Bob Morales
Encyclopedia
Robert L. Morales is a former freestyle BMX rider turned promoter, designer, inventor and business executive. He is the founder of DYNO Bicycles, the American Freestyle Association
(AFA), Auburn Cycles, KORE Bicycle Components, Morales Bicycle Co., Carlsbad Motocross Racing (CMXR) and ASV Inventions. He is currently president and CEO of ASV Inventions, Inc.
Around 1977, he got into BMX
racing by competing in a local BMX
race where he met fellow racer R.L. Osborn and they became good friends. R.L. Osborn's father was the founder of BMX Action magazine and became a pioneer in the sport of BMX
and Freestyle BMX
. Through the Osborns he met Bob Haro
who would later pioneer the sport of Freestyle BMX.
At age 14 Morales started his first business and named it BME which stood for Bob Morales Enterprises. BME sold BMX brand stickers and apparel through mail order advertisements in BMX magazines. BME eventually became DYNO Design in 1983.
In 1980 Bob Haro
asked Morales to join him on a national tour to promote the new sport of Freestyle BMX. They traveled on tour together performing shows all over the Midwest, Eastern United States, and parts of Canada to enthusiastic crowds. In 1982 Morales began promoting Freestyle BMX competitions and formed the Amateur Skate Park Association (ASPA), which would later become the American Freestyle Association
(AFA), to promote events in this fast growing sport. At its peak in 1986 the AFA hosted a BMX Freestyle competition at Madison Square Garden
in New York City with over 5,000 spectators and a large cash purse for the competitors.
Morales joined friend and fellow freestyle rider Eddie Fiola
and formed the founding BMX Freestyle teams for Haro Bikes
(1980), Kuwahara (bicycle company)
(1982), and GT Bicycles
(1983).
In 1982, Oakley founder Jim Jannard asked Morales and Fiola to perform at the AMA Supercross at Anaheim Stadium in front of 40,000 spectators. Jannard also invited Morales & Fiola to perform at an Oakley "Factory Pilot Nite", an exclusive Oakley athlete party at Oakley headquarters which were located in Lake Forest at that time. Jannard and his company Oakley have been a life long inspiration for Morales and his product designs.
Morales stopped riding professionally in 1985 to concentrate on his two businesses: the American Freestyle Association
(AFA) and DYNO Design which has made BMX accessories since 1983. In 1985 he sold DYNO Design (which later became DYNO Bicycles) to GT Bicycles
and went to work for them as a designer. He was awarded his first patent while working at GT Bicycles
for a bicycle frame design.
Also in 1985 Morales appeared in the first action-sports themed television commercial for Mountain Dew
soda with fellow pro freestyle BMX riders Eddie Fiola
, R.L. Osborn, Ron Wilkerson and Pat Romano. Later that year Morales became a member of the Screen Actors Guild
(SAG) and pursued a career in commercial acting appearing in several national commercials.
Morales founded Mor Distributing in 1985 and brought in partner Todd Huffman in 1986. Mor Distributing started out as a distributor of bicycles and parts for other companies like DYNO. In 1986 Morales and Huffman created their own brands including Auburn Cycles using a unique two-piece frame design by Morales. Scooster brand scooters were also created under Mor Distributing to compete in the fast growing scooter segment of the bicycle market at that time. They later sold the Auburn brand to GT Bicycles
in 1989. GT went on to market and sell Auburn bicycles for many years. Morales formed Group B Design in 1989 to provide product and advertising design to the bicycle industry. Group B clients included HUTCH Bicycles, Iron Horse Bicycles
, and Western Auto
. Another patent was awarded to Morales for a bicycle frame design called the "A Frame" for Iron Horse Bicycles
. Morales is credited with building the Iron Horse brand of bicycles into an internationally recognized brand.
KORE Bicycle Components was founded by Morales in 1988 and he was awarded three more patents for bicycle part designs for BMX and Mountain Bikes. In 1993 several financial partners had joined KORE. In 1993 Morales formed the MORALES Bicycle Company to market and distribute bicycle frame designs that he had created for the BMX and Mountain Bike markets. Morales sold his interest in KORE to his partners in 1998. He retained ownership rights of Morales Bicycle Co.
Later in 1998 he began promoting motocross races at the legendary Carlsbad Raceway and formed a racing club called CMXR (Carlsbad Motocross Racing). In early 2000 Morales founded ASV Inventions, Inc. to develop, market and distribute his inventions. ASV developed into a leading brand of motorcycle parts and accessories and Morales had been awarded several more patents for products marketed under the ASV brand. In late 2007 ASV Inventions acquired Universal Engineering, Inc. a brand of motocross
parts and accessories.
