https://uk.khebikes.com/

30 Years Of Hoffman Bikes - Pt 3: The story of Kevin Jones' Prototype BIG DADDY

The lesson here is, always look under the stickers. That ratty old BMX bike in your neighbor’s yard? It might be part of history.

22 Nov 2021

Big Daddy 2
hb

Words by Brian Tunney - An exclusive extract from the 30 YEARS OF HOFFMAN BIKES zine.

York, Pennsylvania is not normal.

Granted, nowhere is normal. But legends of bikes passed down from rider to rider always seem to take an additional weird step in the York area. There is one tale of a Level frame hand made by a welder near York who made his own dynamite and messed up angles on close to 90 frames because he was blind in one eye. And there are tales of Big Daddy frames taking extremely wide worldwide routes from rider in York to rider visiting York to other riders revisiting York for the first time. At one time, it was a destination city for flatland riders and people sought it out, only to be greeted by a tight knit group of riders that had no problem swapping parts with one another. Eventually, some of those parts disappear, while some find collectors or riders with previous knowledge of all that was accomplished on those bikes. That is the case with Kevin Jones prototype SE-built Big Daddy, which had gone missing for years. “We talked about this frame for years and I had joked on BMX Museum that some kid in York was riding around on the bike, oblivious to what it was,” says York local Adam Dawson. Adam is a devoted Hoffman Bikes collector/historian, with a deep knowledge of their manufacturing history.

Here’s his story:

https://shop.digbmx.com/collections/all-clothing

The legendary Kevin Jones, York PA.

In the mid to late 90s, a 12-year-old kid bought the prototype SE-made Big Daddy frame with GT/Dyno stickers on it. He had his dad spray paint the frame (coat of primer, paint, Dyno decals) and added GT parts. That kid rode it for a few years, then sold it to another friend. That friend did nothing with the bike, and it was relegated to his backyard. It wasn’t good enough for the shed, so they stored it behind the shed, where it sat for 20 plus years. Eventually, that second buyer sold it back to the first buyer, who was intent on restoring it several years ago. So that buyer gets on the Internet, discovers that it’s not a Dyno or GT. And he puts it up for sale again.

And here comes Facebook.

Someone posts pics of the bike on a Hoffman Bikes group. Dawson recognizes the bike and knows exactly what it is.

“I was blown away to see it survived,” says Dawson.

Dawson’s friend Jason drives from Philly to York to purchase the bike, and the owner wanted it to go to a good home. Jason purchases the bike. And through a trade, Adam gets the frame.

“I post a couple of photos on Facebook and I start getting messages. Apparently, Kevin sold the frame to York local Billy Jarboe.” And from there, it went from one owner to another, until it was finally repurposed as a Dyno and then cast aside.

Mat Hoffman is eventually contacted and explains that the Big Daddy prototype was built by Mike Devitt at SE. Two were made: one for Kevin and one for Chase. Chase’s was lost on a flight many years ago, but one remains lost somewhere in York. It’s this bike.

181716885 1116792482138246 3018902139531096541 N

Adam Dawson's restored HB BIG DADDY prototype.

This was Kevin Jones’ original prototype Big Daddy: the Holy Grail of flatland bikes, ridden in Dorkin’ videos, admired the world over, and left to rot in someone’s backyard for 28 years.

Highlights of the frame include a lowered standover height, dual back brake cable routing, holes in the dropouts and the knowledge that the frame is in good hands. Adam got to work restoring the bike. And then more work. And then even more. Left to the elements, the frame was in serious need of TLC, which Adam generously doled out via YouTube in a restoration video that began amassing more views than he expected. At the completion of the video, Adam rides the bike, proving that it can still handle flatland moves, then rolls it back into his garage.

The original Big Daddy, ridden by Kevin Jones in 'Hypnosis,' is back home. The lesson here is, always look under the stickers. That ratty old BMX bike in your neighbor’s yard? It might be part of history.

Green Bowl In Flatty On My Hutch Pro Racer  Kevin Jones Thunderdome Skatepark Built In 1978

Green bowl flatty on a Hutch Pro Racer. Kevin Jones, pre-Hoffman Bikes. Thunderdome skatepark circa 82.

Check out Hoffman's re-issued 30 Year Anniversary BIG DADDY frame HERE.

Previous

PRODUCT DROP: VANS x CULT "NEVER FADE" Collection

The sixth collection from Vans and Cult

Related Content

Hoffman Facemask

PRODUCT DROP: Hoffman Bikes 30 Year Anniversary Apparel

Updating the classics for 2021

12 Apr 2021
Hoffman Frames Leader Image

PRODUCTIVITY: HOFFMAN BIKES 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY FRAMES

The 'Totally Awesome Jumper' and more...

