Big Wheel or Green Machine?

[woundedyak]

Had a pretty big debate about this last night around the camp fire last night. I say the Green Machine Kicked the Big Wheels @$$. With it's adjustable seat,dual joysticks locking break, built-in front brake lever,freewheel front wheel and 20" wide rubber rear wheels. How could you go wrong. Some people call them dumb. Others call it a waste. I call it a retarded amount of fun. What do you think?

[Kartman]

GM was a lot more fun.

[Kevin-"bedrock"-Graves]

big wheel for sure,some of the best fun ever!we would wear the things out! should of had better wheels though

[michael_loomis]

I never had a GM.. but I LOVED the downhill tourneys on my big wheel! understeer like a mutha on some terrain! lol

was so bummed the day I flat spotted my first wheel. haha.

apparently, according to the ad, when I was 8,9,10 I didnt really know how to ride! Comedy!

[Young&Fast]

Big Wheel for sure. I loved that thing. I wish i would still fit. Nothing quite like doing a "burnout" with that plastic front tire. As sliding the rear end through corners! Big wheels are awesome.

[dan200]

Anyone who doesn't pick the green machine is just crazy!!!

Seriously, Look at the smile on my face!!!!:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[woundedyak]

Anyone who doesn't pick the green machine is just crazy!!!

Seriously, Look at the smile on my face!!!!:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

hahaha classic!

[fathead]

For christmas we got our 5 yr old a cool big wheel, reg. rubber front tire, peddles freewheel, with the plastic wheels in the back. Thing is bad azz, traction up front where it counts, little traction in the rear... Full power slides!!!

[FlyHiFlyLo]

I ended up with my brother's UV faded Big Wheel with broken pedals... I just had the steel shafts to pedal against and the seat back was missing. No tassels hanging from the bars... I was neglected as a child.

So all I can offer is: On a black and White TV with a very, snowy picture... The Green Machine commercial kicked major butt!

In fact I had never seen a Green Machine until our family homage to Gemco once every six months. When I seen that baby next to the Royce Union Mono-Shock bike with real 10 speed hand brakes... I was in paradise. At least until me and my big brother made it over to the Stretch Armstong display and we would pull those apart until the knarly puss began squriting out. LOL

[DSRacing]

There is only one, The Big wheel. I remember the first Christmas they were introduced, I was lucky enough to live on a L shaped cul-de-sac on the top of a hill. We had at least ten kids having big wheel races for hours on end. You would come home after a hard day of racing and your mom would be pissed because you just destroyed another pair of shoes from dragging your feet to stop. I still have road rash scars on my hands and elbows.

They would last about a month before the rear tires were flat spotted, the accordian connection in the frame would split (Easily fixed) but what would take them out of sevice would be the front tire splitting in two from pedaling backwards on the asphalt as you raced downhill.

[michael_loomis]

what did you guys graduate to after your BW/GM's?

For me it was a radio flyer for the downhills and a roller racer in the drift comps...

when, not if, you rolled the radio flyer, atleast you could kinda brace yourself inside the wagon and tuck, lol.

[pjc]

Alright you young'ins, back in my little kid days there were no such thing as Big Wheels or Mean Green Machines. Nope, if we wanted something different we had to make it ourselves.

Being the youngest of 4 boys in a family of 5, I was the designated test driver for the designs of my 3 older brothers that had varying ideals from sinister to epic feats of engineering. On the later, at least they thought so.

We lived on a steep hill in San Clemente, CA (San Carlos Street, 405 to be exact). My brothers decided to build go-karts or what could be better identified as a "downhill luge". The material varied however there was always a consistiency of scrap lumber as the main component. Wheels were "ala carte" (truly) and often pirated from our sister's tricycle or donated from one of the brother's Raleigh bicycles. Axles were fastened to 2x4's with nails, and lots of them. Steering was "state of our fledgling art" via electrical wire accosted from one of Dad's extension cords with the solemn and complete addition of our feet for true feel of the road.

