Unfashionable Hutch's From 1987 (One Down One to go) PICS ON PAGE 2

[Funkyworm]

Since getting in to the scene it's become apparent to me that with some people there seems to be quite lot of well er (snobbery) when it comes to budget end bikes which is a shame as for me I'm just liking bringing bikes that interest me back to something like their former glory & adding a little point of difference to their original spec here & there.

Two of the bikes that seem to be shunned by so many surprisingly come from Hutch  (The Windstyler & Exel) . Im assuming that it's because two of the models in question were produced at the end of the 80's when Hutch was in financial trouble & had these bikes produced in Taiwan & we all know the only decent bike has to be welded in the USA right ? So i'm guessing the American public possibly started this bad publicity !

The magazine write ups at the release of these models were really surprisingly excellent,  handling build quality geometry & overall performance were all praised & at an entry level price point too! Clearly they are not (PRO Quality BIKES) but they were never meant to be, so to have them compared & dismissed in favour of bikess 2,3 or 4 times the price just doesn't really make sense to me. After all you wouldn't compare a Fiat 500 with a the top of the line Ferrari even though they are both made by Fiat !


I've always liked the look of both the Windstyler & Exel as I love freestyle inspired frame sets & these two models both came gushing with 80's neon Colourways & Popped Decal sets so I decided to purchase this blue Windstyler from the USA when i spotted it on Ebay & had it shipped over from the States just to see for myself what the frame set was actually like & to be fair overall the bike look's well for it's years, the welds are good & it will make a great base for my build.





The Windstyler as you can see was (originally blue) It will be Hot Pink when finished & should come out like the one below with 1988 decals, I saw this combination on ebay.com this particular bike is still actually for sale on there as it's waaaaaay Waaaaaay Waaaaaay over priced but i think it looks Properly RAD & cant wait for to get my build on the way done !!!!

 





I then tripped over an Exel in the museum whilst looking for ladder bars for the Windstyler . I bought the bars & then ended up buying  the F&F set followed by the seat post the lee chi's donut & Pegs which all arrived today (after sitting for 6 days in UK customs) , it's in Survivor neon pink  but i think I'll keep this as is, as I love the faded paint & the (Bob's Bicycle Centre Decals) on the rear are just class (not to mention the Vans Brake Blocks).  Anyway thought i'd share these two (Fiat 500's) with you as theres not many of these around in the UK as people seem to only want to bring back the Ferrari's & It's nice to see something a little different from the usual models.

Hope you like 













Windstyler partially Stripped & ready for Hot Pink Powder, Decals sorted !!!!! Will be finished & on it's way to Dan's this week!!!

[GTnumber1]

nowt wrong with a windstyler, give a fook what anyone thinks its still a hutch

[Discostu]

They look like a great couple of projects.
I do agree there seems to be a lot of snobbery surrounding hutch and the us made frame sets.
I have seen many threads on the museum with them banging on about their us made trickstars as though they have been welded by god like welders.

The truth is a lot of the us frames were shocking. With platforms on the pi55, or longer one side than the other, or the common one was the hutch engraved brake bridge welded in the wrong place so the rear caliper wouldn't touch the rim.

I'm lucky to have a rare tai made one. Which has perfect welds so I'm happy.
Anyway I will follow the build threads as they continue. 

[Funkyworm]

nowt wrong with a windstyler, give a fook what anyone thinks its still a hutch

heres my old one

I saw yours in an old thread mate, it's lovely looking & off the back of your build I've been very tempted to do one of them in the (Old School Hutch) decal style !!!!   if i strip the Exel I might go for candy Blue & Chrome as i think it will look pretty cool but i'm liking its original state right now which is weird for me as I like things to look spanking new.

I don't subscribe to the argument that if you strip a bike your'e stripping it of it's history ?? If a BMX could talk all it would tell you about it's history is that it's most likely been sat in a shed forgotten about at the bottom of someones garden  

[john4130]

both those frames are better looking than the trickstar II by miles. looking forward to seeing them finished.

[oldschoolace]

Nowt wrong with so called budget stuff, in fact i find myself drawn to it alot more than the fancy gear. Get a little bored seeing masters, GT performers etc  and alot of us couldn't afford that stuff bitd and dont have the same memories of ownership.

