. double post

[ August 22, 2007, 09:37 AM: Message edited by: Pauly ]

I just don't see the point though... If I bought a Pro Star, Pro Raider or Windstyler back in the day, I would have instantly changed the grips. Those were the only three complete bike Hutches sold with those grips in the first place.

However, you see people building Mirandas, Judges, and Experts with those same grips. None of those bikes were even sold as complete bikes!
(There's been great debate to as whether Hutch ever even sold a Pro Star caliber Trick Star) Therefore, its safe to say back in the day any guy riding one of the above mentioned bikes NEVER even had Hutch grips to begin with!

Wow.. I can't believe someone is paying over $400 for a pair of grips. To me that's just plain ridiculous.

To tell the truth, I never understood why Hutch products have become so sought after in the first place. Other than seeing pictures of Woody riding his Trick Stars in the magazines, I have to say I never saw that many Hutches being ridden back in the day.

To me, it was all Haro, GT, Mongoose, etc.

I sometimes get confused on whether collecting is more about popularity and quality, or more about rarity. Evidently it's more about rarity.

Jeff

Yep!!!! I still remeber my best friend breaking out a steak knife about 3 days after christmas and sawing off his hutch grips off his windstyler and putting on mushroom grips instead.But to each its own I guess?

For me, the Haro line is the best bang for the buck. Great machine, at pennies, when all's considered. Some or the Group 1 stuff is getting a bit pricey, but with a mid 80s F/F at under $400 for NOS or close, it's still teh company to beat - all that besides teh fact they were the innovators, and have the coolest designs out there, imo

Yea, I have to agree with everyones opinion on Hutch. The Trick Star's definately looked cool bitd, and even now I wouldn't mind having one again just for show. But everything they made was pretty much crap, lol. I remember getting my 87' TS. As soon as I got it home I stripped it down to the f/f and threw on my Redline cranks, Peregrine HP's, DK stem, Nippons, etc. Even then I knew the f/f's weren't that great, but at that point it was all about "looking good", LOL.

As for the most overpriced part, I would have to say "any" old school tire. There's no way I would pay in the 100's for 20yr. old (probably dry) tires, LOL. I've seen some Hutch and GT tires go for well over $200 in the past!

Wether or not these grips came on a complete bike or not is irrelevant. Hutch sold these grips retail, through bike shops along with all of their accecories.

In the mid 80's when super soft grips were all the rage, the Hutch grips were hard and had a dated early 80's look to them. So most guys did replace them with AME's or ODI's.

The years of my life that I spent the most time on a bike for me were 85-87, a time when I would wear through $4 AM'E Tri's in about 8 weeks of riding. I never even owned a Hutch as a kid.

Yet, one of the nicest bikes I remember from my childhood belonged to a slightly older, semi-pro flatlander named Sean Schroeder that got lots of parts comped by local bike shops.

His choice you ask? All Hutch! That's right, add a rotor and Aerospeeds to my chrome TS and you've got a replica of Sean's circa 86 bike.

I know that many Hutch builders strive for 100% Hutch componentry. Hence, $500 grips, $350 Rad Kaps, $100 buff guards, $3000 cranks, etc, etc.

That doesn't make it wrong or right, it just is what it is. Supply and demand.

Would I have used the Hutch grips back in the 80's? Probably not...Will I part with one of my 3 NOS sets of Hutch grips today? DEFINETELY NOT!!!

[ August 22, 2007, 11:31 AM: Message edited by: '85TrickStar ]

mm hmm.. I saw that. That's just crazy stuff!

Thing is, you can get the Tange versions for around thirty bucks or so all day, at least you could a year ago or so. I bought some myself.

And they look SO similar until you get close...

And they give you bad blistones on your fingones.

Say those grips close out at $425.00
I have a magazine from back then listing them at 5.95 a pair

Thats a return of:
71 TIMES their original RETAIL cost!!!!

I don't think there's another bmx part that will hit that figure, or even come close.

Think Aerospeeds...a sale of $3000 nets a return of only 16 TIMES their original cost!!

[ August 22, 2007, 11:45 AM: Message edited by: Bedlam Bikes ]

Until I saw those grips....I would say that Aerospeeds were the most overpriced. But like many people say...like any collectible, it's only worth what people will pay for it. It's not the seller's fault. He started those grips at $.01!!!!!!!

btw, how's the time-machine development coming along?

