Working on an article on the new Hyper "Donny Robinson Replica" to debut in Walmar Stores this March. In writing the piece, I was curious what the first replica BMX race bike was way back when. Obviously, we all know of the STR, but there must have been something before that.

Can you name the company, rider and year of the first one?


Best,

M

First one I can recall that actually called itself a "replica" was the "DG Steve Skibel Replica" from 1976-77

If you are talking about replica as in Retro or Tribute. I think the 1994 Barrette Bros. Schwing was the first. Funny thing, that particular frameset can now be considered a Retro/Tribute as well as mid-school.

If you meant "Signature Frame" I would say The FMF Breithaupt, think that was a 76 or 77.

I was gonna say Skible DG, but I wasn't sure.

No, replica as in Stu Thomsen Replica

A bike produced during the career of a famous rider, in the style and image of the bike that rider actually is riding at the time

Skibel is a good one, indeed! Any others offered as being before it?


Best,

M

Decoster Mongoose?

Check on that one.

What about the Webco Replica, when did those come out? I don't think it was a replica of anyone's in particular bike but more a replica of what the team riders were using.

Also, see if there was a CYC Stormer replica signature bike.

It seems like there might have been.

Right, the "Ames" Stormer, after Ronnie Ames, correct?

The Evel Knievel huffy bike with the plastic gas tank and motorcycle seat. Not sure if that counts. Lol.

1976 Bicentennial baby!

Mike, I really can't say.

Some other early ones are the JMC Harry Leary signature and the Eddie King Torker.

x2

I think 77 is correct for that frame

The Webco Replica was a puzzler for my friend and I. A friend of mine had one around 77, 78. We couldn't figure out what it was a replica of. I guess it was a replica of the first frame they built.

The date in the lower left reads August 1976. There were only 5 of mine built, they never made a production run. But I know Gary made plenty of production runs of the Ames frames before he took the design back.



I don't have any dated material of the Skibel frame in front of me at the moment (my papers are in the other room) but I believe his came out about this same time.

Wouldn't "Replica" usually infer that a bike is built/named after a famous rider who raced BMX? Anyhow, if "Replica" is to be taken literally, that would surely exclude DeCoster and Evel as they obviously both never raced BMX.

One thing I never understood the idea behind Webco coming out with their Replica bikes. Even though I own a couple and I love them, the marketing behind that makes about as much sense as their serial number formula...

So what's the final answer here? Was the DG Skibel bike the first true "Replica" or BMX bike ever marketed? Interesting subject here...

1976 Roger DeCoster wasn't a true replica but back then we certainly had few BMX heroes or legends. We were all emulating our motorcycle heroes. While it doesn't compare to Stu, I would say it might be a good place to begin your story.

Certainly later (newer) than the Ames Stormer or Skibbel, but:
PK Ripper
Kos Cruiser
DB Harry Leary

Dennis, if they were available today, I'd get one.

You still have one of those Dennis?

Interesting I thought CYC had the first Ames Replica, although I remember the CYC version looking just like a Gary Turner. I assume Gary made those frames for CYC?.

Ronnie's dad used to have a bike shop in the strip mall at the corner of Hwy 87 and 260 in Payson AZ

+1 on Ken's reply.

I'd guess DG Skibel too

Did you all forget about the Jammin Jimmy Weinert replica frame ?

Did you know...The only riders to have a Signature frame from 2 different manufacturers.........

Tim Judge: Thruster and Hutch.

Stompin' Stu Also gets an honorable mention with the controversial SE Racing STR1 and the questionable Huffy.

Does anyone know of another??? GjS, GHP, Patterson, ETC. are excluded because of Rider/Family ownership.