AlansBMX 80s History - Robinson BMX

Alan goes through his history with Robinson BMX and takes you through how it all began in the 80's, the shop, the team riders and going to the US of A. This is a pretty heavy talk from the man himself with a lot of 80's info and nostalgia.
If you enjoy this video please comment below, we would love to delve more into the history of BMX in the 80's and get some guests to join Alan.
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[@Soundmine]

This is a great video. I always hoped that Uncle Chuck would make a bike for me (I'm a Robinson), but he convinced my dad that a Mongoose would be better for me. My classmates never believed that my uncle ran the business with me not riding one...he supported my band when I did that (he always supported the independent spirit). I was always proud of my uncle. It was sad how many factors came together pretty much simultaneously at the end. It's nice to see that there is still some material online.

[@benclark2026]

Got my Robinson on Christmas morning 1980...i can remember that thing shining by the tree

[@bayareakat66]

I had one of these Robinson's with the stamped red white & blue R on the frame. The later models didn't have that. They just had stickers on them. Back in the 80's we(my family) had to downsize from a house into an apartment. I used to keep my Robinson inside our apartment. My dad eventually got tired of it being in the way so I ended up having to lock it up on the balcony stairwell just outside our front door. It didn't last a month out there until someone stole it. I'm 50 now & have never got over losing my Robinson. I vaguely remember writing a letter to Jesus during Christmas time(I'm pretty sure it was just my mom wanting to know what I wanted for Christmas lol) but I still wrote that letter asking for my Robinson back. I sometimes browse eBay looking for this specific year. I came across one I think I'm in the UK or something & dude wanted a crazy amount for it. I would buy it if my pockets were deep but nevertheless I can window shop in amazement over these badasses. In my opinion I think this BMX was the best bike ever made. I even had an SE Quad Angle(not a remanufactured copy either)a real 80's one, BUT the Robinson still had something more alluring about it. It's like a tractor beam that pulls you in! Looking at it in its full glory is just so hypnotic! As a kid I remember seeing "Team Robinson" being announced during the movie "Rad"(80's American BMX movie) & I just lost my shit lol! If you were a kid in the 80's then you know exactly what I'm talking about! I later got a GT Mach One that I held onto for several years...but guess what??? Darn thieves got me again. We'll, here I am at 50 years old searching out Robinson BMX's & what do I see??? The holy grail of bikes! The jewel of my eye! Yup...that vintage stamped "R" Robinson that haunts me to this day(because I still mourn the loss of mine.) Thank goodness for people who are willing to share their stories & if they are blessed to have one of these bad boys...thanks for letting us BMX enthusiasts and Robinson lovers worldwide gaze upon them in awe! Cheers from Cali!

[@joebrown8410]

Yeah I have a 1980s looks authentically very nice I recently put stainless steel spokes on it. I don't know how to send a picture of it but I would.

[@matthewbirtles6846]

love to seethe old school bikes awesome days them 80'S ..thankyou

[@maelstrom200018]

My first name brand bike in 1986 was a Robinson.I remember at the time I lived in San Jose,CA. which is a very trendy place and still is and being the only one out of all the kids in the neighborhood with a Robinson.They almost all rode bright various colored GT Performers.At first I was the odd man out and then in time they began to respect my bike as being a very cool rarity.I ended up making more friends and it stood out as a great conversation piece!

[@Vitusvonatzinger]

Why early Robinsons are different is so hard to pin down, but they are. They have this strange magical quality.

[@maelstrom200018]

Really enjoyed the history portion thank you!

[@snakeriverscotto]

I loved my Robinson! Murdered with it in Idaho and Washington with it in the early 90’s, great time to be racing.

[@_pitaph_6392]

They say have no regrets, but one thing I do regret is giving up BMX to play football. I miss my Schwinn Predator and my Robinson's I rode when I raced. Given my last name is Robinson, I naturally gravitated towards Robinson. When I was little it made me feel like it was my own personal built bike.

[@warriorsw6534]

Loved my robinson i got from your old hindley shop in '82 felt like part of my body when racing, Thanks Alan and your dad Arthur .

