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Brand Profile: Auburn BMX

Production Years: 1988 - 1997

Founded By: Bob Morales & Todd Huffman

The project originally started off as an idea that Todd Huffman had pitched to Honda Motor Corp. Honda decided to not license their name to this new BMX bike that had already been developed and was ready to go into production. Huffman and Morales decided to continue with production but use a different name, which Todd took from the old 1903’s sports touring car - Bob designed the first logo - and Auburn was born.

The first frame was a two piece “modular” frame that was made of chromoly until the “Works Link” came out (aluminum). It was shared in BMX Action (October 1987) after a “tip” about it was phoned in by a reliable source after Rod Beckering was seen riding it at Mor Distributing. Todd Huffman was the President of Mor Distributing.

“The smell of a new bike was in the air... After a very strenuous two hour wait, Mor Distributing's seven-foot-tall shipping giant stuck his head out of their garage and looked both ways for spies like us. All was clear, he thought. The aborigine wheeled the unpainted beauty outside and leaned it against a chain link fence while he strolled towards the Mor van with keys dangling in hand... This was it. The brand new, revolutionary proto-type 20 inch race bike from Mor Distributing- the Auburn. With our faithful Nikon and a super long 750 mm telescopic zoom lens, we quickly snapped a couple of shots before the Larry Bird look-alike loaded it into the van to head for the top-secret test grounds and conduct further structural analysis. You'll be hearing more about this two-piece bike as soon as Mor tells us. All we know now is what you see in these here photos. From the looks of it, we think an aluminum rear-end, like a motorcycle swingarm, would be D-HOT!” - BMX Action

The first prototype was made in Taiwan before production was moved to the GT Factory’s Huntington Beach shop.

Auburn Cycles was acquired by GT in 1989 and Todd Huffman stayed onboard to manage the brand and operate as the Marketing Director for GT. The company ceased operations in 1997.

There has been a controversial relaunch of Auburn Cycles, when an aluminum hydroformed frame was produced.

Bob Morales also brought the company back shortly with a run of expert sized bikes in 2013.

The museum currently has three Auburn bikes in inventory but only one has been finished. They include a complete CR-24, needs to be assembled CR-20s, and 24” hydroformed that is a long-term build for us.

Notable Riders (Sampling):

- Rod Beckering

- Todd “T.C.” Corbitt

- Greg Romero

- Robbie “Robo” Morales

- Erick “Big E” Bartoldus

- Danny “The Missle” Millwee

Different Auburn Eras (Auburn BMX Wordpress):

Early Auburn. 1988-1993

First generation Auburn’s all had the distinctive 2 piece design. How you can spot the old Auburn’s from the newer ones, is where the top tube bends. Original Auburn design the top tube bends down before the seat post tube. This design means the bike is from 1988-1993. Bikes made in 1993 that bend after the seat tube are NOT 1993 builds but rather the 1994 model.  The August 1993 issue of BMX Plus! has a full page ad showing the CR20 and RX models. Still having the old bend before the seat post tube.

First generation Auburn’s ONLY came with a “Tri-Link” back end made from 4130. So 1988-1989 only had one choice, the Tri-Link.  In 1990 the “Works-Link” aluminum back end became available. You can also tell 88-90 models by the down tube decal if original. Auburn font was the original bold square font.

In 1991 the font became elongated and italicized.

It also appears to me that the original model was simply the CR 20R.  When they added the Aluminum Works Link it appears that they used to CR20 S for 4130 Tri=Link back ends and the CR 20 R and RX had the aluminum Works Link back ends.

It is not clear but it appears that all the early bikes sported a 19.5 inch top tube. It wasn’t until the RX bike was launched, in late 1990 as a 1991 model, that a longer top tube of 20.5 became available. The November 1990 issue of Snap shows a full page Auburn ad for the CR20 and CR20RX.

Some say the RX measures 21″. The September 1994 issue of BMX PLus! has a head to head shootout of the Auburn CR20 RX. It claims the top tube is 21″. My Auburn built in May of 1994 measures 20.5″ The 1996 Auburn catalog lists the top tube of the RX model at 20.5″. It is my belief that the 21″ measurements are simply wrong. More research into this will be done to be certain.

Mid School Auburn. 1994-1996

In 1994 they no longer had the top tube bend before the seat tube.

Early 1994 Auburn CR20 EX had a 1′ threaded fork. Mid year they began using a 1 1/8′ threadless fork. In 95 ONLY the RX had the 1 1/8″. But in 1996 all the pro models used it.

The 1995 model year was the first time you could get an anodized Works Link.

In 1996 the Auburn’s began using canti mounted brakes (aka V brakes). 1996 was also the first time you could get a chrome front end.

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