mtb-timeline

BMX

Before Bullmoose bars, mountain bikes were spec'd with handlebars from the motorcycle, road bike and BMX parts bins. Mountain bikes needed strength and lightness. BMX gave cheapness and motorcycles the strength. Many BMX makers shifted to making MTBs with very BMX-like styles. BMX bars were usually high risers, as the bikes were tiny with 20-24“ wheels to make them light weight and nimble (and affordable.) Note that a typical 1979 Schwinn BMX bike weighed 28.5 pounds, while Ritchey's 1978 MTB #1 weighed 30 pounds ¹⁾. But Ritchey's bike, at $1400, cost 7x more than a Schwinn BMX at $197. ²⁾ Even 26” BMX bikes used the same bars, which helped with control and pumping rollers and berms. Or perhaps it's just tradition?

BMX started in the late 50's in the Netherlands and moved to the US in the 60's in pretty much the same format as it is today: kids racing small, off-road bikes across a short bumpy dirt course. Mountain biking is similar, but also needs to go up hill (wide gearing and lightness) and faster down hill (larger wheels and strength.)

Bicycle Motocross (BMX) originally started when children began imitating motocross riders on their bicycles. Old bikes were used on roped off tracks with turns and jumps which gave the pedal powered fanatics a sensation of racing motocross. The number plates on the bicycle and the trophies at the finish line made it feel real. UCI archive

“Look Mom, no gears!” wallpapercave

Vintage BMX bars snakebitbmx

BMX & MTB

BMX handlebars found on early mountain bikes.

1979 VVA with Pro Neck BMX bars. mombat

Cook Bros bars on a 1979 Champion Squareback 26.
bmxmuseum

Mert Lawill designed bar and stem on a 1978 Lawwill-Knight Pro Cruiser. mombat

1982 Schwinn King Sting 5. bmxmuseum
The big companies simply added gears onto their low-end kids' BMX bikes and declared them to be off-road ready. This late entry to the MTB party proved to be very unpopular, as it satisfies neither BMX nor MTB requirements.

1980 Bruiser facebook
Small custom builders often showed their BMX heritage when building frames with loop tails, BMX bars and forks, drum brakes and no cable braze-ons.