1973 Harrigan Special 
#1 2007-11-27 11:51am
- reilley1
- Member
- From: G
- Registered: 2006-07-08
- Posts: 49
- Bikes: 21
- Feedback: 000
1973 Harrigan Special
1973 Harrigan Special
Early Nor-Cal Iron
Way back in the stone age when BMX was young. A great deal of innovation was being done in order to get that extra edge. This was not limited to the So-Cal scene. The more I look into it, the more I realize how the whole scene was moving in different parts of the country in parallel, or just weeks behind. This is specially true of the NOR-Cal scene.
A while back the OM and I had a good talk about how BMX spread like wildfire. He mentioned going up to Nor-Cal and battling it out with The Silver Shield BMX team which included people like Friendly Fred, John Wells among others. He also mentioned a certain Pete Harrigan and his bikes. Thanks to Mike "Spike" Rush (another Nor-Cal 70s icon,) I managed to get one of Pete's innovative frames.
The frame is a modified Schwinn Sting Ray. Main reason was in order to run longer cranks.
The last picture shows where the bike was cut and rewelded along with a cool chainstay reinforcement
BMX bikes were meant to be ridden, even if that riding is only in your mind as you admire your latest build
Offline
#2 2007-12-01 8:29pm
- jaddison
- Museum Newbie
- Registered: 2007-07-21
- Posts: 8
- Bikes: 2
- Feedback: 000
Re: 1973 Harrigan Special
Thanks for posting this gem. I wish my Schwinn Sting Ray looked like that back in the day. I would like to take that on the track today. LOL
Offline
#3 2008-03-18 6:41pm
- OLDSCHOOL ATL
- Pro Member

- Registered: 2006-11-16
- Posts: 2617
- Bikes: 78
- For Sale
- Feedback: 5800
Re: 1973 Harrigan Special
wow what a stunna.....I really like this bike. It just screams old school.....could you go into what all they did around the BB...
____HIGH til I DiE ____
Offline
#4 2008-04-09 7:42pm
- reilley1
- Member
- From: G
- Registered: 2006-07-08
- Posts: 49
- Bikes: 21
- Feedback: 000
Re: 1973 Harrigan Special
The bike won best of 70s at the recent Gonzo's BBQ. ![]()

BMX bikes were meant to be ridden, even if that riding is only in your mind as you admire your latest build
Offline
#5 2009-03-05 6:56pm
- trktwo
- Nature boy

- From: Biloxi, MS
- Registered: 2008-05-24
- Posts: 2540
- Bikes: 4
- Feedback: 33100
Re: 1973 Harrigan Special
so cool had a schwinn like this in the late 70s. just stock, but it was cool!
Offline
#6 2009-09-10 11:07am
- trktwo
- Nature boy

- From: Biloxi, MS
- Registered: 2008-05-24
- Posts: 2540
- Bikes: 4
- Feedback: 33100
Re: 1973 Harrigan Special
i'm curious, what was the stock crank length, and what did it change to?
Offline
#7 2010-04-03 8:12am
- plymouthfan
- Expert

- From: Philadelphia, PA
- Registered: 2008-10-17
- Posts: 769
- Bikes: 4
- Feedback: 1300
Re: 1973 Harrigan Special
Dude, without a doubt, you have some of the COOLEST early BMX bikes around! I can't stop going through your bikes!
Offline
#8 2010-10-04 10:16am
- ReddyZ06
- Expert
- From: Chandler, AZ via Columbus, OH
- Registered: 2009-05-14
- Posts: 979
- Bikes: 4
- Feedback: 000
Re: 1973 Harrigan Special
Extremely cool 9and very important) part of history. Great to see.
Mike
Offline
#9 2010-11-21 1:30pm
- oakland66
- Member
- From: Saratoga Springs, NY
- Registered: 2007-12-31
- Posts: 82
- Feedback: 4000
Re: 1973 Harrigan Special
I too grew up Oakland and my first BMX resembled this one. I remember my dad taking me to Berkeley Schwinn and buying me the knobby tires, handlebars, grips and a new seat to put on my 1971 green stingray. We pulled off the fenders,bars,and seat and swapped out the parts. I think I was about 7 and it was probobly 1973. Got a real BMX the following year.
Offline
#10 2010-11-21 1:31pm
- oakland66
- Member
- From: Saratoga Springs, NY
- Registered: 2007-12-31
- Posts: 82
- Feedback: 4000
Re: 1973 Harrigan Special
Oh yeah and thanks for taking me back! Your bike is Very , Very Sweeeeet!!!
Offline
#11 2011-07-10 3:21am
- g-flash
- Intermediate
- Registered: 2007-04-22
- Posts: 498
- Bikes: 9
- Feedback: 000
Re: 1973 Harrigan Special
SHOWOFF!![]()
Free your mind and your ass will follow!
Offline
#12 2012-08-08 10:35am
- I cant drive 55
- Pro Member

- Registered: 2008-09-06
- Posts: 509
- Bikes: 7
- For Sale
- Feedback: 100
Re: 1973 Harrigan Special
I love the chop job for the longer cranks.
Awesome. Just faved it.
"Life is far to important to be taken seriously"
Offline