We always talk about what is the coolest stuff out there. I got to thinking about all the stupid products that have been made over the years. What do you guys think are some of the kookiest things made BITD.
I putting my vote in for the Pro-Guard Chain protector things. Just plain stupid if you ask me. LOL!!!!
This could be funny!
Full Version: TOP 10 Worst products from BITD
are those the plastic tubing with the slit?and they wraped around the chain?yeah those were pretty stupid
1) Grab-On grips
2) Kingsbury pedals
3) the Freestyle color palette
4) JMC Forks (ooo I'm gonna take the heat for this, but mine broke almost immediately)
5) that thing which replaced your right-hand grip and made motorcycle sounds when twisted
6) the chain-thingy mentioned above
7) Vector Bars? Whatever - the bars that come to a Vee where the bars and stem meet.
8) chrome pads...I mean, come on - chrome fabric?
9) 1980s graphics - terrible with all the geometric forms - triangles, squares, etc.
10) Pro-Tec helmets. Well, they seemed really dorky at the time.
2) Kingsbury pedals
3) the Freestyle color palette
4) JMC Forks (ooo I'm gonna take the heat for this, but mine broke almost immediately)
5) that thing which replaced your right-hand grip and made motorcycle sounds when twisted
6) the chain-thingy mentioned above
7) Vector Bars? Whatever - the bars that come to a Vee where the bars and stem meet.
8) chrome pads...I mean, come on - chrome fabric?
9) 1980s graphics - terrible with all the geometric forms - triangles, squares, etc.
10) Pro-Tec helmets. Well, they seemed really dorky at the time.
1. Addicks cranks and stems--blew up instantly.
2. Hare Trigger brake levers--flexy beyond belief and ugly, too.
2. Hare Trigger brake levers--flexy beyond belief and ugly, too.
Another real gem:
hey i remember those
just one little stone and face plant
just one little stone and face plant
Laid Back seat posts.
That advert is scary - Bagwag on wheels!
Dual crown forks.
Was'nt a good idea bitd.
Was'nt a good idea when they came back a few years ago.
[ March 11, 2006, 04:14 PM: Message edited by: RCain ]
Was'nt a good idea bitd.
Was'nt a good idea when they came back a few years ago.
[ March 11, 2006, 04:14 PM: Message edited by: RCain ]
66, Grab on grips no. 1?? Geez, I love those things!! MX-3s rock...even though they couldnt take a good crash, they felt great.
I vote for Hare plastic pedals, bikes made by AMF, Huffy, MT Fox, and the first ACS rotor.
I vote for Hare plastic pedals, bikes made by AMF, Huffy, MT Fox, and the first ACS rotor.
The hutch bike with all the plastic... hpv? or something like that.
1, Grab on Grips. (caution: slippery when wet!, lol)
2. Those plastic 2 finger brake levers. (Haro???)
3. Fluted handlebars (sorry Reilley1, they blow, no torsional strength)
4. Oakley replacable sleeve grips. Great for about 10 minutes 'til the sleeve tore off.
5. The Oakley 15 piece grip "system".
6. Mushroom grips, My buddy still has them on his Sting, and he still likes the darned things. Like grabbing a sea anemone, fine if you are a clown-fish.
7. Uni-seat with fiberglass seat post. (Unless you are 6 years old)
8. Kingsbury plastic pedals.
9. The 90 degree seat posts with the diagonal brace.
10. Ashtabula frame and fork set vacuum packed on cardboard.
11. Wheel covers, spoke guards.
12. Addicks plastic sprockets.
13. Jox Jag shoes.
14. Was I supposed to stop at 10?????
2. Those plastic 2 finger brake levers. (Haro???)
3. Fluted handlebars (sorry Reilley1, they blow, no torsional strength)
4. Oakley replacable sleeve grips. Great for about 10 minutes 'til the sleeve tore off.
5. The Oakley 15 piece grip "system".
6. Mushroom grips, My buddy still has them on his Sting, and he still likes the darned things. Like grabbing a sea anemone, fine if you are a clown-fish.