I'm surprised at the price of Mongoose Moto Mag's and Gold Stems. Great pieces of history but I certainly replaced them with Tuffs & a Suntour stem once I cut a few lawns BITD. I guess my memory of them wasn't as fond as some others.

"Are some collectors that obcessed with making their build "factory correct" even though they lessen the quality of their bike in the process?"

Absolutely. How about that incredible 1st gen Haro Sport all built up with the factory parts group. There you see some low end parts on a holy grail frame. Some builders have a different goal in mind such as trying to replicate that straight from the bike shop show room floor look. Just assembled, right out of the box. Nothing wrong with that. To each his own.

"There's been great debate to as whether Hutch ever even sold a Pro Star caliber Trick Star"

Yes a debate was had and a number of highly established/early-to-the-scene collectors chimed in to confirm that Trick Stars were indeed available equipped similar to a Pro Star. I'm talking guys who were into this before VBMX existed. I always knew this to be true as many mail order companies offered them at the same price as a Pro Star and Hutch advertised them in their factory brochure as well.

Hutch grips also came on complete Pro Racers and lower end Trick Stars in addition to Windstylers, Pro Raiders and Pro Stars as was mentioned. Yeah the Hutch grips are ridiculously over-priced. You all know as well as I that supply and demand dictates the price. Has anyone ever noticed how an incorrect battery or tires sticks out like a sore thumb on an otherwise factory correct show car? If you’re trying to do a box stock factory correct Hutch complete any other grip is incorrect. Sure it will look great with upgraded grips, but it's not what the bike originally came with.

I agree that they are lame grips. A friend of mine bought a new Pro Raider in ’84 and I gave him crap about the them. I’m pretty sure he eventually ended up changing grips which was a good decision. I personally would never use them on a custom Hutch build.

It's all in the eye of the beholder. Why make a big stink about high prices? If you think a part is crap, then don't bid on it. Why do we care? LOL... If a couple guys want to duke it out over a "must have" part, then let them, watch if you're curious, but don't knock the guys bidding because they have the means and the desire to do so.

Haha.. I still love the first post in this thread

'SATANS GIFT TO BMX"...

classic.

Some people do want an all Hutch bike... they aren't my favorite but they do look good with all the other Western H's on a full build. I'd never pay those evilbay prices for a NOS set. I think I got mine for free, tossed into a box with a frame I bought.

See what I did with my red grips:
Hard-Boiled Hutch Grips

I picked up a nice used set a while back for $14, but they are missing the ends...the ends arent worth $400 to me lol, I'll just use some old 10 speed bar ends because thats what I did bitd when I tore up the ends on my grips..

those grips do suck, but I like the way the look on a Hutch..but I also would have never used them bitd

I had two sets and sold them both I hate them and I'm not big on "The way they came" I like more of a "The way I could have built it if I had every part at my fingertips"

I do have a few bikes that are to factory spec and I love them but most of the "Builds" or "restores" have something about them that I changed cause I like another part better.

I feel pretty strongly about stuff like bar selection and the right cranks for the right bike but when it comes to the grips I like to go with something that really sets the build off. Like Unitrons or B1B's but they can get pretty pricey at times too. ALL OF THIS STUFF can be expensive but $400 for grips is out of my league

Hey to each there own RIGHT ?

One more thing real quick

I personally think that perishable goods SHOULD be the expensive stuff IE: Tires Seats Grips Cables

You know the stuff that we can't recondition and will never be reproduced

You can always repaint a frame and yet we pay big money for them only to strip them down, change colors, chrome plate, new stickers ect ect ect

The only thing you can do with an old perishable is clean it and hope that it stays together so you can reuse it

And I also think that Tires are the most important part of a build

If your rubbers aren't era correct then the bike doesn't look old to me

I see both sides of the story, but to me personally i have to side with ENDO on this.BITD we started with complete bikes then tuned them in as our skills progressed. I had GT forkstanders on my t star!! what good were the tspegs?? GT tires on a HUTCH BITD?? I liked them..As long as the color combo was good...I also notice not many rotors, spinmasters or such on show bikes? How can u ride bitd without? Grip tape..what happen to that on show builds? Conclusion.....Build'em the way you like Just keep the OLD SCHOOL theme...
Rick

Rick I put grip tape on everything LOL

My wife sometimes thinks I'm crazy but when I'm finished she usually says "You were right"

Yeah.. I was surprised to see the grip tape on the GJS.. but it looked much more authentic.... I had Pink Grip tape on the top tubes of my light blue Torker 2 360 air...... back in 86... If I ever get one again.. I'll be hunting down some pink tape.

