Author Topic: Let THE Aluminum Revolution Begin...The HUTCH Aluminum JR "Lawsuit" (Read 24986 times)

AGUILAR3 · « **on:** February 16, 2010, 04:37 PM »

Hello everyone. My name is Hector Aguilar and just now checking in. Ive been a member since 07 and have been a lurker ever since.

Here is a little something about me for those that are interested. http://bmxsociety.com/topic/46320-bmx-society-collector-spotlight-vol-1/

A good buddy of mine (Norm from Aus.) sent me a RADBMX link asking about the Hutch Aluminum frame sets and in that thread, a picture of my frame set was posted. To clear up some confusion, I will start a new topic here for anyone who is interested.

Thanks in advance for looking

May 8. 2009
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LET THE ALUMINUM REVOLUTION BEGIN

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"It's going to revolutionize the sport." Says Rich "Hutch" Hutchins. What? you ask. Aluminum frames and forks. Hutch Hi-Performance Products is getting ready to introduce a lightweight pro frame-fork set which will lighten a pro BMX race bike by almost two pounds. Rich Moliterno is currently testing an aluminium pro frame that weighs two pounds, three ounces, and an aluminium fork weighing 17 ounces. By comparison, a standart chromoly Hutch Pro frame weighs three pounds, eight ounces, while the matching fork weighs one pound, ten ounces.

If the new aluminium frame-and-fork prototypes test okay, their combined weight of three pounds, four ounces will be a full one pound,14 ounces lighter than the current chromoly versions. The new technology will not come cheap. Hutch will probably put a retail price of over $250 on the frame and fork alone. Aluminum is not new to the BMX industry. SE Racing aluminium P.K. Rippers have been around for years. What is new, according to Hutch, is the type of aluminium used in the frames,and the procces of heat treated them. The new Hutch framesets will use what is known as an "atmospheric-free heat-treating procces" which is used in the space industry, takes 14 hours to complete and costs $24 per bike. The procces supposedly eliminates the problem of metal fatique that plaqued aluminium bikes of old. The new technology is already used in the production of Hutch's new $250 Junior and Mini framesets

Welding of the frame sets

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"The way that most aluminum frames are welded right now is not as clean looking as what we're doing. To perfect these welds on the Junior, we hooked up with someone who was into Cannondale's type of welding. The way that the Cannondales are welded and the way that we're doing it is THE prpper way of welding aluminum. It's actually fusing the aluminum instead of welding it."
"Our aluminum frames are first welded with a rod, and then fused. The welds aren't sanded. Also, the stress points have been moved from the front of the frame to the bottom bracket.
There's no stress on the front end at all."

Some interesting words concerning the aluminum framesets

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The final nail in the coffin came when Hutch designed a new aluminum racing frame. It was extremely light. (The frame weighed 1lb 9 oz.) However it didn't hold up well. A kid was seriously hurt on one when the frame broke. Hutch was sued. The frame was recalled. The company was handed over to the investor, a man named Richard Bellis. I assume he was also referred to as Bill Bellis since I've heard many people call him that as well.
(from: history of Hutch,www.hutch-bikes.com

Interview with Haney on the demise of Hutch as a Company

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Although they didn't make many Hutch did make a few. They had just started to market them and a young kid was hurt badly on one. The frame broke for no reason and to my knowledge amazingly Hutch did not have any liability insurance. They were sued for quite a sum and for a company that was already in the red this just simply put them over. All of the aluminum Hutch bikes were then recalled and destroyed. They were only produced for around 4 months and were absolutely beautiful!

Thanks to Juan Matos, I'm the prowd owner of quite possible one of the rarest frame sets ever.

Quotes and scans borrowed from JJR BMX http://users.telenet.be/jjrbmx/inter-test/HUTCHAluJrTest86.html..

May 18, 2009
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I had a tingle in my nether region when this came in today...

rare NOS Hutch light alloy mini bars and even more elusive Hutch H mini stem

May 28. 2009
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1 /38" hoops came in this week. Now if I could only find a set of NOS Hutch Mag/Ti hubs...

Grips, Cranks and seat are next.

May 29, 2009
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How cool is this?

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The Hutch mini stems come in three sizes--a 1 inch reach, a 1 1/2 inch reach, and this one here--the 2 inch reach. Also shown is the magnesium headset, which has a teflon ring instead of ball bearings. Not quite the smoothest thing we've ever used.

a Hutch Magnesium ultralite mini headset

Dec 3, 2009
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After 7 long months of hard searching, I finaly found a set of hubs worthy of this build.

NOS Hutch Mag/Ti hubs

Cranks, Grips, seat and brakes are sure to follow. Any suggestions?

Thats where the project stands. I'm either thinking about Black Hutch grips or black Oakley O wings with Jumbo donuts. I havent decided on cranks yet even though Aerospeeds are the obviouse but I'm not sure if the spindle will work on my BB.

Mattdub · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2010, 04:56 PM »

Hector ,

Thanks for posting , that is gonna be off the scale !

Matt

harris · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2010, 05:00 PM »

fantastic post and well documented..one rare hen.

