1981 Healing Industries HMX 500 (2024)

1981 Healing Industries HMX 500

New Zealand made 1981 HMX-500 by Healing Industries Takagi Tourney 3 pce cranks MX-1 stem Chrome Araya 7c rims There used to be hundreds of these Bumble Bees buzzing around the suburbs.Very popular entry BMX at the time. The HMX-500 only came in yellow , but was later followed by the HMX-600 (Red or Blue) which came with Tuff's.

Always nice to see an HMX

There were everywhere when new..

Thats a real nice example

HMX500 wrote:

Very Nice! I got one of these for my 10th Birthday in 1982! I wish I still had it. I think it cost $160?

That would be about right I think.
I remember my Supermax costing about $220 at the time....Man , it took two years to save for it......The old raleigh 20 didn't cut it any more.

Im restoring one of these (hmx 500) at the moment for a mate of mine. Sentimental reasons. It was the first BMX I ever rode (not owned). At the moment I have it completey stripped down. Its getting painted the original yellow. I have new rims ordered for it. Im not putting the original chrome rims on it though (not sure if correct decision). Instead Im going for alloy (with original coaster brake) so that they can never rust! Once painted and the wheels are on I will be re-using the original head stem and bars. I have new bearings for head and bottom bracket. The original 3 piece crank is still like new so that will be going back on. I have the original grips although alittle rough now. However I need an original plastic seat aswell as decals and protector pads. I think Im going to be hard pushed to find pads though. It wont be completely original but I hope it will still turn heads and get people reminiscing. I would like some old school skin-wall (gum wall)tyres too but they seem hard to track down aswell. Can anyone tell me what the original pedals were? Also the forks are bent so they will be getting replaced, however they are not the originals. Will keep you posted!

Last edited by TJ Clark (2007-04-10 11:34pm)

If you think the things I say out loud are bad, you should hear the things I keep to myself.

Soundzgood wrote:

http://bmxmuseum.com/image/dsc00826.jpg http://bmxmuseum.com/image/dsc00827.jpg http://bmxmuseum.com/image/dsc00828.jpg http://bmxmuseum.com/image/dsc00829.jpg

1981 Healing " HMX-500 " New Zealand made

1981 Healing " HMX-500 "

New Zealand made 1981 HMX-500 by Healing Industries Takagi Tourney 3 pce cranks MX-1 stem Chrome Araya 7c rims There used to be hundreds of these Bumble Bees buzzing around the suburbs.Very popular entry BMX at the time. The HMX-500 only came in yellow , but was later followed by the HMX-600 (Red or Blue) which came with Tuff's.

View Bike in the Museum

This example doesnt have a front brake! Did they not come factory with one?

If you think the things I say out loud are bad, you should hear the things I keep to myself.

I have not seen any with front brakes ...unless someone had a fretfull mummy and had the nice man at the bike shop fit them.

The Forks are Tange TX-1200 Champions..should be easier to find.

Pedals = Rat-Traps

Actually the later healing model , the Hi-Max was basically the same frame/forks/cranks/rims but came with a 2 or 3 speed hub.
They were either a mint green or candy type blue frame with the same pattern front gusset.
It might be easier to track one of these down and turn it into a HMX-500.
Something will pop up if you look hard enough......I noticed a HMX-500 up someones drive while out in the weekend.It had blue tuffs . I often think there's one lurking at the back of someones garage in at least 1 house in each street as everyone seemed to have one.

That is a beautiful bike. I had a gold supermax when I was little my dad brought it off a boy who wanted to buy a commodore 64! Just got a supermax 2 of trade me hasnt arrived yet what was the difference?

Last edited by surfer29 (2007-04-10 3:20am)

a new zealander addicted to bmx

Are you going to ride your bike or just keep it as a show bike? Its so nice I would be afraid to ruin it!!!

Last edited by surfer29 (2007-04-10 3:15am)

a new zealander addicted to bmx

a new zealander addicted to bmx

If you think the things I say out loud are bad, you should hear the things I keep to myself.