By the way.. does anyone know who brought that stock blue Torker2 (360) to Brian P's? It was sort of sitting on the hill closer to the driveway.. just laying there... I think I was the only person who was drooling over it....

KEEP the GRIP tape alive guys! Its cheaper than AEROSPEEDS and it works!!

I think that was TeamRob's Torker ?

of course, there's always that NOS Revcore laid back that went for almost $400 a few months ago.....

My granny owns a HUTCH.....and its made of wood !!!


Tony
Bicycle Junkie

black NOS hutch grips bee getting up to 500, thats nuts.... how about the VDC monkey cruiser bars that just sold for 1000??? those have to top it all...

triton pedals
hutch front brake guards
rad kaps
like someone els said above, dia compe stamped dated cables ($20 each as if you can even get them stamped with the year of your frame)

with more and more people getting into old school BMX prices are only going up and up...

I wonder how many little LBSes there are with prizes stacked in the back across the US - sounds like a fun roadtrip............

[ August 22, 2007, 05:24 PM: Message edited by: meddling kid ]

I like the way they look on my trickstar.I wouldn't pay that much.I did pay $150 for em.

After reading Smokin Endo's post and what he said about perishables costing more money, It made me think. I never really thought of it in those terms. I guess "perishables" should bring in a little more money just for that fact alone. Just as long as they are still useable. Although I still don't think grips and tires need to bring in so much money to make someone a profit, I can also understand that when u start an auction at $.99 and it gets bid up to $400 then why should I really be upset? I didn't bid it up that high. Like someone else said, something is only as valuable as u make it. But I have to add that I'm still shocked that we don't see tons of various NOS tires and grips pop up on ebay. I mean, bitd it seemed like there were endless supplies of those things.

Now a part that I can see going for alot of money, and actually does, is a NOS Odyssey gyro. Those are very rare and the couple of times I've seen them pop up on ebay they've sold for around $300!...Although I still wouldn't bid that high

Now a part that I can see going for alot of money, and actually does, is a NOS Odyssey gyro. Those are very rare and the couple of times I've seen them pop up on ebay they've sold for around $300!...Although I still wouldn't bid that high

Sorry for the double post!

I bought 4 NOS blue Gyro's out of a shop in 2004 for $8 each Still have two blue and a Green one from a trade (Not for sale)

[ August 22, 2007, 08:27 PM: Message edited by: Smokin Endo ]

Oh and Rob your bike looks hot with the grips ! As do a lot of other Hutch's that I see built... Just not what I would select and I've had them so I'm not just saying that

Also wanted to add that there have probably been more Black Hutch Grips tossed in the dumpster then there were VDC Cruiser bars made. They may have gone for a lot of money but are well worth it if you look at it in a #'s kind of way plus they were expensive back in the day as well as hard to find then

"I bought 4 NOS blue Gyro's out of a shop in 2004 for $8 each Still have two blue and a Green one from a trade (Not for sale)"

Hold onto them! U may be able to put your kids through college with those someday!...

I dont want anyone to misunderstand me. I am not saying people are "dumb" for using them on their showbikes! I am just questioning if someone uses them because they feel they have to use them since they are Hutch and they are trying to build a complete Hutch bike... Apparently, thats the case here. It seems everyone agrees they weren't that good of a grip to begin with!

So - a set is selling for 76X their original cost. What else has gone for that kind of profit? How much were a set of Rad Kaps? Some of those must have come close.

Some rare padsets also come to mind.

the only NOS blue gyro i ever saw went for 350 on ebay a few months ago.... thats rediclous, i have got several from 40-70 (white and black only)...

ther's some NIB wraparound flights on ebay at the moment for $1200 BIN

the only NOS blue gyro i ever saw went for 350 on ebay a few months ago.... thats rediclous, i have got several from 40-70 (white and black only)...

retardiot.

Our LBS BITD refused to sell us Aerospeeds.He said we would break them.He suggested Flights,or Profiles.None of my Hutches will be 100% Hutch,they werent back then,nor will they be built that way today.I always ran ODI Mushroom II`s back then,thats whats on my bikes now.Same with the pedals,both my TS,and Judge have DX`s on them.They are a better,and less expensive pedal than the beartrap Hutch pedals....my 0.02