The first time you see the new Hutch Trick Star you simply won't believe your eyes. From its distinctive head tube treatment to its chain stay foot cages, the Trick Star reeks of free- style thickness. If any bike on today's market looks the part of a super-serious, super-specialized freestone mount, it's the Hutch. After you check the photos and glance over the specs, we think you'll agree with us when we say that the feathery 23-pound Trick Star is the most exotic and expensive bike in freestone BMX. Let's take a closer look into this radical new trickster called the Trick Star.
THE TRICK STAR FRAME AND FORK
Freestyle thickness abounds on the Trick Star chassis. Starting up front with the fork's double-thick dropouts, you'll soon realize that this is one of BMX'S most unique framesets. From the forks we move up to the Trick Star's wild front triangle treatment. How- ever, the head tube itself isn't so different, as it's a standard four-inch model.
We were surprised to find that Hutch chose not to reinforce it, as the manufacturers of our three other test bikes did. Hopefully, over prolonged use the head tube will not suffer flaring where the headset bearing cups seat into the tube. The unique feature on the Hutch Trick Star's head area is its diagonal 3/4-inch tubular gusset, which actually pierces the 1 3/8-inch downtime en route from the head tube to the top tube. This radical, dual-triangulated head setup should not only prove to be very rigid and durable, but it also allows the front brake to easily cigar the down tube during 360-degree rotation of the front wheel!
ASSORTED TOP TUBE TRICKS

Moving toward the seat tube you'll find the next Hutch Trick Star trick--a unique foot platform for frame stands and other assorted top-tube tricks.
Hutch accomplishes this platform by running two 5/8-inch-diameter tubes parallel to the top tube. These two tubes start approximately five inches in front of the seat tube and run approximately another three and a half inches in back of it. The only complaint we had with this setup was the fact that the tubes end bluntly. We felt that since in freestyle, riders are all over their bikes these tubes might be a bit on the dangerous side. A simple solution to this potential problem would be to better wrap these two tubes around the back of the seat tube.
The next trick feature you'll find will be when you check out the rear triangle. The Trick Star's serrated foot cages are located on the chain stays, down near the double-thick rear drops.
Almost everyone who saw these commented on what a hot idea they were.
Thanks to these little custom cages, you can say goodbye to foot slippage     and hello to "rear wheel pogos",

''grasshoppers'' and various other tricks requiring sure footing along the chain stays. Hot idea, Hutch!
GOING OUT ON A LIMB
After we had a chance to hash over all the trickery on the Trick Star chassis and admire Hutch's obvious attention to detail and beautiful finish work, we came to the conclusion that free- style frames and forks will never be quite the same. Other than a few rough design edges (straight-gauge head and bottom-bracket tubes and the blunt ends on the top tube footing platform), the bike is awesome. We salute Hutch for going out on a limb and solving certain problems that have plagued freestone frame-and-fork sets since their inception.
HANDLING IMPRESSIONS
Two top riders helped with the research and development on the Trick Star--Mike Buff and Woody Itson. Between these two guys and the fabricators over at Hutch it's obvious that they had the resources to come up with a winner--which is exacly what they did! First off, the Trick Star we received to test was the lightest of all our test bikes. At an even 23 pounds, the Trick Star was a full 4 1/2 pounds lighter than the heaviest of our four, the Kuwahara at 27 1/2 pounds. When you are doing 360 tail whips, bunnyhops and tabletop aerials, light weight really pays off. A manufacturer has to go all out to shave weight. Losing 4 1/2 pounds is an incredible accomplishment.
In checking the specs, you'll notice that the Trick Star is a full one inch longer in the wheelbase department than the Haro Master. After some careful studying we found that the rear triangle is longer on the Haro, while the front triangle on the Hutch is close to 1 1/2 inches longer! This, combined with the laid-back post on the Trick Star, made for rave reviews from the larger riders. The Trick Star offers all sorts of room to roam for even the lankiest of riders. Would the fact that Woody

You're looking at one of the most bizarre head tube arrangements in BMX today. The idea was to design a front triangle that would offer exceptional front brake clearance as well as strength to spare. Hutch accomplishes both with this unique setup. Bars, stem and 2-N-1 headset lock and Flex Fighter are also Hutch's works of art.

