Artifact Object ID: 26.0016

Artifact Name: JAD Aluminum Prototype

Category: Complete Bike

Source: Built
Collection: Lititz BMX Archive

Location: Lititz, Pennsylvania 

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JAD BMX was a rider-driven BMX brand founded by Mike DiMartino in the early 1990s. The company emerged during a period when many independent builders and small brands were experimenting with new BMX designs and materials as the sport evolved through the late racing and freestyle boom years.

The JAD name gained recognition through limited production frames and components designed with input from riders and builders who were closely connected to the BMX scene. Unlike larger manufacturers, JAD operated on a much smaller scale, producing relatively small numbers of frames that are now considered rare among collectors.

One of the most notable developments associated with the brand was an aluminum JAD prototype BMX bike developed in the early 1990s. At the time, most BMX frames were still constructed from chromoly steel, but some builders began experimenting with aluminum in an effort to reduce weight while maintaining strength. According to contemporary BMX coverage, a complete JAD aluminum prototype weighed approximately 20.5 pounds, making it extremely lightweight for a race-ready BMX bike of that era.

Projects like the aluminum prototype illustrate the spirit of experimentation that characterized many independent BMX builders during this period. Although JAD BMX never became a large commercial brand, the frames and prototypes associated with the company represent an interesting chapter in BMX design history and highlight the contributions of small builders working outside of the major BMX manufacturers.

Related Artifacts:

• Artifact 26.0071 - 1 of 1 JAD "Street Style" Sherman w/ Frame Stand - 1 of 1 Frame Stand and 1 of 6 frames made by Mike DiMartino's JAD

• Artifact 26.0029 - Harry Leary DIRTWERX 24" Cruiser Prototype

• Artifact 26.0123 - JAD Promotional Flier

Highlighted Campaign Pages:

• 10,000 Hours - 11 Years Old

• 12 Days of BMX Christmas: The Harry Leary Series - Day 11: The BMX Grinch

• 10,000 Hours - A Life Lived

"Ride and Shine with Lititz BMX" - We Look Forward to Sharing with You

Lititz BMX is an independent archive documenting the 

history and culture of BMX through artifacts, interviews, and storytelling. 

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