Re-Up; Preserving BMX History. Episode 65: Mohamad Al-amin Abdullah (MAL)

Mar 12, 2024

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 7334 times

Name: Mohamad Al-amin Abdullah
Hometown: Perlis, Malaysia
Started riding BMX in: BITD mid 90s, and came back to BMX in about 2016.
Number of bikes in the collection: Since 2016 until 2021 I have owned 150 complete old school BMX bikes ('70s-'90s) and more than 250 frame & fork sets. Last year I started to sell a few things from my collection (already sold around 60-70 BMX). I sold some to other local collectors and just tried to move a few items in order to cover the costs of the container. With the help of some friends in the UK and USA, I have stockpiled some parts and bikes, which I then ship in a container back to Malaysia. It is very common in the old school scene for sellers to refuse international shipping. So, we try to have an

address to receive shipments at, within the UK or US, and then forward it to Malaysia once things have built up to a point that it makes sense to ship many things at once.

Do you remember the moment that you decided to start collecting BMX memorabilia?
Mohamad Al Amin: Since 2007 until 2015 I was into the "pickers" vintage scene as a collector/seller, I am into things like vintage denim, vintage band t-shirts, vintage hats, vintage sneakers, signs and branding, etc just interesting vintage stuff and old memorabilia. Then around 2016 I met my friend, Azmer and a few others in the os-bmx hobby, and all of these friends encouraged and guided my approach in terms of having a more serious interest in old school BMX. So I decided to learn more about vintage BMX, with a broad focus on the total culture, not only about vintage BMX bikes, but I am also very interested in osbmx race gear, vintage BMX jersey, pants, shirts, gloves, helmet, shoes, trophies, banners, magazines, really just all things related to old school bmx.

Nowadays I have many good friends to help network and I have developed old school BMX connections worldwide. For instance, in the UK many good friends helped, but in particular a big thanks to brothers, Luke Haralambous, David Affleck, Graham Steel and many more; they've always helped us to manage a lot of BMX items for a container. In the USA also many good friends helped us in similar ways, a big thank you to brother Dan Williams and many more.

What was BMX like in Malaysia in the beginning? What bikes did people use?
Mohamad Al Amin: BITD as I know according to those more senior in this hobby, they raced in small towns, and they made their own ramps, they ride to school, and some also raced bitd. The famous BMX brands BITD were Raleigh BMX, Kuwahara, Giant BMX and Poh Giap BMX (a local brand). Some people mail ordered brands like Skyway and Redline.

What were the first American brands that made it to your country?
Mohamad Al Amin: Actually BITD, the AMERICAN brands never supplied direct to Malaysia, but some did manage to special order, we couldn't just walk in a BMX shop, we had to refer to a catalogue, also some direct order, by means of the address taken from the BMX magazines.

Do these brands make a heavier impact on you than brands that came to Malaysia 10 years after that?
Mohamad Al Amin: No, early situation was very difficult, good brand names in BMX were just very rare, but during midschool ('90s era) more BMX brands came to Malaysia, this included DYNO, MONGOOSE, FUSION, ODYSSEY etc.

What's one of your oldest BMX products in your collection?
Mohamad Al Amin: I have a Moto-Pro bmx (og blue) and it came with Moto-Pro forks s(twin dropout) from 1975.

Did you have several USA BMX importers in Malaysia or how did the better BMX bikes make it into the country?
Mohamad Al Amin: As I mentioned earlier, BITD we had to make a special order and then waiting at least 3 weeks-5 weeks to receive the order. Nowadays it is more easy and there are more local bike shops.

Could you collect BMX bikes without the help of the internet?
Mohamad Al Amin: Yes, but then it would only be very limited options, we'd be limited to generally just a few brands like Raleigh BMX or Kuwahara BMX.

Name three BMX websites that you visit for BMX History information?
1) BMX SOCIETY website & FB FORUM
2) BMX MUSEUM.COM WEBSITE
3) BMX BACK TO '80S MALAYSIA FB FORUM & OLD BMX MAGAZINES

Do you have good mechanical skills?
Mohamad Al Amin: Yeah, I am in mechanical engineering field and welding engineering work (boiler repair works), so I am mechanically inclined.

