Buying a Vintage BMX: How to Judge an Old-School Bike

Vintage BMX bikes from the 1980s and early 1990s, the GT Performers, Haro Masters and FSTs, Hutch Trick Stars and Redline RL-20s, are now collected the way classic road bikes are. Two bikes with the same name and year can differ enormously, so it pays to know what you are looking at before you buy.

Start with the frame and fork. Look for the original paint or chrome and decals, and ask whether the finish has been redone: re-chroming and powder coating are common and can look superb, but a survivor in original paint is a different object from a refinished bike, and it should be described as one. Check dropouts, head tube and the gussets for cracks, dents or filler.

Next, the parts. Many old-school bikes have been rebuilt over the years, so a listing should say which components are period-correct and which are later replacements: wheels (mags such as Skyway Tuff Wheels or spoked rims), cranks, stem and bars, pads, seat and tires all matter to collectors and to value. Photos from both sides and close-ups of the drivetrain tell you more than any description.

Then decide what you want the bike for. A reissue, such as the 30th-anniversary Haro Freestyler or a later Hutch Trick Star, gives you the look with modern reliability; an original is the one to choose if you care about history. Twenty-four-inch cruisers, like the GT Pro Series 24, suit taller riders who want the same style.

Every BMX in our collection is listed with its year, frame, finish and components, noting original paint, re-chroming or powder coat and any replacement parts. If you want more photos or a measurement before you order, write to us.