Brakes were.. "ya gotta be kidding!" and far outside their engineering capabilities - besides we always had our feet, well clad in Red Ball Jet's or cheap, Van's deck shoes. Of course, as the minimalist engineers that they were, seating was never more plush than 1960's carpet remnants.

To this day I remember one trip well. My oldest brother promised to go for the ride. He put me up front with the steering at my beck and call (more beck as in Beckon). We launched hard with full, devious laughing assistance of the other brothers. About 2 houses down from our drive way, he bailed - hah, the reduction in weight immediately allowed for increased speed. I tucked down and prepared for the turn at the bottom of the hill. I surmise my speed was approaching 20 MPH at the beginning of the turn. I tugged the left electrical cord and pushed with my right foot forward to steer left - "Kat tang" the cord broke and instantly the luge went into a violent wobble and sent me directly, stage right into the iceplant hill.

Their epic feet of engineering was now in pieces and I was rolling down the soft, cushy, iceplant hill from where the impact with the curb had hurled me.

Fear quickly subsided to laughter (mine and my brothers) as we knew our speeds never approached anything of danger. Funny thing, these clowns (my brothers) refuse to ride in any vehicle under my control to this day. Go figure.

---

And those were the days when we had 5 TV channels that we had to get up to change and, all our friends were outside.

Cheers.

[BRINGTHERUCKUS]

Awe inspireing story!!!!

[Shotdsherrif]

Growing up in the flatlands of Florida, I never had hills to give me momentum enough to spin out on my Big Wheel. So I was very jealous of the GW's ability to do that so easily.

But I do remember after watching the Indy 500 for he first time, clearing out a "lap" through the kitchen, dining room and living room and running a 25 lap endurance race around the house. And by endurance, I mean testing my mom's patience.

Even back then, I had dreams of putting Mario Andretti into the wall. The kitchen wall that is.

[Kartman]

Alright you young'ins, back in my little kid days there were no such thing as Big Wheels or Mean Green Machines. Nope, if we wanted something different we had to make it ourselves.


I remember vans coming out years after the green machine

[steveG]

Big Wheel or Green Machine?

My vote goes to the Green Machine.

But, I think the only way to settle this is to build a course and run 'em!

[dan200]

It was about ten years ago but I remember seeing a modern remake of the green machine in a bmx magazine. It was done by the GT Bicycle co. and was very trick. Aluminum frame, disc brakes, go cart wheels on the back etc. I think it was a limited edition or it coulda been a prototype. I did a little looking online and all I could find was a reference to someone else who remembers it too. Maybe someone else will have better luck. I did find these little gems though. The second one is my favorite. Ghetto fabulous baby!!!:D :D

http://www.bigwheelrally.com/store/images/bwn-tripro-400.jpg

http://www.chicagofreakbike.org/2005_08_01_archives.php#greenmachine

[Bulldozer]

I remember vans coming out years after the green machine

Well I'm pretty sure vans came out in '66, and according to your profile, that was before you were born. :p


Anyways, I think the green machine was before my time, I had a big wheel as a young kid but the GM looks like a real engineering marvel compared to the BW.

[pjc]

I remember vans coming out years after the green machine

Perhaps that is when you thought they became popular via Sean Penn and the movie "Fast Times at Redgemont High".

On the contrary, there was a little store in Dana Point that sold this shoe in the sixties in various colors.

http://www.inthe80s.com/clothes/images/user-image-1197181330_thumb.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vans

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Yeah, I never owned a pair of "Real Vans" I did however get a pair of blue and white checkered knock off slip-ons from K Mart. Instead of "Off The Wall" on the back they said Keds I think... The only name brand crap I got when I was a kid was Geranimals and Under Roos! That was every September when we went school clothes shopping.... I remember the $100 budget we had in the 70s. My parents weren't poor at all, just cheap. LOL

I couldn't emagine being a McMillin or Huffman or Herbst growing up... Colleco Vision would not have been a unobtainable dream!