7. Uni-seat with fiberglass seat post. (Unless you are 6 years old)
8. Kingsbury plastic pedals.
9. The 90 degree seat posts with the diagonal brace.
10. Ashtabula frame and fork set vacuum packed on cardboard.
11. Wheel covers, spoke guards.
12. Addicks plastic sprockets.
13. Jox Jag shoes.
14. Was I supposed to stop at 10?????
That's a BIG 10-4 on the addicks sprockets! I have one that warped and can't be used! I did'nt even get a chance to wear out the teeth like everyone else did!
the double clamp mongoose stem !!! no matter what this thing slipped!!! sorry guys!!
spokey dokeys. the worst part is that kids had added 1/2 pound of weight to mini race wheels.
remember that ad for that radio thing that dmc had on his bike.i forget the name of it.
quote:I think that was an A'me product. While Oakley always pushes the envelope, even they wouldn't have gone that far. Those things were a farce.
5. The Oakley 15 piece grip "system".
titanium spindle. No tensile strength..
Wheel covers for sure!
Who actually used those?
LOL
Who actually used those?
LOL
Wheel covers for sure!
Who actually used those?
LOL
Who actually used those?
LOL
Hutch Aerospeed Cranks.
Those vinyl cups to put over your bottom bracket, I think ODI marketed those.
Sabre Plates.
Meno Helmets!
SE "Wing Things".
1. Dirt Skits, I had one because I thought it looked cool but did it really make our lives better??
2. Terry Cables, were great if you liked brakes that never released
3. Shimano DX brake lever, had to glue the adjuster to keep it from always changing the reach
4. Clem Twins cranks
5. Any 2 speed ever created
6. Dare I say Sling shot bikes?
7. Galindo (?) bars with the bolt on fiberglass cross bar that everyone over torqued because they did not trust it.
8. Uni seat, except for the one bike that had the matching seat tube angle and didn't require coke can shims.
9. Shark tail tail, whale tail or fish tail (whatever they were called) chain adjusters.
That's all I got
Kmart
2. Terry Cables, were great if you liked brakes that never released
3. Shimano DX brake lever, had to glue the adjuster to keep it from always changing the reach
4. Clem Twins cranks
5. Any 2 speed ever created
6. Dare I say Sling shot bikes?
7. Galindo (?) bars with the bolt on fiberglass cross bar that everyone over torqued because they did not trust it.
8. Uni seat, except for the one bike that had the matching seat tube angle and didn't require coke can shims.
9. Shark tail tail, whale tail or fish tail (whatever they were called) chain adjusters.
That's all I got
Kmart
The Oakley grips were your palm rested on the outer part. Nice for a beach cruiser, but not a race bike.
Since Shannon beat me to the Saber Plate...
How about those chain guards that Toby Henderson used to endorse?..they were ribbed-translucent electrical conduit.
..and the Seca side panels..
..and leg gators..
How about those chain guards that Toby Henderson used to endorse?..they were ribbed-translucent electrical conduit.
..and the Seca side panels..
..and leg gators..
oh..duh on me
I just looked at the 1st pg of this thread and now see it all started with the Pro-Guard!
...obviously Thumper and I are thinking the same..
I just looked at the 1st pg of this thread and now see it all started with the Pro-Guard!
...obviously Thumper and I are thinking the same..
hey 66, i had one of those grip thingys.it was called a rawwww power.it was pretty annoying.my dad regretted that purchase bout 5 minutes after it was on my bike.lol.i agree 100% on the pro guard.gotta be #1 on this post.
Being from Michigan as were Kingsbury I have a soft spot for them. We all used them....for a little while. You will see them on some of my restored bikes, I still like them. Ever seen their crank set, Quik Crank?...I didn't think so.
This product was short lived too, but they were my 1st sponsor, made in Michigan too.
[ March 12, 2006, 12:12 AM: Message edited by: Randy ]
I remember the cleats!
If you clamped them onto a set of Kingburys you'd have......# 14 on my list...lol
What fun are cranks that come pre bent? All the fun was in bending them yourself!.....
If you clamped them onto a set of Kingburys you'd have......# 14 on my list...lol
What fun are cranks that come pre bent? All the fun was in bending them yourself!.....
The worst products i ever used was the:
- "Addicks" sprockets. I weighed all of 150 lbs and could rip teeth of them.