Itson is six feet three inches tall have anything to do with this? You can bank on it!
THE GREAT COMPROMISE
Angles on the Hutch are 74 degrees up front and 71 degrees back at the seat tube, while the bottom-bracket height is 11 7/8 inches. Put it all together and what you've got is a great compromise-the Trick Star is right at home on the ground or bounding off ramps. While the Hutch may not be ms nimble as its shorter, wheelbased competitors, it makes up for it with stability and added predictability. In the air the Trick Star exhibited outstanding balance, while on the ground we found no annoying twitches or tendencies to do the unexpected. As we said before, the Hutch is a great compromise and a forgiving handler. So, whether you'll be using your Trick Star for park, ramp or flatland use, we think you'll find that it does it all with style.
COMPONENTRY
Fine as the bike is, when it came to the componentry supplied with our particular Trick Star, we had some gripes.
First off, the Mitsuboshi Comp IV tires and Ukai alloy rims: Both are state-of- the-art racing equip but have no right to be on a bike that is to be considered a serious freestyler. The same goes for the super-trick 1/2-inch by 3/32-inch Izumi racing chain complete with its pierced side plates. It's a shame that the first time we've seen this chain, which will no doubt prove to be the hot setup in racing chains is on a freestone bike.
For serious freestyling, accept only high-quality 1/2-inch by 1/8-inch chains.
Also in question were the hollow chromoly axles on Hutch's new freestyle Trasher hubs. The hubs them- selves were beautiful with class sealed bearings, sane finish, etc. But hollow axles? Why? And finally, one last piece of sketchy equip--Hutch's trick sealed-bearing pedals. There is little question that these unique round pedals are the ultimate for racing, but we felt them to be a little out of place on a street-tough freestyler. One good beef on the street or off a ramp and you'll be paying a pretty price to re

Though we thought Hutch's top tube foot platform was a hot idea, we felt it had some rough edges. We'd like to see its two blunt ends wrapped around the seat tube better for added safety, as wel as grip tape coming as stock equip. Other than that, it works great!

place those mangled cages. A set of alloy platforms would easily solve the problem and would no doubt help to reduce the cost of the bike.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Hutch offers the Trick Star in either complete bike form or as a separate frame/fork/bars ensemble. If in fact the complete bike offered is spiced out as our tester was we would have to recommend that you purchase your own frame and fork and go from there, Light weight is one thing, but we felt the complete Trick Star was a bit of an overkill.
However, on the positive side was the Hutch chassis. Thanks to the input of Buff and Itson, the Trick Star emerges a serious freestone frameset. It'll excel in the air as well as on the ground, while offering today's modern freestyler everything he's always wanted in a frameset, and more. If you want a bike that'll turn heads as fast as it will pull tricks, the Trick Star is your scoot. 

Freestylers have always complained about the lack of surface area on the rear stays for doing tricks like rear wheel pogos, grasshoppers, etc. Here is the Hutch answer-- serrated cages. They stay out of the way until you need them, and then when you do need them, offer the ultimate in traction. Hot idea. Also, check out the hollow axles on Hutch's new Trasher Hubs. Whether they'll do tough enough for freestyle abuse remains to be seen.

HUTCH TRICK STAR
Frame: 4130 chromoly throughout. Features: unique pierced down tube head gusset, 1 3/8" downtube, 1" top tube, top tube platform, 5/8" "loop tail" rear triangle, chain stay foot cages, double thickness rear dropouts. Finishes available: chrome, red, white or blue.
Fork: 4130 chromoly throughout. Features: 1" legs, double-thick dropouts. Finishes available: chrome, red, white or blue.
Wheelbase: 35 1/2" to 36 1/2". Head angle: 74.5°. Seat angle: 72.5°. Bottom-bracket height: 11 3/4".
Wheels/tires: Ukai ralloy, Hutch Freestyle Trasher alloy hubs, 36/.080 chrome-plated spokes. Mitsuboshi Comp IV skinwall tires, 20"x1.75" front and rear, 35 to 40 psi.
Drive train: Hutch Aero-Speed hollow chromoly, 175mm three-piece cranks, Hutch Freestyle pedals, Izumi chain. Gearing: 43T/14T.
Brakes: Dia-Compe MX-1000, front and rear, with Tech 3 levers.
Misc: Hutch Buff Bars (28" x 9 1/2"), Hutch grips, Tange MX 125 headset, Hutch Pro Stem, Hutch 2N1 Headset lock, Kashimax Aero saddle, Tioga SuperLite tubes.
Weight: 23 lbs.
Contact: Hutch Hi-Performance Products, Inc., 4030 Benson Ave., Baltimore, MD 21227.
*Specifications subject to change without notice.