BBR History

Here's a brief history of BBR Motorsports, Inc:


THE BROWN BROTHERS - 1973

BBR Boys in 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

BBR Boys in 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


Chris with XR75

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

Bike World

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


BBR XR75

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 YZ80

>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


BBR 1969 Roadrunner

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


BBR BMX Team

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


BBR RM125

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 XR100 swingarm

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



BBR Plymouth Superbird

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

BBR 1969 Hemi Roadrunner

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

BBR Chris with Pancreatitis

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 on Mikuni Fast Dates Calendar

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 on Cover of Dirt Bike magazine

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 Husaberg

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 Welding frame cradles

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 cover of Motocross Action Magazine

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 cover of Motocross Action Magazine

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

BBR Playbike of the year

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

BBR White Brother 4-stroke Championships

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 Rich Taylor at Mini Moto 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 Moves to new building

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

BBR CRF150R Parts

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's Derek Costela and Jeremy McGrath at Mini Moto 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.