BMXMUSEUM.com Forums

1988 Haro Master

My first real freestyle f&f from BITD. Final rebuild completed in december 2006. Original paint and decals. Built by Timo "2Fresh" in Helsinki, Finland.

Ahh.. the '88 Master!
My first real freestyle bike after pedaling around about year on a chrome plated Italian made 20" Carraro BMX a-racing-bike-transformed-into-a-freestyler. I still remember the feeling when i got the Master.. beyond words.
In the original set up there used to be a day-glo pink Dyno Drainpipe seatpost that got stuck in the frame once. A silvery-blue padded Kashimax Aero seat i found from local bike shop. There also used to be late 80's black/silver GT freestyle stem with Pearl-white/chrome haro 2pc FS bars with gray A'me Tri's and Tech-7's (DC "Aerial" levers). I got a white Pitbull brake for it because i had no idea how to set up an u-brake, yes true. There was 36-spoke alloy rims and GT Epoch headset. You know i was so clueless on what parts i should have got for this bike back then as it was my first bike i had ever put together starting from frame and fork but it worked and more importantly it felt so professional that it was beyond words. I remember feeling like i could do anything with this bike and so i did. Some of the first tricks i learned were front wheel hops on the flip up fork stands and a peg wheelie. I was so proud riding my Haro Master. The 43T Haro sprocket is all orignal from those days aswell as the 180mm Sugino cranks. I can't rememebr why exactly i wanted such lengthy cranks but they worked allright. There used to be white/chrome Haro 2pc bars, which i still have, but for the looks i put on the black/black ones.
Believe it or not, i used to ride vert ramp on this bike and even catching some 2-3 feet of air. Also learned how to get on top of the ramp and how to do a lookback etc. but my vert career never reallt took of before i was completely hooked on flatland. I learned my very first whiplashes on this bike  around '89 or 90 at local indoor skate park during winter. That if anything was like magic and i can still remember the feeling! At that time i just had upgraded the bike with white Tioga Roll-on pegs and they felt so professional compared to stumpy GT Steel tube rides.
Classic bike with lots of personal history behind it. The bike's gone thru many parts changes recently on my way searching for the looks i like. I am still not completely happy with the wheels though and hoping to replace them one day with either chrome or black rims.


Parts & specs:
* Frame: 1988 Haro Master Freestyler

* Construction: 100% Chromoly

* Serial#: H88050233
* Fork: Haro 1" threaded w/original Haro flip-up forkstanders & reproduction fork decals
* Headset: YST beartrap caged bearings
* Stem: Haro/Fusion, off a 1990 Haro Sport, i refuse to pay ridiculous price for a stem that says "Haro"

* Gyro: 1" Odyssey original

* Gyro cables: Odyssey top & bottom, i soooo need to shorten the upper cable...

* Handlebars: Haro 2pc Freestyle off a 88½ Haro Sport

* Grips: Jive Handles w/GT-A'me bar ends
* Levers: Dia Compe Tech-77 w/locking buttons
* Brakes/pads, front: Dia Compe 883 Bulldog caliper brake w/Skyway FS Tuff pads and Dia Compe cable
* Brakes/pads, rear: Dia Compe 994 U-brake w/ Suntour straddle cable & Dia Compe pulley, KoolStop pads
* Bottom Bracket: Tioga BB220SB Sealed Bearing 24T

* Cranks: Sugino 1pc. 180mm cro-mo
* Pedals: MKS Grafight-X 1/2"
* Sprocket: Haro "Compact Disc" 43T
* Chain: KMC black/chrome "two-tone"
* Freewheel: Dicta 16T
* Seat: Velo
* Seatpost: Haro fluted, straight 22.2mm
* Seatpost clamp: Suntour
* Wheels: Peregrine HP 48s silver rims w/Sovos sealed bearing hubs

* Tires: Tioga Comp St black/skinwall 20x1.75 the originals i had on this bike 20 years ago!

* Pegs: Tioga Roll-On 26T

* Tubes: Kenda

Fresh updates:
* Put on my original set of Tioga Comp St tires from when i purchased the frame & fork.


Previous updates:
* Switched from A'me Tri's to NOS Jive handles.
* Replaced the black ACS Z-mags to Peregrine/Ukai HP48-spoked rims with black nipples.
* Added new set of handlebar & fork decals cause the old ones were long gone.
* Swithced from the two-tone (chrome/blue) kneesavers to regular 2pc Haro Freestyle bars for cleaner looks and right color.
* Changed the white Haro tires to black ones (later changed to semi-slick Kendas).
* Repaired the welds on the original chrome Haro forks and got rid of black Sport forks.

Last edited by 2Fresh (2008-01-07 2:26am)