Rick Moliterno: I rode for Haro for about six years and it was fun as hell. After freestyle sales took a dive they got all weird and started cuting us way, way, way back. At this time (1990, 1991) riding was changing, it was going towards street and skatepark style, being more abusive on the bikes (I was breaking them every three weeks). I went to Haro and offered to redesign their bikes and be a team manager to select riders that we're of that new style at the time for them. They pretty much said you can redesign our bikes but we are not going to pay you. I told them that I did not want to ride for them anymore and that I was going to start my own thing. If they would have say yes this would be Haro today. So they said no, then I got together with Krt Schmidt, and then we talked to Bill Nitschke to see if he wanted to go in on it with us. So we started Standard in november 1991. We started getting prototypes right away. Then for production I think we got them in the end of '92. Our first production run was made by a machine shop in Davenport. They couldn't make them right so we refused them all. Those bikes that were refused are what became Basic Bikes. (...)
Krt, Th' Link Magazine, june 2008: The bikes we were riding were falling apart every month. During that time biking was going through a transition that added, “street riding” to the mix. Riding “street” was all about discovery and all that innovation was a lot harder on bikes than ever before. Riders wanted to take riding in new directions but the frames and parts were limiting creativity. I’ve heard this time referred to as the “over-built” period of biking, which is not an entirely true statement. It was the single greatest time of discovery and progression ever in our sport, which in turn changed the way that bikes were made. I had made my mind up to move to California in 1990. I was planning on turning pro the following year and I felt I had to be closer to the media. I went out there in August to find a place to live and while I was gone Rick called my house and left a message that it was imperative that I called him as soon as I got back. When I called Rick back he told me that him and Bill Nitscke were thinking about teaming up to do a bike company but he wanted me to be involved. I was so blown away that Rick wanted me as a partner that I moved to Iowa a few months later.
Krt Schmidt, krtschmidt.com, may 2008: When we first started Standard I knew what we were doing was different and I wanted that reflected in the name of the bikes themselves hence the deliberate misspelling of the word “Byke”. I also liked the juxtaposition of a name like “Standard” next to a very un-standard spelling of bike. The duality of the two really said a lot about what we were trying to do in the stagnate industry of the time.
Thick chain.
Bill Nitschke left Standard Industries in december.
Rick Moliterno: Bill was a mistake, he basically wanted to get a paycheck and draw million bucks off of the company the first day.(...) Krt and I didn't really like the fact that we were busting our asses fourteen hours a day and Bill wouldn't even show up for a week. (...) After he left we officially incorporate the company into Rampage so Rampage could financially support the company. (...)
63 is the official number of Standard Bykes. It's Rick Moleterno's lucky number because he sees it appearing everywhere so he adopted it to help represent his company.
Shorty
Stronger Than All (STA) frameset.
100% 4130, toptube : 20", frame weight : 6lb5oz
Bicycle Motocross race/dirt frame.
Mark Noble, Ride BMX UK june 1994 : The Bicycle Motocross comes as a kit you get frame, forks, stem, and Aheadset. The frame, built by Waterford Precision Cycle, is rocket-high quality. The overall geometry is on the long side of the fence: 38 to 39 inch wheelbase, 20 inches of toptube, 14 to 15 inch long rear triangle. Unlike the Standard Shorty or Lengthy, tubing is not enormous - but then it doesn't need to be on a race frame such as this one; 1 1/4" OD toptube, 1 3/8" OD downtube, seatstays are 3/4", and the chainstays are unique -ovalised and tapered, they're 7/8 at the BB and 3/4 at the dropouts. The seattube is oversize at 24.4mm [fit an alloy mountainbike seatpost], and it flares at the BB shell for added weld area and strength. With the stays and seattube flaring at the BB, this means that the area is not only stiffer, but much stronger. Rear dropouts are 5mm thick, welded both sides. Cantilever mounts are available. The forks feature fat legs, but using thinner tubing than the freestyle bikes, making them lighter. The steerer tube is oversize [a regular fork steerer tube can fit inside it], and it's one thickness all the way down - again, like the frame, the race forks are built svelte to save weight. Dropouts are the same shape as the freestyle fork and welded both sides, but they're slightly thinner at 5mm. Standard have managed to shave weight off the frame and forks: the frame weighs just 4lbs 9oz, while the forks weigh 2lb 1oz, and the stem clocks in at 14 3/4oz. Thin gauge tubing is apparent all round - tubes 'ping' when you flick them. This is a high performance race bike, this is no dirt thrasher's machine - if you want a bike to jump/street on, then go for the new Standard jumping bike, which is basically the same as the Bicycle Motocross but with thicker tubing and a headset gusset. It's about time bikes started to get tricker and stuff like the Aheadset stem system is a sight for sore eyes. It's the way forward.
