Reader’s Rides: Nik’s Sick Haro Klunkerson

A couple months ago, I casually mentioned that I’d love to see some of your Klunkers.

I figured it would probably be many more months before this site got enough traffic to actually get a submission.

It only took a few weeks.

(I guess that’s what happens when you accidentally end up number-one Google ranked for “Haro Klunkerson review.” Which does continue to shine a light on this bike’s confusing “invisibility” in the cycling world…)

Enter Nik—and his sick modified Haro Klunkerson. Nik not only was nice enough to be more first “Reader’s Rides,” but he also let me know my Contact Form was broken.

(So if you tried to get in touch with me up until a couple weeks ago or so—sorry. Try again now!)

Nik actually grabbed his Haro Klunkerson around the same time as me—earlier this year. He’s been playing with it ever since.

“It’s fun to cruise and turns a lot of heads as people try to figure out what it is! I’ve had people stop me to explain it a few times,” he said. “It was modded with an old-school BMX bike in mind.”

This is his shopping list:

Bars: SE Big Honking Cruiser Bars (I had also considered A.R.T. Koz cruiser bars in stainless, and/or Surly Sunrise bars which I had on hand but those are reserved for another project).

Grips: AM’E BMX Unitron (black over blue)

Levers: Black-Ops with blue anodized levers, using the stock cable adjusters and Sticky-Fingers covers

Stem: Bassett (also had a blue anodized Haro Linage at one point)

Sprocket: Haro Fusion Compact Disc 39T

Pedals: Haro Fusion anodized blue currently (also had a set of Shimano’s but they were “too smooth”)

Saddle: Origin8 currently (this is seat #3 and I’m still searching for the right one)

Seat-post Clamp: MCS QR anodized blue

Chain Tensioners: MCS anodized blue

Other Accessories:

• Flite black/blue checkerboard pads & donuts
• WOW cable straps
• Old school blue Haro chevron decals (shout out to LGC Inc. out of Florida for hooking me up with these)
• Black/blue dice valve-caps
• A few well-placed blue zip ties to keep the cables from rubbing the frame

What’s next for Nik?

“Shy of the saddle, I think I’m done with it for now.  Unless of course I run across a deal on a set of Redline Monster cranks.”

My Thoughts:

I love this Klunkerson. Definitely some serious inspiration. Right off the bat, I’m gonna get those pads and grips. I too like the Old School BMX vibe and those are essential for that.

I also am not 100% sold on the handlebars that came stock on my Klunkerson—once again, here Nik cracked the code with his SE Big Honking Cruiser Bars. Not only do they look good, because I’m at the top-end of the recommended height for the Klunkerson, it’ll make it more comfy too.

Personally, I love the looks of the kROOKS saddle too much to change it—but I respect Nik’s work on finding the exact right one for HIS bike.

And I don’t want to copy him too much—no two bikes alike ;-).

Oh—and because we Klunkers can’t leave well enough alone, Nik emailed me about a week later to let me know he’d already changed the saddle. Love it:

“Here is saddle #2 which is currently back on the bike, I put the Origin8 on my GT P/P 26″.  Not sure of the brand, I took a chance low-balling a seller on eBay for it.”

Thanks Nik, for being the first Reader’s Rides. I’ve linked to the product sources as best I can above—and before you ask, nope, no affiliates here. This is all passion project, baby!

Nike—I love what you’ve done with the bike. Ride on!