I need to get a set of forks for my 79 PK Ripper and was wondering what was popular for these frames before the Landing Gear were invented. I know Cycle Pro was the fork of choice for most SE rides but I struggled so hard to find a set of those for my JU6 that I was wondering if another fork was "acceptable" or if I needed to start the dreaded search for Cycle Pro's again. I just saw an early 1980 issue of BMX Plus with a small picture of PK standing next to his bike. The forks looked to be Tange forks (maybe). The only thing I know for sure is that they weren't CP forks. Any suggestions?

I've always liked Torker forks on PK's, or anything for that matter.

I ran early Robinson forks on my 1979 GJS - they looked like a natural on that bike, and could do the job for yours.

Tange TRX was a hot upgrade fork for the times and nos ones are readily available. You could also try Race Inc., it seems logical since they are cousin companies and even Jeff Utterback rode Race Inc. forks for a time.

I've seen a few pix of PK racing/riding with the TRX forks in his early SE days. So fitting a set onto the frame would be no great era correct crime. Plus they are still available cheap NOS , & are near bullet proof.
You might also get away with an early set of Bottema forks , you can never go wrong fitting a pair of Bottema's to an oldschool BMX bike

JB

Bottema is a good choice because i saw a pic somewhere, P.K. riding a gold PK with bottema fork.

Not that it is easier to find than the Cycle pro forks, but an SE badged fork was sold with early PKs, JU 6s. Check that photo (round top tube) I sent you (and the rider bios). In both cases a non cycle pro fork (circa 78-9) was used. That fork had a solid drop out.

Torker forks certainly look similar and maybe they were rebadged as SE?? Anybody know.

Tange TRX are very good and were a common update but I am not sure that they were around during the round top PK period. I am thinking that TRX came out in late 79-80, if it matters.

As a side question what is the start date for Landing Gear? My guess is late 81.

Curt, I think you are right about Landing gear in 81. If TRX forks are late 79, then they would still be right for this 79 frame, right? I'll look at that pic you sent me. I thought the two forks badged as "BMX Innovation" forks were the Cycle Pro and the early Skyway Tuff Forks. I've got a Jan 1980 BMX Plus with a TRX ad in it, which means that magazine would have been on stands around Nov of 79. The TRX are what I was thinking. As far as Race Inc forks, did JU run the leading edge ones or the centerlines?

Leading edge forks.

The period of the introduction of the first pk rippers is late summer/fall 1979. TRX forks are fine. However, why assume a roundtube PK is 1979? Round tube does not indicate a prototype or "early" version, it merely means they ran out of floval top tubes. This could have happened in 1980, 1981, 1982...

I say any of the forks mentioned would look great and or be correct. Good luck finding real SE/Tuff forks.

...hey, I know someone who has a set of bottemas that used to be attached to a Patterson Avalanche, hmmmmm.

Oh, I thought the round top tube frames only happened once in 78 (JU's) and once in 79 (PK's). I didn't realize there were runs of these in later years too?? There is definately no serial number on this frame though, so that would have to make it early, right?

The Bottemas migrated from the Avalanche to the Chromoly Nomura last night.

I'm pretty sure that the only way I'll get Tuf forks is to drive to Tim's ans steal his JU6.

I've had as much luck finding Race Inc leading edge forks as I have CP forks. I can only come up with centerlines over and over.

Ya Curt, the forks on your photo look like Skyway Tuf forks (the original BMX Innovation forks.)

I heard that they only used the round top tube on less than 100 frames in 79'. My round top tube has no serial# which makes it early production. Do you have a serial # on yours Brian.

Whos JU6 is that? Its funny how are PK's meet before we do Brian.

Brian, In the case of the round top tube PK photo that I sent you I think you (and PKripped) are right about the early SE/Tuff forks.

But as to the date of that round top, My friend had that in 1979. We knew what JU-6s were as we had seen one or two at the local (Van Nuys) track.

When he purchased the frame (used) it had been stolen, therefore had a unique LAPD serial # (as the original had been filed off). It was purchased at Beavers in mid 79 without frame stickers. (He even seems to recall that the frame may have been owned by Scot OM and/or PK but he is not positive of that.) (Scot and PK did have a decent relationship with the shop owner Bruce). He, my friend, also got an SE belt buckle with the purchase, and yes he thinks he still has it.

Following the purchase of the frame , PK stickers were applied.

I am not sure what this means.

By the way PKripped, when do we get to see good photos of those Rush posters?

Wow, Mushkow, the double whammy, awesome!

huh, do what? Rush posters? Oh those, lol.

I'd say for sure, if the pk frame has no serial on the drops, then were looking at a 1979 frame or maybe even early 1980. I think they used the round top tube thing at least on a few different batches. PK production was at its peak in 1981 and they were always behind orders so it makes sense.

I'd love for Scot B to chime in but sometimes even legends memories get clouded.

Mushkow, Rod told me he had sent you a picture of my JU6 and your round tube PK, but I hadn't seen the photo yet. Mine still looks just like that. Have you done anything with yours yet? Chip called me this week and I'm gonna send it to him for some SE brown powder and a fork rechrome.
Neither my JU6 or round top tube PK have a serial number on them.

Curt, I wondered about the gold decals on your freinds. That makes sense that they were applied after the fact.

Here's pics of my PK (with the JU forks)

Very nice!!!!!

Are the forks drilled?

I am assuming the frame is a re paint if so, original color and does it have an LAPD serial??? lol

Good stuff

Ya the forks are drilled. They are actually off an 82 Cycle Pro Bonzai, so they are drilled and have the nicer welds than the 70's ones, but they are all I could find for the JU.

Yes, it is a repaint with fresh decals. Sorry, no LAPD serial number though. It is from your end of the world though. I just bought it from Darrin Chan in your great state of Cali. He (or someone) had it refinished and I put the decals on it last Friday when I got it. After I get the JU powdered and together, I'm gonna get going on this one.

If I get around to it I will take some good photos of those cycle pro forks that I have. My recollection is that the welds are first rate, and not drilled.

In any event super nice frame and fork.

Any idea how many round tube PKs exist today?

Ya, get a better photo of that Cycle Pro frame and forks for me.
As far as the number of round top tubes around today, I have no idea. Alex may be able to help. I personally know of four or five off the top of my head, but have no idea how many are in collectors hands, total.
On a related note, Darren Chan who sold me this great frame has now offered up an original set of Skyway Tuff forks ( the original SE BMX Innovation forks) to me for it, so those are on the way to me now. thanks Darren

[ July 27, 2006, 09:26 AM: Message edited by: BRIAN HAYS ]

I bet your day was just made!!! Look forward to see that combo.

4 or 5 known plus unknown quantity in collectors. I will wing it at 100 total with a 15% survival (just a wild guess) that means myabe 10 more to find.

I think many original pk owners have a round top tube pk and dont even know its different from the regular ones SE offered. For 10 years I thought my round top tube JU-6 ws "normal" because I had never seen the traditional floval top and bottom. That may be the case with many pk owners who are not in tune with the vintage bmx world.

Hard to say how many are out there. Curt's calculations are sound. Again, I'd love Scot's take on it.