Great list. I have that exact GT in the #1 spot., got it for Xmas in 1988. All original with the fold down pegs, rear stands…. I ride it around my neighborhood in NYC sometimes. I’ll never get rid of it.
Looking back and watching the old school videos, the Street Beat still looks fresh to me. I liked that it didnt have pegs or standers welded on the frame. YOu could trick it out to your liking,. Add a gyro and boom awesome bike.
My brother had the GT Pro Freestyle Tour in the Dayglo Pink. He loved that bike and may even still have it. He was big into flatland tricks, but he did some dirt jumping and some air stuff as well. He and Pop constructed a quarter-pipe in our back yard, His buddy had a full half-pipe with auxiliary ramps in his yard. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Completely agree with your number 1 pick. I had an '87 pro freestyle tour team model except it was chrome and black. The only thing I changed on it was the rims. I didn't like the gt ones, changed them out fo araya 48's.
I just finished up an 87 bravo pro,,it the best riding 80s bmx bike I've ever owned. The geometry on the bike is perfect and so are the looks of the bike.
I had a Kuwahara Bravo in Neon Pink. It was stolen. Then got a Dyno. Got ragged on by "friends" because it wasn't a GT. That was until the guy with the Torker rode up. ha ha. His bike had the cheezy ACS rims that bent like a taco the second you did a Miami Hopper. Man, the stupid crap we judged ourselves by. -> Amee grips over ODI, Skyway mags, Gyro over ACS, 3-piece cranks over 1-piece. You were lame if you used a spare set of brake levers to support you while doing a bar ride/stand. Oh, and God forbid if you rode up with coaster brakes. ha ha.
I had day glow pink pro Freestyle Tour but never adored it like the pro World Tour I had prior....but performance-wise I liked the Haro Master the most
what a great trip down memory lane for us gen x ers... I had so many over the years -- haro, gt, redline, dk, torker, skyway, se quad, pk ripper, hutch, dyno, ... I was fortunate enough on many occassions to ride with some of the best freestyle riders of the day back then. RL Osborne. Matt Hoffman and others. As I remember how us Gen Xrs grew up -- I can't believe how GOOD we truly had it. If I had known my old would be worth so much now -- I would have tried to save some of them. As they say - what is old is new and what is new is old... It is a total shame though that so many of the best brands of the 80s and 90s have become so diluted and have been replaced by other brands I have never heard of ... Corporate money is hard to pass up I guess -- sad really.
Decade Pro just missed the list. The Kuwahara Bravo was top of the line so it nudged the magician/ Ozone came in at the tail end and could have made the list also. Dyno pro compe was popular also/
I had a few from this list: 1985 Redline RL 20 in radberry (not quite the RL 20ii, but geometry was similar) 1986 Haro Sport in blue 1987 GT Pro Freestyle Tour in white, then in black 1988 Diamond Back Strike Zone Woody Itson in red and white The RL 20 was too tall for me with the 5 inch head tube and Forklifter stem. I really should have gotten it or the RL 20ii later after I grew a bit more. The Sport fit me much better but the head tube angle was a little too laid back for me as mostly a flatlander. I should have went went the green Master instead. The Woody Itson felt great but the freecoaster made the back end really heavy. Always meant to switch to a freewheel so I could make it my daily rider. The GT PFT was the best all around bike for me. I felt like I could do anything on that bike. 😁
Awesome comment!! The 86 Blue sport I had was a bit too laid back for me as a kid also. The Green Master would have been a better choice at the time. I got my PFT after selling my Sport so it all worked out. You had some of the best bikes growing up. My best friend had a Black PFT and it was amazing. It's crazy and cool to be able to have these re issues bikes! How many you up to now Chris?
@@kidwilson3357 Yeah, it is cool! I wish I'd known about them just a few years earlier so I could have built a 1986 Vintage Master. I saw one on eBay earlier this year that was built just like the magazine ad and it was epic. I'm up to 6 now, 2 race, and 4 freestyle. 😇😇
Hutch is releasing a Chrome 20" Trick Star with modern geometry for pre order on May 3rd I believe. Check out the website and or the bmx museum forums. Thanks for the comment
Great video and some SOLID picks. Couldn't agree more on #1. For me, the coral master with a pair of 48's is a thing of beauty and a close second to the PFT.
