During the early 90's all the Old School BMX companies took a hit and many went under, or changed owners. Sometime in the early to mid 90's the Free Agent brand name was sold to KHS. KHS has done a pretty good job of maintaining the integrity of the brand and they produce a full line of BMX. Wentings Cycle & Mountain Shop Bikes FreeAgent BMX A family owned and operated business since 1978. Bicycle, speed skate and snowboard products, parts, accessories and services in historic Mission in the BC Fraser Valley. Wentings Cycle & Mountain Shop.

KHS Bicycles is a bicycle manufacturer founded in 1974 with main operations in the United States and Taiwan. Its bicycles are distributed in over 30 countries.^[1] Although KHS' main focus has been in mountain bikes, it has offerings in road bikes, folding bikes, tandem bikes, cruiser bikes (under the Manhattan brand name), single speed bikes and BMX bikes (under the FreeAgent brand name). Some of its products have been favorably reviewed.^[2][3][4]

Overview[edit]

24,086 likes 9 talking about this. Free Agent BMX Racing - freeagentbmx.com @freeagentbmx. Frame: Hi-Ten TIG Welded, Double Diamond Design. Fork: Free Agent Tapered Leg. Headset: Threadless 1-1/8″. Handlebar: Free Agent BMX, 660mm. Stem: Free Agent BMX Threadless, Alloy 4-bolt. Grips: Free Agent. Crankset: Free Agent 3-pc Hollow CrMo, 175mm, 30T Chainwheel. BB: Mid Cartridge Bearings, 8 Spline. Chain: KMC S1. Pedals: Free Agent Low Profile Nylon Platform.

KHS Bicycles, Inc. of Los Angeles, California is the designer and U.S. distributor of KHS Bicycles, Manhattan Cruisers and Free Agent BMX Bicycles. KHS stands for Knowledge, Health, and Strength. Founded in 1974 by Wen Hsieh, the KHS bicycle brand is a part of the KHS Co. Ltd., and UEC (United Engineering Cooperation) which manufactures bicycles, motorcycles and Yamaha musical instruments in wholly owned factories located in Taiwan. KHS, Inc. was founded and is located in Southern California. As of 2020 KHS makes more than 90 models of KHS bicycles, 24 models of Free Agent BMX Bicycles, and 25 models of Manhattan Cruisers to serve the needs of recreational as well as enthusiast cyclists in over 33 countries around the world. Making more than 130,000 bicycles a year, KHS Bicycles has many innovative models. Such as mountain & road bikes in XXL & XXXL models for the extra tall (6'4' and up!) cycling enthusiasts. KHS employs 120 associates in Taiwan, as well as 55 associates in the USA. KHS Inc. is also a major distributor for various Parts and Accessories manufacturers in the USA. Featuring brands like Shimano, Park Tool, Maxxis tires, Hollywood Racks, Thule, Maxima Racing Products and ODI, just to name a few.^[5]

History[edit]

KHS Co. Ltd. Was founded in 1953 as part of the KHS Group, privately held by the Hsieh Family. The initial product produced by KHS was motorcycles under Yamaha license. In 1974, the KHS bicycle division was established with technical cooperation from Sukosha of Japan. In 1987, the KHS Co. and Yamaha of Japan established a joint venture operation in order to increase production capacity and explore new markets around the world. Consequently, motorcycles are now exported to Greece, Portugal, Italy, India and Japan. United Engineering Corp. was established in 1988. Formerly known as the KHS Bicycle Factory, United Engineering Corp. now manufactures KHS bicycles, as well as bicycles for other companies throughout the world.^[6]

Patents, awards and accomplishments[edit]