Do you have plenty of tools to work on all your bikes?
Mohamad Al Amin: Yes sure, I have a few tools in the toolbox, but not a complete set up with all imaginable tools and equipment.

How often do you look on eBay/Craigslist/BMX Museum to shop for old BMX stuff?
Mohamad Al Amin: Haha, depends on the situation, during breakfast, and lunch time some, but often I depend on my friends, they send me leads or ideas on some good items during the time when I am working in outstation and can't do my own searching for deals. They give me links to interesting items and the more rare BMX stuff.

Do you feel like it's your birthday every time the mailman comes with a package of BMX products?
Mohamad Al Amin: Of course, that's for sure -- 100% happy!

What's the most ridiculous amount you have paid for a bike part that you needed to own?
Mohamad Al Amin: This question is very difficult to answer, lols. I paid $5k for a red SST hub once belonging to Greg Hill BITD. Also I got a few direct offers from some silent collectors and I've acquired other notable items like:
-Clemtwin crankset right left and clemtwin hub front/rear made by parker.
-Early JJW Cook Bros made (patina)
-NOS JU mini frame (Jeff Utterback)
-Tuff fork NOS
-FF JMC standart long 1979 belong to MARIO ANDRETTI #808
-FF Free agent freeflite
-Slingshot 24"

Do you have a man-cave where your bikes are displayed?
Mohamad Al Amin: Yes, due to frequent travel, I actually have a few small mancaves at different places! In IPOH PERAK ,in DAMANSARA SELANGOR, in NILAI NEGERI SEMBILAN & in PONTIAN JOHORE.

Do you always have room for "one more bike"?
Mohamad Al Amin: Yes, pretty sure.

What's a bike (part) you have been looking for but haven't been able to locate?
Mohamad Al Amin:
1) '79 PK Ripper with Round Top Tube
2) Raleigh Professional UK made (special made)
3) Titron mini stem and Titron mini hub 28 hole (both magnesium)
4) Original GJS jersey late '70s

Where can people reach you when they have that part available?
Mohamad Al Amin: My fb Mohamad Al Amin and my IG vintage_malaysian_collector

Special thanks to: FATBMX, BMX SOCIETY, BMX BACK TO 80's, MALAYSIA BMX BACK TO 80's, Pro Racing Team, BMX BACK TO 80's INDONESIA, BMX MUSEUM, MDG clothing, OSBMX, MALAYSIA OSBMX, JOHORE OSBMX PERLIS BMX RACING MALAYSIA BIG FIELD OLD SCHOOL ,Oldskool bmx propaganda, Burner Owner Malaysia, BRBMX, The Peaky Riders, GARASI TV RETROMANIA Kuala Lumpur Vintage Festival Kluang BMX Community K'Car Malaysia Community AZT Product Pomen Nilai Vtgdotcom Efan Item The Curb Kayuh BMX RALEIGH BMX OSBMX UTARA Oskuwa.my OSBMX KLANG OSBMX IPOH Vintage Malaysia Item Budak BMX Gudang No 5 STOR GOMBAK SUPERSERET LET's RAD Osbmx singapore BMX Putrajaya, BMX MUSEUM MALAYSIA, Osbmx Tranung Rad Bmx Malaysia Budiman Inspection IHI POWER SYSTEM Terengganu Hanelang SOS (SIAM OLDSCHOOL BMX) OSBMX-THAILAND.COM Bangkok Old School BMX MSN KBS KEDSX Restoran Amisa MALAKOFF, Steve Brothers, Azmer Tahir, Andy Ruffell, Mat Yen, 70's Doni Darko Ujang Apit Ah Soon Bejai Manjoi Ajie Harun, Mark Muzamir, Ronizam Ismail Arif Syukri and Team Abd Rahman Abd Rahim Roslan Sandi Najib Yunus Alim Jer Golden Hand, Luke Haralambous, Dan Williams, Matt Boyd, Peter Ashby, Graham Steel, Ajis Fathan, HaGee Kent ,Razlan Syahrul, Helmi Yahya, Trika Antik, Ibnu Rijal, Syed Ruslim Syed.