I would've went with the 86 Diamondback Strike Zone over the 87, I really like the hot pink graphics on the 86, besides it's my holy grail and I had one when I was a kid
1. The Trick Star and the RL 22 should have been much higher ranked. They were like the Holy Grail of bikes. 2. No love for the SE Racing Quadangle? I think Fred Blood rode that bike. 3. When I think of lavender, I think Dizz Hicks on his CW Racing California. Dude reminded me of Dee Snyder of Twisted Sister and was all over BMX Plus and BMX Action magazines. That's another bike not on the list. 4. ... and GOD!!!! I'm old. ha ha.
Back in the day when mongoose ment something. not just a wal mart brand.. same as airwalk. cruising as a kid on my gt perfomer rocking chuck black chuck taylor's. ahhh thise were the day's..
Mongoose is actually making a comeback with decent quality I believe. I think Airwalk is just a name of the brand nowadays. They lease it out to different companies etc for special runs. They were Payless and then had a JC penny run but now they are back at Walmart.
Love your list! Personally, I liked the frame of the 86 Pro World Tour better than the 87 's S shaped down tube and curved rear seat stay tube. I still love it. But I think the 86 just looked better. But that's the beauty of it. We could all make a list and I'm sure all of these bikes would be in our list but maybe a little different position. For me, the pinnacle is the 86 Pro World Tour. Both the way it looks and the fact that they had to change their name midway through the year due to a copyright lawsuit. So, there isn't as many with that great name/decal. I also love the 86 Pro Freestyle Tour for the same reason. Not many in that name/year.
No Mongoose Decade!? Rode that thing for all of the 80s, looked nearly identical to your #2 (aqua blue with the white mag wheels) but that thing took a heluva beating.
Great video, stunning bikes all of them! Why would you choose the GT pro freestyle tour over the GT pro performer? Is it only for aesthetic reasons or functionality as well?
@@mosesdominguez1851 thats cool those bikes nice like the Performers ....right now i have a all chrome Diamondback bike but i want one of the new 26 inch Performers
In uk I had a chrome amaco freestyle pro with spokes and quick release Mx brakes which I never saw on ther bikes ,I didn't like skyway mags I always thought they were heavy for wheeling , before that I had a cheapo I think Raleigh BMX that had built in stunt pegs welded into the forks and welded foot bars on back frame with cheap orange mags that looked cool but the bearing tended to shoot out if you did anything
Now - If I could just figure out which company 'today' is the equivalent of those awesome brands we all grew up on ... I have a 7 yr old ... and I want to get him on a bike. Suggestions?
Believe it or not, there are many of yesteryear's brand's still around. Haro just ended a 10 year stint of Lineage bikes and they were/are amazing for us old timers. Odyssey/Sunday is still around and makes just about every kind of component you might need. Sunday is owned by Odyssey and they might have something in a smaller size frame. A brand I am riding now is NOUS. It's a japanese flatland company. There are some good companies out there for street,park and dirt trails. To be honest, I dont know what is offered for the kids these days. With a little research you might find there are a lot of options for both you and the little guy. The bmx museum website/forums has a lot of good info and good sales forum's as well. Im almost 99% into flatland old school riding but the Brands that I like are: Tree Bicycle Co Haro ( lineage offerings) Nous bmx Odyssey/Sunday/Flatware BSD Skyway for Tuffs S&M Armour Bikes Deco Dia Compe Peregrine HP Tires Ares IGI THree Stem OG Marton Handmade Bars ( best bars ever) St Martin
Considered it, but would have been an honorable mention. I never got to ride one and the graphics were just not to the wow factor some other bikes had. Some say that Decade Pro was a great bike.
I bet you don't no nothing about this one bike back in the days it was freestyle the name of the bike was black tiger it had black disc in the wheel the is frame is crome with flames 🔥 on the frame its a 80s to 90s 20inch freestyle bike that's a hard ass bike I been looking for it
Was always a fan of the the Haro Sport, was a Wilkerson fan as well.
Great list. I have that exact GT in the #1 spot., got it for Xmas in 1988. All original with the fold down pegs, rear stands…. I ride it around my neighborhood in NYC sometimes. I’ll never get rid of it.