American Freestyle Association
The American Freestyle Association or AFA was the first governing body for BMX freestyle in the 1980s. It was founded by Bob Morales in 1982. The AFA started out as the ASPA promoting events at skateboard parks and gained early notoriety with a series call the "King of the Skateparks" series...
(AFA), Auburn Cycles, KORE Bicycle Components, Morales Bicycle Co., Carlsbad Motocross Racing (CMXR) and ASV Inventions. He is currently president and CEO of ASV Inventions, Inc.
History
Morales began riding motorcycles at the age of 7, then racing motorcycles at the age of 11. His father bought him a Yamaha YZ 80 to compete in motorcycle races. He won over 20 dirt biking trophies by 1976. He took up BMX bike riding at the age of 14 when his parents could no longer support his motorcycle racing because of a divorce.Around 1977, he got into BMX
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
racing by competing in a local BMX
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
race where he met fellow racer R.L. Osborn and they became good friends. R.L. Osborn's father was the founder of BMX Action magazine and became a pioneer in the sport of BMX
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
and Freestyle BMX
Freestyle BMX
Freestyle BMX is a synonym for BMX stunt riding, a sport branch that hails from extreme sports. It consists of six disciplines: street, park, vert, trails, dirt and flatland .-History:...
. Through the Osborns he met Bob Haro
Bob Haro
Bob Haro is a former freestyle BMX rider turned artist and business executive. He is the founder of Haro Bikes and was one of the most important early innovators of BMX freestyle....
who would later pioneer the sport of Freestyle BMX.
At age 14 Morales started his first business and named it BME which stood for Bob Morales Enterprises. BME sold BMX brand stickers and apparel through mail order advertisements in BMX magazines. BME eventually became DYNO Design in 1983.
In 1980 Bob Haro
Bob Haro
Bob Haro is a former freestyle BMX rider turned artist and business executive. He is the founder of Haro Bikes and was one of the most important early innovators of BMX freestyle....
asked Morales to join him on a national tour to promote the new sport of Freestyle BMX. They traveled on tour together performing shows all over the Midwest, Eastern United States, and parts of Canada to enthusiastic crowds. In 1982 Morales began promoting Freestyle BMX competitions and formed the Amateur Skate Park Association (ASPA), which would later become the American Freestyle Association
American Freestyle Association
The American Freestyle Association or AFA was the first governing body for BMX freestyle in the 1980s. It was founded by Bob Morales in 1982. The AFA started out as the ASPA promoting events at skateboard parks and gained early notoriety with a series call the "King of the Skateparks" series...
(AFA), to promote events in this fast growing sport. At its peak in 1986 the AFA hosted a BMX Freestyle competition at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York City with over 5,000 spectators and a large cash purse for the competitors.
Morales joined friend and fellow freestyle rider Eddie Fiola
Eddie Fiola
Edward Lynn Fiola in Bellflower, California, USA was a professional freestyle BMX rider in the 1980s and a film stuntman....
and formed the founding BMX Freestyle teams for Haro Bikes
Haro Bikes
-Haro Designs:The company was founded in 1978 by Bob Haro. Haro started out producing numberplates for BMX bikes in his bedroom. Demand for these stylish plates quickly outgrew his one man capacity. Haro Designs, the first name of the company, was formed in 1980 with headquarters in Torrance,...
(1980), Kuwahara (bicycle company)
Kuwahara (bicycle company)
is a Japanese bicycle company manufacturing both bicycles and parts.The company was started as a small family business in Osaka, Japan in 1918 by Sentaro Kuwahara . With his wife and eight children, he began a local bicycle parts wholesaler...
(1982), and GT Bicycles
GT Bicycles
GT Bicycles is a large American manufacturer of road, mountain, and bmxbicycles. The company was founded in 1979 by Gary Turner, a welding engineer and Richard Long, a bike shop owner. The company merged with Schwinn in 1998, but the conglomerate went bankrupt in 2001, and was acquired by Pacific...
(1983).
In 1982, Oakley founder Jim Jannard asked Morales and Fiola to perform at the AMA Supercross at Anaheim Stadium in front of 40,000 spectators. Jannard also invited Morales & Fiola to perform at an Oakley "Factory Pilot Nite", an exclusive Oakley athlete party at Oakley headquarters which were located in Lake Forest at that time. Jannard and his company Oakley have been a life long inspiration for Morales and his product designs.
