1980 Vista GTX77 
#1 2008-12-12 12:18pm
- ericbaker
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1980 Vista GTX77
1980 Vista GTX77
Good looking 'goose knock off.
Grabbed this one off of CL because it had a Mongoose vinyl Snap Pad i liked. Made by Columbia Bikes I believe. Sure looks nice all cleaned up nice. And there's not one in the museum yet either so I thought I'd post it.
The rear rim was in rough shape and front hub cracked, so I rebuilt the front rim onto the rear Shimano coaster hub with the stock FAT spokes and replaced the front wheel. I also reupholstered the waffle seat with the cover off of a 70's cruiser springy seat because the original was ripped.
Need: rear bullseye blue flanges w/silver barrel, single lavender compe ST, single 24" blackwall rainbow label Compe III
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#2 2008-12-12 8:34pm
- ALAKRAN
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Re: 1980 Vista GTX77
cool thanks for sharing glad you took the time to give it some love.
looking for mcs magnum force helmet and race pants
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#3 2009-05-01 6:23am
- bonce798
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Re: 1980 Vista GTX77
I used to own a GTX99 in Red.
Can't find a spec of information on that old rig. It also had the goose knock off frame. My Dad bought it for me in 1980...
The future is not what is used to be.
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#4 2009-06-10 12:31am
- ericbaker
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Re: 1980 Vista GTX77
Yah I couldn't find a mention of this thing anywhere on the vast interweb. Fun little bike though, kinda wish I didn't sell it.
Need: rear bullseye blue flanges w/silver barrel, single lavender compe ST, single 24" blackwall rainbow label Compe III
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#5 2009-09-23 5:15am
- jordanw97
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Re: 1980 Vista GTX77
That is a super cool bike!! Vista seems to be very rare. I owned one when I was a kid. It was a vista banana bike. They came in green and yellow. Mine was yellow and looked somewhat like a schwinn lemon crate. It was a 5 speed with a 16" fornt wheel. I can't find any info on it. If you know where I can find something on it please let me know.
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#6 2010-03-23 12:00pm
- bonce798
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Re: 1980 Vista GTX77
Where are the rest of these bikes? I can't find anything on my old GTX 99...
The future is not what is used to be.
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#7 2010-05-21 6:36pm
- 20vtguy
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Re: 1980 Vista GTX77
I also owned a GTX99 in black. It had just a coaster brake and no caliper brakes. It was a pretty standard BMX frame made of regular steel, not chromalloy so it was a bit heavy. But it never broke and got me where I needed. To make mine look a bit cooler I added crash pads to the top tube and handlebar crossbrace, a number plate and as I recall better pedals but that was about it. It had just a coaster brake and no caliper brakes. I got it around 1981 when I was 11.
Been trying to recall the company who made the bike I can't remember. I do believe it was a very inexpensive noname brand. I think my parents paid between $100 and $125 at the time from a local bike shop near us. As I recall I was the only one at my school with the brand and never saw the brand even mentioned anywhere at the time. Everyone at my school with a BMX bike had Huffys or better brands like Mongooses, Schwinns, Diamondbacks, GT's and such. My parents couldn't afford those brands but back then I always dreamed of having a GT Pro Performer.
I recall one time when a kid asked me what kind of bike I had I told him GTX99. He must of assumed it was part of GT's line and got so jealous. I didn't correct him and just went with it. ![]()
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#8 2010-05-21 6:58pm
- 20vtguy
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Re: 1980 Vista GTX77
Wanted to point out that I am not sure the original posters GTX77 is all correct. I suspect the seat post and the handlebars might be replacements. On my GTX99 the seat tube was a straight tube and chrome. Not sure that bent seat tube design would have been used especially if the 77 was below 99 in level of bike, though the lack of chrome might be considered more base. The handlebars on my GTX99 were chrome and had a v-shaped crossbar rather then the straight style that this one has. However it is possible that the 77 would have had the bars pictured since the flat black would be cheaper then the chrome and the straight bar would likely be on a baser bike whereas the v shaped bar might be more upscale. Just some observation but nothing to back up my statements.
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#9 2010-05-27 5:38pm
- ericbaker
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Re: 1980 Vista GTX77
Thanks vtguy, You are right about the seatpost, The stock one was in rough shape but like you said it was straight and chrome. I thought the black post looked better with the flat black bars. The bars are stock though i think, they were there when I got it at least and the rest was original, so id imagine they are.
Need: rear bullseye blue flanges w/silver barrel, single lavender compe ST, single 24" blackwall rainbow label Compe III
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#10 2010-11-15 1:05pm
- GT_Richie69
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Re: 1980 Vista GTX77
I owned a GTX99 which was a blue frame with white lettering,gold handlebars/stem,gold wheels, and I believe it had gold cranks as well. I purchased it with the insurance money my parents got from someone stealing my Huffy....lmao! I paid under $100 for the bike. Has anyone seen one that fits this color scheme? It was purchased in '80 or '81 I believe.
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#11 2010-11-15 1:07pm
- bonce798
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Re: 1980 Vista GTX77
GT_Richie69 wrote:
I owned a GTX99 which was a blue frame with white lettering,gold handlebars/stem,gold wheels, and I believe it had gold cranks as well. I purchased it with the insurance money my parents got from someone stealing my Huffy....lmao! I paid under $100 for the bike. Has anyone seen one that fits this color scheme? It was purchased in '80 or '81 I believe.
I had one in red with the white lettering...gold bars, wheels, cranks. Miss that old rig. My mom took it to the local dump in the early 90's...
The future is not what is used to be.
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#12 2011-06-28 10:25am
- Legendofjd3
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Re: 1980 Vista GTX77
Just saw an original Vista cruiser today in some dudes bike shop. It was awesome!!! I hear this dude has quite the old school collection but claims to not show it to anyone. What a bunch of crap. ![]()
Titanium!!!!
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#13 2011-12-07 11:48am
- Brix
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Re: 1980 Vista GTX77
Now I know where the "GTX" framepad on my Mongoose came from!
Before I found your bike, I had no clue and couldn't find anything online. Thanks for sharing! ![]()

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#14 2012-01-18 9:57am
- COLOCJ7
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Re: 1980 Vista GTX77
HOLY CRAP! That was my first bike! I knew right away that my parents had bought me a knockoff mongoose because both of my older brothers had the real deal. One had a 79 supergoose and the other had a 81 mongoose. you can imagine my poor little feelings were really hurt. but you cant complain at all because they just bought you a new bike. so my oldest brother helped me "clone" it to a mongoose. Ripped all the reflectors off, chainguard off, head badge off. A set of New Mongoose stickers from the LBS and a brand new Tuff Neck. I was stoked by the end of the day we had created a Mongoose. I went about 3 years at all different local trails and nobody knew. until one day some smarta@@ called me out. "what kind of bike is that? because it sure aint a Mongoose." I was so pissed and embarrassed. but by that time my oldest brother had a drivers license so I just rode his Supergoose from then on. SO GLAD YOU POSTED THIS BIKE. A flood of memories.
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#15 2012-02-18 1:42am
- poppa wheelie
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Re: 1980 Vista GTX77
![]()
Last edited by poppa wheelie (2012-02-18 5:46am)
Huffys need <3/2
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#16 2013-04-28 10:33pm
- 80's Rebel
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Re: 1980 Vista GTX77
I've got a GTX99 F&F's in my garage. They didn't even come over to the UK so god only know's how I've ended up with it!!??
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