Being from the mid-school era, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the parts that came out while I was still racing. I would imagine most of you on this board feel the same way or else we wouldn't be here.

I want to try and use a handfull of parts from back then on my DH MTB project. Namely handlebars (aluminum cruiser Redline Forklifters, JAD cruiser or Brand X cruiser), cranks (JAD, PMC, Magic, Sweetwings or Supercross "I-beams or Strongarms") and maybe some rims (HED, UKAI, T1000). There is also an alterior motive as well. While the DH world is working tirelessly to make their parts strong and light, it also raises the cost considerably. My budget is relatively small and if I am going to spend some loot, I would rather have parts that I once lusted over insead of newer wllet-thinning parts.

Has anyone tried this (in any form I.E. MTB, DH, Road, Fixed, New-school BMX) and if so, how was it received?

One last question. I know most mid-school BMX cranks ran either a standard or American BB. Is there a solution to making it fit the newer style threaded bottom bracket frames?

I still run Hutchins bars on my Staats. I am thinking of having a custom Standard 125r made to only run Odyssey pitbulls - the best damm brakes ever made - for me anyway.

most cranks are 22mm or 19mm spindle which you can get a euro bb for

Starting out in Dh can be very expensive. Your best bet to keep costs down is to buy a used rig. It can keep that 4-6 thousand dollar price tag in a more reasonable two grand price range with spring changes and a few upgrades.

Trying to tie in some past is always cool in my book. I kind of did this a little with my Turner. This is my second Turner with an Auburn inpsired paint scheme.

Bars with a cross bar are really out of style in Dh at this point. Especially with the size of many large single crown free-ride/dh forks and daul crowns. Low rise and flat or near flat are much more populare now. I also wouldn't dare put any rare bmx bars on a Dh bike. They are going to get trasahed in no time as will your cranks especially if alluminum.

If you want to throw some mid school flare Profile makes a specific Mtb cranks that can be used with all of the Bmx sprockets, I run Gen two Shimano Saints and I love them but they only other cranks I would run would be Profiles. Slap an imperial on there and bam!

Pedals I run Brooklyn Veggie Burgers. The older world grip but a ton less weight then the Shinburgers. I have owned both.







Nbl 49a

Technique made mtb cranks that come with a euro bb and a spindle/spider set up like JAD cranks...They are hard to find though...I have one set, but they are going on my redman warrior with a euro bb...

Your warrior had a downhill inspired look...Did you end up selling it?

Here is a pic of the technique ad that shows the mtb cranks...

If you're going to actually ride DH on this bike I would shy away from putting mid-school BMX parts on it for strength reasons. Last thing you want to do is have a component fail while riding. Ouch.

Just in the last 6 years I have watched the sport of DH evolve in a huge way into what it is today. Having said that, I wouldn't even run most DH specific parts from 6yrs ago on a current DH bike.

A mid-school seat or grips are the only two components I would feel comfortable with now a days on a DH bike. Otherwise you could just stay true to the sport and run new products from brands that were around BITD. A few come to mind: Profile, Odyssey, ODI, Manitou (Answer), Tioga, Kovachi Wheels...

I figured as much but thought I would ask anyway. Thanks.


Done and done. Here is the bike I am currently riding (which isn’t easy as a daily but it gets the job done). It is a 2001 Yeti DH-9. I snagged it online the day my son was born. I figured it would make a good birthing present…to myself.



I love the idea of retro paint jobs. Maybe I will work that into the project.


Yeah, I noticed that. I guess with a taller rise bar, it would put you up to high and pull your weight forward – the exact opposite of where you want it when going downhill.


The JAD and Brand X would only get put on if I could find an extra set lying around. The Forklifters seem to be much more abundant and would make the best choice in my opinion. I tend to look at the cranks the same way. While I would love to have a set of Saints, I like the idea of BMX cranks for some reason. Maybe that is pushing the envelope…


I will look up the Profiles. Thanks for the info Nbl! Your answers are always helpful.

Mike, sorry about the Redman but you’re wrong. I will PM you my address and I will be receiving them in the mail shortly. Thanks!


Yeah, just one more bike I didn’t have time or money for. I was thinking the other day that if I had kept all of the cruiser frames that I had owned at one point or another – aw hell, I shouldn’t type it out. Just thinking about it makes me upset.

The Redman was somewhat of a hybrid. It had a lot of downhill parts on it. Bars, stem, brakes and seatpost. I sure miss seeing it every time I walk downstairs.


The bike will be a DH bike. Sadly (at least for my legs), I will have to ride it to work several times a week. I have already lightened it up a bit with some basic weight saving parts. Titanium seatpost, new tires/rims and misc. nuts and bolts. The bike won’t ever get tested to its limit though as I am too old, broken and scared to go bombing down the ski resorts any more.

I actually raced in the first DH event in Utah ages ago. I remember it well. TREK 850 Mountain Track with STX components and FULLY RIGID. Obviously, it was the first DH race I ever participated in and coincidentally, the only one I ever placed on. Needless to say, I took second place and was uber jealous of the guy who took first because he had a full suspension bike with 3+ inches of rear wheel travel. Ahhhh, those were the days.

^^^
Longest post ever?

Oh and expert status attained.

Bars: I would skip the bmx bars so you can go with a 31.8mm large diameter bar and stem. The Absolute favorite bar for all of us is Deity bars and of course Thomson stems.

Cranks: The profile cranks look exactly the same as the profile stamped bmx ones. You can't go wrong with them. The only reason I don't run them is I wanted the option of a daul ring at the time and they are heavier then the Gen two Saints.

Pedals: Depnding on how rocky it is and your budget there are some cool options out there. Pedals with pins are great until you knock the pins out. The Shimano Dx retro pedals are very nice, Well-go also makes some traditional Dx copies that can save you a few bucks. However the Odyssey Cilinski pedal is great choice for the budget option. Ryan the owner of Kore runs the Cilinski's on his Turner Dhr and has had very good luck with them. I run Bmw pedals because of how rocky it is in Phx. Expesive and kind of heavy but I don't have to run to Home Depot for new pins every week or two like my buddies do.

Boss I will shoot you a pm on some more suggestions since it is very Mtb specific stuff.

Nbl 49a