MA is an aftermarket pioneer. Those brakes, drives and controls have been a custom mainstay since way back in the ‘70s. Belt Drives Limited, BDL, is just as well known. BDL parts are “must haves” for builders everywhere. Well, some of those GMA and BDL offerings overlapped a little; BDL has been making its own brake parts since 1996, for instance, and even had a rotor/pulley system years ago.      GMA and BDL both had hand controls, too, and BDL even added a forward control set–something GMA lacked. So back in February when GMA went up for sale and became available it was a perfect fit at BDL. The two companies are now one. It’s now “GMA by BDL.”
     BDL’s Steve Yetzke says the plan is to continue manufacturing all those popular GMA parts, updating things as they go. There will be features and options never offered before, too. For starters there are those best-selling and most-popular GMA products ever, the dual-piston calipers. Those familiar ball-milled calipers are here at GMA by BDL, but with more options than ever. The original-look GMA parts, now known as the “GMA Classics,” keep to the ball-milled and clear-anodized tradition.      But there’s also a plain-finish version now. That’s the “GMA Smooth.” And both styles, Classic and Smooth, are now available with chrome plating or black anodizing to go along with that clear finish. All that applies to the original GMA mounting brackets, too. For years they were offered only one way. Now there are options.
     Those GMA hand controls have been updated, as well. In years past there were brake-side only controls. Now there are both brake and hydraulic clutch controls, with and without switches. Reminiscent of the GMA look, the new controls are actually part GMA and part BDL. The reservoir caps and boots are GMA, now fit to BDL cylinders, levers and mounts.
     And there’s a GMA by BDL forward control set in the works, something GMA never offered. Those forward controls will be offered in all the styles, Classic and Smooth, and with all the finishes, chrome, black and clear.
     What BDL has done, Steve Yetzke explains, is take some of the existing BDL product line, those parts that belonged with the GMA brake and control lineup, and convert them all to a new “GMA by BDL” line. The old GMA designs, the GMA Classics, remain but along with that there’s lots of new stuff coming with more added every day. The old GMA inside-out brake rotor and sprocket for example. It’s due for a redesign, and this time it’ll be offered with a 65-tooth sprocket to go along with the 70-tooth GMA original. This one should be available in September.
     For now BDL is working its way through the whole GMA lineup, updating as they go. The dual-piston calipers are ready, the four-piston calipers are next in line and then come the six-piston units. Those new GMA by BDL hand controls are ready now, too. The forward controls should be out by mid-summer, then there’s that inside-out sprocket/pulley to work over. All this is good news for the custom market. Two of the best-known names in the business are now one.
     Here’s more good news. All those new, redesigned and option-laden GMA by BDL parts will stay just as affordable as ever. None of the pricing has changed. The chrome plated parts, obviously, will cost a little more but the clear anodized and black parts will keep their GMA prices. GMA was always known for good, solid and reliable parts at a great value. “GMA by BDL” is all that and more.