BMXmuseum.com Bikes / Johnson / 1987 Johnson Freestyle

Back in Hawaii in 86 I wanted a GT PFT. I worked washing dishes in a chinese restaurant until I had about $500. I lived on an island with only a couple bike shops to choose from (on the Big Island), so I flew to Honolulu to get one from the famous "Bike Factory". I was only 15 or so, my parents were with me and when they saw that my dream ride would cost me over $500 they flipped out. They said "it must be cheaper on base", this is a common phrase since my parents come from a military background. They took me to Hickam Air Force Base thinking they would find the same GT PFT for half the price... I knew it wouldnt be, if they even had one there, its always the case. They did in fact have a "Johnson Freestyle" which was manufactured by the guy that owned the bike shop on base. I was practically forced to buy this bike since it was only $150 and my parents were ecstatic getting such a great deal. All I remember saying was... "it doesn't compare to a GT" and that "I'll probably break it". The owner assured them that the quality was as least "as good" as any GT... I couldnt win, here I was stuck with a POC I didnt want. I put it together the day we got home, only to find out that the fork wasnt tapped for the screw in fork standers on one side and of course it was my weak side. The mag wheels that came with it were nylon or something, they would bend so bad I could barely turn without them tweaking. The break pads looked like a chain-saw spitting dust every time I hit the breaks too. It was only a few weeks before I started to buy GT parts to replace the great "Johnson Freestyle" parts. After replacing just about everything except the frame I decided to sell it. I figured I'd make some money back and buy the GT PFT I always wanted. My neighbor happened to love this bike and bought it for $200, must've been all the GT parts... I haven't had this bike since 1987, but I took some pictures of it for the short time I was stuck with it. I never seen or heard of another one of these so I thought it would be a good one to post here for the mere rarity of it. BTW, years later, this ride was a rusted heap of junk in my neighbor's back yard. Gotta love the salty air in Hawaii...