- The plastic "Haro" levers looked way cool in two tone colors, but they were so flexy, they just sucked.
Defending some products put down:
I didnt mind using
-"Grab Ons", but they werent the best grips. They just didnt hold up well. Actually they held up for nothing lol.
I loved my
-"Dirt Skirt"
I loved my
-"Pro-Tec" helmet. It didnt look cool but was lightwieght, comfortable and the holes let the head breathe and aided hearing.
[ March 12, 2006, 03:41 AM: Message edited by: Racer ]
- "Addicks" sprockets. I weighed all of 150 lbs and could rip teeth of them.
- The plastic "Haro" levers looked way cool in two tone colors, but they were so flexy, they just sucked.
Defending some products put down:
I didnt mind using
-"Grab Ons", but they werent the best grips. They just didnt hold up well. Actually they held up for nothing lol.
I loved my
-"Dirt Skirt"
I loved my
-"Pro-Tec" helmet. It didnt look cool but was lightwieght, comfortable and the holes let the head breathe and aided hearing.
[ March 12, 2006, 03:41 AM: Message edited by: Racer ]
The Kuwahara E.T
virtually impossible to restore 24 years later unless your budget is 5k or your willing to do "unspeakable"
things. ( like trade rarer parts for ET parts )
virtually impossible to restore 24 years later unless your budget is 5k or your willing to do "unspeakable"
things. ( like trade rarer parts for ET parts )
How about Ultra max 1 piece cromo cranks?
those GT bolt on frame stands were pretty gay.
Terry cable, one lever into front and rear brake cable... ALWAYS broke in the barrel piece where the cable went from one to two... I snapped several and gave up. Somewhat of a cool idea, but only if you had your brakes dialed in perfect so you didn't get too much front...
ANYTHING Addicts made.
ANY double clamp stem. Not much better than a single. At least with a single, the clamp and bars were knurled in the correct places, for a double, the bars were not, and always slipped.
ANY plastic brake lever, Whether it was the hare trigger, or a Haro lever, or whatever... they flexed and SUCKED!
Grab On grips. Caution when wet, one wreck and ripped... Even if you never wrecked they wore out faster than any grip on the market.
Oury grips. The callous builder...
Fluted seat posts. Never quite the right size, always bent...
Flip flop hubs - I know MANY racers that had them, and that had freewheels on both sides... but NEVER EVER used them!
Araya Aero rims. Bent way too easy.
I'm surprised nobody has said these...
ACS Z-rims! Absolutely WORTHLESS. CONSTANT need for spoke adjustment, need I say more?
Also Shimano DX cranks - Cool looking? Yes. Functional? Come on, how many of you need to change your crank lengths? Do you actually race with longer cranks on some tracks, and shorter cranks on others??? Didn't think so...
On the flip side...
I LOVED Saber plates. Functional? Did they REALLY make you faster and more aerodynamic? In a BMX race I doubt it truly mattered. But they were a cool looking plate (I liked the Saber graphics) and they were the best fitting plate for CW bars which I love.
My 2 cents - Tim
ANYTHING Addicts made.
ANY double clamp stem. Not much better than a single. At least with a single, the clamp and bars were knurled in the correct places, for a double, the bars were not, and always slipped.
ANY plastic brake lever, Whether it was the hare trigger, or a Haro lever, or whatever... they flexed and SUCKED!
Grab On grips. Caution when wet, one wreck and ripped... Even if you never wrecked they wore out faster than any grip on the market.
Oury grips. The callous builder...
Fluted seat posts. Never quite the right size, always bent...
Flip flop hubs - I know MANY racers that had them, and that had freewheels on both sides... but NEVER EVER used them!
Araya Aero rims. Bent way too easy.
I'm surprised nobody has said these...
ACS Z-rims! Absolutely WORTHLESS. CONSTANT need for spoke adjustment, need I say more?
Also Shimano DX cranks - Cool looking? Yes. Functional? Come on, how many of you need to change your crank lengths? Do you actually race with longer cranks on some tracks, and shorter cranks on others??? Didn't think so...
On the flip side...
I LOVED Saber plates. Functional? Did they REALLY make you faster and more aerodynamic? In a BMX race I doubt it truly mattered. But they were a cool looking plate (I liked the Saber graphics) and they were the best fitting plate for CW bars which I love.
