cruiser revolution

Here’s one for the “what goes around, comes around” file.

Bash guards.

They enjoyed a brief moment in the sun back in the day when Bully frames came with them welded on and when GTs offered them as an add-on accessory…because they believed “bolt on [was] better.”

Heck, even Wade Nelson did a bit on them in Snakebite yesterday. Here’s an excerpt:

At the end of the 1980s, the BMX market had crashed, and was perhaps looking for the next gimmicky thing to sell more stuff. Suddenly it was of paramount importance that we have bashguards on our bikes.

And in an era before micro-gearing:

[O]ur giant sprockets…needed protection.

But about as abruptly as this “innovation” swept into the BMX marketplace, it was quickly ushered out.

Bashguards were already  a footnote before the giant sprockets they were designed to protect were replaced by micro-gears.

Now it looks like a company is trying to bring them back.

BMX Grind claims,

BMX has seen attempts at this in the past, but nothing designed specifically for modern day grinds and whips, and nothing that lets you grind like this!

Hmm…really?

To their credit, BMX Grind has put out a video to promote their product.

Not sure how game-changing those grinds are….

It probably does protect your sprocket…But how many riders are going to going to be willing to bolt on 1.3 pound guard to do it?  Sure, back in the day a heavy bike was a badge of honor, but today? Forget about it.

Then again, maybe I’m judging it too harshly.

Is the bashguard ready for a comeback? Let me know what you think.

(*I know this isn’t a cruiser topic per se, but as a “BMX Enthusiast” it’s something I still feel worth discussing.)