Same here. I still have my 1987 GT pro freestyle tour from when I got it new. Great bike
My number 1 is the 1985 and 86 Schwinn Predator freeform ex. Hands down. Never rode a bike so perfectly balanced.
I had two of these... still can't believe people are paying what they are for RL-20ii's - you're sitting about 4 feet off the ground on a 40lb tank.
I had that skyway street beat . It was great with my lavender pegs, and skyway ez bar. I miss those days of old…thanks for the moments of nostalgia
Looking back and watching the old school videos, the Street Beat still looks fresh to me. I liked that it didnt have pegs or standers welded on the frame. YOu could trick it out to your liking,. Add a gyro and boom awesome bike.
I always thought the neon green 1985 Haro Master was the best and it looked simply awesome. What a time, I do miss those days-
Good choices.
I owned the Haro Sport. Loved freestyle on it as a teen.
My brother had the GT Pro Freestyle Tour in the Dayglo Pink. He loved that bike and may even still have it. He was big into flatland tricks, but he did some dirt jumping and some air stuff as well. He and Pop constructed a quarter-pipe in our back yard, His buddy had a full half-pipe with auxiliary ramps in his yard. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Completely agree with your number 1 pick. I had an '87 pro freestyle tour team model except it was chrome and black. The only thing I changed on it was the rims. I didn't like the gt ones, changed them out fo araya 48's.
I just finished up an 87 bravo pro,,it the best riding 80s bmx bike I've ever owned. The geometry on the bike is perfect and so are the looks of the bike.
Mongoose was the best from 1979 to 81 for trick riding. Still got my 79 I helped pioneer the sport on, 💯
I think one of the earliest bikes to be an all rounder was the Skyway TA
I had a Kuwahara Bravo in Neon Pink. It was stolen. Then got a Dyno. Got ragged on by "friends" because it wasn't a GT. That was until the guy with the Torker rode up. ha ha. His bike had the cheezy ACS rims that bent like a taco the second you did a Miami Hopper. Man, the stupid crap we judged ourselves by. -> Amee grips over ODI, Skyway mags, Gyro over ACS, 3-piece cranks over 1-piece. You were lame if you used a spare set of brake levers to support you while doing a bar ride/stand. Oh, and God forbid if you rode up with coaster brakes. ha ha.
the 85" GT Pro Performers were probably the best, the ones with the old decal style.
All great bikes. I'm a Haro guy, got 4 85 models, an FST, SPORT and 2 Masters now
I had day glow pink pro Freestyle Tour but never adored it like the pro World Tour I had prior....but performance-wise I liked the Haro Master the most
what a great trip down memory lane for us gen x ers... I had so many over the years -- haro, gt, redline, dk, torker, skyway, se quad, pk ripper, hutch, dyno, ... I was fortunate enough on many occassions to ride with some of the best freestyle riders of the day back then. RL Osborne. Matt Hoffman and others. As I remember how us Gen Xrs grew up -- I can't believe how GOOD we truly had it.
If I had known my old would be worth so much now -- I would have tried to save some of them. As they say - what is old is new and what is new is old... It is a total shame though that so many of the best brands of the 80s and 90s have become so diluted and have been replaced by other brands I have never heard of ... Corporate money is hard to pass up I guess -- sad really.
The Kuwahara Magician is a really nice freestyle bike also the Mongoose Decade Pro, surprised there not on the list. 👍
Decade Pro just missed the list. The Kuwahara Bravo was top of the line so it nudged the magician/ Ozone came in at the tail end and could have made the list also. Dyno pro compe was popular also/
I had a few from this list:
1985 Redline RL 20 in radberry (not quite the RL 20ii, but geometry was similar)
1986 Haro Sport in blue
1987 GT Pro Freestyle Tour in white, then in black
1988 Diamond Back Strike Zone Woody Itson in red and white
The RL 20 was too tall for me with the 5 inch head tube and Forklifter stem. I really should have gotten it or the RL 20ii later after I grew a bit more.
The Sport fit me much better but the head tube angle was a little too laid back for me as mostly a flatlander. I should have went went the green Master instead.
