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5 Most Influential/Important BMX Companies

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dialledbikes:
Was thinking about this earlier and who, for me, were the most influential BMX companies to shape or improve BMX (either bikes, the industry or the sport in general).  There's obviously way more than 5 companies that can be named, but here's my 5 and why.   What's yours:

1.  SE Racing.  I imagine this will be number 1 on most people's list.  Scot Breithaupt is one of the founding fathers, if not the godfather of BMX racing.  Always loved the look of the bikes, the graphics, the uniforms and the riders.  The SE logo and colours still look fresh today, almost 30 years after they were first designed.  I know Todd Lyons is working hard to live up to the SE heritage but for me the original SE Racing will never be surpassed because for me it is the epitome of what a BMX company should be.

2.  GT Bikes.  Took quality to a new levels.  Stuck with it through the lean years and still had killer teams and made quality products.  Also took professionalism in the sport to new levels - the "most factory" factory team.  Have more champs ridden GT than any other bike?  Probably.  Also owned/ran lots of other brands such as Powerlite, Robinson, Auburn, Dyno, etc.

3.  S&M.  The opposite of GT in terms of being grungy/anti-factory.  The start of the rider owned movement as we know it.  One of the biggest influences on mid/new school.  Always had riders who I loved watching (Butler, Bennett, LeVan, Barspinner Ryan, Fids, Ian Morris, Clymer, even Pistol Pete!).  Only ever made cro-mo frames (no alloy).  Great image.

4.  Skyway.  For me, the most iconic item of BMX equipment ever.  If I had to have a tattoo that summed up BMX, it would be a tat of a Skyway Tuff wheel.  The TA frame is also an icon.   Those white uniforms and red/blue logos have also stood the test of time and still look minty fresh 25/30 years later.

5.  Standard Industries/Bykes.  For similar reasons as I have put S&M.  Standard certainly raised the bar in terms of quality and did things their way.  Others have caught up in terms of quality now, but Standard led the way for quite some time.

As I say, probably loads of others (I was torn between Mongoose, GT and Redline - and if I was more a freestyler than a racer boy, then Haro would have to be in there too), but for me, those have been the most important/influential BMX companies over the years.

Lazarou:
I totally agree with those! My top 5 too!  :daumenhoch:

pickle:
1. Haro
2. Skyway
3. Mongoose
4. GT
5 Raleigh (without the burner i would not have been able to get into BMX)

harris:
i have got to agree with top post too.

munners:
Spot on mate. I would put Redline up there too, simply because of flights. The redline flight crank is probably in the top 5 iconic components on an old skool bmx.

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