RADBMX.CO.UK
Old School BMX 1980 - 1988 => Old School Freestyle (frame stands and kickturns galore!) => Topic started by: Tolly on May 27, 2007, 06:41 PM
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Been riding Torkers since 1978 and when thumbing through run of my Action Now magazines I saw Bob's article again about the sport Freestyle. Thought I have those parts lying around and in a couple of hours I had this beauty built up! This is the bike that Bob based the Haro Freestyler frame and fork from but with some beefier specs and geometry changes for better freestylin'.
Met Bob in '81 at a BMX race and have had the opportunity to see him here and there for the last 26 years, especially for some of our reunions and Joe Kid on a Stingray premiere in Hollywood. Sent him a shot of the bike and he was totally stoked about it and how I have been educating new school riders on the history of where their bikes came from!
Enjoy!
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/picts/Bikes/1981%20Bob%20Haro%20Torker%20JTFreestyle_.jpg)
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/picts/Bikes/1981%20Haro%20Torker%20drivetrain%20JTFreestyle.jpg)
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/picts/Bikes/1981%20Haro%20Torker%20fork%20JTFreestyle.jpg)
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/picts/Bikes/1981%20Haro%20Torker%20stem%20JTFreestyle.jpg)
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/Trips/2006Rockford/rock06/jtbikes/1981%20Haro%20Torker_.jpg)
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NICE !! :daumenhoch:
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Gorgeous, mate! :daumenhoch: :4_17_5:
HRD
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lloking good mate and rom bloke as done a bob rep torker and gen 1 too
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Nice one mate :daumenhoch: love it, thats always been one of my favourite pics so to have a replica of that is ace :4_17_5:
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That does look good, gotta love a Torker :daumenhoch:
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Wow, just joined the site and appreciate the + feedback :)
Forgot to mention that is was featured in RIDE magazine.
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/picts/Riders/JT/2007%20RIDE%20BMX%20JT_M.jpg)
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/picts/Riders/JT/2007%20RIDE%20BMX%20JT2_M.jpg)
Here's another Haro pic for ya!
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/Trips/2006Rockford/rock06/jtbikes/Bob%20Haro%20wheelie_.jpg)
BITD David and my buddy Rick!
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/picts/80s/1983%20Rick%20and%20David%20haro%20van.jpg)
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very cool pics tolly.... :4_17_5:
i love all this old stuff. this is long before i even knew what a bmx was.... ace!
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Very very nice indeed, looks spot on :daumenhoch:
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picts a bit blurry
this is on the door at rom skate park
had to clean of 26 years of grime to take pict lol
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v340/lazychubs/rom%20picts/Image015.jpg)
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love the torker mate...couldnt have built it better myself....lol
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/DSCF1900.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/v255/rombloke/DSCF1732.jpg)
Dave
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nice bikes jeff and dave!!
get some endos done
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Quality stuff :daumenhoch:
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Jeff ,Love your replica builds ,escpecially that Bob Haro rep .....Will you be going to Rockford with it ? I here theres a guy called Bob Haro attending.
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Thanks again for the compliments and I just love BMX! Being involved from '74 I've seen everything and actually still ride. After 23 years of not racing I bought a cruiser, first one, and goofed around at our local track. What a blast and was told I haven't missed a beat.
Always did quirky things on my BMX bike and finally when I saw the How-To in BMXA on a Rockwalk I knew that someone else was out there doing "stunts" on a bike like me. Continued to race but in '82 I did my first Freestyle show, by myself, in front of hundreds of people. It was so fun and rewarding to spread the word about BMX and Freestyle.
By 1984 I had my own BMXA portable ramp setup and was on the J.T. Freestyle tour with my buddy Rick pictured above in the yellow Haro shirt. Traveled all over and rode with a ton of factory guys that weren't known yet like Dennis McCoy, Josh White, Karl Rothe, etc.
So jumping ahead to 2007 I'm still riding and promoting BMX. RECENT FREESTYLE SHOW (http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/vids/2007%20Cotton%20JTFreestyle%20Performances.wmv)
My bikes are part of me and it's great to have some historic bikes that shaped our industry/sport that I can show, yet spread the message about a sport we all love so much!
Yeah, that Bob Haro guy and I go back to '81 and thought Rockford has had a huge BMX racing presence so why don't we get a huge Freestyle presence? Called Bob and he was a little hesistant but after I told him how well he will be received he was totally in!
I have a project at my work that week and not sure if I can make it now due to the urgency of that project. Really bummed since this will be the first year for Freestyle and not being able to hang with everyone...including Bob.
Joe Kid on a Stingray, Hollywood
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/Trips/2005joekid/2005%20JTFreestyle%20Bob%20Haro%20signing_.jpg)
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brilliant stuff jeff
i really appreciate your love for the sport thru the years
i been in the museum for an hour last night
checking the JJ torker with the copper finish ,the motomag
and the squareback redline,all top draw
very nice indeed
but for me the haro torker is the one :smitten:
freestyle ground zero
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What a beauty - love it :smitten:
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jeff.
welcome to the site. hope you stick around and show us any more pics you have. lovely torker. any more? i'd love to have went to the Joe kid bash, but they don't invite everyone.. it would be great to meet Bob.
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Thanks again for the compliments and welcome. You guys have a very good vibe here and really enjoy all that it has to offer!
Can't believe I have had a Redline for 32 years, Torkers for 29, and Haros for 25! What a blast it has been and neat to see what all is going on over here.
Here's the Action Now that featured the Torker
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/picts/80s/1981%20Action%20Now%20with%20Bob%20Haro_.jpg)
1980 bunny hoppin' on my Torker
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/picts/80s/1980%20JTFreestyle%20Jeff%20bunny%20hop_.jpg)
1983 Haro show
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/picts/80s/1983%20Jeff%20Rick%20and%20Haro.jpg)
Slide show from 1980 - 1990 (http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/vids/1980%20thru%201990%20JTFreestyle%20Jeff%20Tollefson.wmv)
2007 recent performance! (http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/vids/2007%20Cotton%20JTFreestyle%20Performances.wmv)
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cool slide show bro!
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Please excuse my tired brain,but would that be the same as a torker pro-x?just interested as the bike I rode back in the day was virtually identical to the bike in the pic,new to the site and trying hard to remember all the old bits and bobs
jon
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The Torker Pro-X came out in late 1983 and here is mine.
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/picts/Bikes/1983%20Jeff%20Tollefsons%20Torker_.jpg)
BITD Torker had the Big Boy in '77 then had the classic standard frame, the one you see on the Bob Haro Torker. Torker then came out with the Expert, Eddy King, and Mini which is the Jason Jensen replica I did.
TORKERS in Museum (http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=302.15)
(http://www.jtfreestyle.com/media/picts/Bikes/2006%20Jeff%20Tollefson%2081%20Jason%20Jensen%20Replica_.jpg)
The Pro-X was designed around Tommy Brackens with longer wheelbase and slower steering. Dropped the classic gussets with a Redline style for the headtube. It was a great addition to the Torker family but in 1984 Steve Johnson had some difficulties with Torker and had to sell it...the end of orginal Torker era.
Thanks for the question,
Cheers
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nice Torkers there mate !!
;)
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ROM & Tolly -
Whatcha using for the rear tires on them Torkers??? Red dots?
all are stunning bikes.
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Red dots....yeah ok.....lol
you find one i'll buy it....
mine are just plain black street tyres.
Dave