I'm new here and am going to buy my first BMX this weekend. I always wanted one when I was younger but grew up dirt poor. Lots of my friends rode so I was always around all those bikes back in the day. I wound up becoming a skater since it was a much cheaper hobby. I've spent years collecting all the NOS decks I used to have or always wanted, I never skate any of those old decks, always ride repro's or old school influenced new ones. Last week a friend of mine loaned me Joe Kid on a Stingray, and that got me to thinking. So I fired up the porn machine and started looking for those old school bikes, come to find out there's this whole Retro Old School BMX thing going on. I immediately picked out Kappa as a company that was making frames that look like the old frames I remember, I was bummed to find out they're not being produced anymore. After spending a few more days looking around I think I've decided on a SE OM Flyer. I called a local shop listed on their website and they don't have any of the 2010's yet but have some 2009's. After looking up the 2009's I think I'm going to snag one, they have the woodgrain, which I'm not really feeling and the blue, which I think I like more than the 2010 color, maybe. So I'm not going to be racing this thing, just cruising the neighborhood, maybe hit the skatepark near the house and see if I can hurt myself. I'm a big guy, about 6'1" close to 3 bills, all gut, don't laugh I can still ollie fire hydrants. Is there any reason I shouldn't get this bike? Anything else, besides an ab blaster that I should be looking at? Help me out here.

Welcome to the forum, and the habit! Before you pull the trigger so quickly, I'd wait and look at what other companies are offering. Here's a couple of 26s off the top of my head:

MacNeil Cruiser

Volume Sledgehammer

There are many low volume makers out there, too, if you're looking for something relatively unique.

Considering the three bills and the type of riding you want to do, you might want to reconsider aluminum (and a 26 for that matter). Aluminum tends to fail catastrophically, where steel tends to fail incrementally, i.e., you often notice it before you get hurt. Also, a 20" bike may be better for parks and street riding (plus there is a huge selection if you move away from old school).

I hear what you're saying about steel, I mangled up my GT mountain bike years ago and the shop was able to straighten it out perfect. The Volume Sledgehammer is an interesting option but I can't seem to find any shops near me that carries Volume, or any online retailers that offers the Sledgehammer. Any ideas?

Give Volume a call. I'm sure they would help you out.

Welcome. +1 on the steel issue. Steel absorbs shock much better. If it is going to fail, it bends instead of snaps. I love my OM Flyer (new school Aluminum) and I've even raced it a few times never really gone big on the jumps. For more aggressive stuff I'm looking for a 20" or 24". The SE 24" quad loop is a contender. If you just gotta get rad on 26" wheels, you may want to check out a 4X or dirt jump (DJ) style bike. Check out the 26" racer thread in the BMX racing forum. Black Market bikes are really popular and made of steel.

Speaking of fire hydrants how about a Firemans Texas cruizer
4130 chro mo and a great following, check out there site

Skip the Volume, Firemans and MacNeil, they're more cruise around town, than cruise the skatepark. I have a Black Market and it rules. Small enough to jump around, but big enough to be stable. Skip the 20" bike too. Too squirrelly for someone who hasn't ridden them recently, especially someone your size. Get a chromoly 24 or 26. Check out the DK Asterik also. Nice affordable, do-anything kind of bike. (as for my credentials, I have worked at a bike shop since '94, and currently ride a 20" on dirtjumps and skateparks, race a 24", and dirt jump/stunt on a 26" Black Market, and mtb on a 26"). Good luck and welcome to the site.

Once you have chosen a 26 inch cruiser for yourself......


"maybe hit the skatepark near the house and see if I can hurt myself"













Hope this set of old pix can provide you with some help or inspiration.


JB

i fully agree. i wish i had had my blackmarket MOB 10 years ago.

I spent the better part of the weekend hitting up local bike stores. First thing I realized is that I didn't really want a 26" bike. I fell in love with a chrome Fit CR24. I was really close to spending well over a grand piecing together a bike but my brother convinced me to wait and look around a bit more. I saw that chrome all shiny, almost winking at me from the Fit, I think I was sold on it before I even touched it. The seat post is way too short, and not chrome, so I'll need to remedy that. The forks seem a little low, I might try finding something bit taller, maybe a bit wider, other than that I love it. Looks like this.

You will probably want to change out the stock bars that come with these cruisers. They are generally way too low for someone you size and who is not racing.

Check yo pm!

I have that exact bike (chrome FIT CR24). I love it. Rock solid and rides really well.

I removed the dumb "stubbie" seat post and put in a regular chrome straight post with a Shadow Conspiracy Crow seat. To me, the bars are perfect.

[quote name='crunchysock' date='Nov 2 2009, 06:02 AM' post='886968']
I I fell in love with a chrome Fit CR24.

The FIT CR24 is definately a cool ride, I picked up a 2010 model recently and luv it. 25.5lbs stock