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Old School BMX 1980 - 1988 => Old School Freestyle (frame stands and kickturns galore!) => Topic started by: trixr4kidz on August 10, 2007, 08:17 AM

Title: Action Zone Bars
Post by: trixr4kidz on August 10, 2007, 08:17 AM
Hopefully be picking up a set of 'survivor' Action Zone bars later today but don't really know much about them.  I remember they had a bit of a reputation for cracking BITD but not much else.. ???

They don't seem to come up very often and I can't find a decent pic.  Does anyone have any or know how I can tell if they are originals or not?

Cheers
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: harris on August 10, 2007, 08:21 AM
get a pic up when they arrive    :daumenhoch:
im still after a set but to lazy to look about.
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: Trev on August 10, 2007, 09:43 AM
there's a guy on here who'll be able to tell you for sure if they're original or not once you've posted a pic. ;)
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: Rad Robbo on August 10, 2007, 10:10 AM
Does any body out there have the stickers for them? I think pictures have been posted on here before maybe try a search and see if it comes up.
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: trixr4kidz on August 10, 2007, 10:59 AM
Ok thanks.  There is a pink performer with what looks like a black set of AZ bars in the museum but its not the best angle.  I'll post a pic once I've picked them up and see what you all think... :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: dordymush on August 10, 2007, 11:03 AM
nice avatar  :smitten:.
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: username on August 10, 2007, 12:05 PM
I remember they had a bit of a reputation for cracking BITD but not much else.. ???

They don't seem to come up very often and I can't find a decent pic.  Does anyone have any or know how I can tell if they are originals or not?

Cheers

I knew lots of riders doing lots of silly stuff and I have never seen or heard of the "cracking" - has anyone EVER actually broken any personally or seen some broken?

there's a guy on here who'll be able to tell you for sure if they're original or not once you've posted a pic. ;)

Maybe, even I am confused and got tons of abuse after showing interest in Radhab's "stamped in all the right places" bars - which rang no bells with me.

Does any body out there have the stickers for them?
im still after a set but to lazy to look about.

Yes, there is a very good chance - any particular colour?
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: SaMAlex on August 10, 2007, 12:08 PM
My mate has got a broken set of AZ bars in his shed. I keep meaning to get them off him. I have heard of a few sets snapping
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: trixr4kidz on August 10, 2007, 12:54 PM

"I knew lots of riders doing lots of silly stuff and I have never seen or heard of the "cracking" - has anyone EVER actually broken any personally or seen some broken?"


No you're right I never actually saw anybody break or crack them but that was the only thing I remembered about them.  Maybe it was just one of those urban myths around at the time.  Still cracking (no pun intended) looking bars though.
 ;)
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: Picklez on August 10, 2007, 01:08 PM
I've got a set at home. I'll post a piccy or two over the weekend if it helps. Mine are stamped with the initials AZ, I think its on the right-hand reverse side about halfway up.
As for cracking, there have been a few threads on here over time mentioning this, as well as bending, but mine are nice & true, Only issue I have is that the original chroming isn't too hot.
hope it helps.
Pete
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: Picklez on August 10, 2007, 01:10 PM
BTW also very interested as well if anyone has any stickers for them.  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: username on August 10, 2007, 01:47 PM
My mate has got a broken set of AZ bars in his shed. I keep meaning to get them off him. I have heard of a few sets snapping

That sucks, I was under the impression they were really strong - oh well :)



Mine are stamped with the initials AZ, I think its on the right-hand reverse side about halfway up.


I must be having some kind of brain blockage but I have never seen any that were stamped - I am assuming from your username you were the guy that bought Radhab's off ebay. There is a huge possibility my memories of the stamp could  be wrong as my memory of everything even 10 minutes ago is crap.
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: retrorider.u.k on August 10, 2007, 03:15 PM
everything bitd broke so why should az bars be any different  :-\
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: Rad Robbo on August 10, 2007, 03:38 PM
I have a pair knocking about somewhere still straight as a die. I don't remember them being stamped. I got mine from Mud Machine in about 85 or there abouts.
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: stuntmaster on August 10, 2007, 03:50 PM
got a set of these with original stickers as well ,tatty but cool and all bars broke bitd as if didn`t you weren`t trying hard enough  ;D(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v607/stuntmaster/gtproper.jpg)
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: trixr4kidz on August 10, 2007, 05:25 PM
Right got them.  They look to be in pretty good nick other than the obvious scratches.  No dents or cracks.  Turned out they were attached to a pretty nice bike so I took that too!  Result.  My camera has just died after one photo so I'll take more later....

