Haro Freestyler

[greentoad]

Hi all

I've been informed over the last few days that another Haro has been found.

In fact, it is the earliest yet - TXX 154 F - so build number 154 I am sure that pictures of it will be out in a few months, but it is probably out of bounds till then.

We are starting to get towards the Grails now, what with three Gen 1's and the two Gen 2 Sports all being new discoveries / additions to the Haro family, and all ID'd within the last six or so months.

There have also been some more additions in the registry for those interested, with some more leads still to be followed up.

Quanity   Serial   Build Number   Model   Month    Year
1   TXX 154 F   154   Freestyler Gen 1   November   1982
2   TXX 450 F   450   Freestyler Gen 1   November   1982
3   TXX 483 F   483   Freestyler Gen 1   November   1982
1   TUU 821 F   821   Freestyler Gen 2   February   1983
2   TTT 1029 F   1029   Freestyler Gen 2   March   1983
3   TTT 1041 F   1041   Freestyler Gen 2   March   1983
4   TSS 1105 F   1105   Freestyler Gen 2   April   1983
5   TSS 1118 F   1118   Freestyler Gen 2   April   1983
6   TSS 1138 F   1138   Freestyler Gen 2   April   1983
7   TSS 1141 F   1141   Freestyler Gen 2   April   1983
8   TSS 1163 F   1163   Freestyler Gen 2   April   1983
9   TSS 1171 F   1171   Freestyler Gen 2   April   1983
10   TSS 1235 F   1235   Freestyler Gen 2   April   1983
11   TRR 1352 F   1352   Freestyler Gen 2   May   1983
12   TRR 1354 F   1354   Freestyler Gen 2   May   1983
13   TRR 1399 F   1399   Freestyler Gen 2   May   1983
14   TQQ 1462 F   1462   Freestyler Gen 2   June   1983
15   TQQ 1515 F   1515   Freestyler Gen 2   June   1983
16   TQQ 1674 F   1674   Freestyler Gen 2   June   1983
17   TPP 1727 F   1727   Freestyler Gen 2   July   1983
18   TPP 1748 F   1748   Freestyler Gen 2   July   1983
19   TPP 1749 F   1749   Freestyler Gen 2   July   1983
20   TPP 1828 F   1828   Freestyler Gen 2   July   1983
21   TPP 1829 F   1829   Freestyler Gen 2   July   1983
22   TPP 1872 F   1872   Freestyler Gen 2   July   1983
23   TOO 1973 F   1973   Freestyler Gen 2   August   1983
24   TOO 1990 F   1990   Freestyler Gen 2   August   1983
25   TOO 2009 F    2009   Freestyler Gen 2   August   1983
26   TOO 2033 F   2033   Freestyler Gen 2   August   1983
27   TOO 2090 F   2090   Freestyler Gen 2   August   1983
28   TOO 2130 F   2130   Freestyler Gen 2   August   1983
29   TNN 2184 F   2184   Freestyler Gen 2   September   1983
30   TNN 2258 F   2258   Freestyler Gen 2   September   1983
31   TNN 2283 F   2283   Freestyler Gen 2   September   1983
32   TNN 2329 F   2329   Freestyler Gen 2   September   1983
33   TNN 2347 F   2347   Freestyler Gen 2   September   1983
34   TNN 2353 F   2353   Freestyler Gen 2   September   1983
35   TSS 2357 F   2357   Freestyler Gen 2      1983
36   TNN 2366 F   2366   Freestyler Gen 2   September   1983
37   TMM 2484 F   2484   Freestyler Gen 2   October   1983
38   TMM 2527 F   2527   Freestyler Gen 2   October   1983
39   TMM 2684 F   2684   Freestyler Gen 2   October   1983
40   TLL 2653 F   2653   Freestyler Gen 2   November   1983
41   TLL 2738 F   2738   Freestyler Gen 2   November   1983
42   TKK 3007 F   3007   Freestyler Gen 2   December   1983
43   TKK 3050 F   3050   Freestyler Gen 2   December   1983
44   TKK 3124 F   3124   Freestyler Gen 2   December   1983
45   TKK 3148 F   3148   Freestyler Gen 2   December   1983
46   TKK 3216 F   3216   Freestyler Gen 2   December   1983
47   TKK 3339 F   3339   Freestyler Gen 2   December   1983
48   TKK 3363 F   3363   Freestyler Gen 2   December   1983
49   TJJ 3483 F   3483   Freestyler Gen 2   January   1984
50   TJJ 3551 F   3551   Freestyler Gen 2   January   1984
51   TII 3882 F   3882   Freestyler Gen 2   February   1984
1   THH 3924 F   3924   Master Gen 1   March   1984
2   THH 3937 F   3937   Master Gen 1   March   1984
3   THH 3978 F   3978   Master Gen 1   March   1984
4   THH 3982 F   3982   Master Gen 1   March   1984
5   TGG 1440 F   1440   Master Gen 1   April   1984
6   TFF 4309 F   4309   Master Gen 1   May   1984
7   TEE 4497 F   4497   Master Gen 1   June   1984
8   TDD 4599 F   4599   Master Gen 1   July   1984
9   TDD 4649 F   4649   Master Gen 1   July   1984
1   T 07844754 M   4754   Master Gen 2   July   1984
2   T 08844880 M   4880   Master Gen 2   August   1984
3   T 08844940 M    4940   Master Gen 2   August   1984
4   T 08844949 M   4949   Master Gen 2   August   1984
5   T 0884498? M   498?   Master Gen 2   August   1984
6   T 08845069 M   5069   Master Gen 2   August   1984
7   T 08845160 M   5160   Master Gen 2   August   1984
8   T 08845168 M   5168   Master Gen 2   August   1984
9   T 09845565 M   5565   Master Gen 2   September   1984
10   T 09845607 M   5607   Master Gen 2   September   1984
11   T 10845840 M    5840   Master Gen 2   October   1984
12   T 10845931 M   5931   Master Gen 2   October   1984
13   T 10846004 M   6004   Master Gen 2   October   1984
1   TEE 0083 HS   83   Sport Gen 1   June   1984
2   TDD 0196 HS   196   Sport Gen 1   July   1984
1   T 08840441 S   441   Sport Gen 2   August   1984
2   T 08840459 S   459   Sport Gen 2   August   1984

