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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
"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."
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
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!
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.
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.
Quote from: Stidds on February 18, 2010, 09:21 AMThat 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
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.
or how about some 1st gen bullseye cranks?