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/d103/trixr4kidz70/DSC00803.jpg)
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: Jesse on August 10, 2007, 06:01 PM
Mine are absolutely fine, straight and true. No stamp.
I would also love to get some stickers for them - they're currently black, so maybe white stickers? Whatever DC any colour will do!
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: rosscoe on August 10, 2007, 09:21 PM
I ran a set of these for a coupla years BITD and they were the best set of bars I used. No bends or cracks.......and I did try quite hard....
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: billstup on August 10, 2007, 09:23 PM
I ran a set of these for a coupla years BITD and they were the best set of bars I used. No bends or cracks.......and I did try quite hard....

Dave will be pleased  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: rory on August 10, 2007, 09:42 PM
 i used a pair for about two years, they snapped near stem .
they were  a nice size ,  :daumenhoch:
(http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/4488/crowhurstok0.jpg)
pic by fidz
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: username on August 10, 2007, 10:22 PM
i used a pair for about two years, they snapped near stem .
they were  a nice size ,  :daumenhoch:


Those ones are not action-zones. VDC made the first prototypes, the real ones were made in England. VDC just carried on making those ones which did snap a lot. You can tell by the mile long sticking out cross bar and the bottom joins, the brazing and tubing on AZ ones were much better in my opinion, but then I would say that :)
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: billstup on August 10, 2007, 10:29 PM
Did you make any money out of them bars Dave ?
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: username on August 10, 2007, 11:17 PM
Nah, but it was definitely worth doing! I got a set on my newschool that I got from my Mums house - she says hallo btw....
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: billstup on August 10, 2007, 11:23 PM
Hope shes well Dave, wish her the best from me, is that the house in Woodford ?
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: username on August 10, 2007, 11:35 PM
Yeah I will and yes - the same house :)
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: Trev on August 11, 2007, 01:50 AM
come on dave, sort out a new school version of the az bars. there's money to be made there....
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: rosscoe on August 11, 2007, 05:57 PM
me trying to break mine during one of the broady street sessions. launchramp wall ride to flat.........80s cover shot :coolsmiley:

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/o220/rosscoe63/wallride.jpg)



 :Great_Britain:
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: bsdforever on August 11, 2007, 08:22 PM
I had a few pairs and they were defo the best BITD, they never bent or broke - what were they made of?

all mine had AZ stamped in them and I'm pretty sure they were brazed not tig-welded

the peoples hero Craig Campbell had a set on his all chrome GT at Holeshot in 1987, that was a really nice bike

also I'm pretty sure I have some spare stickers too if anyone needs 'em, I'll have a rake about
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: Rad Robbo on August 11, 2007, 08:45 PM
Dave,

Was there a link between your Action Zone Bars and the VDC ones other than style. Must admit always used to run Woody bars BITD till I bought a set of these, the crossbar was great and a great match for my Free Agent top tube, oh and my boney butt as it was back then  fitted a treat:)

Was it my imagination or did they have the same sweep and dimensions in rise and width?

Another Great British product :Great_Britain:
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: username on August 12, 2007, 12:10 PM
I had a few pairs and they were defo the best BITD, they never bent or broke - what were they made of?

all mine had AZ stamped in them and I'm pretty sure they were brazed not tig-welded


They were Reynolds tubing but not the stuff that other frames were being knocked up with - like the AZ stamping I can't remember but I do know we had to pay a lot more than what we could have got them them made (in 501 0r 531) for because of the higher grade tubing. I'll try and dig up some of the old paperwork / invoices etc. and get a definitive answer to that. And yes they were brazed which gave them them a lot of their strength :)


Dave,

Was there a link between your Action Zone Bars and the VDC ones other than style. Must admit always used to run Woody bars BITD till I bought a set of these, the crossbar was great and a great match for my Free Agent top tube, oh and my boney butt as it was back then  fitted a treat:)

Was it my imagination or did they have the same sweep and dimensions in rise and width?

Another Great British product :Great_Britain:

No , my memories are all messed up but I am sure they were before Woody's - the original geometry was a tweaked GT Performer bar which we changed the dimensions and angles particularlly the upsweep and backsweep....

The only link between VDC and Action Zone was that the very first prototypes were made by VDC when I picked up my Changa but I had already snapped them before I got back to London so we found a higher quality manufacturer where we had more control, and the rest is history.....
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: Rad Robbo on August 12, 2007, 12:40 PM
Thanks for the insight Dave, they sure were brazed well  ;)  Never bent mine :knuppel2:

Do you remember how many pairs were made?
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: username on August 12, 2007, 12:58 PM
When I go back to check the tubing specs I'll be able to tell you how many...
Title: Re: Action Zone Bars
Post by: Flatcap on August 13, 2007, 10:22 PM
Only ever had one set of AZ bars which I inherited from Dave Slade and they were and still are my all time favourites bars!

Dave Slade was also the only person I know who managed to bend some too after one of his legendary heavy slams - bless!

Good to have you on here DC, get your finger out and lets have a new school version....you know it makes sense mate!

Daz.

 :daumenhoch:
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