My 2 cents - Tim
I have to put 2 cents in on 2 of Tim's items.
As I see it, single clamp stems, and double clamp stems were an evolutionary item that brought us to where were are now. IMO, A worst product should be one that faliled misreably compared to others in the same generation.
Which brought to mind the
"Suntour/ Team Schwinn Mini Stem"....
.....That pile of cast aluminum garbage that always snapped at the top of the quill on the first hard landing. They only thing that saved people from certain catastrophic injury, was the steel quill bolt that prevented the whole thing from separating entirely.
My other 1 cent worth, is Z-rims. Without Z-rims, I would have never pushed myself to the limits that I did. I also would have priced myself right out of BMX, due to buying new alloy rims every week. I changed a lot of spokes, tensioned a lot of rims, and replaced a lot of inner tubes, from folding them 90 degrees on landing. But I never broke one! (until last summer, they are old and brittle now, and I am a "Fat Bastard". lol)
I'd have to put Z-rims on my "Best Parts" list.
As I see it, single clamp stems, and double clamp stems were an evolutionary item that brought us to where were are now. IMO, A worst product should be one that faliled misreably compared to others in the same generation.
Which brought to mind the
"Suntour/ Team Schwinn Mini Stem"....
.....That pile of cast aluminum garbage that always snapped at the top of the quill on the first hard landing. They only thing that saved people from certain catastrophic injury, was the steel quill bolt that prevented the whole thing from separating entirely.
My other 1 cent worth, is Z-rims. Without Z-rims, I would have never pushed myself to the limits that I did. I also would have priced myself right out of BMX, due to buying new alloy rims every week. I changed a lot of spokes, tensioned a lot of rims, and replaced a lot of inner tubes, from folding them 90 degrees on landing. But I never broke one! (until last summer, they are old and brittle now, and I am a "Fat Bastard". lol)
I'd have to put Z-rims on my "Best Parts" list.
Saber plates on old school brass CW's, a la Mike Miranda, aren't too bad. But silly.
What about Aero ventilated plates? Or Haro for that matter... Did they really make you faster? Maybe on a windy day.
Someone said Terrycables...the regular, not two into one version. Terrycables were the best lined cables of the day, and practically the only. Never had problems with one.
However, we must face this sad fact kids: old school braking systems just plain sucked. Get on your race bike, now get on a vintage bike. 'Nuff said.
And those pro guards? Sadly, a trend I bit on. Big at the track for a week or two. Totally pro!
The evolution of BMX colors might be interesting to look at.... From the accepted combos of painted/anodized (red/blue, red/yellow, red/black, blue/yellow, black/yellow, and anything with silver), to ALL CHROME super-bling (chrome pads included), to the brief all white thing with white tires in the dirt, to the excess of freestyle "individualism." At least street frames come in some pretty cool colors nowadays--though kids, being trendy, mostly go for all black.
And c'mon...Kingsbury pedals? Did anyone think of riding them before they sold them?
What about Aero ventilated plates? Or Haro for that matter... Did they really make you faster? Maybe on a windy day.
Someone said Terrycables...the regular, not two into one version. Terrycables were the best lined cables of the day, and practically the only. Never had problems with one.
However, we must face this sad fact kids: old school braking systems just plain sucked. Get on your race bike, now get on a vintage bike. 'Nuff said.
And those pro guards? Sadly, a trend I bit on. Big at the track for a week or two. Totally pro!
The evolution of BMX colors might be interesting to look at.... From the accepted combos of painted/anodized (red/blue, red/yellow, red/black, blue/yellow, black/yellow, and anything with silver), to ALL CHROME super-bling (chrome pads included), to the brief all white thing with white tires in the dirt, to the excess of freestyle "individualism." At least street frames come in some pretty cool colors nowadays--though kids, being trendy, mostly go for all black.
And c'mon...Kingsbury pedals? Did anyone think of riding them before they sold them?
There was an ad in BMXA for these studs that you could screw onto your knobbies
"THE MOST ADVANCED TIRE IN THE WORLD! Make 'em eat dirt with studded tires. Studs give you maximum traction on ice, snow, mud and dirt. The stud package is available from STUD INC.
