Haro Bikes

Haro Bikes Corporation, as it is now known, is an American BMX and Mountain bicycle manufacturer.

The company was founded in 1978 by Bob Haro. Haro started out producing numberplates for BMX bikes in his Home. Demand for these stylish plates quickly outgrew his one-man capacity. Haro Designs, the first name of the company, was formed in 1980 with headquarters in Torrance, California.

While the company was growing, Haro was also growing the sport of freestyle BMX. He travelled around the country performing demos of radical trick riding that had not been seen anywhere before. As a result, Haro earned the title "The Father of Freestyle". During the early eighties, the company grew rapidly by expanding its product line and establishing national and international distribution. The BMX boom was in full swing and the company built a reputation for developing innovative, top-of-the-line BMX and freestyle bikes and accessories. Haro Bikes' most popular BMX/Freestyle models were the Master and the Sport.

Haro introduced its first successful line of Freestyle BMX bikes in 1983. The Haro Sport and Master were the company's flagship bikes that sparked a revolution in bicycle design and imitation across the industry by other companies. In that year, its revenue greatly took off and it ignited a huge cult following. In 1984, the company added the FST to its product line-up for consumers with lower budgets. As a result of Haro's huge success, companies like Hutch, Diamond Back, GT, Schwinn, Redline, Dyno, CW and Skyway modeled their own frame versions after Haro's designs. During the 80s, GT became Haro's strongest competitor. However, because of Haro's huge profits from the Sport, GT's sales dwindled in comparison.

Haro possessed the best Freestyle team, dominating the 80s, 90s and 2000s. It won the most first places and top honors more than any other bike team. It contracted the most popular Freestylers in the history of the sport: Mike Dominguez, Donovan Ritter, Marc McGlynn, Bryan Blyther, Dave Nourie, Mat Hoffman, Dennis Mccoy, Ron Wilkerson, Joe Johnson, Ryan Nyquist, Dave Mirra, Rick Moliterno, Bob Morales, Eddie Fiola, Rich Sigur, and R.L. Osborn, not to mention other significant riders.

The first Haro bikes were manufactured by Torker. In 1982, when Haro introduced his own line of racing bikes, his sponsorship by Torker and Max was terminated.

Although injuries forced Haro to relinquish his riding duties, Haro Bikes subsequently compiled a virtual "who's who" list of talented riders including Bob Morales, Mike Dominguez, Dennis McCoy, Ron Wilkerson, Matt Hoffman, Eddie Fiola, Donovan Ritter, Marc McGlynn, Brian Blyther, Dave Nourie, Mike King, Pete Loncarevich ,Tony"The Tiger"Murray and many more. These riders won nearly every title there was in both BMX and freestyle. Media attention quickly put Haro Bikes in the spotlight as an industry leader with a bicycle line focused on the high end "Master" and more moderate "Sport". In 1986, Haro's design of the "Master" was at its climax with what is typically regarded as its most beautiful form with uniquely designed Haro Group 1 components, paint over chrome frame and forks, and uniquely designed flip-up pegs. The 1986 "Master" in team issue neon green with all original components has become highly collectible. In 1987, The "Master" was made over to reduce the cost of the 1986 model.

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