What years were they made, how many different styles ( I vaguely remember hearing about Bottema "skatepark" forks).

Any pics would be helpful too.

I know NOTHING about them so ANY information is "news" to me.

They were introduced in the July 1980 issue of BMXA:


Interestingly, Bottema forks did not make that year's annual BMXA product showcase in the October issue. An ad for them finally appeared in December 1980, drawn by Haro:


I raced with a Bottema fork on my Patterson in 1981. Note in this photo that the dropout is smaller:


I don't recall exactly, but I think these were considered the race version as opposed to the skatepark version. Maybe Bill C will chime in -- he posted about the differences some years back.

Wow - Evan, thanks for the info. That's exactly the kind of "schooling" that I was hoping to get from someone who knows - since I do not.

Hopefully Bill will see this thread and shed even MORE light on the Bottema folklore.

Thanks you too Mic for your pics - NICE meece? HA!

If I remember right there were 3 models:

original with longer dropouts
race version with smaller dropouts
skatepark version had original dropouts and reinforcing sleeve in steering tube.

Very cool, very strong, very heavy. Imagine that Moosegoose is a load to lift.

Ken

BenOr probably has the scoop, as I believe he and Jeff Bottema are quite close freinds. As far as that goes, Jeff himself is a newer member here also.

Jeff sent me several sets this poast springs. No two pairs were the same. VDC made most of them and a couple guys screwed Jeff by selling them out from under him with his decals. Jeff was the brand and promoter, his Mom the business person.

I wonder if Jeff has an idea on how many sets of forks were made in total - all years?

Anyone know when the last year they were made?

Jeff, thanks for signing my Bottema Forks t-shirt at the '82 ABA Grands. Got anymore sets laying around, I'd like to buy a one.

...Incoming...

I had a set on my old PL20. I had to special order them because of the 5" head tube and at the time it was no problem getting them made.