--- 1992 Hoffman Condor Factory Complete Spec (SE Made First Batch) ---

[Stodgy]

Sorry this has taken so long to get up on the site - but I figure it took so long to build whats a few more weeks!

Anyhow, here is my 1992 SE-made first batch Hoffman Condor in factory complete spec. It won the Mid-School Best in Show and the People's Choice at MK07, which I was humbled by...but the crowning moment was presenting it to Mat Hoffman in my hotel room in Germany at the Masters this year.

A big thanks to Mat for spending so much time with us that morning (and the following morning), I don't know who was more surprised; me for having Mat Hoffman in my hotel room, or Mat as he couldn't believe that I had spent so much time and effort in restoring the bike! He was speechless and said the bike was 'perfect, man', but he still couldn't believe what 'crap' bits they had to put on them to get them out to market!

He filled in so many gaps for me; about how he designed the stickers one afternoon on a rented Mac and everyone called him the 'Oondor', to the full production details, to why they introduced the Patriot bar so soon after the Scud bar was released.

Top top man - the only true legend of our sport.



So, here it is a full factory spec first batch 1992 Condor, complete with upgraded first gen Patriot bars. The frame is a survivor and everything else is NOS and as per the published spec (sheet below), including the VPX pedals, sprocket pocket and high pressure Chen Shing tyres. This really was a difficult build and is my ultimate Hoffman.

A few thank's first (it's like the fooking oscars, so make sure you're sitting down):

Alex (S&MAlex) - For persuading his friend Mack to part with his Condor F&F. This would not have been possible without you and Mack - thank you so much. Also, when all the avenues had dried up, thank you for finding the only NOS part in your shed...an Odyssey Sprocket Pocket! Oh, and the stem and an original knurled AD990! Man, you helped so much.

Mark (YGT) - For parting with a NOS set of Mk1 Patriot bars and a wonderful Hoffman Micky post, a selfless act even at the expense of my 93 Condor!

Ross (Tricknuts) - For buying me a set of Tech 77 FS levers in the USA and shipping them over. Top fella.

Pete (Quadrophenia) - For providing the front brake and for helping me realise the dream with Hoffman in Germany. - you da man.

Bodamus - For the tip off on the possible location of some Odyssey VPX pedals, the lead led to Singapore and two pairs of NOS ones! Thanks mate.

Geoff Cain - For the sensitive metal work one cold evening in Oxford. You da man.

Bren Gunn - For supplying the sticker set for me to re-draw.

Fuzzynod - for igniting the touch paper by buying me Mat Hoffman's book.

Hoffman - for being an inspiration for every BMX'er and saving the sport.


The rest of the parts came from around the world on ebay and other BMX forums.





1992 Catalogue










































Luckily we and Pete had also taken Fuzzynods Condor to Germany too, so we were able to show Mat both bikes - so he had one of each colour! Not bad considering we only know of 3 remaining first batch Condors and two of them were in front of him. Naturally, he signed it too - just such a shame Mark couldn't be there to see it happen.

[harris]

fantastic   

[MartyC]

Priceless 

[spesh]

superb once in a lifetime experience!

just read matts book meself,now building a condor aswell
the mans an insperation to us all!!!!!

[Lazarou]

Hoffman - for being an inspiration for every BMX'er and saving the sport.

Amazing bikes, lots of hard work! My only disagreement is with the above post. Hoffman did not save BMX! He took it from the people who saved it and gave it back to the mindless masses.



Just my opinion.

[wildwood1971]

absolutely stunning and what a story - wish we could all trace the history of our bikes even if there not as famous as yours - you must be chuffed and the meet matt must of been tip top. if any one knows the location of where i can purchase his book please please pm me, i would really appreciate it sounds like a really good read. We done mate stunning bike and story. An inspiration to us all

Kind Regards

Paul Stevens

[generallee]

Unbelievable - this is the coolest thread i think ive ever read. Well done guy. I remember meeting Hoffman at the backyard jam in i think 93 or 94.... he signed my pride and joy then - a £2 Cider Bottle, Ive still got the label!!!!!!

[ron burgundy]

Sweet as a nut

[spesh]

 "location of where i can purchase his book please please pm me"

you can get it on ebay from time to time   superb read!

[wildwood1971]

thanks mate will check the bay

[SaMAlex]

Dave

Happy to help you out with this bike. I will forward the thread to Mack to he can check it out too. I know he will be very chuffed with where his bike is now, and what you have done to it.

Top man, top job.

(I still dont like the frame any more than when Mack got it new in 92. ha ha, just my opinion)

[darkersomeday]

words fail me

for once!

 

[workshyfop]

really nice. there may be another one round the corner from me, here in south wales. my mate put a post up recently on here.
he thinks he's got one of the first gen condors. it wasn't a complete bike, he bought the f/f second hand and built it with bits. apparently got group one stem, pitchforks, peregrine 48's but he will not sell. keep nagging him to get it out from his dads garage and bring it down so i can get piccys and a serial number to show you guys so we'll know if it really is a pukka one.
would this be only the fourth known one? how cool would that be for him!   so gareth, if you're reading this, get your ass into gear - i'll let you have a go on my aero reflex if you want to give me the frame..........

