I'm on the prowl for my 1st Trick Star and I have some questions...
Is the USA version really better than the Taiwan made frames ?
Why ?
Are the imports more prone to cracking, or do they all share the same weak spots ?
Are the USA made frames more valuble, and worth the extra $$ ?
Are the import frames worth the $ that they have been fetching ?
How can you tell a US fork from a import ?
I'm kinda sketchy about buying a Trick Star, because the prices are gettin crazy, and I see so many that have been repaired, or are in need of repair, and I just dont want to over pay for a basket case...
Full Version: Trick Star ???
talk to Jessejames he will give you the run down on the trickstar...i have had a bunch of them and just this past weekend i sold my last two....to me thay are all the same but to a true collector the US made ones are gonna be worth more the only real differance between either of them are the top standing platform and the peg sizes on the forks...other than that they are all really cool bikes...but just remeber once you get bitten by the hutch bug it is hard to get a cure for it.....lol....good luck Rob
quote:Value wise, yes. Riding wise, no idea.
Is the USA version really better than the Taiwan made frames ?
quote:Absolutely. Much much easier to sell USA made framesets than overseas. Most collectors desire US made goods.
Are the USA made frames more valuble, and worth the extra $$ ?
quote:Subjective question as the value tends to be intrisic. I believe 99% of all the old school goods are undervalued.
Are the import frames worth the $ that they have been fetching ?
quote:1. US made frames don't have a baseball symbol after the serial number.
How can you tell a US fork from a import ?
2. US made frames have the break bridge below center of the of the seat stays. Overseas tend to have it welded on top of the stays.
3. US platforms extend past the supports (how far past vary, but they extend) and are level. Overseas tend to "curve" up.
4. Inside the BB shell, US frames have small holes whereas the overseas have large "vent/weld" holes.
5. Some overseas forks have a cable guide on them.
Peg sizes have nothing to do with US vs. overseas.
[ May 19, 2006, 08:54 AM: Message edited by: twintoptuber ]
Holy SH*t there is someone else on here how knows about the Hutch Hysteria.....lmfao
I think most people who've been members on this site for over a year can identify a US vs. overseas TS. The details seemingly get hammered into your brain over and over again. LOL.
Hey Tuber,
"I believe 99% of all the old school goods are undervalued."
I guess that means you have a lot of stuff to sell on here soon , HUH!
Just remember that statemant when your the buyer, i hope you pay 4 times as much for anything you buy from here on out.
"I believe 99% of all the old school goods are undervalued."
I guess that means you have a lot of stuff to sell on here soon , HUH!
Just remember that statemant when your the buyer, i hope you pay 4 times as much for anything you buy from here on out.
Wow there is so much to say ! Where do I start ? LOL
Spicoli, if all you want is a nice Trick Star then you want to go for a Japan made Trick Star. They are the best buy for your buck. Let me explain with some pics and info. Give me a few minutes
Brian
Brian
I've been a Trick Star fanatic since Woody helped design it in early 1984.
FACT: The quality of the JAPANESE Trick Stars is just as good as the USA frames. And dare I say it - The Japanese frames are often BETTER. 99% of all Trick Stars were made in either the USA or Japan. Very few are were made in Tiawan. Tiawan Trick Stars have the serial number stamped on the bottom bracket shell and not on the rear drop out. Good luck finding one....
I like the USA frames better only because I like the look of the top tube platform better. However, if a Japanese top tube platform is flat and not "curved up" like the later ones, I like them as much as the USA frames. I've seen USA frames with VERY poor quality. "smokinendo" has a pic of a USA frame with a horrendous top tube platform construction. (post it Brian!) Nothing was welded even. It almost appears it was welded "by eye" and not with the use of a jig. Quality that resembles what you often see in American cars.
I have some great pics at home comparing USA and later Japanese frames. If I get a chance, I'll put them up here tonight.
