Haro Bikes

Haro Bikes Corporation, as it is now known, is an American BMX and Mountain bicycle manufacturer.

History

Haro Designs

The company was founded in 1978 by Bob Haro.^[1] Haro started out producing numberplates for BMX bikes in his Home. Demand for these stylish plates quickly outgrew his one man capacity. Haro Designs, the first name of the company, was formed in 1980 with headquarters in Torrance, California.

While the company was growing, Haro was also growing the sport of freestyle BMX. He travelled around the country performing demos of radical trick riding that had not been seen anywhere before. As a result, Haro earned the title "The Father of Freestyle". During the early eighties, the company grew rapidly by expanding its product line and establishing national and international distribution. The BMX boom was in full swing and the company built a reputation for developing innovative, top-of-the-line BMX and freestyle bikes and accessories. Haro Bikes' most popular BMX/Freestyle models were the Master and the Sport.

Haro 1983 - 1987: Unique Bike Innovation

Haro introduced its first successful line of Freestyle BMX bikes in 1983. The Haro Sport and Master were the company's flagship bikes that sparked a revolution in bicycle design and imitation across the industry by other companies. In that year, its revenue greatly took off and it ignited a huge cult following. In 1984, the company added the FST to its product line-up for consumers with lower budgets. As a result of Haro's huge success, companies like Hutch, Diamond Back, GT, Schwinn, Redline, Dyno, CW and Skyway modeled their own frame versions after Haro's designs. During the 80s, GT became Haro's strongest competitor. However, because of Haro's huge profits from the Sport, GT's sales dwindled in comparison.

Haro possessed the best Freestyle team, dominating the 80s, 90s and 2000s. It won the most first places and top honors more than any other bike team. It contracted the most popular Freestylers in the history of the sport: Mike Dominguez, Donovan Ritter, Marc McGlynn, Bryan Blyther, Dave Nourie, Mat Hoffman, Dennis Mccoy, Ron Wilkerson, Joe Johnson, Ryan Nyquist, Rick Moliterno, Bob Morales, Eddie Fiola, Rich Sigur, and R.L. Osborn, not to mention other significant riders.

Haro Bikes

The first Haro bikes were manufactured by Torker.^[2] In 1982, when Haro introduced his own line of racing bikes, his sponsorship by Torker and Max was terminated.^[3]

Although injuries forced Haro to relinquish his riding duties, Haro Bikes subsequently compiled a virtual "who's who" list of talented riders including Bob Morales, Eddie Fiola, Mike Dominguez, Donovan Ritter, Marc McGlynn, Ron Wilkerson, Brian Blyther, Dave Nourie, Dennis McCoy, Mat Hoffman, Mike King, Pete Loncarevich and many more. These riders won nearly every title there was in both BMX and freestyle. Media attention quickly put Haro Bikes in the spotlight as an industry leader with a bicycle line focused on the high end "Master" and more moderate "Sport". In 1986, Haro's design of the "Master" was at its climax with what is typically regarded as its most beautiful form with uniquely designed Haro Group 1 components, paint over chrome frame and forks, and uniquely designed flip-up pegs. The 1986 "Master" in team issue neon green with all original components has become highly collectible. In 1987, The "Master" was made over to reduce the cost of the 1986 model.

Company's sale

In 1988, Bob Haro sold the company to a bigger bike company and agreed to a five-year consulting contract that provided continuing product innovation and a premium image for the brand. At the end of five years Bob left Haro Bikes and started a graphic design company.

In 1993, the company was sold again, this time to a group of investors headed by Jim Ford, a Vice President at Haro Bikes since 1981. With its new independence, and Jim leading the company as its President, the company re-established its focus on Bob Haro's original vision and began a rebuilding process that followed a sharp decline in the BMX market dating back to 1988.

Within one year, key management positions were filled and a new dealer base was established. A new competitive BMX racing team was formed and superstar freestyle riders Dave Mirra and Ryan Nyquist were signed by Haro soon after.

Reputation re-established

Haro's new products re-established its reputation for innovation and performance. By 1999, sales had exploded and Haro Bikes was again recognized as one of the top brands of BMX and freestyle bikes.

The sport's popularity has reached new heights, thanks to greater television exposure ESPN's X-Games and NBC's Gravity Games. In fact, Haro Bikes sponsored riders have combined to win over ten medals since the X-Games started in 1996, the most of any bike company. Dave Mirra is the most decorated X-Games athlete with eight medals, six of them gold. Recently, Haro Bikes has taken major steps to establish its presence in the mountain bike market by signing former UCI World Champion Downhiller Mike King and the current UCI World Champion Cross Country racer, Michael Rasmussen of Denmark.

Dave Mirra has recently made his own company Mirraco Bikes,.. an enterprise of Trek Bicycle Corporation. Ending his run with the Haro Brand..

Haro Bikes currently sponsors BMX riders Ryan Nyquist, Dennis Enarson, Cory Nastazio, Marcus Tooker, Colin Mackay, and Ronnie Napolitan.

Products

2008 Bike Models

Mountain bikes: Ally SS, Ally XC, Beasley 1/9, Beasley SS, Escape, Escape Comp, Escape S, Escape Sport, Extreme X6, Extreme X6 Comp, Extreme X7, Flightline Comp, Flightline Expert, Flightline One, Flightline Sport, Flightline Two, Mary SS, Mary XC, Shift R1, Shift R3, Shift R5, Sonix, Sonix LT, Sonix S, Thread 1, Thread 8, Werx Sonix, Werx Xeon, Xeon, Xeon S

Hybrid bikes: Maxwell, Roscoe, Sanford

Comfort Bikes: Heartland, Heartland DLX, Heartland Express, Heartland Express LE, Heartland LTD

Cruiser bikes: Railer SS, Railer SS Women's, Railer XS, Railer XS Women's, Zimzala Buster, Zimzala Cooper, Zimzala Maude, Zimzala Molly

BMX Bikes: 2009, 2009 24", F1, F16, F18, F1C, F2, F24, F3, F4, Forum Counterpart, Forum CPT Lite, Forum Intro, Forum Intro Lite, Forum Partial 16", Forum Partial 18", Forum Partial 20", Forum Pro, Forum Pro Lite, Group 1 SR 20, Group 1 SR 20 BLU, Group 1 SR 20XL, Group 1 SR Expert, Group 1 SR24, X0, X1, X2, X24, X3, Z-1, Revo 9

Kids bikes: Flightline 20, Flightline 24, Group 1 SR Junior, Group 1 SR Micro, Group 1 SR Mini, Z-12, Z-16, Z-20

References

External links

• Official Haro Bikes Website
• Pictoral Timeline of the History of Haro Bikes