Zero Nine Old School BMX Plate Number Sticker - No. 7 Black
14 cm high approx.
Original from the 80s therefore may suffer from age-related marks etc.
ZeroNine (often written Zeronine or Zero Nine) is one of those brands that perfectly captures the early BMX boom of the late 1970s and 1980s. While many riders remember them for frames and bikes, they actually started with something much simpler: race numbers.
How it started
ZeroNine was founded by Owen Scheppman in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The company's name came from the fact that it originally produced the numbers 0 through 9 for BMX number plates. Owen screen-printed vinyl numbers by hand and sold them at BMX races for around 50 cents each.
The colourful number decals quickly became popular, and the distinctive ZeroNine logo stickers became icons of early BMX culture. As BMX exploded in popularity, the company expanded into:
- Number plates
- Pad sets
- Visors
- Jerseys
- Stickers
- Gloves
- Complete bikes and frames
The racing era
By the mid-to-late 1980s, ZeroNine had become a recognised BMX race brand. They produced race frames such as the Pro XL and built complete race bikes aimed at serious BMX racers. According to period reports, frame geometry was developed with racer Ron Anderson, while Kevin Scheppman and designer Tony Kottmeier contributed to the bikes' development and graphics.
One interesting detail for collectors is that Owen later stated that some early ZeroNine frames were manufactured by Cycle Craft, which is why certain ZeroNine race frames share similar dropout designs. Other production was reportedly handled by MCS before some manufacturing moved overseas.
Why collectors love them today
For many old-school BMX fans, ZeroNine is most associated with:
- Brightly coloured race number plates
- Iconic logo stickers
- Pad sets and race gear
- Mid-to-late 1980s race bikes
The brand sits in a nostalgic space similar to companies like DG, MCS, SE, Cycle Craft and Hutch. A lot of collectors who raced in the 1980s remember seeing ZeroNine numbers and plates at local tracks before they ever saw a ZeroNine frame.
The BMX downturn and revival
When BMX racing slowed down toward the end of the 1980s, ZeroNine diversified into commercial screen printing, decals and later thermal transfer printing supplies to survive. The company remained active outside BMX and eventually began reissuing classic BMX products as interest in old-school BMX exploded during the 2000s and 2010s.
Today the name survives through reproductions, apparel and modern BMX products while still trading heavily on its old-school heritage.
For a sticker collector like yourself, ZeroNine is particularly significant because their race numbers and logo decals are among the most recognisable BMX sticker designs of the late 1970s and 1980s, and original NOS examples are highly sought after by restorers.
One of the coolest pieces of BMX trivia is that the company was literally built around the numbers 0-9. Few BMX brands can say they started by selling the digits that every racer needed on their bike.