[Stodgy]

really nice. there may be another one round the corner from me, here in south wales. my mate put a post up recently on here.
he thinks he's got one of the first gen condors. it wasn't a complete bike, he bought the f/f second hand and built it with bits. apparently got group one stem, pitchforks, peregrine 48's but he will not sell. keep nagging him to get it out from his dads garage and bring it down so i can get piccys and a serial number to show you guys so we'll know if it really is a pukka one.
would this be only the fourth known one? how cool would that be for him!   so gareth, if you're reading this, get your ass into gear - i'll let you have a go on my aero reflex if you want to give me the frame..........

Thanks guys for all the positive comments, it makes it all worthwhile.

Workshyfop - It would be great to see if your mate has got another...BTW there won't be a serial number if it is...get some pics up as soon as you can!


Thanks again chaps.

 

[egg]

some truly amazing builds there but there's another in existence! this is my s.e made condor i've had from new,i bought it from bike pro in brum as soon as it came out,infact i still have the receipt.it's had a battering as you can see by the dropouts i had to cut off as they kept bending into my wheel on icepicks.


that's a pic infront of my current condor,gives you an idea how laid back the headtube really was.

[workshyfop]

he's adamant it's a first one, and he literally is a few yards around corner, but trying to get him into gear.................
what should we look for to determine if it is the genuine thing?? as opposed to a non first gen. were the first gen the only us made ones??? btw Mr Stodgy, should be very, very proud of that one. what a mission. top notch. (still too modern though!!!)
buy yourself a schwinn stingray if you want real cool!!!!!

[Stodgy]

Nice one Egg!!!! Please tell me you still have the original forks for that too?!

Ripe for a restoration - but before you do, let me bring my machine around to get a colour reading from that blue. Or has it been re-sprayed (judging by the paint on the AD mounts?)

Really good to see the 92's coming out into the open. Brilliant.

 

[raul]

Wow, it doesn't get any better than this! Not just in the amazing build (both actually) but having Mat sign them is the icing on the cake.

Can you share the story on the Patriot/Scud bars?

[egg]

"original forks" you gotta be joking i broke two pairs in the first six months of owning it!
guess that's one of the reasons they changed the headtube angle
it's not the original blue by the way,i got a local shop to respray it a few years back and it's not the best of jobs to be honest.i will get around to painting it properly one day.

[Stodgy]

he's adamant it's a first one, and he literally is a few yards around corner, but trying to get him into gear.................
what should we look for to determine if it is the genuine thing?? as opposed to a non first gen. were the first gen the only us made ones??? btw Mr Stodgy, should be very, very proud of that one. what a mission. top notch. (still too modern though!!!)
buy yourself a schwinn stingray if you want real cool!!!!!

Get a pic up and I'll tell ya instantly.

The first batch SE made had a very relaxed headtube, no bosses on the fork peg mounts (just holes) and very weedy bosses for the rear peg mounts. The tubing was proper oval cro-mo, where-as the Ramp Room made ones used round tubing pressed to an oval (so had a flat spot both sides). Also the Ramp Room made ones were about a pound heavier.

They did two batches with SE - totaling around 350 - 400 frames...of which 130 were made into completes. Production moved to the Ramp Room (i.e. Gack made at the Hoffman warehouse) in 1993 where they beefed up the drop outs, steepened the headtube and changed the design of the forks (as they were a bit weak!).

Production left the US in 1996.

[Stodgy]

"original forks" you gotta be joking i broke two pairs in the first six months of owning it!
guess that's one of the reasons they changed the headtube angle
it's not the original blue by the way,i got a local shop to respray it a few years back and it's not the best of jobs to be honest.i will get around to painting it properly one day.

LOL. Yep they were a bit fragile, eh? I only know of two pairs left - mine and Rakas's...

Thought it might be a re-spray as the AD mounts were covered.

Nice to know there is another out there though dude!

 

[egg]

a bit fragile! but then again what wasn't back then? yeah the overspray on the lugs gave it away do you know the original colour code by chance? also what are the chances of getting repro stickers? i'd love to see it restored.

[Stodgy]

a bit fragile! but then again what wasn't back then? yeah the overspray on the lugs gave it away do you know the original colour code by chance? also what are the chances of getting repro stickers? i'd love to see it restored.

I have the RAL colour code taken from Rakas's BB shell, oh and sticker sets...I might know someone who'll be able to help... 

[egg]

i'd be gratefull if you could help,how much for a green sticker set?

[beard1973]

Mr.Stodgy...

That my friend is quite simply a breath taking story and a bike that shows incredible dedication to restoring old bmx bikes...

Things like this only happen once in your lifetime... well done for grabbing the opportunity by the balls and for sharing it with the Rad community!

It got my vote at MK... Awesome buddy... just awesome...