1990's
1993 Kona Classic Custom Kona bikes are known for their mountain bikes, but the company founders were originally cruiser enthusiasts. In 1993 Kona released this Kumukumu-Nukunuku-A-Pua'A (say it three times fast) cruiser. The traditional twin tube frame design is built with Kona project forks & stem, Sachs 3-speed internal shift rear hub, custom cut Wald steer horn bars with added crossbar and Chen Shing Redline balloon tires. Word has it that this bike was offered in 3 sizes with the one shown here being the smallest.
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1997 Skull Skates BMX Skull Skates originally got involved in BMX in the late 70's, first marketing pad sets, stickers, jerseys and racing pants under the name "GNC BMX". Soon after, the name was changed to "RSG BMX" and products included t-shirts, stickers and jerseys as well as frames, forks and v-bars manufactured by the Voris Dixon Company. In 1997 with the help of Toby's Cycle Works in Vancouver, Skull Skates produced 32 BMX framesets in 20 inch size and 20 framesets in 24 inch size. The bikes were a hybrid of old school measurements and geometry combined with new school thicker tubing and dropouts.
1999 Skull Skates 24” Designed by Skull Skates and built by Toby’s Cycle Works in 1999, this 24” cruiser was made in a limited quantity of 20 pieces total. This bike was a follow up to the 20” street frameset built one year earlier. The idea is that it’s a two/four designed for killing the street. Thick wall tubing and correct gusseting makes this a very heavy-duty cruiser indeed.
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2000's
2002 Skull Skates Custom Cruiser Based on the success of the limited BMX framesets in the 90's, Skull Skates decided to fulfill a long time dream and design / produce a small run (20 pieces to be exact) of 26 inch twin tube cruisers. With the help of a master designer, Skull combined elements of our favorite cruisers including the wheelie balance of one, the steer tube angle of another, the top tube length of a 3 rd , etc. etc. The result was a frameset that when built up has far exceeded any of our expectations. Hand built from all 4130 tubing and dropouts, it's a classic twin tube design with milled head tube and bottom bracket tube, it's TIG welded and powder coated to last.
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2004 GJS A-Frame Cruiser George, Jeff and Scott Utterback formed the GJS company and produced some highly original frames back in the day including the 20 inch GJS A -Fame and the infamous 20 inch Big Tube Frameset. In 2002 a couple BMX collectors got together and produced this 26 inch A-Frame tribute set with the blessing of Jeff Utterback. Made in very limited quantities (18 pieces) this is an early 80's bike that never happened until the new millennium. Not only the frame, but the fork too was replicated and scaled to 26 inch wheel dimensions. Built with early 80's components, this bike is a blast to ride.
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2005 Skull Skates Prototype Alloy Cruiser This bike represents Skull Skates' first prototype produced in a partnership with Norco Performance Bikes in Vancouver. The basic geometry and measurements were taken from the o.g. custom Chromoly frameset and reworked into an aluminum frame with classic canti levered styling. Version 1.0 was a single speed with coaster brake equipped with alloy wheel set, Chen Shing balloon tires, the first ever Skull Skates cruiser handlebar and an authentic English made Brooks B66 saddle. Eventually approved for production, this bike was made in a limited quantity run of only 100 pcs. total.
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2007 Skull Skates Prototype Chromoly Cruiser After the success of the aluminum Skull Skates cruiser version 1.0 and 2.0 (2.0 was similar to the original version, but with added freewheel and canti brakes), it was agreed that Skull Skates and Norco would produce another limited edition cruiser bike. The prototype shown here is and almost exact replica of the first custom hand built chromo frameset and was scratch built for testing purposes. The production bike eventually was made in black rather than plated and also the flip-flop rear hub with fixed and freewheel options was added. This bike closely replicates the performance feel of the original old school cruisers while upgrading the ride quality for street ripping. Fast, responsive and light, this ride "corners like it's on rails".
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2009 Torker 26” Replica This bike is one of just eight prototypes designed by Urban Menace bikes of British Columbia, Canada. Looking very much like the original Torker 26” that inspired it, this replica sports updated geometry with sloping top tube and threaded European style bottom bracket shell. Built with the ubiquitous Skull Skates cruiser bars and a host of new and old dialed parts, this bike is a city blaster / bomber.
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