[@Mr12161969]

Great video! Thanks for all the info! 😎👍🏻👍🏻

[@kevinstringer4276]

My old man bought me a Robinsons pro in about 88-89 chrome loop tail bike. I used to love racing it. It’s such a shame that the sport died out.

[@LOVES-A1911]

Got a 1985 ROBINSON frame and fork set for my 16th birthday in 1985, I still have it, the bars, pad set, and the DK stem, when the money permits I plan to build it back up with era correct parts the way I had it back in the day.

[@tmbmx]

I saw a 1998 Robinson today on Facebook market place $300 but it's not all original miss matched parts.

[@GeeBeeFlix]

I Have a Robinson circa 1980. I bought the frame and forks for whatever I could scrape up from mowing lawns etc.The other parts I bought as I could, and as I remember I have a 45-19 gear which served me well. Under 20 pounds I never raced it. . But I did beat a team on the track one day and one of them said “dude, we are pro-am”. The living I did on the bike was every day. Shoulda, coulda…

[@stripedtomatotube]

Awesome to watch Alan, I raced a Robinson Pro (81 model I think, might've been 82) I got through Henry & Mel Gilmour - loved that bike, rode it everywhere for years. Keeping an eye out for one to own again these days down in Australia

[@richardedwards8746]

Brilliant thanks

[@stephenbedford838]

Alan, I raced all brands through the 80's Torker 280x which came from your shop. I finished on a Candy blue Hutch Tim Judge signature bike. In 2001 I started racing again and to fund a new race bike I sold you my Hutch. Do you still have it? I would love to see a picture if you do. Thx

[@iamyourfuture808]

Great that you haven’t lost the Wigan accent unlike Tom who once spent 10 days in California and now sounds like Bob Haro

[@hushmoney2058]

I Had a 82 loved it Man that 84 and the Hutch look very Similar ....

[@darinfisher989]

I just bought one of Scott Clark's 80s race bikes (Robinson Racing) very dirty I haven't cleaned it up yet... To bad it won't let me post pics of it

[@PatrickMichael2002]

I still have my 1980 Robinson Pro - 100% as it was when I raced it last.

[@markbooth6745]

That was very interesting Alan , thanks.👍

[@Rick_Todd]

Very interesting , Thank's Alan , All the best from Rick in Radcliffe

[@tchrist1632]

Nice .

[@ufcguruofficial714]

I have my 79 Robinson, circle gusset.

[@joesimone3635]

I had an I think 81 E-racer Robinson reject frame.

[@staffh3815]

I started in 81 on a huffy pro thunder mild steel shit snapped the forks at chorley whoops went back to Oliver summers and huffy sent me some mcs cro mo forks l upgraded to a Robinson pro broke at the brake mount then got a PK ripper it was boss ,swapped it for a haro freestyler unridable bag of shit too short swapped it for an aero burner ,tange made cool bike good times

[@Treestouch]

Can I send you a photo of a Robinson bike that I have to see if you can confirm its authenticity thank you, Kyle

[@doctorwalex]

Legend

[@jamesdarr6714]

Do you know much about mid-school robinson bikes? i bought one- serial is under the crank and has 94 in it, nothing on the drop outs or forks-

[@626323909]

mines a 96 no stamps most likely it is a robinson

[@3rdWorldNola]

Robinson in all chrome was always bad ass looking. Rebel or sst. Remember Auburn with the detachable rear triangle 📐?😅

[@williamknutson6163]

Had one... Just like that.

[@jpaulsen02]

You alluded to the forks bending but never returned to that point, can you explain more?

[@jacobjames1171]

Beautiful bikes. Would have like to see the bike details up close rather only hearing about them from a far camera shot.

[@brixico1404]

I traded my Patterson frame and fork with Shawn Texas for his Schwinn Sting frame and fork. I had to have the Schwinn sting frame and fork because Mike Poulson was my favorite rider. I did like the Schwinn Sting better.

[@fartpop4094]

You know that BMX racing started in the '70s right with banana seat bikes and then companies like DG came into play and se early stuff

[@mike300406]

I will take that black Sunday there