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The first frame designed by a very young Steve Johnson was
actually called the Peddlepower frame sold by the Peddlepower
bike shop. The double top tube design captured everyone's
attention and for the larger rider this a good first attempt.
The head tube was quite mellow at 70 degrees and the seat tube
was ultra mellow compared to Redline and Mongoose. The
other noticeable difference was the "fish tailed" gussets and
forward pressed/welded dropouts. This unique combination
combination along with a Speedo dual position fork gave for some
superb handling. Soon after the test Steve began
production of Torker forks.
The pre-production Torker MX frames did not have a drilled
caliper mount but when the frames were designed as complete
bikes they started to drill them for calipers. My Torker
is a pre-production frame serial #93.
As stated by Bob Osborn, "What does this mean for a purchaser of
a Torker MX? Well folks, because of the additional
surfaced area and the double joint contact at the steering head
afforded by double top tubes, and because of the highly
effective location of gussets, and because the entire frame is
made of 4130 chromoly, this bugger is exceptionally strong."
Bob continues on handling, "The Torker MX handled flawlessly
under all conditions: bookin' down straights, blasting berms, or
sailing over jumps."
The bike features all the parts from 1977 and this was the year
that Redline introduced the Pro Line stem. Pictured is a
prototype with square clamps versus the rounded Redline stamped
clamps that became famous. The Femco rims were never
laced. All the spokes and nipples were polished to get
that new look.
The inspiration on this was the July 1977 double coverage by the
BMX News featuring Kevin McNeal on the cover and Bicycle
Motocross Action featuring RL Osborn during the testing of the
MX.
1978 Torker introduced the Low Profile model for younger riders
like myself and swooped up one to replace my 1974 Redline Square
back. I was coined "The Torker Kid" from that point and
rode a Torker to the end of their run in 1984.
VEHICLE
Frame - Torker MX, pre-production MX non-drilled caliper with
serial #93
Fork - Speedo dual
Stem - Redline prototype with square clamps
Bars - Kawasaki
Grips - Hunt Wilde from Cash Matthews, NOS
Headset - Schwinn
Rims - Femco, NOS
Spokes - .105 gauge polished
Front hub - ACS
Rear hub - Bendix
Front Tire - Motocross 20 x 2.125, NOS
Rear Tire - Motocross 20 x 2.125, NOS
Chain - Schwinn
Chain ring - Addicks 46 teeth, NOS
Cranks - Ashtabula 7 1/2", NOS
Bottom Bracket - Schwinn
Pedals - Union rat traps from Cash Matthews, NOS
Seat - Mesinger padded, NOS
Seat post - Redline
Seat post clamp - Prototype Redline never mass produced
Pad set - Torker didn't make pads yet
DIALED IN
Jeff "JT" Tollefson
www.JTFreestyle.com
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1977 Bicycle Motocross News with Kevin McNeal |
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Ashtabula cranks, Addicks, and Schwinn chain |
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Hunt Wilde grips, Kawasaki bars, Prototype Proline stem |
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Redline prototype '77 stem |
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Bendix 70 coaster with forward facing dropouts |
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Bicycle Motocross Action Torker MX test |
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Union pedals and Orbit Motocross tires |
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Speedo forks, Femco wheels, and Motocross tires |
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