J.

[munners]

Hi mate,

Ive got one coming from the US.

The serial number is TRR1352 F. I see that you already have a note of it but i have never gave you the details of it before. How come you know of it? Has the previous owner registered it with you or have you just found the thread i made previously? Also can i not call it a Gen 1 as you state its a gen 2. I would be delighted to know more!


Cheers Nick

[billstup]

Nick what Jem means by a gen 1 is the very first batch of freestylers which were not welded all the way under the junction of the headtube and gusset on the down tube, but after these started cracking the weld was extended all the way around, hence the gen 2 tag. But they`re all gen 1 freestylers regardless. 

[munners]

Thanks mate,

You learn something everyday. 

[greentoad]

Hiya Nick

I have been collecting all the information on US - Torker built Haro's for nearly two years. A global effort by Haro collectors was formed to try and work out the date codes. I took it further, and finally cracked the codes using Moose's help.

I have now gone much futher than I thought I ever would, and log all the bikes that have survived, identify and give names to new models, and also list all history that I can of each bike.

These are things like, original chrome, or re-chrome, new decals, damage, dents, welds, powder, paint, previous owners, prices paid etc etc.

So, the Haro you got if I remember the correct bike is original, was a great price (and even better with such a low $) and is a Haro Freestyler.

Most will say there is only one version of the Haro Freestyler - so a Gen 1, but as new additions are being ID'd and logged, for me they have to be correctly ID'd if they are different. As such a Gen 1 has different welding on the Gusset, so really Gen 2's are what we  all see.

There are now three Gen 1 Freestylers, and all found within the last six months and in the US, these are pretty rare and I know big monies were offered for the first one found.

So, yours is an early one, and a Haro Freestyler, but to me i'd call it a Gen 2.

Hope that makes, and any history you have on it, price paid etc etc please send (via PM) so that I can update with all the bikes new details.

Hope that all makes sense, and good questions.

J.

[JAY]

Make that  3  gen2 sports ,2fat2tabletop has one ,spotted it the other week ,not sure on the serial number though ,give him a PM .
Theres a pic in the museum,Haro, page 7.

[JAY]

Oh yeah ,is 154F in the states then ,i guess it is?

[greentoad]

 

Hi Jay

Yes 154 is a US bike (I think?) like the other two.

Do you know if this Sport is a UK bike? As you know, the other two were both found here, and if so, it seems more and more likely they might have been here for the Haro tour and there is a good chance that they were bought / collected / given away at comps / displays.

Cheers for the update and mail, you got Office / Excel yet?

Did you get my last email?

Hoping all is well.

Talk soon,

J.