The best day of my life was when I was 12 and upgrading my race bike from a Huffy outfitted with aluminum parts from Western Auto to a Real Chrome-moly framed ProCraft with a "Freewheel". I still kicked butt on the track tho. When I was 12, I was 5'10 155lbs... Poor little kids didn't know what hit them when I blew out of the gate with my 44:15 gearing...LOL

[450grl]

I had a Big Wheel...maybe two of them....I remember I split my front wheel, and I must have gotten another one after that. I used to ride around with my "Stretch Monster" dressed in doll clothes strapped to the handlebars....hahahahha!! (I hated Barbies....lol) Who couldn't love this face???

http://thegalleryofmonstertoys.com/70swing/stretchmonster2.jpg

[pjc]

The best day of my life was when I was 12 and upgrading my race bike from a Huffy outfitted with aluminum parts from Western Auto to a Real Chrome-moly framed ProCraft with a "Freewheel". I still kicked butt on the track tho. When I was 12, I was 5'10 155lbs... Poor little kids didn't know what hit them when I blew out of the gate with my 44:15 gearing...LOL

Hah! You're not that old! When I was a kid, the hot ticket was a Schwinn Stingray with Springer front suspension.

Let's get serious now, what was your first, engine powered ride?

Mine as a Kawasaki 120 that was purchased in Japan for about $175 and brought back on the USS Bennington during one of his 'Nam tours.

[MALIBLOC]

Back in the day who could afford a green machine, its all about the big wheel, just the thought of the pebbles rolling off the plastic wheels, I mean that is a sound that you'll always remember , and what about hand me downs too! I was always wearing some else hand my downs when I was a kid! .......sorry tangent! big wheel for sure

[DSRacing]

Let's get serious now, what was your first, engine powered ride?

My 8th birthday 1972, I was lucky enough to have a grandfather who could and would build anything. Three speed (Two forward and reverse) transmission, front suspension with working lights and horn. With the exception of the B&S engine, everything was handmade. It's first test run it went so fast my dad was sprinting next to me, I shifted into high gear and left him behind. Parents made me wear that stupid helmet anytime I drove it afterwards.

[fathead]

My 8th birthday 1972, I was lucky enough to have a grandfather who could and would build anything. Three speed (Two forward and reverse) transmission, front suspension with working lights and horn. With the exception of the B&S engine, everything was handmade. It's first test run it went so fast my dad was sprinting next to me, I shifted into high gear and left him behind. Parents made me wear that stupid helmet anytime I drove it afterwards.

Dude, that is way cool, look at the frame, that thing is way ahead of its time..
Do you still have it?

[DSRacing]

I wish I still did, after about two years, I outgrew it. It sat around for years in the garage. By the time I was twelve or thirteen, my friends and I eventually got it running again, we took it for one run up and down the street and realized then how out of control unstable it was. It was fast in a straight line but turning at speed was a different story. I do remember taking it out to some dirt lots a few times, kind of wonder now how we didn't end up in the hospital because of it.

[Kartman]

Perhaps that is when you thought they became popular via Sean Penn and the movie "Fast Times at Redgemont High".

On the contrary, there was a little store in Dana Point that sold this shoe in the sixties in various colors.

http://www.inthe80s.com/clothes/images/user-image-1197181330_thumb.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VansNothing to do with fast times, but I dont remember ever seeing them in stores in Norcal until around 78 or so and when they did show everyone noticed in my area.

[pjc]

Nothing to do with fast times, but I dont remember ever seeing them in stores in Norcal until around 78 or so and when they did show everyone noticed in my area.

10-4.

Read the Wiki on Van's. They were small little shops in the early days B4 BK. My Mom bought them because they were dirt cheap!

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Let's get serious now, what was your first, engine powered ride?

