2013 HARO 500.1 FATBMX Bike Test

May 04, 2013

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 18006 times

We've never really done a Bike Test here at FATBMX but when the HARO 500.1 arrived, we decided to have a couple of people ride it to see what they thought about it. Building up a bike is so easy these days and the HARO was no different. The most time was spent on the brake cable setting up the centre pull brake. If you ride brakeless you can remove the brake and the brake mounts and don't have to deal with that part either. It's basically adjusting the seat height and the bar position and putting some more pressure in the tires and you're ready to go.

After putting it together and taking a good look at it I could not help but like it. Skinwall tires, the black parts, slim padded seat, mushroom style grips, 25-9 gearing, Odyssey tires, the bike is set up with the right parts. The geometry is well proven too so the next step was taking it to the park.

The first meters were made at the 040BMX park in Eindhoven. After double checking the stem, seat and crank bolts, it was off to the bowl. Actually Dimitris Araouzos give it the first spin in the bowl and slid out a few times because the tires were too new. The slippery top layer had to wear off first and after a few extra speedway slides that part was solved.

As with every new bike the brake cable needed some stretching, the chain as well and the rear rim needed to be cleaned before it would grip properly. But the bike felt right from the start. The only adjusting done was the seat height. Remember that it came out of the box like this.

The first reactions from the test force was pretty much the same: "Damn good looking bike straight of the box," and "Better than the Shredder I got when I started riding." and it went as far as "I could ride that bike like that." It was off to the ramps to get some shots and it didn't take long before we had the action shots. That really shows how easy it was for the riders to get used to it.

The Features:

100% crmo frame with butted down tube, Mid BB shell, integrated head tube, tapered seat and chain stays, 20.5" or 21" top tube length and removable brake and cable mounts
100% crmo fork with tapered legs and one piece CNC steer tube
100% crmo bars 8.25" (on 20.5") or 8.5" (on 21") with alloy top load stem
48-spline crmo 175mm cranks with sealed Mid BB
Fully sealed wheels with double-wall Samsara rear and Deviant front rims, female front and rear axles and alloy nipples
Odyssey Aitken tires 2.25" front and 1.90" rear
Haro padded Pivotal seat with Pivotal post
KMC half link chain
Haro "Recycled" plastic pedals

WEIGHT: 23.75 lbs
SIZES: 20.5", 21"

MSRP: $709.99

Colors: Matte Black, Chrome.

-Frame Full crmo frame w/removable brake mounts - 20.5 or 21" TT
-Fork 1 1/8" Full Crmo CNC threadless w/tapered legs
-Cranks 3 pc. 48 spline Crmo 175mm w/sealed MID BB
-Pedals Haro "Recycled" plastic pedal
-Tires Oydssey Aitken 20x2.25 F / 20x1.95 R
-Rims / Hubs Alienation 36H Deviant DW Frt/Samsara DW Rear
-Rotor Straight Cable
-Grips Counterfeit Grips
-Handle Bar Full Crmo - 8.25" rise w/20.5" frame 8.5" rise w/21" frame
-Seat Haro Slim padded Pivotal seat w/Pivotal post
-Pegs N/A