[JAY]

OOPS ,just found the email ,i'll send you some more info mate soon.....

Just wondering why you think the 2nd gen sports were ,as you say given away or part of something like that?
I reckon they were just part of a shipment of sports that came over here and just happened to be Torker built ,we seem to have quite a few 2nd gen masters aswell which might back this up ,what do you think??

[stuntmaster]

i have to check my sport as a early three sticker one and original paint still its just find it in storage at mo 

[JAY]

i have to check my sport as a early three sticker one and original paint still its just find it in storage at mo   

Is that the one you've had for a good few years? ,sure that was a Tai model......but worth a check.

[stuntmaster]

could be i never really look at it to see what year and yeah the one i had years

[Coastvl]

If anyone is interested, theres an early sport for sale on Aussie ebay at the moment. Not sure what year it is but it looks like a gen 1 or 2.
I'm flat broke so it's no good to me. With our crappy dollar you'll get it for a good price.

[double chevron]

You mean this one ?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HARO-OLD-SCHOOL-FREESTYLE-BMX-FRAME-RARE-GENUINE_W0QQitemZ330125929453QQihZ014QQcategoryZ98082QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Loks like an FST 84 to 86 to me...

[Steve P]

These threads are great ... keep up the good work greentoad 

Steve

[greentoad]

Hi all

I have just had my weekly allowance of one glass of red wine. As such it now gets me a little light headed, so please bare with me.

The bike in Oz has Chevrons, so that's no Torker built Haro - thanks for the info though and if any members see / hear of any Old Haro's please send PM's / post a link etc as the more found the better.

I have been looking at BMXmuseum and there are two Freestylers that are not on the list, which is more great news. I have also sent off an email to someone in the UK who has a very early bike (possibly a Gen 1 and un-welded gusset) asking for information - but have as yet not had a reply.

The Sport that you refer Jay in the Museum I think also has Chevrons, and has a serial on the BB -

i bought it ages ago from ebay. sold it.  its was imported from australia and was originally dark  metallic blue. the guy said it was the original colour and i couldn't see if it was any other colour underneath.

Now, the Sports as Factory rides. I have a good lead that has also been compiling a list of Torker built Haro's (for input into the registry) that have been through their hands, and there is evidence (I really need to spend some more time on this) that when Haro did tours they ran competions and bikes were given away - can people look in old magazines?

The following also ties in with Trev's thread about Haro Riders. I used to ride with Mason Smith back in the day, and was with him when he came up with his own tricks etc. He ordered a Freestyler and it took ages to come. He finally picked it up from Rad City from Bob Haro himself when he came over in early 1983, and also had his book signed.

A year or so later Mason's mother set up Custom Riders and another good friend John Sheperd (who was a great rider back in the day) and was sponsored by Custom Riders ordered a Haro Master. This bike also took ages to arrive and when finally he recieved it he used it in many demo's and comps. This is the second oldest Gen 2 Master that has survived and the one that I got useable last summer.

Mason was also doing comps and getting a fairly good name and was offered a place on the Haro team around this time (he actually lost it to Craig C and went with Rickman). What with the shop and also the fact that Haro wanted him, and that both Mason and Jon's Haro's are both the second  oldest makes it seem for me that early Haro's where pretty hard to get hold of and not run of the mill.

I did a post a few weeks ago about possible production numbers (hope you have all scene it), but I really doubt that many Haro's came over for normal shop sales, and more for specific orders and for known riders. As an example in 1984 there was the Gen 1 Sport, then the Gen 2, and finally the non-Torker built bikes, that is a lot of variations in a short time.

It also seems strange that so few have been found and that most have been found in the UK.

I really do think that the bikes were brought over by Haro for their own comps etc as fresh new metal and publicity.

Now to really through a spanner in the works. What if Jay's or Minihaha's Sport was actually a Factory ride.....

I have dug around for a while but of course have other commitments etc, but I am also still very interested if contact can be made with the original owner of the Sport that Minihaha (Steve) got hold of. This is the bike that had a custom paint job and was sign-written with the ridder (I am sure this bike may have some more information).

Stuntmaster, it's great to hear that you have an old Haro - if you can please double check the bike, serial and take a couple of pictures that would be great.

To finalize, there are still only about 80 surviving Haro's Worldwide known to exist, and nearly 55 of these are Gen 2 Freestylers.

I really do find this interesting, challenging and am amazed and priviledged that I have the opportunity to register these unique Haro bikes in the Old School BMX scene for all to see.

J.