The Woody Itson felt great but the freecoaster made the back end really heavy. Always meant to switch to a freewheel so I could make it my daily rider.
The GT PFT was the best all around bike for me. I felt like I could do anything on that bike. 😁
Awesome comment!! The 86 Blue sport I had was a bit too laid back for me as a kid also. The Green Master would have been a better choice at the time. I got my PFT after selling my Sport so it all worked out.
You had some of the best bikes growing up. My best friend had a Black PFT and it was amazing.
It's crazy and cool to be able to have these re issues bikes! How many you up to now Chris?
@@kidwilson3357 Yeah, it is cool! I wish I'd known about them just a few years earlier so I could have built a 1986 Vintage Master. I saw one on eBay earlier this year that was built just like the magazine ad and it was epic.
I'm up to 6 now, 2 race, and 4 freestyle. 😇😇
I had that exact HUTCH trickster the only difference was my seat was blue !! I'm 53 and damn I wish I still had it
Hutch is releasing a Chrome 20" Trick Star with modern geometry for pre order on May 3rd I believe. Check out the website and or the bmx museum forums. Thanks for the comment
Great video and some SOLID picks. Couldn't agree more on #1. For me, the coral master with a pair of 48's is a thing of beauty and a close second to the PFT.
The Coral is def a great looking bike and could have easily been on the list. But The Mint Master got the edge on the Coral. Thanks for the comment!!
I wanted a Trickstar so bad.
I used to ride 84 master to college, and 86 sport, great memories
I would've went with the 86 Diamondback Strike Zone over the 87, I really like the hot pink graphics on the 86, besides it's my holy grail and I had one when I was a kid
I never saw a Strike zone in the wild. I always wondered how they rode. I always liked the graphics and colors.
I had a diamondback tailwhip, it.was underrated, bashgaurd, one of the coolest bikes ever
@@davidminsker5972 I've been looking at one on ebay
I got the 29 GT World Tour in maui blue and 26 Redline SqBk in pearl white. Love them both. Great vid!
You need to make a video. Im sure people would like to check them out. I def would. Thanks for the comment!
I will. Thanks!
@@kidwilson3357
nice list, cant say id disagree much, other than id find a way to get my 86 dyno comp 2 in the top five somehow
1. The Trick Star and the RL 22 should have been much higher ranked. They were like the Holy Grail of bikes.
2. No love for the SE Racing Quadangle? I think Fred Blood rode that bike.
3. When I think of lavender, I think Dizz Hicks on his CW Racing California. Dude reminded me of Dee Snyder of Twisted Sister and was all over BMX Plus and BMX Action magazines. That's another bike not on the list.
4. ... and GOD!!!! I'm old. ha ha.
Great list! I always thought ozone’s were badass looking but I never rode one.
👈Best bike eevvver!
Still have my hutch judge 😎😎
The Cw and Skyway bikes were rare to me in Berkley Mi back in the 80s . Alwyas saw them jn the magazine's and thought they were badass bikes.
Hutch for the win! Turquoise Haro with the 48 spoke wheels second
Back in the day when mongoose ment something. not just a wal mart brand.. same as airwalk. cruising as a kid on my gt perfomer rocking chuck black chuck taylor's. ahhh thise were the day's..
Mongoose is actually making a comeback with decent quality I believe. I think Airwalk is just a name of the brand nowadays. They lease it out to different companies etc for special runs. They were Payless and then had a JC penny run but now they are back at Walmart.
Love your list! Personally, I liked the frame of the 86 Pro World Tour better than the 87 's S shaped down tube and curved rear seat stay tube. I still love it. But I think the 86 just looked better. But that's the beauty of it. We could all make a list and I'm sure all of these bikes would be in our list but maybe a little different position. For me, the pinnacle is the 86 Pro World Tour. Both the way it looks and the fact that they had to change their name midway through the year due to a copyright lawsuit. So, there isn't as many with that great name/decal. I also love the 86 Pro Freestyle Tour for the same reason. Not many in that name/year.
I prefer the 1986 Pro perfomer bars over the 87. Gt sure made some sweet bikes back in the day. It was a great culture to be involved in. ;)
my favorite haro master
Great video, I agree on #1!
Beautiful bikes ✨🔥
Who knows about the brand STAR PRO ?
