Table of Contents
Hanebrink
Dan Hanebrink started making rear suspension mountain bikes by Big Bear Lake, CA. in 1983, joining forces with Brian Skinner and founding Mountain Cross Racing. A year later Dan struck out on his own, giving his own name to his own many designs which were first produced by SE Racing in nearby Long Beach, CA. Many of Hanebrinks bikes are dual branded with SE Racing and later Hutch BMX. As long as Dan's names are on them, they will be included in this timeline.
Dan was a racer and inventor, earning six national championship age group titles. In the late 1970's, Dan started modifying BMX bikes for GPV (gravity-powered vehicle) races, reaching speeds in excess of 85mph. He also produced many innovative motorcycles and worked as an engineer for Subaru, Yakima and Disneyland.
He was a mad scientist.
He welcomed me into his world.
He never stopped dreaming.
He never stopped innovating.
He never stopped creating.
He never stopped riding.
He Had A Good Ride.
And… I was just lucky enough… To ride along with him.
– Dean Bradley, 1st editor of Mountain Bike Action. As quoted in the 2019 Dan Hanebrink Obituary, by Richard Cunningham.
Resources:
Dan Hanebrink, E/T with skis. ca. 1995.
mbaction
Is this a MTB? Fat tire(s)? Check. Gears? Check. Flat bars? Check. Built to go off road? Check. Decent brakes? Not sure about those.
Dan Hanebrink, ca. 1986
pinkbike
1984 Hanebrink
Very similar to the 1984 MCR Descender, designed Brian Skinner and Dan Hanebrink. Shimano XT derailleurs & hubs. Dia-Compe cantilevers front and rear. Swing arm rear suspension 1) with side-arm shock with adjustable damping, 6“ rear travel, bullmoose bars, 24” rear, 26“ front (early mullet), TIG welded cro-moly frame.
1984 Hanebrink
mombat
1985 Mountain Shocker
Shimano XT derailleurs & hubs. Dia-Compe cantilevers front and rear.
Squared tubing aluminum frame and swing arm, slingshot SR stem, cantilevers front, SunTour rollercams rear, should have a “Hanebrink” logo on the rear swing arm. 24” rear, 26“ front, Shimano XT M700 v2 derailleurs (1985), double chainrings. Rear air shocks with a quick release at the top to control damping.
$795 as per Cyclist Magazine . 30 pounds
1985 Mountain Shocker
bmxmuseum
1986 SE Shocker
Squared aluminum frame and swing arms, SunTour XC (1984-85) derailleurs, triple front chainrings.
1986 SE Shocker
retrobike
1987 SE Shocker
Squared aluminum frame and swing arms, SunTour XC (1984-85) derailleurs, triple front chainrings, Shimano Deore XT MC70 front brakes (1983-86), SunTour rollercam rear.
1987 SE Shocker
mombat
1988 HPV Superbike
Dan Hanebrink turned to Hutch BMX for this special effort, for a bit of overlapping timeline for this specific bike. Dan worked for Hutch in the late 80's.
Downhill BMX? Motor pacing? Gravity bike? 2) Pedals out at over 60mph. $299 or $399 with fairing. SunTour alpha-2000 (1988-89.) Wheel disk covers. Flat handlebars. Mount points for optional fairing. Advertised as having 12 speeds with a front derailleur (not seen in any pics.)
12-24 gearing on rear - and 52 and/or 64 up front. 20” wheels.
30 pound weight with faring.
Hi-Caliber BMX side pull brakes will not work well when pedaling over 50mph.
HPV := Human Powered Vehicle.
Does this belong in the MTB timeline? This won't be pedalled up many hills - but MTBs were invented at first solely to go downhill on Repack, after a truck ride to the top… Downhill only bikes would make a comeback in the late 1990s.
HPV fully faired.
1988 HPV Superbike
bmxmuseum
1989 HPV Superbike
Hutch continued to sell remaining Superbikes with and without fairing.
Shimano Ultegra rear road derailleur (this derailleur is found on most 1989 HPVs,) Odyssey BMX brakes, Shimano XT rear thumb shifter on left side (this occurs on other HPVs as well.)
There's one one sale (as of 3/31/2025) for $15,000 at the Budget Bicycle Center. Less than $1000 is more common.
1989 HPV Superbike
thecabe
1991 Extreme Terrain
A perfect Burning Man cruiser, designed to be ridden in snow, sand or wet playa. Or, to be ridden to the South Pole.
Shimano Deore LX derailleurs (1991) with both front and rear derailleurs, front suspension for with 2.5“ of travel, aluminum frame, 10” wide lightened ATV tires, Hope disk brakes, single bar end on chainstay doubling as a derailleur protector, weighed 40 pounds.
Helen Skelton, South Pole, Jan 22, 2012.
bikingbis
Hanebrink constructed with no plastic parts. 40 pounds, dragging a 180 sled. Most of the trip was performed by kite skiiing and a support truck.
Helen became the first (and only?) person to ride a bike all the way to the South Pole.
1991 Extreme Terrain
bikepacking
1993 Extreme Terrain
Appears to have nearly identical spec to the original 1991 version. 8“ wheels with 8” tires. 6061-T6 Al frame. 3×7 gearing. 2.5“ front travel. 38 pounds.
1993 Extreme Terrain
mombat
1994 SE Racing Shock II
SE Racing and Mike Devitt refined Hanebrink's Shocker I and independently produced the Shocker II. MR. Dirt PBF front forks with 4” travel. Fox ALPS 4 rear shock. Sachs derailleurs, hubs and shifters.
This is not part of the Hanebrink timeline - but an interesting branch.
1994 SE Racing Shock II
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