 | Click here to see more photos of Chris Moeller and the S&M crew. |
S&M Bikes owner Chris Moeller has seen every side of the BMX business. From being a top rider to running one of the most respected rider-owned companies in the sport, he’s seen it all and helped shape where BMX is today. S&M’s products have been regarded as BMX staples (Slam Bars, Pitchforks, Rednecks, etc.), and the company continues to improve its products to give riders what they’re after.
S&M is celebrating its 20th year in BMX, and to help bring back the insane memories that only that crew could create, we are collecting your best S&M stories (past and present), and the top five entries are going to win a cool S&M and Vital BMX prize pack. [Many of the stories will wind up on the S&M website, too.] The stories can be any and everything that has to do with Chris, S&M products, or the S&M team riders from the past 20 years (Dave Clymer, Keith Treanor, John Paul Rogers, Troy McMurray, Jimmy Levan, Mike Griffin, Shaun Butler, Josh Stricker, etc.). Chris will read all of the stories and pick the winners.
I’ve put a couple stories below just to get you thinking. If you’ve ever encountered the S&M crew, I’m sure you have a story, and this is your chance to help tell the history of BMX. Send your story to mlosey@vitalbmx.com
[Keep scrolling down to read the Chris Moeller interview.]
“Hit Mark Losey and Get this Beer” by Mark Losey
In 1993 I was shooting photos at Super G’s “Jump Your Jalopy” contest at Twin Palms for BMX Plus! In the middle of the event, Chris Moeller pulled a beer out of his pocket and yelled, “The first person to hit Mark Losey and break his camera gets this beer!” I hoped everyone thought he was joking, but then I saw Ronnie Farmer starting to crank straight at me. I didn’t know what was about to happen, and I froze-up as Ronnie got cranking, pulled up over a bump, and then his front wheel flew right out of his forks! He exploded about 20 feet away while his front wheel rolled right on by. Ronnie looked pretty wrecked after that, so Moeller gave him the beer anyway. I think I got off lucky that day.
“The Guy had Gotten his Gun...” by John Paul Rogers
We traveled to a lot of races, and the majority of people didn’t dig our scene too much, so we were always getting into trouble. One of the more violent incidents happened at an ABA National that was being held at some redneck equestrian center in San Diego. Chris traded some guy a cruiser for an early 70s VW bus, and we piled a bunch of people in it and drove down for the race and KOD contest. Over the course of the weekend tensions were building between our crew and the owners of the center. On Sunday night we packed up and started to head out. I was driving and knocked over a couple of trashcans on the way out. As I was driving away, crazy-drunk-owner-guy starts throwing rocks at the bus and running after us and banging on the windows. We taunted him all the way to the exit. After we pulled out, he hit the window with a rock and I pulled over and stopped. He yanked Clymer out of the front seat; the rest of the guys were locked in the bus because the side door wouldn’t open from the inside. I ran around and unlocked the door. Dave was sitting on the guy’s chest and had him pinned to the ground, Alan Foster jumped out straight onto his nuts, Chris was jabbing him with a baseball bat… Then out of the blue, Scot Breithaupt, the guy who invented BMX racing, rushes in. He packed us back up in the bus and told us he was going to take care of the situation. We bailed, and a bunch of cops showed up because the guy had gotten his gun and was looking for us. Dave and Chris got suspended from the ABA for six months.
 | Chris Moeller throws down an abubaca for R&D purposes. To see more photos of Chris and the S&M crew, click that photo. |
VITAL BMX INTERVIEW: Straight Talk with S&M’s Chris Moeller
While we were talking to Chris for this story, we asked him a few questions about the business-side of BMX to give you peek at how the industry works.
BMX bikes have come a long way construction-wise. What are some advancements you think were important?
Better headset and bottom bracket designs (A-headset, integrated, Euro, Mid Press fit), having the ability to design our own tube sets from better material, laser cutting (as opposed to stamping and then flame cutting), just to name a few.
As a bike manufacturer, how do you decide how far to push the weight vs. strength issue?
We test the prototypes and if they hold up for the riding they were designed for, then they are good to go. Whether or not riders are being honest with themselves and buying the right frame for them is out of our control.
With as far as BMX bike construction has come, where do you think things can still be improved?
More specific geometry for individual rider’s set-ups and riding styles. Eddie’s new Fit frame is going to be a good example of this.
After being in BMX for so long, which parts of the business are the most fun for you? Any parts you hate?
I like seeing new products come to life. And I like working with people I like. I wouldn’t say I hate anything about this business. It’s really not that intense or serious.
S&M has always done great marketing. Does the Internet make things fresh for you, or is just one more thing to tackle?
The possibilities are limitless on the Internet and we haven’t really even scratched the surface of what’s possible. We’ve done a good job with the Fit Bike Co. site, but on the S&M side we’re lagging. Does anyone want to come work for us?
A lot of kids dream about a job in the BMX industry. What advice would you give to someone who wanted to get a job at S&M?
Apply now.
Same question but for being sponsored. What do you look for in riders?
I haven’t looked for riders in a long time. I’ve usually let the TM find the riders or I sponsor people I know personally and like. We’ve always co-sponsored a lot of riders I don’t know that well, but I wouldn’t bring them up to the pro team unless someone in the building vouched for them.