• KHS was the first Taiwan-made road bike to enter U.S. market with Reynolds 531 tubing. BicyclingMagazine tested this model in 1979 and rated it as good as a similar, French-made Motobecane model.
• KHS awarded the “Sears Partner in Progress” award in 1986
• KHS remains the only brand to have a finalist in Mountain Biking Magazine's “Bike of the Year” award every year since the inception of the award in 1992
• KHS Comp was awarded the “Bike of the Year” award by Mountain Biking Magazine in 1994 and 2001
• BicyclingMagazine awards the 1997 KHS Fleetwood its “Editor’s Choice Award” for best bike at the 1996 Interbike International Bicycle show
• In March 1998, the KHS FXT Sport is rated “Best Value” full suspension bike under $1000 by Mountain Bike Action Magazine
• KHS introduces suspension seatposts and semi-slick tires on its 1998 mountain bike line, a full year ahead of most other brands
• KHS is the first to introduce popularly priced Soft Tails to the market during 1999 giving Hard Tail and Full Suspension buyers a new alternative that incorporates the best of both designs
• Preferred Bicycle & Parts Distributor in the U.S. voted by U.S. bicycle dealers in 2002
• Consumers Digest Best Buy for the Urban Xpress bicycle in the July 2006 issue
• Bicycling Magazine’s “Editor’s Choice” for the 2006 XC604
• KHS introduces one of the first major production 650b wheel size mountain bike models in 2010
• Delta Linear, U.S. patent 5,842,712 issued on 12/1/98. KHS developed its Delta Linear Downtube in order to decrease weight and to increase strength, rigidity and long term durability of its frames. The teardrop-shaped Delta Linear tube is drawn to a round shape at the bottom bracket in order to reduce flex under aggressive pedaling and ovalized on the vertical axis at the headtube in order to increase frame rigidity by over 30% over conventional round tubes.
• Adjustable seat tower, patent pending. Found on the KHS LT3 frame, this seat tube Tower can be rotated via a cam to change the effective seat tube angle of the frame by four degrees. Ideal for downhill riders competing or riding in carried terrain.
• Brake Booster leverage converter, U.S. patent 5,660,082 issued August 26, 1997. This unique converter allows use of road bike brake levers with linear pull, “V” brakes. Found on all KHS road tandems.^[7]

KHS & FREE AGENT Racing[edit]

KHS Bicycles and its BMX brand Free Agent have long histories of racing victories, including numerous national and world championships. Here is a brief list of some of the brands' top racing victories, sponsored riders and sponsored teams.

Sponsored racers:

• John Howard: World speed record holder @ 152 m.p.h., 24-hour distance record holder @ 539 miles, Ironman Triathlon winner, 3-time Olympian, 13-time U.S. National cycling champion, Master dual road & MTB XC champion in U.S.A.
• Logan Binggeli: U.S.A. National Champion DH Pro
• Quinton Spaulding: U.S.A. National Champion DH Pro
• Kevin Aiello: U.S.A. National Champion DH Pro
• Steven Walton: U.S.A. National DH Pro
• Nikolas Nestoroff: U.S.A. National DH Pro
• Dave Cullinan: World Champion Downhill and Dual Slalom medal winner
• Cindy Whitehead: U.S. National Cyclocross champion
• “Insane Wayne” Croasdale: Mammoth Mountain kamikaze down hill champion
• Cheri Elliot: U.S. National Cyclocross and Dual Slalom Champion
• Andrew Shandro: Canadian Downhill champion
• Katrina Miller: UCI Dual Slalom champion, Australian Downhill champion
• Melissa Buhl: UCI World Downhill champion, U.S. National 4X champion
• Maris Strombergs: 2008 Olympic Gold Medal, 2008 UCI World Champion, 2012 Olympic Gold Medal ^[8]
• Kyle Bennett: 3-time UCI World Champion, Multi-time ABA and NBL National Champion
• Dale Holmes: 2-time UCI World Champion, Multi-time British National Champion
• Connor Fields: 2009 NBL National Champion, ABA National Age Group Champion
• Cristian Becerine: 9-time Argentine National Champion
• Romero Marino: 4-time Junior World Champion
• Mariana Pajon : 2009 UCI World Champion, Multi-time Colombian National Champion
• Nicole Callisto: 2005 Junior World Champion
• Tom Haugen: X-Games Pro
• Heath Pinter: X-Games Pro

Sponsored teams:

• KHS Factory Racing^[9]
• BCR/Pizza Hut/KHS – Costa Rica
• South Bay Wheelman Club
• Guacamole Intern Seller Bicycle racing team
• San Francisco Cycle Couriers
• Highway.net cycling team^[10]

References[edit]

1. ^Manufacturer website
2. ^AM2000 review
3. ^'XC104 review'. Archived from the original on 2008-09-26. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
4. ^Bicycle Recommendation Short List
5. ^http://www.khsbicycles.com
6. ^http://www.khsbicycles.com/
7. ^http://www.khsbicycles.com/
8. ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2013-04-01. Retrieved 2013-06-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
9. ^http://www.khsfactoryracing.com/
10. ^http://www.khsbicycles.com/

External links[edit]

• Official website—(in English)

BMX, an abbreviation for bicycle motocross or bike motocross, is a cycle sport performed on BMX bikes, either in competitive BMX racing or freestyle BMX, or else in general on- or off-road recreation. BMX began when young cyclists appropriated motocross tracks for recreational purposes and stunting, eventually evolving into specialized BMX bikes and competitions.

