Yeah - it didn't make sense to me either.

While I grew up on a 20-inch bike, I have to say that I'm loving my Floval Flyer cruiser. I never thought I'd dig a brown bike so much.

I heart my '81 GT 26" cruiser.

Ian F wrote:

DILYSI Dave wrote:

NickF40 wrote: any person over 25 that still rides today is awesome in my book

36 year old fat Dave at Nationals last year...

Mental note: if I ever go to Nationals, pack the BMX bike. We'll have a drunk bunny-hopping comp.

WORD! and same here lol that just sounds like an awesome thing to do haha challenge accepted

Dave, I know what you mean, I can do tricks drunk on my bike but trying to stand up straight? yeah that ain't happening lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6tkxabGH5Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&NR=1&v=YotNJ7O7NIk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9k9sq7GHMA

Ian F wrote:

DILYSI Dave wrote:

NickF40 wrote: any person over 25 that still rides today is awesome in my book

36 year old fat Dave at Nationals last year...

Mental note: if I ever go to Nationals, pack the BMX bike. We'll have a drunk bunny-hopping comp.

NickF40 wrote: any person over 25 that still rides today is awesome in my book

There's a decent amount of us in my neck of the woods who are 30+ and ride.

My buddy Brian is 30 (he also has a Volvo 122 racecar):

My buddy Kyle is 30ish as well with a receding hairline... haha

They still dig trails on the regular. I'm 30, far less skilled, but tool around on a 20" a bit still downtown.

While riding last night, I was thinking that I have been playing with these stupid bikes for 30 years now.

4cylndrfury wrote:

Well, I guess I just HAVE to go to Nationals now... Now I just need to figure how I can be in Lincoln and Watkins Glen at the same time, since unfortunately the Solo Nats and the Vintage Festival invariably fall on the same w/e...