TJ Clark wrote:

Im restoring one of these (hmx 500) at the moment for a mate of mine. Sentimental reasons. It was the first BMX I ever rode (not owned). At the moment I have it completey stripped down. Its getting painted the original yellow. I have new rims ordered for it. Im not putting the original chrome rims on it though (not sure if correct decision). Instead Im going for alloy (with original coaster brake) so that they can never rust! Once painted and the wheels are on I will be re-using the original head stem and bars. I have new bearings for head and bottom bracket. The original 3 piece crank is still like new so that will be going back on. I have the original grips although alittle rough now. However I need an original plastic seat aswell as decals and protector pads. I think Im going to be hard pushed to find pads though. It wont be completely original but I hope it will still turn heads and get people reminiscing. I would like some old school skin-wall (gum wall)tyres too but they seem hard to track down aswell. Can anyone tell me what the original pedals were? Also the forks are bent so they will be getting replaced, however they are not the originals. Will keep you posted!

TJ , I'm pretty sure the original seat is a padded vinyl type , not hard plastic if that helps.
If you get the original stickers , the writing on the pads is the same , so you could find the heavy yellow vinyl somewhere and make the pad covers , and then have the scaned logo's screen printed onto the vinyl pad covers. Go to Para rubber on Manchester St to find the foam for the pads , or buy a no name set from a bike shop for the inner pads.

Last edited by Soundzgood (2007-04-11 1:28am)

If you think the things I say out loud are bad, you should hear the things I keep to myself.

surfer29 wrote:

Have you got any idea where you can find tuffs in NZ?

Around Again Cycles in Woolston Christchurch has a few pairs but Leroy isnt very keen on parting with them Fair enough tho.

If you think the things I say out loud are bad, you should hear the things I keep to myself.

If you think the things I say out loud are bad, you should hear the things I keep to myself.

Soundzgood wrote:

TJ , what tires would look best , all black (like on the rear ) or gumwalls like on the front.
I'm like a woman.still can't decide on which one........

Haha. Well ive put all black on mine as you can see in my photo. Gum-wall is cool on old-school bikes, but I dont think they were original on the HMX 500's. The tires on mine are CST with the biggest knobblies I could get. I think they look cool But you may like to be different with your bike.

Last edited by TJ Clark (2007-05-03 2:19am)

If you think the things I say out loud are bad, you should hear the things I keep to myself.

If you think the things I say out loud are bad, you should hear the things I keep to myself.

WTB: ‘18 Haro Flatland Master frame, Hoffman Strowler frame. $$$ or good trades available.

bakso wrote:

What a beauty! I'm sitting here in Indonesia looking for bits for my new Kona hardtail and felt a bit nostalgic, so I searched for my first BMX bike. Your page came up and I couldnt believe it. I was a 13 yr old in Wellington when I sold my 10 speed (much to my parents disgust) and took possession of my new pride and joy. Man I raced the pants off that HMX and it never failed me. I got a couple of Suntour brakes and a new Suntour stem that I thought was the ducks nuts. I also ended up with some Tuffs, for street work...you know what I mean...jumping over curbs and generally causing trouble down the netball courts and stuff. Mmmm, those were the days. Wish I still had that HMX....

cheers Bakso .....welcome to the forum...you are right.....nothing beats the thrill of your first pride and joy.Mine was a new supermax 2.Was glad to be finally rid of the old hand me down raleigh 20 with the clunk clunk dodgy cotterpined cranks.

valhalla wrote:

My single gusset 500 had blackwall tyres that lasted forever.
TJ: I was back in NZ a few weeks ago and saw HMX500 pad covers on TradeMe. The shiney(later models, I think) ones that were easier to keep clean. I was amazed to see them on there the first time I looked. Thought they would be as rare as rocking-horse sh*t.

Yea i saw those on trademe mate! I had a punt but they went for over $100 each! I have just got lucky tho. I went to a retro race meet in Christchurch afew weeks ago and a fellow racer offered me a HMX500 top tube pad for nothing coz he didnt need it. I went to see him today to pick it up. Its mint! Ive got it on my bike now and it looks superb! Im a happy boy (adult, grown-up, mature person) The members of the North Avon BMX Club in Christchurch are really good blokes and are passionate about their old-school bikes. I recommend to all of you to check them out whenever you are in CHCH.

If you think the things I say out loud are bad, you should hear the things I keep to myself.

HMX500 wrote:

My HMX 500 had GUM Wall tyres New in 1982, Hamilton bike, I think the rear tyre was not as wide as the front tyre? Why was this?

Some bikes come with a wider front tyre for better grip and a narrow rear tyre for less drag. Alot of down-hill bikes today have a wider front tyre for this reason. I dont know why your HMX had a wider front tyre tho. Any one else strike this? Maybe the guy at the bike shop who assembled the bike felt like being different that day

If you think the things I say out loud are bad, you should hear the things I keep to myself.