Bicycle Motocross threadless fork and clamp-on stem.
Industrial chain, Masterguard, Knarps, Gyro hood, Seatposts, Unbreak, Shorty and Lenghty, Bicycle Motocross, Stronger Than All, Forks, Coaster shells, Strip bars, Hand Grenades pegs, 4 inch axle pegs, Axles.
New head gusset, no platform, 19" top tube; 74.5° head tube, 13.25 chain stay.
Paul Osicka, ad in Ride BMX UK october 1996 : The Tao is a way of liberation from the abstractions of the past and the future. The Tao of Ground is a liberation from unnecessary obstructions, gimmicks, useless platforms, and elevated chainstays. Its simplicity leaves only quality to be experienced. Welcome to the truth of flatland.
Standard Trail Boss.
Robbie Morales, Ride BMX US june 1997 : The Trail Boss was basically my idea. I worked together with Rick Moliterno on it. It's basically an STA front end, super beefy, super strong, with the rear end of a Motocross with straight gauge tubing and thicker dropouts, if you want to run a peg. The whole idea was for once to specifically build a bike just for the trails. It's lighter than an STA, and a little heavier than a Motocross. It's just right for dirt jumping. It'll come with a 20" top tube and a 21" top tube, so for short people it'll fit them.
19.5" top tube; 74.5° head tube.
rideukbmx.com, august 2007 : Standard Bykes have, since the start of the company back in 1991, prided themselves on product quality and attention to detail, and flat-out making rad BMX product. But even so, they never had manufacturing in-house; but that has all changed now. Rick Moliterno, Standard's main man, has just opened up their very own workshop / factory. Here's Rick with more: We are happy to announce the future opening of Standard Byke Manufacturing Inc. This will be an expansion of Standard Byke Company. After 15 successful years as a high quality and innovative BMX company- we have decided to expand into manufacturing our own goods. In the name of customer service, supply, warranty, and product development we have decided to build everything, ourselves, in house. We are motivated to make this move to improve on some weaknesses that have developed over the past 5 years. When we set out 15 years ago to build better bikes, we planned on making the best possible product as demanded by riders that want the best. We have fulfilled this for 15 years. We plan to improve our customer service and supply by stocking the products we make. What rider or shop wants to wait 8 weeks for a frame? We plan to improve on our warranty process. We don’t think a rider should wait several weeks while their claim is "looked at". We will aggressively pursue new product development. We feel riding demands are constantly changing and our products should progress along with those needs. This is a truly exciting time for all of us here at Standard. We are excited to fine-tune our company to match the vision for the future we all share. Look for a better, stronger, and faster Standard beginning late this fall!
Jerry Bagley .... - december 1998
Brennan Brown
Sandy Carson 1995 - 1998
Mel Cody march 1994, Standard picked up Mel Cody who used to ride for HB - ....
Chad Degroot 1993 - summer 1997
Phil Dolan march 1994 Phil is now riding for Standard with KHE components.
John luc-e Englebert 1994 - pro model 2001 : the Cashius - ....
Bobby Fisher 1994 - .... pro model 1998 : Shaman
Dave Freimuth .... - summer 1997
Mark the gonz Gonzales december 1998 - ....
Chase Gouin october 1992 Chase is leaving Homeless (in good terms) for Standard. Apparently the lure of cash was too hard to resist. - spring 1993
Chris Hallman end of 1994 - ....
Tom Haugen In 1991, Standard had just begun and I was friends with the owners. They gave me everything they made at that time and that was my first sponsor.
Mark Hilson march 1994 - ....
Ron Kimler 1995 - summer 1997
Jimmy Levan 1998 - ....
Corey Martinez Just before the Roots Jam 2000, Rick Moliterno asked me if I'd like to ride for him. - ....
Trevor Meyer 1992 - 1994
Taj Mihelich 1993
Rick Moliterno
Robbie Morales summer 1993 - 1998
Ian Morris spring 1993 - ....
Lee Musselwhite may 2003 - ....
Mark Murphy 1992
Bill Nitschke and then found Indy Industries.
Paul Osicka march 1994 - ....
Kevin Porter .... - october 2002
Jesse Puente 1993
Brandon punjab Pundai 1999 - autumn 2001
Joe Rich 1993 - summer 1997
Jim Rienstra 1999
Chris Rye march 1994
Krt Schmidt 1991 - 1997 then 2001 - ....
Jeremy Verhulst
Brian Vowell november 2001 - ....
Dylan Worsley may 1994 - ....
John ratboy Wrigley
Chris Young 1994
