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1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
#1 2017-05-17 4:51pm
- chromey
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1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
1990 Wilkerson Airlines "Riot"
EDIT — SOLD
—An nice early example of this iconic (crazy) frame design by my life-long BMX hero, Ron Wilkerson.I've wanted one since 1989 when Wilkerson announced he was starting his own bike company. 27 years later... here we go. —
* Frame: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines "Riot" — NOS, with 25+ years of shelf wear and chipped paint.
* Fork: Wilkerson Airlines
* Bashguard: Wilkerson Airlines
* Wheels: Suzue (sealed) Araya (chrome) 48's (WAL spec — NOS hub & rim decals)
* Stem: BULLY — NOS
* Bars: Redline Forklifter Freestyle - I've had these for ever.
* Grips: JIVE Handles — NOS
* Calipers: ACS 860s with Micro-adjusters from Diacompe Nippon (f), and Ody Pitbull (r)
* Levers: Diacompe Tech-7
* Detangler: Odyssey Gyro (Gen 1)
* Cables: Odyssey
* Headset: GT Epoch
* Seat: Kashimax RS (35 hole) Haro/Fusion — 1990
* Seatpost: Schwinn Fluted
* Seat Clamp: Peregrine
* Cranks & BB: 1989-90 Haro/Fusion Alloy, 175mm
* Sprocket: 1990 Team Disc - from Haro Bashguard Master
* Chain: YBN White/Chrome
* Pedals: Shimano DX - Gold survivors (r.i.p. Mirra)
* Tires: Primo V-Monsters
* Pegs: Fusion
Waiting for your brother Wesley? No, you blimp — I'm meditating...
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#2 2017-05-17 5:07pm
- chromey
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
Some more pics of the build in progress.
NOS WAL Decals helped the wheels. Original spec. Chrome Araya 48s, with the Sealed Suzue (Super Pro) hubs — just without the typical WAL twisted spokes. i like my spokes straight.
Thinking about parts.
Thanks to Darthbatman for helping me source the perfectly weathered gold DX's and some of the other parts to help me finally build this thing the way i wanted. 
A 2-Hip Society sticker showing the whole crew. i got this sticker in the mail from 2-Hip back in 1988-89 with my 2-Hip Society membership and little Photocopy zines Ron used to put out. this sticker has been floating around on random thinks like guitars, bikes and phones (yes, the kind with the coily cable that plug into the wall) since the late 80s. I'm happy it somehow survived to end up on these bars.
Minor Threat and Quicksand stickers. 2 of my favorite bands back then — and still today.
The Quicksand sticker is old... from the early 90s - another one of those weird surviving artifacts from my life that made its way through the decades on guitars, and a lot of furniture..... This one needed a little help sticking... but I think it's perfectly inspiring to see on these bars while riding this beast.
Last edited by chromey (2017-05-17 5:19pm)
Waiting for your brother Wesley? No, you blimp — I'm meditating...
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#3 2017-05-17 7:06pm
- Raven
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
very nice mate ,,,very nice indeed ........
This Post is .........."CHUCK NORRIS APPROVED" [img]https://i.postimg.cc/137YCFr9/sticker_220x200_pad_220x200_ffffff_u6.jpg[/img] "The Quintessential 80,s Action man"
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#4 2017-05-17 7:45pm
- antg
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
That's a sweet rig dude!
It's all about the ol’ school mid school ain't it?
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#5 2017-05-18 7:13am
- jimmy65
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
NICE
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#6 2017-05-18 7:36am
- flatland1974
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
KILLER ride Matt..parts and colors are RIGHT!..And so cool that it's rider built..and not collected just cause it's rarity!
Taking NOS to POS since 1984!!!
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#7 2017-05-18 8:07am
- chromey
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
Thanks dudes! I'm psyched... I haven't been able to build a bike in a long time. This one has been in the works for years.
Waiting for your brother Wesley? No, you blimp — I'm meditating...
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#8 2017-05-18 9:11am
- CKTA
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
Awesome!
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#9 2017-05-18 9:44am
- RadicalNick
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
That's a nice bike! 
44t BMX Club - NC Chapter
"Two hundred years of American technology has unwittingly created a massive cement playground of unlimited potential. But it was the the minds of 11 year olds that could see that potential."
Craig Stecyk - Skateboarder Magazine - 1975
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#10 2017-05-18 12:01pm
- DarthBatman
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
IT'S POSTED! IT'S POSTED!