Easy to install
Fits any tire
STUDD RACING PRODUCTS
Guaranteed Fast Delivery
*Please note 1 stud kit per tire."
They were just little sheet metal bolts!
"THE MOST ADVANCED TIRE IN THE WORLD! Make 'em eat dirt with studded tires. Studs give you maximum traction on ice, snow, mud and dirt. The stud package is available from STUD INC.
Easy to install
Fits any tire
STUDD RACING PRODUCTS
Guaranteed Fast Delivery
*Please note 1 stud kit per tire."
They were just little sheet metal bolts!
Randy,
You found some info on Kingsbury Cranks. I have a soft spot for them also. I won the Worlds and the Silverdome on those cranks. I loved them! Believe it or not I never broke those cranks but I did break a set of Redlines at 13 years old, Bogie East doing a one footed start right out of the gate. I had quite a bit of power for a girl, always amazed me that the Kingsbury cranks held up and the Redlines broke. Thanks for sharing!
I can't believe none of you mentioned Gators, maybe you did, I just scanned quickly and I didn't see a mention.
You found some info on Kingsbury Cranks. I have a soft spot for them also. I won the Worlds and the Silverdome on those cranks. I loved them! Believe it or not I never broke those cranks but I did break a set of Redlines at 13 years old, Bogie East doing a one footed start right out of the gate. I had quite a bit of power for a girl, always amazed me that the Kingsbury cranks held up and the Redlines broke. Thanks for sharing!
I can't believe none of you mentioned Gators, maybe you did, I just scanned quickly and I didn't see a mention.
cinelli bmx frame/fork...what were they thinkin' with that geometry?
mike
mike
clem twin cranks
Why would we mention gators.....they are great, I still wear mine.
Kmart
Kmart
quote:I loved mine...I'm looking for a clear blue one if anybody wants to get rid of one....
Wheel covers for sure!
Who actually used those?
LOL
quote:????
Oury grips. The callous builder...
We went to Oury after getting Callouses
SE wing things-(sorry scot)/
Hare pedals would have been ok if it wasnt for the extremely lame circlip that fell off every 1/2 hour-hey HAre manufacturer-jeez guys ever heard of lock nuts??
Schwinn Scramblers with the fake gas tank.
pink chain links
Shimano DX cranks(I had some and they were the creakiest damn cranks ever-and when you went to try a different arm length the eccentics were always stuck and would get marred/stripped up.)
Bottema forks(they were cool but it seems the only reason they had extra fork tube lenght beyond the dropout was to mimmick the Showa mx forks of the day??)
Hare pedals would have been ok if it wasnt for the extremely lame circlip that fell off every 1/2 hour-hey HAre manufacturer-jeez guys ever heard of lock nuts??
Schwinn Scramblers with the fake gas tank.
pink chain links
Shimano DX cranks(I had some and they were the creakiest damn cranks ever-and when you went to try a different arm length the eccentics were always stuck and would get marred/stripped up.)
Bottema forks(they were cool but it seems the only reason they had extra fork tube lenght beyond the dropout was to mimmick the Showa mx forks of the day??)
the Bottema forks were added to stir the pot a little tsk tsk
I'm thinking of the BMX superstars who ran some of the products mentioned.
-
-
Grab On grips.
Greg Hill really made them famous.
The owner Zane Seely had a huge Grab On balloon
he flew to a couple of national races.
Great tax write off!
He also must have had a few bucks to to get Greg Hill (GT)
to endorse that product.
Sabre Plates.
CW's Mike Miranda and Andy Zirzow seemed to me to be
the only riders to make the full sized Saber plates look very cool.
Laid Back Seat Post.
CW's Mike Miranda was probably the only rider in history
to make a laid back seat post cool.
JT Leg Gaiters.
I remember John Piant (DG) at the 1981 NBA Grands
racing with JT Leg Gaiters on. Everyone was saying "Oooooh! Aaaaah!"
Ever see anyone wear those over their jeans? Not a good look! LOL!
Haro brake lever!
Piant (DG) should remember those.
Last turn at the 1980 Grands? Explosion!
Tough break John. You rock!
