As far as I can tell, this is a 1983. Not sure of the model though. I've wanted a computer-graphics Predator for a while and the stickers are pretty nice. I'll clean it up and make it a rider.

Dave, nice score! The decal on the lower chain-stay will tell you the model....probably Cr-Mo free.
Good Luck, Chris

Brings back memories of the old days up in IL. There was a Schwinn shop in town and a LOT of kids had those.

Must be something in the Illinois Air....Just nabbed this one

Looks NOS PEP where did ya find it, old Schwinn dealer in Evergreen Park by chance?

I scored one too a few weeks back. I've yet to take any pics of it though. It's either an 83 or an 84 Team Alloy. No fading of the black parts and the decals are really nice too. I scored it at that "Shop in Crystal Lake".
By the way, I was one of those kids that had one BITD. Mine was an 83 Cro-Mo Free.

Yeah I love the decals. Ive got 3 Predators but none came with decals. Finding them is impossible. Once I can find a scan I will try to have some made.

aint nothin but a illinois thing baby i have a couple myself mine is a p2200 and the other has the monster decal on the bottom tube.

I've got a few 1983-1984 Predators. The biggest difference was the decal size on the downtube - Pep's is a 1983 because it has the larger decal on the downtube, where Dave's is a 1984 - notice the downtube decal is shorter.
I'm currently gathering all the parts to restore my 1983 Team Alloy - trying to get it identical to the one I raced BITD.
I also have all the decals that I took off my 1983 Team Alloy and we stuck them on a white sheet -
RACER, If I can locate them, I will let you know - maybe we can work something out.

I actually made some decals (they weren't great) but my wife has misplaced them - yes, I still love her.

From what I understand the "Monster" decal was used when you purchased a frame and fork set from the dealers and then built the bike yourself.

I have 2 83's one is a team alloy, not sure about the other. I'm building them both for my two nephews. I would LOVE to be able to find decals. Does anyone have any plans to reproduce these??? It seems that the market is ripe.

Pauly, I'm with you on that one. I know we've talked about framesets, but my waiting finally paid off in finding an OG one.

Definitely a ripe market...now do we do 83 or 84 decals

My P2200 built up.

Yep I have a Cruiser minus decals seems like a lot of people were embarrased by there predators BITD cause there's alot without decals and alot of people sure would like em now.

I say do the 1983, I like the bigger downtube decal - but since all the other decals are identical, if you just did a smaller version of the downtube - you could really do both quite easily. The 1984 downtube decals is exactly a smaller scale decal than the 1983.

Man speed that is nice!
Yeah maybe u can scan the decal sheet. I can see if I can get some printed up.
I can either pay you for the scan or u can take a free set of decals in trade when I get some sheets made.

If I can find them, I will scan them or send you the sheet (you would just need to make sure I get it back...). I would probably just take a set...

Here is a shot of my recent Predator score. I got it for $5 and it's a Team Alloy model, I think 83. Anyone have a correct front wheel or left side crank arm and pedal for it?

OK guys, be nice. This is a picture from a vacation in Eagle River Wisconsin, late summer 1985. My dad wanted to get some shots of us freestyling but couldn't get a good shot off until we posed. Turns out these are some of the only pictures I have of this bike, the others are of my cousin and I lake jumping at the same place. The model of the Predator is a Cro-Mo-Free. By this time I already had peeled the original decals and replaced them with checkered tape, not because I was embarrassed but because they were worn so bad. Can anyone tell me what year this bike was? I was thinking 1983.

Here's my Cruiser. It's a work in progress, not the best pic. I have a 90's GT fork on there now the one that was on it was cracked.

Not sure if the bars are original they are tall, but I really don't mind it's a real comfy ride.

I also had a Predator cruiser for a short time back then. Got it used somehow in a trade. It rode like a tank and I wasn't into it so I traded it off again. Sure do wish I had it back now.

I'd bet 1983.



I have this one boxed up at home. If anyone comes across a red 1983 cro mo free in similiar condition, I'd like to trade.

Has to be an 83... I'll bet the gusset was the reason for the smaller decal too. If you wanna sell that one outright let me know.

P.S. My cruiser is stamped G1282 So I reckon last month of 82 yesseree

Eric, LOL...

That pic must have been right before I moved to IL and we met. 'Cause you know what you were riding when '85 rolled around. It wasn't that Predator!

See ya in a couple weeks, bud!

Could have been Jon, but I think I actually had the Haro done that spring and just took the Predator on vacation. I don't think I would have lake jumped my bike if I hadn't had something nicer at home. Lets see...that would have been the summer between 7th and 8th grade so maybe your right. I might have been building the Haro by then, it took me a long time to raise the $$ for it and I know I had it done in the spring one of those years. For the life of me I can't remember who got that Predator though, I think I sold the F/F for $30 to someone.

Ok quick break down on what seems to be the correct info on the years. They seemed to follow the car rule - built in 12/83 would have been a 1984. Every one that I've run across seems to change the model year around August. I had a 10/83 that had the 1984 stickers, where my 6/83 had the 1983 stickers.

Nothing has been confirmed of course....

The "G" in front stands for Giant (who had taken over Schwinn), next two digits are the month and last two are the year.

After some digging around this evening I found the white paper that all my decals were placed on. I had taken them off of a "Team Z" - same as a Team Alloy except the wheels...

RACER- Get in touch with me and I will send you out the sheet. - I WANT THEM BACK THOUGH!!!!!

If anyone has a Team Alloy they want to get rid of please let me know - I am still looking for a second one to build.

Here is a picture of the decals off the bike...
Click to view attachment

Don't need to send me the originals. Just go to Kinkos and get them scanned. Then email me the scan at racer@themlo.com . See if they can save it in both JPG and PSD format. This would be cool if we can finally make a few sets.

Yes a 12/82 Predator is the 83 Model.

It's funny, but when I peeled the stickers off my Predator back in the 80's to replace them with checkered tape, I stuck them onto a sheet of waxed paper to save. I know I had them around for a few years, but they got tossed in a move in 1990. Who would have known they might have come in handy.

sobs a lil bit (LOL). If any of us knew how important these old bikes would be... rofl.

The serial number on my predator is G0184. I'm assuming jan 84 build date making it an 84. It's got the small lettered decal on it though.

Jan 84 was an early build. Maybe they used up all the smaller decals first before going to the bigger ones sometime in 84.

Nope that would be correct. The bigger ones in 1983 and then the smaller ones in 1984. I wish I could find the catalogs I have, then I could scan the pages.

I used to use this site as a reference

http://www.genesbmx.com/SchwinnPage.html

looks like he has not paid the bill this month

Every Schwinn catalog ever printed.

http://www.genesbmx.com/schwinn-bmx-catalogs.html

I would definately be interested in decals also would they have used the same on the 24 as the 20???

Just got back from some criagslist shopping over in Phoenix. There was a guy who had a Predator cruiser. Looked to be in great shape witht he decals and 90% original. If you check craigslist he does not have it listed but does have listed (incorrectly I might add) a 83 GT Cruiser. He should part with the predator for little.

OK, I read you backwards on what years had larger and smaller decals. I thought at first it was an 84 when I first saw it so my instincts were correct. I'm planning on cleaning this one one and bringing it to RKFD since I have nothing else going on with builds right now.

Just in case people still need decals:

http://bmxmuseum.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=82599

Looks like a 83 team alloy. Same as my first race bike. Mine came with 3 piece alloy cranks. I had to swap them for 1 piece. Everything else looks stock.



It looks stock except the pegs and seat post.