I had just turned 14, 1979 Ford Courier I got for 113 bucks. I bought from Andy Eliopoulos. He was my Mom's boss (She was a VW, Mazda sales person) Came in as a dealer trade for 100.00 paid an extra 13 for title change.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

I had a Big Wheel...maybe two of them....I remember I split my front wheel, and I must have gotten another one after that. I used to ride around with my "Stretch Monster" dressed in doll clothes strapped to the handlebars....hahahahha!! (I hated Barbies....lol) Who couldn't love this face???



YouTube - Stretch Armstrong

[Scotty B]

Well all i can say is i loved my big wheel to death but always wanted that damn green machine. Grass is always greener on the other side.LMAO

[TCPRacing]

Anyone that chose the Green Machine just did not know how to ride a Big Wheel correctly :-) Take off the seat and just use your Vans as steering brakes.

And on a Van's box it says "since 1966"

[Gummi Bear]

I don't know how many Big Wheels I went through.

I never wore shoes in the summer, I went barefoot. I remember pedaling those things with no seats (it always got broken within the first few hours) and the pedals missing the plastic.

I still have the scars on my calves where I turned the wheel and didn't move my legs fast enough (more than once, no less!) and on my ankles and feet from emergency stops and bailouts.

PJC - my brother and I were always building contraptions like you describe. It was always some sort of "H" framed contraption. The one time we did think to put a brake on, it was just a 2x2 nailed to the center rail, and when it wore down, you were just screwed. :eek: Usually 2-3 2x4 or 2x6's, some lawnmower wheels, a couple of bolts, a piece of 1x12 or something for a seat, a length of rope for the steering, and a bucketload of nails to hold it all together. There was a field and drainage ditch at the end of the street, where folks would dump trash that wouldn't be picked up on the curb, and we would scrounge all sorts of treasure for building this stuff. Thanks for the laugh!

[Young&Fast]

All this big wheel talk about down hill races is getting me excited. So I pulled my big wheel out of storage and thats what i'm going to do this weekend. I'll post pics and video after I'm done.

[pjc]

PJC - my brother and I were always building contraptions like you describe. It was always some sort of "H" framed contraption. The one time we did think to put a brake on, it was just a 2x2 nailed to the center rail, and when it wore down, you were just screwed. :eek: Usually 2-3 2x4 or 2x6's, some lawnmower wheels, a couple of bolts, a piece of 1x12 or something for a seat, a length of rope for the steering, and a bucketload of nails to hold it all together. There was a field and drainage ditch at the end of the street, where folks would dump trash that wouldn't be picked up on the curb, and we would scrounge all sorts of treasure for building this stuff. Thanks for the laugh!

Good deal. My pleasure. Thank and empty shop (car at prep) Bud Light and Rick Sieman for the prose.

[Kartman]

Anyone that chose the Green Machine just did not know how to ride a Big Wheel correctly :-) Take off the seat and just use your Vans as steering brakes.

And on a Van's box it says "since 1966"
You can fake rear steer. GM FTW

[Mumzy]

Anyone that chose the Green Machine just did not know how to ride a Big Wheel correctly :-) Take off the seat and just use your Vans as steering brakes.

And on a Van's box it says "since 1966"


I'll date myself.......Mom and Dad used to take us down to buy our Vans on Fairview Road in Santa Ana. There was a Go-Kart track (rental) right next door to the Vans Store. They would whip up a pair of shoes for you....all you did was pick out the color of canvas, go next door and drive Karts for an hour or so and come back....wallah! new skins!

I was a little old for the Big Wheel and Green Machine, but I must admit that during my High School days if some poor unfortunate kid left his out...after a few blasts down the hills it most likely ended up in the bottom of the lake at Eisenhower Park in Orange.

[squirrel80]

All the memories of my Big Wheel are coming back. Makes me want to go rent a car and go E-Braking around the neiborhood.

[la2baja]

I think this is something we should work out for the next dez race. Pretty kick arse!