Addicks.
Bob Hadley was their factory rider.
Must have been 1977?
Stu Thomsen (SE red and yellow uniform) got quite a bit of coverage running those.
Lyle Addicks was a smart business guy getting those guys to run his product.
Wonder what kind of endorsement money it took to get Stu to run those in 1978.
Meno helmets.
Meno sponsored Diamond Back's Harry Leary as well as Patterson's
Brent and Brian Patterson and Richie "The Avalanche" Anderson.
Distrubuted by a little uniform company called FOX.
Galindo bars.
Gary Ellis won the pro open at the 83' Worlds on those.
Brave! Especially for a big rider.
Pro-Tec helmets.
BMX Action covered a national in Tacoma Washington around 79(?).
Almost everyone from Washington had one on.
Especially two of the states top racers Mike Rice (Powerlite) and Clarence Perry (Sekai).
Seca Side Plates.
San Diego company, but no one from San Diego ran one (that I ever saw).
Never saw the guy who made em' at local races either.
Got Toby Henderson to run em' back in 1981.
Made Seca very well known.
Chrome Zap Pads.
All Greg Hill (GT)! Lots of ads in all the mags.
-
-
-
Bad products....
Mongoose grips!
I guess Hunte Wylde had to pass the torch to someone. LOL!
The hardest plastic grips of all creation.
OMAS axle nuts on the Series BPP hubs.
They would snap so fast. Tighten your wheel SNAP! Replace em' with Campagnolo's.
[ March 13, 2006, 06:52 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]
-
-
Grab On grips.
Greg Hill really made them famous.
The owner Zane Seely had a huge Grab On balloon
he flew to a couple of national races.
Great tax write off!
He also must have had a few bucks to to get Greg Hill (GT)
to endorse that product.
Sabre Plates.
CW's Mike Miranda and Andy Zirzow seemed to me to be
the only riders to make the full sized Saber plates look very cool.
Laid Back Seat Post.
CW's Mike Miranda was probably the only rider in history
to make a laid back seat post cool.
JT Leg Gaiters.
I remember John Piant (DG) at the 1981 NBA Grands
racing with JT Leg Gaiters on. Everyone was saying "Oooooh! Aaaaah!"
Ever see anyone wear those over their jeans? Not a good look! LOL!
Haro brake lever!
Piant (DG) should remember those.
Last turn at the 1980 Grands? Explosion!
Tough break John. You rock!
Addicks.
Bob Hadley was their factory rider.
Must have been 1977?
Stu Thomsen (SE red and yellow uniform) got quite a bit of coverage running those.
Lyle Addicks was a smart business guy getting those guys to run his product.
Wonder what kind of endorsement money it took to get Stu to run those in 1978.
Meno helmets.
Meno sponsored Diamond Back's Harry Leary as well as Patterson's
Brent and Brian Patterson and Richie "The Avalanche" Anderson.
Distrubuted by a little uniform company called FOX.
Galindo bars.
Gary Ellis won the pro open at the 83' Worlds on those.
Brave! Especially for a big rider.
Pro-Tec helmets.
BMX Action covered a national in Tacoma Washington around 79(?).
Almost everyone from Washington had one on.
Especially two of the states top racers Mike Rice (Powerlite) and Clarence Perry (Sekai).
Seca Side Plates.
San Diego company, but no one from San Diego ran one (that I ever saw).
Never saw the guy who made em' at local races either.
Got Toby Henderson to run em' back in 1981.
Made Seca very well known.
Chrome Zap Pads.
All Greg Hill (GT)! Lots of ads in all the mags.
-
-
-
Bad products....
Mongoose grips!
I guess Hunte Wylde had to pass the torch to someone. LOL!
The hardest plastic grips of all creation.
OMAS axle nuts on the Series BPP hubs.
They would snap so fast. Tighten your wheel SNAP! Replace em' with Campagnolo's.
[ March 13, 2006, 06:52 PM: Message edited by: JohnnyJohnson OMAS DirtSlinger ]
Jet Black..what was that all aout? You know better!
[ March 13, 2006, 05:24 PM: Message edited by: Hal ]
[ March 13, 2006, 05:24 PM: Message edited by: Hal ]
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