FACT: The quality of the JAPANESE Trick Stars is just as good as the USA frames. And dare I say it - The Japanese frames are often BETTER. 99% of all Trick Stars were made in either the USA or Japan. Very few are were made in Tiawan. Tiawan Trick Stars have the serial number stamped on the bottom bracket shell and not on the rear drop out. Good luck finding one....
I like the USA frames better only because I like the look of the top tube platform better. However, if a Japanese top tube platform is flat and not "curved up" like the later ones, I like them as much as the USA frames. I've seen USA frames with VERY poor quality. "smokinendo" has a pic of a USA frame with a horrendous top tube platform construction. (post it Brian!) Nothing was welded even. It almost appears it was welded "by eye" and not with the use of a jig. Quality that resembles what you often see in American cars.
I have some great pics at home comparing USA and later Japanese frames. If I get a chance, I'll put them up here tonight.
LOL Bumpy,
Although I have collected a few parts here and there, nothing is for sale.
RL Paulie summed it up best.
Although I have collected a few parts here and there, nothing is for sale.
RL Paulie summed it up best.
I'm working on it ! Give me a few
guys , my next build is a trick star or quadangle .... so im keeping an eye here for the pro info !!!! lets go , im waiting !
hey , all depends on ebay forgiving sniping ability !
IF AN IDIOT WANTS IT , YOU CANT OUTBID OR OUTSNIPE AN IDIOT !
hey , all depends on ebay forgiving sniping ability !
IF AN IDIOT WANTS IT , YOU CANT OUTBID OR OUTSNIPE AN IDIOT !
OK before I get jumped on about saying "buy the Jap model" let me explain.
Some Jap frame sets have the same geometry as the US but you can score them for a much better price. When looking at these bikes there are a few things to look for to distinguish the difference in quality but not origin (to find origin you will have to check for the BB in the S#). First thing I look at (as mentioned above) is the standing freestyle platform near the seat tube. I look to see if the stander extends past the two little pegs that mount it to the chain stays. (This does not mean you have a US)
Next I look at the brake bridge but not to see how deep it is on the chain stays but rather the location of it (how far it is from the seat tube)
More to come ! Baby just got up
I'll be back in a few
Some Jap frame sets have the same geometry as the US but you can score them for a much better price. When looking at these bikes there are a few things to look for to distinguish the difference in quality but not origin (to find origin you will have to check for the BB in the S#). First thing I look at (as mentioned above) is the standing freestyle platform near the seat tube. I look to see if the stander extends past the two little pegs that mount it to the chain stays. (This does not mean you have a US)
Next I look at the brake bridge but not to see how deep it is on the chain stays but rather the location of it (how far it is from the seat tube)
More to come ! Baby just got up
I'll be back in a few
Triple T,
I can understand a collector who wants the best return on an investment he has made, and so will any collector. But, A very many people who have entered this hobby/addiction have too many dollar signs on the brain. Why is this site up? and why do we ride "little kids" bikes? I THINK we do this cause we loved BMX now and as kids growing up during a very cool time and to some degree wish to re-live that, not just fill our pockets.
I can understand a collector who wants the best return on an investment he has made, and so will any collector. But, A very many people who have entered this hobby/addiction have too many dollar signs on the brain. Why is this site up? and why do we ride "little kids" bikes? I THINK we do this cause we loved BMX now and as kids growing up during a very cool time and to some degree wish to re-live that, not just fill our pockets.
hey , feed that babe !!!!!!!!!!!!
prioritys man !!!!!!!!!!!!!
shussssshhhh bub , daddys trying to get info here
its ok , mummy is the driver at the weekends ...and during the week
hey mate , i have a 7 month old boy AND she is 6 month preg ..... hands FULL or what .... sorry , will be full very soon !
[ May 19, 2006, 10:13 AM: Message edited by: ozzybmx ]
prioritys man !!!!!!!!!!!!!
shussssshhhh bub , daddys trying to get info here
its ok , mummy is the driver at the weekends ...and during the week
hey mate , i have a 7 month old boy AND she is 6 month preg ..... hands FULL or what .... sorry , will be full very soon !
