JTFreestyle 1981 Jason Jensen Torker

1981 Jason Jensen Torker
(pictures below)

What can I say is that the Torker bicycle helped me ride better and with that I started winning races in '78. 85% is you and 15% bike but able to be sized properly with the better handling solved many of my problems with my '75 Squareback. Coined the Torker Kid in '78 and raced Torkers from 1978 - 1984.

Always thought this bike was so aesthetically cool when I saw it 25 years ago. What could I do for Rockford...a blast from the past of one of the coolest bikes I've ever seen, sweet 1981 BMXA cover/feature, Hot Tip for that magazine, and it being 25 years later...I had to build Jason's Torker! What a fun and scary time! Finding parts is fun but when you can't and a deadline is near, well you pray! Let's just say finding some Shimano Dura-Ace era correct hubs was not a good time! Stickers are another story!

Where do I get a paint job, copper plating, clear coating, modified stem, track axles with Shimano nuts that aren't around anymore? While experiencing much time away due to medical reasons I was able to squeeze this in all the while working a ton of hours at work.

Scheduled for surgery on my face, have a rare tumor, right before Rockford but luckily had that date changed to the 23rd. June 14th I was at the copper plating place directing them on what needs to be done and doing the polishing! Asked them to do this six months earlier and it gets down to the very end!

Finally put the bike together and realized that the OMAS lock rings were the wrong size! Luckily I had two BB's and had to have my wife run those to get plated, $125! Negotiated this price down a tad!

Thought I would not chance anything and put the stickers on at the Rock. We packed up all the stuff and headed on our 5 1/2 hour drive.

It's show time and looking for my stickers! No Torker headtube sticker??? I had a heart attack and thought with all this I can't display the bike due to a major sticker missing. Regrouped and asked everyone if they had a 2nd generation Torker headtube sticker. No luck until I saw one at Scott's, JMC 1969, display. Can we say that everything seemed to finally come together at the very last minute?

Got Jason Jensen blown up, literally, and dressed by 11:30 A.M. From 11:30 - 4:00 I don't know what happened...it all went so fast!!!

Everything was finally packed and headed to the Clock Tower for the banquet.