Never heard of the Star Pro.
No Mongoose Decade!? Rode that thing for all of the 80s, looked nearly identical to your #2 (aqua blue with the white mag wheels) but that thing took a heluva beating.
There is a lot of love for the Mongoose decade. I never saw one in the wild personally.
Great video, stunning bikes all of them! Why would you choose the GT pro freestyle tour over the GT pro performer? Is it only for aesthetic reasons or functionality as well?
Performers were nice but i had a dyno D Tour Freestyle Bike all chromed out man i miss that bike
I have a Dyno Comp in my garage. Still ride it every now and then. Bike is like 30 years old. Lol
@@mosesdominguez1851 thats cool those bikes nice like the Performers ....right now i have a all chrome Diamondback bike but i want one of the new 26 inch Performers
All good choices. But....#1 is Mongoose Decade in full chrome. (I put pink skyways on it. Matched the graphic.) Tits.
I never rode or saw a mongoose decade aside from magazines. Im told it was a great bike.
Had a Se Racing Fred Blood Quad with Standing Gear forks with Black Skyway Graphites & for a change a pair of Black ACS Z rims.
Thats old school for sure. :)
That Trick Star and Strikezone 😱 and Skyway and GT… this whole list. I love mags fuckin’ dope. That GT Pro too 🔥
I had the orange GT Pro Performer and I gave it away to some kids and I always regretted that
Dude... ;) it really was a sweet color and bike.
Greatest bike ever is called Dyno Slammer 😎
Yea, except the Slammer is a 90's bike eh?
@@kidwilson3357 I know bro, was just saying , of all Time bro 👍😎
In uk I had a chrome amaco freestyle pro with spokes and quick release Mx brakes which I never saw on ther bikes ,I didn't like skyway mags I always thought they were heavy for wheeling , before that I had a cheapo I think Raleigh BMX that had built in stunt pegs welded into the forks and welded foot bars on back frame with cheap orange mags that looked cool but the bearing tended to shoot out if you did anything
The quick release brakes were diacomp
Now - If I could just figure out which company 'today' is the equivalent of those awesome brands we all grew up on ... I have a 7 yr old ... and I want to get him on a bike. Suggestions?
Believe it or not, there are many of yesteryear's brand's still around. Haro just ended a 10 year stint of Lineage bikes and they were/are amazing for us old timers. Odyssey/Sunday is still around and makes just about every kind of component you might need. Sunday is owned by Odyssey and they might have something in a smaller size frame. A brand I am riding now is NOUS. It's a japanese flatland company. There are some good companies out there for street,park and dirt trails. To be honest, I dont know what is offered for the kids these days. With a little research you might find there are a lot of options for both you and the little guy.
The bmx museum website/forums has a lot of good info and good sales forum's as well. Im almost 99% into flatland old school riding but the Brands that I like are:
Tree Bicycle Co
Haro ( lineage offerings)
Nous bmx
Odyssey/Sunday/Flatware
BSD
Skyway for Tuffs
S&M
Armour Bikes
Deco
Dia Compe
Peregrine HP Tires
Ares
IGI
THree Stem
OG Marton Handmade Bars ( best bars ever)
St Martin
I got GTs no 80s GTs tho I do got a 80s kuwahara Magician
Pk ripper ?
Ill buy you three oakley because kes and ill give you two bloods sponser bikes ones mine tgeres inly one
Raleigh 2500 ?
Never heard of it to be honest
Wtf… Decade/Decade pro?
Considered it, but would have been an honorable mention. I never got to ride one and the graphics were just not to the wow factor some other bikes had. Some say that Decade Pro was a great bike.
Yep. Bike was sick.
Mongoose decade pro
Ive never ridden one. They are def highly regarded by those who had one.
No GT World Tour or Dyno Comp!!??
Lame list. Lol
Dyno was never a fav of mine. I like Voelker's red Dyno but never wanted one
I bet you don't no nothing about this one bike back in the days it was freestyle the name of the bike was black tiger it had black disc in the wheel the is frame is crome with flames 🔥 on the frame its a 80s to 90s 20inch freestyle bike that's a hard ass bike I been looking for it
Ive never seen one or heard of one. ;)