23 years ago - I had been married for a little more than two weeks and was just finishing my first week in basic training.

And this this box had just showed up at Earl's Bicycle Factory.



I know this, because he was a stickler, as you can see:



If he hadn't written what was in it, I wouldn't have known, because it hasn't been opened since. That is until today, one day shy of 23 years later:



The box is opened:



First light in 23 years:



In all it's chrome plated glory:



It's a thing of beauty. Enjoy.

GRIZZ

AHHH, I can smell it.

WOW! Sweet.

KILLER!!! Badass is all I got for you GRIZZ!

I don't know much about Bandito, history-wise, but 86 had to be close to the end for them. Anyone know?

Nice, Veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, nice

omg....that is one of my grails,would complete my bandito line up,and also has the "colored" headtube sticker...omg i want that,very nice grizz..

i believe 85 was the last year for them,not 100%...it may have been a leftover.when i worked at a shop back then,they would get flyers from the distributors with close outs for insane deals..

THAT IS BAD AZZZZZZZ........

That explains it then - Earl was always buying up the close outs. If you could see the boxes full of 'stuff' I have seen... well, sometimes a close out turns out to be gold, other times, not so much.

someone here posted some pics of the bike boxes,i'm sure they were only "some" of them though...seems earl's supply is infinite!!!

If you never experienced a trip to Earl's 'Factory' you missed some major BMX history in these parts. I've never seen anything like it and won't ever again.

RIP, Earl.

nice...lucky....
anybody know why there are dual dropouts?

Grizz...what else do you have?

Bandito. First thing coming to my mind is David "Tinker" Juarez, and his stint on Bandito.

Nice find Dave-O

Wow that is totally cool!

I don't think Banditio made it to 86 so what you have is probably the last of their 24" - if you check the serial it may even be an 84 frame set.

The dual drop outs gave you the option of different wheel bases and geometry.

Pretty cool.

Yeah and Tinker Juarez is the most well known Banditio rider.

The frame sets were built by CW weren't they?


Gotta say that is really sweet!!!!!

Absolutely WOW! That has to be a great feeling. Lucky A$$ You.

holy sick!!!

I must go clean up now.

That is definately a piece of beauty. Just now opened?? I wouldnt have made it nearly that long!!

NICE!

Trey

AWESOME!!!!!! Love to see F&F's like this come out of the wood works.

Old-skull

Wow, That is cool!

that is so great !!!!

I will be posting something in the 'For Sale' forum soon....