[ May 19, 2006, 10:13 AM: Message edited by: ozzybmx ]
hey bumpy , i never thought of that ... investment !
i used to buy a $5000 MB , knowing next year i would get $3000ish for it , now i have 2 loopys and a few others , they wont drop in price !!!!! mate you have given me the best excuse to buy a looptail quadangle ever . it will only take me 3 mins to convince her (wife) that we are investing for the future , and she will believe me too !
i used to buy a $5000 MB , knowing next year i would get $3000ish for it , now i have 2 loopys and a few others , they wont drop in price !!!!! mate you have given me the best excuse to buy a looptail quadangle ever . it will only take me 3 mins to convince her (wife) that we are investing for the future , and she will believe me too !
BT we have a lot in common ! James your my friend but You know how I feel about the $ side of this hobby (it ruins it for a lot of people)
Ozzy... You know it Bro ! Kids are first around here ! he he
Back to business.
Before I continue let me just say that both of these frames are overseas but the one I refer to as Jap style could in fact be a Taiwanese, not sure ?
OK a few other things to look at are as follows
The width on the standing platform is different on the US and US style frames then it is on the Jap style ones, along with a few other differences in this platform. For instance where it mounts to the top tube and the angle it sits on. Here are few more pics. And I will have more in a few
Brian
I also wanted to add that all the measurements on the US STYLE F&F were the same as my USA made Lavender bike.
I hope I'm not posting too many pics ? I have a few left and I'll stop
Brian
Ozzy... You know it Bro ! Kids are first around here ! he he
Back to business.
Before I continue let me just say that both of these frames are overseas but the one I refer to as Jap style could in fact be a Taiwanese, not sure ?
OK a few other things to look at are as follows
The width on the standing platform is different on the US and US style frames then it is on the Jap style ones, along with a few other differences in this platform. For instance where it mounts to the top tube and the angle it sits on. Here are few more pics. And I will have more in a few
Brian
I also wanted to add that all the measurements on the US STYLE F&F were the same as my USA made Lavender bike.
I hope I'm not posting too many pics ? I have a few left and I'll stop
Brian
Brian - show the one of the USA frame with the cheesy top tube platform construction.
That's the one! Notice the small upright tubes and how un-evenly spaced they are.
Also notice they didn't even center the seat clamp relief slot.
Remember, this a USA made frame!
Also notice they didn't even center the seat clamp relief slot.
Remember, this a USA made frame!
Shouldn't this Hutch be worth more then any other due to the rarity, ....you know, like the stamp with the upside down plane or the GT with the upside down stamp?
86EK
86EK
whats up with the us one wrinkle finish paint??looks like its blacktoped...
Its called mass production..that t.s. was either welded on a monday or a friday..i know the frame has a jig but i dont think the standing platform used one they ALL look like it was done by eye...
That is Futuristic Black gone bad !
Nice Brian! Looking forward to the rest of this. Gotta love pics WITH explanations!!
thanks guys, all of this info will help me alot...
I hope I didnt give anyone the wrong impression w/ my $ related questions, I dont buy bikes for an investment,and when I finally get my Trick Star it will most likely stay w/ me forever...fact is ,I cant part w/ the xtra stuff I got now...
BTW, what about thicker rear dropouts ?
Ive heard some Trick Stars have thicker dropouts than others.
I hope I didnt give anyone the wrong impression w/ my $ related questions, I dont buy bikes for an investment,and when I finally get my Trick Star it will most likely stay w/ me forever...fact is ,I cant part w/ the xtra stuff I got now...
BTW, what about thicker rear dropouts ?
Ive heard some Trick Stars have thicker dropouts than others.
Great thread, keep the pics coming...
Bren.
Bren.
Here's a US made TS with the brake bridge welded on top and not much extension of the frame stands.
I've seen other US made ones like this too. As Brian has shown, there are many little variations even between frames fabbed in the same country.
I've seen other US made ones like this too. As Brian has shown, there are many little variations even between frames fabbed in the same country.
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