YouTube - Big Wheel Races

[steveG]

I think this is something we should work out for the next dez race. Pretty kick arse!

YouTube - Big Wheel Races (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWnff376PEI)

The Green Machine would clean house.

[Kartman]

The Green Machine would clean house.

Agreed but they probably outlaw them.

[michael_loomis]

glue a rubber bicycle tire tread on a big wheel and OWN that race! :)

[squirrel80]

Could you imagine an off roaders twist on these races. There would be tig welded fabrication and billet parts on everything. Would be awsome!

[DEZERTBOUND]

Dirt driveways, wheel barrel's and bare feet.... you darn rich kid's.

[la2baja]

When I was 20 I got my own apartment for the first time I moved in with 3 other friends and it was a huge place. Sq footage was compensated with green shag carpet and a 60's vibe throughout. Like any good kids in their first place we each bought a big wheel and had margarita big wheel relay races in the apt every night. It was a great time to say the least. I am very sorry to the people that lived below us. Very, very sorry.

[Scooterinvegas]

When I was racing BMX back in the day, there was a go-cart track next door. In the winter, we raced on Saturday morning. I dont know why I just typed that! Any way, when we were racing BMX, next door they would race Big Wheels on the go-cart track. Man, some of these things where trick! Some of them had rubber front tires, shortened three piece cranks, and custom handle bars. I still thought they were gay.

[Stimpy]

Big Wheel......for sure! Bombing my hill and making the corner at the bottom. How else was a kid from the beach gonna learn how to drift?

[MattV]

http://www.deathrowtshirts.com/images/products/HOW-I-ROLL_REV2.jpg

[J_Lothringer]

GREEN MACHINE all the way..............

[4trax]

The modern Green Machine

http://www.howdoyougreenmachine.com/

[dislocated1]

This thread reminds me of that sweet Smut Peddlers song, "Buck naked on a big wheel"...............................

[woundedyak]

This thread reminds me of that sweet Smut Peddlers song, "Buck naked on a big wheel"...............................

Buck naked on a Green Machine sounds much better!

[ironmtnracing]

Our friends used to own a camper mfg business right around the corner from the Vans store/factory. It was the high light of our summer when we'd make the road trip from San Diego north to get our new vans!

For those of you in the SD area I highly recommend dragging a few BW's up to presido park after dark and race them down the big grass hills. Time well spent!

____________



I'll date myself.......Mom and Dad used to take us down to buy our Vans on Fairview Road in Santa Ana. There was a Go-Kart track (rental) right next door to the Vans Store. They would whip up a pair of shoes for you....all you did was pick out the color of canvas, go next door and drive Karts for an hour or so and come back....wallah! new skins!

I was a little old for the Big Wheel and Green Machine, but I must admit that during my High School days if some poor unfortunate kid left his out...after a few blasts down the hills it most likely ended up in the bottom of the lake at Eisenhower Park in Orange.

[BGRANT]

My inlaws had a gren machine in their rafters until a few years ago. I was bummed when my father in-law threw it out. My kid would have loved it. I think Grandma told him the kids would get hurt on it. It's funny how it was OK for her daughter to bomb the driveway on it but not the grand kids.

Anybody still have any Evil Knevil toys? How about the one that you put on the start ramp. cranked the handle, pushed the button and he would rip across the living room. I always got carpet fibers wound up in the rear hub.

[dan200]

Anybody still have any Evil Knevil toys? How about the one that you put on the start ramp. cranked the handle, pushed the button and he would rip across the living room. I always got carpet fibers wound up in the rear hub.
I had one of them also.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Evil-Knevil-and-his-Stunt-Cycle_W0QQitemZ220268771367QQcmdZViewItem?hash=ite m220268771367&_trkparms=72%3A552|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A131 8&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&timeout=1218917705436

I also had a huge puzzle where the pieces were like 8 inches across. The Whole thing was about 6 feet by 5 feet and was him doing a wheelie standing on the seat.