History

BMX began during the early 1970s in the United States when children began racing their bicycles on dirt tracks in southern California, inspired by the motocross stars of the time. The size and availability of the Schwinn Sting-Ray and other wheelie bikes made them the natural bike of choice for these races, since they were easily customized for better handling and performance. BMX racing was a phenomenon by the mid-1970s. Children were racing standard road bikes off-road, around purpose-built tracks in California.^[1] The 1972 motorcycle racing documentary On Any Sunday is generally credited with inspiring the movement nationally in the United States; its opening scene shows kids riding their Sting-Rays off-road. By the middle of that decade, the sport achieved critical mass, and manufacturers began creating bicycles designed especially for the sport.

US timeline

George E. Esser founded the National Bicycle League as a non-profit bicycle motocross sanctioning organization in 1974. Before they set up the NBL, Esser and his wife, Mary, sanctioned motorcycle races with the American Motocross Association (AMA). Their two sons, Greg and Brian, raced motorcycles, but also enjoyed riding and racing BMX with their friends. It was their sons’ interest, and the lack of BMX organizations in the East, which prompted Esser to start the NBL in Florida.

By 1977, the American Bicycle Association (ABA) was organized as a national sanctioning body for the growing sport.

Freestyle BMX is now one of the staple events at the annual Summer X Games Extreme Sports competition and the Etnies Backyard Jam, held primarily on the East and West coasts of the United States. The popularity of the sport has increased due to its relative ease and availability of places to ride and do tricks.

UK BMX explosion

In the UK, BMX was a craze which took off in the early 1980s, specifically 1982/3, when it became the 'must have' bicycle for children and teenagers. Previously a small niche area, BMX exploded at this time into the dominant bicycle for the younger rider, with older teenagers and even adults becoming known names through publications like BMX Bi weekly, featuring big names like Tim March and Andy Ruffell. The shift to freestyle from racing came in 1985 with popular styling moving from chrome frames and contrasting components in black blue or red being the norm, to brightly coloured bikes in one colour only, including their mag wheels and even matching tyres. Because BMX exploded into Britain's streets so suddenly, it was perhaps inevitable that it would implode with similar speed, when the children who rode the bikes left school and went to work. This was indeed the case, as by 1986/7 sales in the UK had dropped off dramatically, with the new ATB or 'mountain bike' taking off and soon to become the generic adult bicycle, again from California where it had begun in the mid 1970s.^[2] Nevertheless, the first BMX track in the UK was founded in Landseer Park, Ipswich in 1980 by the Ipswich BMX Club which still provides coaching and races on a regular basis.^[3][4]

Free Agent Bmx Maverick

International development

In April 1981, the International BMX Federation was founded, and the first world championships were held in 1982. Since January 1993, BMX has been integrated into the Union Cycliste Internationale.^[5]

In 2003, the International Olympic Committee made BMX a full medal Olympic sport for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, and Māris Štrombergs (male, for Latvia) and Anne-Caroline Chausson (female, for France) became the first Olympic champions.^[6][7]

Many talented BMX riders go on to other cycling sports like downhill, including Australian Olympian Jared Graves, Eric Carter and youth BMX racer Aaron Gwin. Multiple world and Olympic champion track sprinterChris Hoy also began as a BMX rider.

See also

Notes

Free Agent Bmx For Sale

1. ^'University of BMX : BMX in Holland'. Archived from the original on 19 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
2. ^Richards Mountain Bike Book by Richard Ballantyne article on Repack and the birth of Mountain bikes
3. ^Jacobs, Nick (6 December 2018). 'Landseer Park'. Nicholas Jacob Architects. Nicholas Jacob Architects. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
4. ^'2019 summer events'. Ipswich BMX Club. Ipswich BMX Club. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
5. ^'A Short History of BMX'. Archived from the original on 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
6. ^'BMX will be added to the 2008 Olympics (UCI press release)'. 2003-07-01. Archived from the original on 2008-12-10. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
7. ^'Cycling BMX at Official Olympic movement site(description of sport)'.

Free Agent Bmx History Online

References

Free Agent Bmx Bicycles

• Bakshi, Amar. 'How the World Sees America: BMX in UK v. U.S.'The Washington Post/Newsweek.

External links

Free Agent Bmx History List

• Media related to BMX at Wikimedia Commons

Free Agent Bmx History Sites