Redline 401 Pinchless Flight Cranks with Techmatik BB

The Redline Flight Crank was the power transfer centre of choice for just about every pro BMX Racer and Freestyle rider in the 1980s, establishing a standard for performance and aesthetics that remained unrivalled through the 1980s. By virtue of its reputation and the endorsement of the pro ranks, the Flight Crank became the weapon of choice of every lawn-mowing, car-detailing, paper-delivering, BMX-committed kid, of our generation. If you ran “Flights” on your bike at the track, in jam circles, on vert, or on street-riding missions, you were well set in the reliability, and credibility ranks among those "who knew." To this day, the Redline Flight Crank stands up as an example of genuine, and timeless bicycle industry innovation.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a short productiuon run, we are opening these up to pre order now and it is likley they will sell out before we receive the delivery. 

In 1980, the Redline 401 Series Flight Crank as we know it was introduced following a period of development that saw prototypes and samples fall short of the demands of the emerging BMX racing scene.

For approximately 18 months, Redline manufactured the 401 Series Flight crank without a pinch bolt fixture at the spindle interface. The arm and spindle are connected through a 6-spline broach; however, the significant levels of generated torque transferred through this crucial connection led to the 6-spline interface loosening and ultimately failing. However, the "Pinchless" version of the Redline Flight crank equipped the Redline Prolines bikes of Redline racers Stu Thomsen and Greg Hill. Freestyle riders, including Bob Haro, notably used pinchless Flights on his Torker LPX and 1982 Haro Freestyler. For the sake of nostalgia, we started looking at options to recreate this version of the crank more reliably to enable collectors and riders to complete bikes from this era with authentic choices, although with an improved and more reliable connection. Here, we introduce a crankset largely built to the Pinchless Flight Crank standards, although with an upgraded 48-spline spindle. Once installed, visually you'd never know the difference.

The crank arm is formed from 1.125” swaged 4130 chromoly steel tubing, with decal pockets stamped into both sides and a single pinch bolt installation system. The crank is currently available in 175 mm and 180mm lengths and in limited supply.

The iconic Redline Vintage 44-tooth aluminum Flight Sprocket is manufactured using CNC engraving to recreate the logos and surface design accurately and to scale. The spindle borehole diameter reverts to that of the original 1980s crank and pairs with the double dimple Redline Vintage Spindle. The sprocket drive window features the original “step’ interface and bolts securely into the sprocket drive boss mounted on the rear of the crank arm to ensure the assembly is rigid and efficient. 

The Redline Vintage Techmatic Sealed Bottom Bracket Set is machined using era-original specifications and supplied with the same Japanese IJK sealed airframe bearings that the assembly was designed and built around in the early 1980s. When we sourced these bearings, IJK had to resurrect their production system, since the bearting is no longer an “in-line” item. Simply put, we brought this bearing back out of the IJK archives; such is the importance of authenticity.

The Full Setup…

• Redline Vintage Pinchless Flight Crank Arms in 180 mm Arm length

• Redline Vintage 44 T Redline Flight Sprocket in Anodized Silver.

• Redline Vintage Double Dimple Flight Spindle, with Mounting Hardware.

• Redline Vintage Techmatic Bottom Bracket Aluminum Cups, Threaded spindle nuts, Techmatic Decals, and Japanese IJK Sealed Bearing Set, and decals.

• 1 X Redline Vintage Crank Arm Decal set featuring 7 Era Correct Designs and Colour Options.