Morales stopped riding professionally in 1985 to concentrate on his two businesses: the American Freestyle Association
American Freestyle Association
The American Freestyle Association or AFA was the first governing body for BMX freestyle in the 1980s. It was founded by Bob Morales in 1982. The AFA started out as the ASPA promoting events at skateboard parks and gained early notoriety with a series call the "King of the Skateparks" series...
(AFA) and DYNO Design which has made BMX accessories since 1983. In 1985 he sold DYNO Design (which later became DYNO Bicycles) to GT Bicycles
GT Bicycles
GT Bicycles is a large American manufacturer of road, mountain, and bmxbicycles. The company was founded in 1979 by Gary Turner, a welding engineer and Richard Long, a bike shop owner. The company merged with Schwinn in 1998, but the conglomerate went bankrupt in 2001, and was acquired by Pacific...
and went to work for them as a designer. He was awarded his first patent while working at GT Bicycles
GT Bicycles
GT Bicycles is a large American manufacturer of road, mountain, and bmxbicycles. The company was founded in 1979 by Gary Turner, a welding engineer and Richard Long, a bike shop owner. The company merged with Schwinn in 1998, but the conglomerate went bankrupt in 2001, and was acquired by Pacific...
for a bicycle frame design.
Also in 1985 Morales appeared in the first action-sports themed television commercial for Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew is a citrus-flavored carbonated soft drink brand produced and owned by PepsiCo. The original formula was invented in the 1940s by Tennessee beverage bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman and was first marketed in Marion, VA, Knoxville and Johnson City, Tennessee. A revised formula was...
soda with fellow pro freestyle BMX riders Eddie Fiola
Eddie Fiola
Edward Lynn Fiola in Bellflower, California, USA was a professional freestyle BMX rider in the 1980s and a film stuntman....
, R.L. Osborn, Ron Wilkerson and Pat Romano. Later that year Morales became a member of the Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
(SAG) and pursued a career in commercial acting appearing in several national commercials.
Morales founded Mor Distributing in 1985 and brought in partner Todd Huffman in 1986. Mor Distributing started out as a distributor of bicycles and parts for other companies like DYNO. In 1986 Morales and Huffman created their own brands including Auburn Cycles using a unique two-piece frame design by Morales. Scooster brand scooters were also created under Mor Distributing to compete in the fast growing scooter segment of the bicycle market at that time. They later sold the Auburn brand to GT Bicycles
GT Bicycles
GT Bicycles is a large American manufacturer of road, mountain, and bmxbicycles. The company was founded in 1979 by Gary Turner, a welding engineer and Richard Long, a bike shop owner. The company merged with Schwinn in 1998, but the conglomerate went bankrupt in 2001, and was acquired by Pacific...
in 1989. GT went on to market and sell Auburn bicycles for many years. Morales formed Group B Design in 1989 to provide product and advertising design to the bicycle industry. Group B clients included HUTCH Bicycles, Iron Horse Bicycles
Iron Horse Bicycles
Iron Horse Bicycles was a manufacturer of bicycles, in Islandia, New York, United States from 1987 to 2009. Its logo was a prancing horse on a mustard-color crest similar to the Ferrari logo...
, and Western Auto
Western Auto
Western Auto Supply Company was a specialty retail chain of stores that supplied automobile parts and accessories. It operated approximately 1200 stores across the United States. It was started in 1909 in Kansas City, Missouri, by George Pepperdine, who later founded Pepperdine University...
. Another patent was awarded to Morales for a bicycle frame design called the "A Frame" for Iron Horse Bicycles
Iron Horse Bicycles
Iron Horse Bicycles was a manufacturer of bicycles, in Islandia, New York, United States from 1987 to 2009. Its logo was a prancing horse on a mustard-color crest similar to the Ferrari logo...
. Morales is credited with building the Iron Horse brand of bicycles into an internationally recognized brand.
KORE Bicycle Components was founded by Morales in 1988 and he was awarded three more patents for bicycle part designs for BMX and Mountain Bikes. In 1993 several financial partners had joined KORE. In 1993 Morales formed the MORALES Bicycle Company to market and distribute bicycle frame designs that he had created for the BMX and Mountain Bike markets. Morales sold his interest in KORE to his partners in 1998. He retained ownership rights of Morales Bicycle Co.
Later in 1998 he began promoting motocross races at the legendary Carlsbad Raceway and formed a racing club called CMXR (Carlsbad Motocross Racing). In early 2000 Morales founded ASV Inventions, Inc. to develop, market and distribute his inventions. ASV developed into a leading brand of motorcycle parts and accessories and Morales had been awarded several more patents for products marketed under the ASV brand. In late 2007 ASV Inventions acquired Universal Engineering, Inc. a brand of motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
parts and accessories.