The pink on that Exel is sweet 

[deeman]

Nice will be interesting to see these.I think the wind stylers look nice,alot better than TS II's.I like the sound of candy blue and chrome decals for the Excel

[CustardLips]

Nowt wrong with them mate. If you like em' build em'. 
Unfashionable or not it's whatever does it for you that matters.
I don't feel obliged to follow any unwritten rules on what you should/shouldn't be building.Or what is/isn't seen as cool
Gt Interceptor full bike - £100 ebay
Redline 600a frame - £23 ebay.com
Powerlite p17 full bike - £36 ebay
Elswick Superstar - £20 car boot
These are what i've picked up since getting back into bmx, all cheap and cheerful but all been built/resto'd with bmx love. 

[Funkyworm]

Nowt wrong with them mate. If you like em' build em'. 
Unfashionable or not it's whatever does it for you that matters.
I don't feel obliged to follow any unwritten rules on what you should/shouldn't be building.Or what is/isn't seen as cool
Gt Interceptor full bike - £100 ebay
Redline 600a frame - £23 ebay.com
Powerlite p17 full bike - £36 ebay
Elswick Superstar - £20 car boot
These are what i've picked up since getting back into bmx, all cheap and cheerful but all been built/resto'd with bmx love. 

Completely agree mate, Although i've never found bargains like that before !!!! Guess i need to be up earlier on a sunday morning 

[Pooch]

both those frames are better looking than the trickstar II by miles. looking forward to seeing them finished.

[GavinDavis]

I think theyre both great!  And rightly said....they are still Hutch at the end of the day.  Why should it really matter if it was made in Taiwan?  It is what it is 

And I really dont see all the fuss over the whole dated cable mallarky either on builds?  Its a brake cable 

[Jaan]

And I really dont see all the fuss over the whole dated cable mallarky either on builds?  Its a brake cable 

Blasphemer!

[Jaan]

both those frames are better looking than the trickstar II by miles. looking forward to seeing them finished.

Trickstar II are like marmite bud, but I love them - heres mine 

[CustardLips]

Don't like marmite but I like that.Very nice Chris. 

[john4130]

both those frames are better looking than the trickstar II by miles. looking forward to seeing them finished.

Trickstar II are like marmite bud, but I love them - heres mine 

that does look nice, but the rear triangle and dropouts are fugly.

[GavinDavis]

And I really dont see all the fuss over the whole dated cable mallarky either on builds?  Its a brake cable 

Blasphemer!

 

That Trickstar 2 is awesome Chris.....Id love one of those!

[Jaan]

both those frames are better looking than the trickstar II by miles. looking forward to seeing them finished.

Trickstar II are like marmite bud, but I love them - heres mine 

that does look nice, but the rear triangle and dropouts are fugly.

You don't get it - if you have a rear flat its very easy to wheel the bike home like a wheelbarrow, conversely the front pegs are for front flats - when you really think about it, its sheer genius.

[Jaan]

And I really dont see all the fuss over the whole dated cable mallarky either on builds?  Its a brake cable 

Blasphemer!

 

That Trickstar 2 is awesome Chris.....Id love one of those!

Its a bit closer to your timeline/taste Gav - i'm also building a 86 CW California Freestyle which you might like - but my real passion is 5+ years earlier...

[Wez]

both those frames are better looking than the trickstar II by miles. looking forward to seeing them finished.

Trickstar II are like marmite bud, but I love them - heres mine 

Like that one Chap 

[deeman]

And I really dont see all the fuss over the whole dated cable mallarky either on builds?  Its a brake cable 

  6 months from now you find yourself replacing all your cables for dated ones Gav!It's a bit like saying a seatpost is a seatpost(of which i am a believer!)or a headset is a headset...it is...but is it really!!depends on your levels of anality!!

[Funkyworm]

And I really dont see all the fuss over the whole dated cable mallarky either on builds?  Its a brake cable 

  6 months from now you find yourself replacing all your cables for dated ones Gav!It's a bit like saying a seatpost is a seatpost(of which i am a believer!)or a headset is a headset...it is...but is it really!!depends on your levels of anality!!

Brilliant !
 

[Discostu]

That trickstar 2 is a stunner.   

[Jaan]

That trickstar 2 is a stunner.   

Can you spot whats in the background Stu?  Its almost finished 

[Discostu]

That trickstar 2 is a stunner.   

Can you spot whats in the background Stu?  Its almost finished 

Yes I spotted the 85. It is looking good mate.

[Robbo]

That trickstar 2 is a stunner.   

Can you spot whats in the background Stu?  Its almost finished 

Yes I spotted the 85. It is looking good mate.

Is this your old 85 Stu?