[Mike @ pit b]

Any ony get the new issue of RacerX? There's a picture of Travis Pastrana Backflipping a Big Wheel.

Debate over. Big Wheel is the winner.

[woundedyak]

Any ony get the new issue of RacerX? There's a picture of Travis Pastrana Backflipping a Big Wheel.

Debate over. Big Wheel is the winner.

Your parents must of had you locked in a box as a child! The big wheel is like a 9 car next to a TT.

[Mike @ pit b]

Your parents must of had you locked in a box as a child! The big wheel is like a 9 car next to a TT.

Pastrana is't flipping a Green Machine. It's a BIG WHEEL!!!!!

[IvanDan]

This is the bigwheel I had notice the hand brake for killer slides...

Check it out (http://www.flickr.com/photos/5k313t0/106126106/)

[Rory]

Hahahaha, I just saw this thread....... GREEN MACHINE all the way. Only had mine for about 6 months (I was 5) then it was delivered an untimely death by one of the neighborhood bullies......CURSE YOU EDDIE DELUCIA!! :D

[Josh @ DanZio]

Big wheel with the hand brake all the way!!! I want to say I had a knight rider one!!

Ps... Green machine was gay!!! Stupid hand controls and lame ass steering!! The kid down the street had one and I would OWN him on the big wheel!!

[Rory]

oooohhhhh Josh, dem fightin' words, I would DESTROY you on my Green Machine against your Night Rider, Hasselhoff Lovin', red light blinkin', e-brake pullin Big Wheel! Any Day, Any Time......... :D

BTW, the kid down the street was wearing a hockey helmet and looking for his "MaseMall".....so stop churchin' it up son!

[Josh @ DanZio]

oooohhhhh Josh, dem fightin' words, I would DESTROY you on my Green Machine against your Night Rider, Hasselhoff Lovin', red light blinkin', e-brake pullin Big Wheel! Any Day, Any Time......... :D

BTW, the kid down the street was wearing a hockey helmet and looking for his "MaseMall".....so stop churchin' it up son!

Ahahaha!! Keep dreaming!!! Stupid fork lift style steering!! I'll put KIT into some three wheel slides on the down hill and show you fools what time it is!! Yyeeeee!!!!

[Rory]

Ahahaha!! Keep dreaming!!! Stupid fork lift style steering!! I'll put KIT into some three wheel slides on the down hill and show you fools what time it is!! Yyeeeee!!!!

MINT 400.....TECH INSPECTION......IT'S ON!!!!!! now all I have to do is buy one off ebay for $600..........me and my big mouth. :D

[Josh @ DanZio]

Ahahha. I heard that some company was making an adult size big wheel a few years back. I never actually saw one. Maybe a myth!!

[TORC_spotter_870]

I never had a big wheel or Green Machine, I had something way cooler..........

http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00OvmQKzEMnYoV/Pedal-Car-HMT-2011A-.jpg

Turned it into a sled a few years ago, I'll try to post a pic.

[charlie_brown]

When I was in kindergarten some friends and I took our old tricycles apart and made “bigwheels”. This was years before big wheels came out and I think someone saw us and made a plastic version.
All we really do was pull the seat off and turned the front wheels and handle bars around.

one of many things that i lost my chance to make a billion

oh, and big wheels are the best. had many of them.

[JEFFRPM]

I was neglected as a kid never had either the closest paved road was 1 mile from the farm and it was the highway so riding on that was out of the question. so i had to tough it out on a TACO minibike yea i know poor kid no wonder i turned out the way i did.

[movindirt]

Ahahha. I heard that some company was making an adult size big wheel a few years back. I never actually saw one. Maybe a myth!!

Here is a link to pic of a Green Machine I made from bike parts. First one so there are some improvements to be made but it is still a blast to ride. Will be making another one when I find the time or if someone wanted one then I might be able to find the time..

https://picasaweb.google.com/ynotbell/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCOGL3bbbp7ulKw&feat=directlink