Bro, this came out AMAZING. nice work man. all that patience paid off and all the parts jive together so well. knocked it out of the park dude.
Jar Jar was a sith…
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#11 2017-06-05 7:32am
- chromey
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
Little one is learning to fly the Wilkerson Airlines.
Waiting for your brother Wesley? No, you blimp — I'm meditating...
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#12 2017-06-05 8:32am
- psychoduddycycles
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
Knarly!
Sometimes, to make a paradise, you gotta release a SERPENT.
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#13 2017-06-05 8:48am
- DemonGT
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
This thing is badass.
WTB: [b]1992 Yellow splatter GT Performer, 1992/1994 PFTs
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#14 2017-08-31 4:19am
- OG'89
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
Don't know how I missed this one when it was submitted -- Matt, this thing is gorgeous. What a build! Fav'd instantly. Great work as always.
43! Ahahahahahaha... 43.
WTB (long-term projects): 'Dave Cullinan' Robinson f/f, Homeless Mack SL, Raleigh Hyper Shock
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#15 2018-01-12 7:36pm
- C86k10
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
Awesome as always Matt
(I am not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged items after they ship)
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#16 2018-01-20 4:52pm
- OG'89
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
also... since I've been back to BMX, a WAL has been on my bucket list, but I've never seen one in the flesh. What in your opinion makes the frame design so crazy? Geo? Weight? I thought it was based on the Haro Sport?
43! Ahahahahahaha... 43.
WTB (long-term projects): 'Dave Cullinan' Robinson f/f, Homeless Mack SL, Raleigh Hyper Shock
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#17 2018-01-22 10:18am
- chromey
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
I say "crazy" because of the look of it! I mean, LOOK at it. It's nuts. The huge top tube that bends mid way and pierces thru the seat mast. The ridiculous long fork legs going WAY past the dropouts. The hard straight angles rather than curved bends on everything (top tube platform / seat-and-chain stays)... The over all length of it. The removable, but pretty hefty-constructed bashguard. Etc... For the time especially, it was pretty nuts / unique looking.
As far as comparisons to a Haro Sport. This thing feels way different to me. I've ridden a LOT of Haro Sports.... This bike has a completely different way of handling. Maybe not on Vert (I don't ride Vert anymore) But even just cruising, you can tell it's different. The top tube is lower than a sport, the rear end feels much longer. The angles of the bike just feel very different. This bike rides much more like my Kuwahara Bravo Pro... That bike was also long and low. But this one is a tad heavier - due to the Bashguard, and the beefy tubing/dropouts.
Hope that makes sense.
Last edited by chromey (2018-01-22 10:20am)
Waiting for your brother Wesley? No, you blimp — I'm meditating...
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#18 2018-01-22 10:44am
- OG'89
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
Oh yeah -- as far as how it looks -- I completely agree. It's nutso. But in the best possible, punk rock, Ron Wilkerson kinda way. Loved the look of this bike in '90. Love it now. And as for the way it feels, your comparison makes perfect sense. I've never heard it explained as well. Thanks for the info, Matt!
Now I just gotta track one down...
43! Ahahahahahaha... 43.
WTB (long-term projects): 'Dave Cullinan' Robinson f/f, Homeless Mack SL, Raleigh Hyper Shock
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#19 2018-04-12 5:40pm
- PBR_Streetgang
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
just seeing this now, looks awesome man! i have 2 comments:
1. look at how long the rear end is! hahaha jesus!
2. i can't believe you did decades on a nearly 30 year old bully stem! those things were unsafe brand new! (loved the bully bars though, only part of my bully that lasted more than a few months
"The bee likes the warmth!"
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#20 2021-08-23 4:36am
Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
Looks new! Reminds me of when I opened the box of '90 Riot. I'm restoring it now along with the original WAL wheels (tried to link the 'before' pic in attic but not allowed). Shout to my Mom who kept it, refusing to toss it out! The parts are at the chrome shop now. I'm stripping black paint in favor of chrome. Also looking for the identical NOS frame and wheel decals-- anyone have idea where I can find them?
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#21 2021-12-25 7:39pm
- Dirty Habits
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Re: 1990 Wilkerson Airlines Riot
[img]https://i.postimg.cc/RZ69SVym/RAD-FREESTYLIN.gif[/img]
I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness............-Emo Philips
Supply + Demand + Timing = $$$$$$ 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
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