26 Nov 2021
Hoffman Cover Image

PRODUCT DROP: Hoffman Super Fork & Magnum Tire

More 30 Year Anniversary Goods from HB

24 Mar 2021
Boh 2019 Mat Img 8752

When Mat Hoffman Met The Battle Of Hastings

Legend Status X 2

1 Jul 2020
Rick Mat

30 Years Of Hoffman Bikes - Part 2: Rick Thorne

“Hey yo Thorne, you wanna ride for my new bike company I’m starting called Hoffman Bikes?”

15 Nov 2021
Hoffmanbikeszine 1024X1024@2X

30 YEARS OF HOFFMAN BIKES ZINE AVAILABLE NOW

Limited numbers for UK and Euro Customers only

17 Sep 2021
https://uk.khebikes.com/

Latest Content

Bruno foreign thumbnail
Play Button

'FOREIGN' - BRUNO HOFFMANN | VANS EUROPE

Fresh Hoffy from LA, Copenhagen, and Barcelona

21 Apr 2025
9d T Sy Z Qqn7 Ahqdefault
Play Button

'SOME OF WEEN' - WEEN CREW

A Week in Melbourne

20 Apr 2025
RFT9 G34 LP9whqdefault
Play Button

DATE NITE - "THIS WONT LAST" - FULL DVD

Dayton, Ohio

20 Apr 2025
Q6j r35drxchqdefault
Play Button

SEOUL BAP

With Mir Ng and locals

18 Apr 2025
4 Ot YI9v Tf Zkhqdefault
Play Button

BILLY PERRY - "BMX HAS ALWAYS BEEN HARD-WIRED INTO ME"

BMX Direct interviews Billy Perry

18 Apr 2025
Qr LDL Lr3zighqdefault
Play Button

'CHECKLIST' | THE CUT BMX

BANGERS!

17 Apr 2025
6 Ai GO7 Gs MU Qhqdefault
Play Button
Q6j r35drxchqdefault
Play Button

SEOUL BAP by Mir Ng

A BMX Travel Video

17 Apr 2025
X6i7kxw65i Yhqdefault
Play Button

RED BULL 'FEATURED' | MENS HIGHLIGHTS

Big air in Manchester

16 Apr 2025
Hk IZN Oy KRP Ahqdefault
Play Button

WAR PARTY - WEBEFILMING - 008

The latest from down under

15 Apr 2025
Kqxd06e Cr6chqdefault
Play Button

FRACTURE - 'FERIAS'

On the loose in Lisbon, Portugal

15 Apr 2025
0 C Hsc8 Uww D Ihqdefault
Play Button

RED BULL FEATURED STREET JAM

Presented by BNG BNG MCR in association with DIG

14 Apr 2025

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

Vans 11 27 21 014 Bruno Gap wall
RIXIN BIG APPLE ANGLE RAW ON WHITE 2500

PRODUCTIVITY - RIXIN Big Apple Frame

Billy Perry's signature frame - Built around what he needed.

8 Apr 2025
Rad teaser

Rad Day 2025

Anniversary movie screenings and RAD documentary release.

18 Mar 2025
Expert Top 3 Roll On crop

REPO: Keeping it local at the UK 'ROLL ON' Flatland Jam

"My desire was to give something back" – Mike O'Connell

5 Mar 2025
Snow Fight – Naoki Gaman2

20 Tips For Surviving Simple Session 2025

Check yourself before you wreck yourself!

20 Feb 2025
SS finals samples 4

SIMPLE SESSION 25 WRAP UP

Highlight videos, results and more

19 Feb 2025
Street station graphic

STREET STATION RETURNS for 2025

"Not your average BMX jam"

18 Feb 2025
Stack

DIG BOOK #2024

AVAILABLE VIA THESE BIKE SHOPS AND DISTROS

30 Dec 2024
New dig apparel main image

NEW DIG BMX APPAREL

Available now

27 Dec 2024
30 YRS POSH BOOK MNTN V V 004

(Almost) 30 YEARS OF POSH WOODS

Now available

24 Dec 2024
BSD Grime Safari Reed Stark Austin 6

Reed Stark - A Photo Safari

Safari Forever...

6 Dec 2024
Et FW24 Dig Magazine Collab Shoot 031

Introducing the DIG X ETNIES Collection

Celebrating a 25 year partnership

7 Nov 2024