I helped my dad and his wife pack to move to their new house recently and found these pictures of me from about 1984 or so. The bike was my very first BMX bike which started as a Sears Free Spirit FS500 . I got the bike for my 10th birthday in 1981 and I had it until 1987 when I got my license and needed some cash to take my girl to the homecoming dance, and sold the bike to some kid in the next neighborhood over. Over the years I updated parts as I could. Funny thing is that I lived on this bike and never wanted for everything more. I rode and loved this bike for 6 years and loved every minute of it. Now every 15 minutes I want something different. Ohhhhh to be young and satisfied again.

FS500 frame and fork
steel red ano stock rims and silver hubs
red comp 3 20x1.75 tires
Suntour freewheel
Takagi cranks
Sugino spider and red ano 44t sprocket
KKT platform pedals
Tange chrome headlock
Red SST Dirt Skirt
Ame round grips
Dia Comp MX1000 brakes
Tuf Neck seat clamp
Dia Comp seat clamp on seat
Uni Hammerhead seat
Cal Lite Pads
8" GT Santa Ana Pro bars
Polished Tuf Neck stem
chain, BB and Headset were stock
Dyno plate with Hot Numbers
Flite Donuts




[ January 19, 2007, 07:17 PM: Message edited by: BRIAN HAYS ]

someone else who rocked the garfield and odie.......

Nice!

it took me a few minutes but i get it

Ya, I had Garfield and Odie pencil toppers over the valve stems. I was the MAN.

Notice I then changed them to red dice.

BTW, I am currently collecting parts to recreate this bike. It will be a very rewarding build for me.

Special thanks to Rick Kast for the frame!!!

[ January 19, 2007, 07:34 PM: Message edited by: BRIAN HAYS ]

i had a garfield that made me smile

Somebody actually had one of those frames laying around? Props.

For being a department store bike...that is one SICK *** ride. Not bad craftsmanship.

I had some of those MXL golves! Man, the memories.

i think the frame was made for sears by murray.

Recently pulled that same style bike out of the scrap metal heep, was white also. Rebuilt it and repainted white, put Redline stickers on it and sold it. Rear drop outs are like Porter racing.

Ya, the frame Rick is sending is the Murray X20. The Free spirit was the "track certified" hi tensile cheap Murray frame.

[ January 19, 2007, 11:29 PM: Message edited by: BRIAN HAYS ]

yes, alex, i had it laying around. lol.
i have alot of "stuff "laying around. one of the hazzards of being in the salvage business i guess.
tell you what, i have never seen an R model of these, but this thing has super nice welds.
maybe it's a C.
no matter it's going to a good home. can't wait to see it done.

Brian,
Your hat says it all.
I bet not may Sears bikes got the treatment yours did. That thing looks bad ***.

Very cool photos. Dig those shoes and the attitude of the kid wearing them.

Now about that 2 inch copper drain line that your washer drains in to. Copper drain, waste and vent.....pricey stuff in todays world.

brian you sent all your cash on parts and forgot to buy a visor for your helmet !
that will be cool to get the bike of your youth back together.

Cool pix's....love those caps.