THE BROWN BROTHERS - 1973
Growing up in Kent, Washington, the Brown brothers have always been close.
From the beginning, life revolved around anything with wheels.
THE BEGINNING - 1976
Chris (9), Duane(11), and Brent (14) buy out NK Cycle from their mentor-cousin,
Brian Demaray, and begin distribution of BMX parts and motocross accessories in
their parent's garage as "Brown Brothers Bike World".
XR75s - 1977
Hot products at Bike World are from DG, Redline, FMF, Bel-Ray, and GT. Profits
are blown on trick motorcycle parts. A 10-year-old Chris stands next to his
DG/XR75.
MOVING UP - 1978
The bike shop moves into an 1,100 square foot retail space in Kent, WA.
The "Tracker" BMX team is formed and the brothers alternate between the BMX tracks
and the motocross tracks.
THE FIRST BBR BIKE - 1979
While classmates in Jr. High shop class build pot holders, Chris and Duane build
a custom XR75 with a hand-fabricated frame incorporating a custom linkage-style
single shock and swingarm combo, dual leading brakes, and a modified Powroll engine.
Grade: A+.
MONEY WELL SPENT - 1980
>Duane and Chris puchase a YZ80 from the local Yamaha dealer. The
payment is $23 per month. Dad (Charlie Brown) lets the boys bulldoze the backyard
into a mini-motocross track.
SUCCESS - 1981
The bike shop thrives and provides the resources to play with more motorcycles and
race cars. The "BBR" logo first appears on Brent's 1969 Roadrunner drag-car
as he wins a 1981 West Coast divisional event at Seattle International Raceway at
age 18.
THE BMX DAYS - 1982
The brothers change the name of the shop to "BBR" (Brown Brothers Racing).
The BBR BMX team supports 14 riders who compete at national events across the country.
SHIFTING GEARS - 1984
The bike shop is sold and a new 2,500 square-foot motorsports machine shop is built
with a three acre supercross-style track in the back. The brothers can now
machine all kinds of motorsports parts during the day and ride every evening until
dark.
BBR PRODUCTION - 1986
BBR begins stuffing XR engines into YZ's, CR's and RM's. The Brothers'
personal motocross bikes get more exotic. Hand-built BBR aluminum swingarms
become available for the XR75-100, and orders pour in.
THE BROWN BROTHERS - 1987
Chris studies at Seattle Pacific University for his Computer Science degree, Duane
receives his fabrication degree, and Brent graduates with a business and finance
degree. The perfect team for the BBR business takes shape.
MUSCLE CARS - 1988
In addition to motorcycles, BBR begins to restore Mopar muscle cars.
Over the next four years, BBR would restore over 30 show winning cars, earning a
reputation for craftsmanship and attention to detail. (Brent's 1970 SuperBird)
THE VISION - 1992
Duane and Chris set out to build the trickest 4-stroke motorcycles in the world.
Brent begins developing a formal business plan for BBR. In 1991, Duane and
Chris win best of show with their 1969 Hemi 4-speed Road Runner at the West Coast
Mopar Nationals.
MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT - 1994
Chris develops life-thretening pancreatitis and spends the next 10 years
of his life in and out of the hospital. The first BBR Aluminum Frames were
designed from a hospial bed. Life is short so do what you love...motorcycles.
COMING OUT - 1995
BBR debuts its first Aluminum Framed Race Bikes at the White Brothers 4-Stroke Championships.
A BBR 280 is featured in the new Mikuni calendar (Duane's wife jokingly adds coverage
to the swimsuit with a felt marker). American Honda takes interest in BBR's
prototyping and a long standing relationship is formed.
COVER SHOTS - 1996
BBR's Aluminum Framed XR400 hits the cover of both Dirt Bike and Motocross
Action Magazine. MXA deems it "The World's Best 4-Stroke". Versions
of this bike win numerous classes at the 4-Stroke World Championships.
THE HINDENBERG - 1997
BBR Fabricates "The Hindenberg", a hand-made Aluminum Perimeter Frame with a Husaberg
501 motor. Honda development rider Rich Taylor podiums the bike against full
factory riders at the Washougal Outdoor Nationals. Does your new CRF450R look
familiar?
EXPANSION - 1998
BBR swings into production of complete Custom Aluminum Framed Motocross
Bikes. A line of aftermarket parts is developed for the new YZ400 4-Stroke,
and BBR Frame Kits are in high demand for XR/CR conversions.
PERIMETERS - 2000
BBR's Perimeter Framed YZ426 is introduced and retails for $22,000. Other
bikes include a Works Suzuki RM400, TT-R225/YZ125 Conversion and a variety of custom
mini's. Magazine coverage and numerous race wins result in rapid company growth.
The waiting list for BBR bikes stretches to over six months.
FOUNDATION - 2001
BBR's new Aluminum Perimeter Framed YZF250F 4-Stroke hits the market.
Weighing 20 lbs. less than the stock bike. It is the foundation for Honda's
future CRF250R. Hand-crafted race bikes remain the foundation of BBR.
PLAYBIKE OF THE YEAR - 2002
Motocross Action Magazine names BBR's TT-R125, "Playbike of the Year", and the first
Aluminum Framed XR50 is on the cover of Dirt Bike Magazine ridden by Travis Pastrana.
Work continues on the development of a BBR Aluminum Perimeter Frame for the 50 along
with a CRF150F components program.
MINI BIKE DEVELOPMENT - 2003
Sales of BBR 50's soar with the development of the BBR "Super-Pro" Frame
Kit. BBR 50's place 1-2-3 at the 4-Stroke World Championships at Glen Helen.
BBR 150's take 1-8 at Langtown and 1-10 a the White Brother's Nationals.
THE ULTIMATE MINI - 2004
BBR introduces the first Aluminum Perimeter Frame for the 50 and the 110 mini-bike
market after four years of development. The first water-cooled 50 prototype
is tested. BBR places 1-10 at the Las Vegas Mini-Moto Nationals with Aluminum
Framed bikes ridden by MC, Taylor, Stanton, Antunez, Lewis, Hagseth, and others.
BBR'S NEW FACILITY - 2005
BBR' new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility houses the latest in CAD
design, CNC technology and one of the largest selections of innovative 4-Stroke
MX performance products in the world.
CRF150R CHANGES EVERYTHING - 2006
Honda releases the revolutionary CRF150R and BBR goes wild! Over a dozen parts
are released within 30 days of the release of the CRF150R and a prototype Aluminum
Perimeter Frame is developed.
THE FUTURE - 2007
BBR wins the AMA #1 plate for the third year in a row at MiniMoto SX. BBR's
Perimeter Frame technology continues to give racers a competitive advantage. BBR
Factory Perimeter Frame 150R bikes dominate the 2007 CRF150R World Championship
race at Glen Helen, finishing 1st and 2nd in both motos.