QUADROPHENIA · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2010, 05:00 PM »

hector i see that on os-bmx before christmas, one pukka bike, since they changed the lay out on os i havent been on tbh, i find it hardwork. keep us updated on the build

monkian · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2010, 05:16 PM »

Great stuff man. Look forward to the updates

Thanks for sharring.

Bigplinky · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2010, 05:39 PM »

Fan-fookin-tastic Hector, all that stuff is great

A lot of mini's in the UK used TA cranks which look good with the correct chainring.

OrgasmDonor · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2010, 05:55 PM »

those hubs are a bit sexy

stuntmaster · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2010, 06:03 PM »

sweet stuff

HUTCHMAN · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2010, 06:26 PM »

that ali junior is georgous , have to sell the wife and kids to afford one of those(thats the easy part,finding one,that's the hard bit)

scary_leary · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2010, 06:56 PM »

Holy fack.. thats up to the back wheels that one.

dan-dare · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2010, 07:10 PM »

Good stuff.

ron burgundy · « **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2010, 07:38 PM »

now that is cool...

diesel · « **Reply #12 on:** February 17, 2010, 01:44 PM »

Cool - Great Stuff

I didn't know that Hutch were already in the Red when it happen, I always presumed it they went from riches to rags in a flash.

MartyC · « **Reply #13 on:** February 17, 2010, 02:49 PM »

Great background and history; that is going to be one expensive but beautiful bike

AGUILAR3 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 18, 2010, 05:43 AM »

Thanks for the compliments guys. It sure has been a interesting project thus far.

BTW, do you guys think Aerospeeds would be overkill on a jr?

Thanks again guys

stidds · « **Reply #15 on:** February 18, 2010, 09:21 AM »

That is a wicked looking project Hector, I can't wait to see it finished.

Personally I think Aerospeeds would look out of place on a jr, a nice set of alloy race cranks would be just the ticket to keep the weight down.

Mattdub · « **Reply #16 on:** February 18, 2010, 09:48 AM »

Quote from: Stidds on February 18, 2010, 09:21 AM

That is a wicked looking project Hector, I can't wait to see it finished.

Personally I think Aerospeeds would look out of place on a jr, a nice set of alloy race cranks would be just the ticket to keep the weight down.

I'd go campagnolo , suntour superbe , TA or similar Hector

jimmyp · « **Reply #17 on:** February 18, 2010, 01:43 PM »

That looks lush,

keep the pics coming

Bob_Acid · « **Reply #18 on:** February 18, 2010, 02:58 PM »

Quote from: Mattdub on February 18, 2010, 09:48 AM

Quote from: Stidds on February 18, 2010, 09:21 AM
That is a wicked looking project Hector, I can't wait to see it finished.

Personally I think Aerospeeds would look out of place on a jr, a nice set of alloy race cranks would be just the ticket to keep the weight down.

I'd go campagnolo , suntour superbe , TA or similar Hector

What he said

AGUILAR3 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 18, 2010, 04:42 PM »

Well, I do love Campagnolo... but I have used them on maybe 7 of my builds already. I was thinking of maybe some gold Avocet cranks.

This Ad shows what look like Avocets or Shimano 600s?

Here are 2 with Campy cranks.

Mattdub · « **Reply #20 on:** February 18, 2010, 05:06 PM »

Quote from: AGUILAR3 on February 18, 2010, 04:42 PM

Well, I do love Campagnolo... but I have used them on maybe 7 of my builds already. I was thinking of maybe some gold Avocet cranks.

This Ad shows what look like Avocets or Shimano 600s?

Here are 2 with Campy cranks.

I remember quite a bit of campy on your builds over on OS Hector

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Shimano 600's are nice , got any better pictures of Avocet ? .

AGUILAR3 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 18, 2010, 05:44 PM »

Yeah, Campy is good....but sometimes its just too much. Im about to redo the Quad and will be listing the Blue Campy cranks, ring, pedals and maybe the Campy wheel set. Maybe go with a more traditional era correct build.

Avocets are like Campy cranks (Italian Road/Track cranks) with a longer 144 bcd. I love the single ring look like on my mini BLAZER.

HUTCHMAN · « **Reply #22 on:** February 18, 2010, 05:58 PM »

or how about some 1st gen bullseye cranks?

bobafett · « **Reply #23 on:** February 19, 2010, 04:06 PM »

Very cool project Hector

Good to see you on RAD too

Hector - is a top man - sent me a full bike last year with the most professional packing I have ever seen and really helped me out with the shipping

AGUILAR3 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 19, 2010, 08:57 PM »

Quote from: HUTCHMAN on February 18, 2010, 05:58 PM

or how about some 1st gen bullseye cranks?

you know what, instead of trying to be all exotic and such, I may have to go with a set of Gold NOS 165mm maxy Cross cranks.

Sometimes, you just have to "keep it real and stay simple"

and John, Gracias for the kind words

Author Topic: Let THE Aluminum Revolution Begin...The HUTCH Aluminum JR "Lawsuit" (Read 24986 times)

AGUILAR3

monkian

scary_leary

dan-dare

AGUILAR3

AGUILAR3

AGUILAR3

AGUILAR3