Hello, I have always wanted a Redline bike since as far back as I can remember. My old friend had a red MX-II bike way back than and when I came across this NOS Redline frame last week at the Portland old school BMX show I knew I just had to have it. I've been looking for a new project for a while and already went over budget, but I just fell in love with it and had to have it. I bought the frame from another good guy here at VBMX and am so happy......


But first, I need some forks. Does anybody have a nice correct set in Red that will not cost me an arm and a leg?

Also how do we ID these bikes? Somebody told me its an 81 or 82 and than another person told me 1979, than another told me its an overseas Redline bike (Made in Japan). How can I find out. I have taken some pictures. The serial number is 343992 and its stamped in to the bottom of the BB. There are no other marks or stamps on the bike anywhere and the sticker on the lower down tube near the BB says USA.

The pics












Don't get upset, but I needed to get some kind of idea what it would look like with forks on and had nothing but these blue Kuwahara forks I am going to use on my next KZ-1 bike. Actually it looks kind of cool



Also, can anybody tell me what kind of parts did the bike come with and/or does anybody have some old magazine scans handy? Would love to see and learn more about this bike. I want to build it up just like my friend had way back in those days and than surprise it with him!!

Cheers everybody and thank you!!
Jamie
www.dreamgate.ne.jp/kuwahara

Hey Jamie,

If the frame has not been restored, then the most obvious indication of the year is the decals. Maybe somebody can chime in about the serial number - I can't help you there.

If the decals are correct for the frame then it's definitely not from 82. By 82, Redline had changed the decals as in this shot - note the large "R" on the head tube.



Here's my 82 PL20 Carrera (Stu rode a red one for a time in 82)





I'm pretty sure this decal set was introduced some time in 1981. The decal set on your frame was the standard immediately before this.

From this, I'd say your frame is dated somewhere between 79 and the first half of 81. Not sure about the start date but I'm positive this was the 1980 spec for sure.

Here's a shot of a couple of frames that were on eBay previously to give you an idea.



The decals for this are available from BMX Museum and they tag it as a 1980 decal set.

Hope this helps.

Martin

Definitely a 79. No stamp = US made, pre-1980.

Doug

Doug is correct, in 80 they stamped the bottom bracket with the Redline oval .....

A little history on this particular frame, as I was the one who sold it to Jamie. I bought it from a guy in New York who found it in the back room of a bike shop. This stash included two other Redline frames of the same era - a blue one and a white one! The seller told me this stash included a few Torker frames as well. All of these frames are NOS - they have never been built up, restored, re-stickerd or any other word with "re" in front of it.
I am really glad Jamie bought it from me, for now he is indebted to me the next time he finds more Cook Bros stuff in Japan. Yes, it is his life's mission to find me a CBR seat post clamp and blue frame pad.
For the greater good, you understand.

Here's my mxiii, which I believe is pretty well stock, except for the seat post and seat. No idea on the year.

Found the serial # RJ 07455.

how about a frame with no serial number on it at all. Looks just like the MXII red one. no stamp. I stripped all paint and nothing.

First off, special thanks to 66Alfa_GTV for selling the bike to me even before I paid for it. Thank you! Hope you got the rest of the payment from my friend in Canadian money Hopefully there was a little extra left over to buy yourself at least one beer on me. Thanks dude and I promise you'll be the first to know about any CBR stuff that may show up in Japan if that ever happens.

So my Redline is a 79 model? Excellent! That is great! Now I have a 70's project bike to get started on. I have some left over beater parts I was planning on using and a NOS Elina black seat but still need cranks and of course the forks.

Does anybody have any idea what kind of parts came on the 79 Redline models. Anybody have any old ad scans or some pictures of the correct forks?

Thanks again and cheers
Jamie

How about cranks? Wondering what kind of cranks to run? I've seen some bikes with Astabula, others with Suntour VX and another with Takagi cranks. I'm pretty excited to have this bike, thanks to 66Alfa!

But I need some forks, somebody help me out please

jbros,

I scored an mxII from the original owner it was messed up black and rust color with all the worn decals on it. when I stripped it there was no serial number on it either.

Here's the Redline ads from '80 and early '81 - don't think there was a huge variation in standard parts - this will give you a start anyway.

'80

'81
'81

[ September 08, 2007, 04:16 AM: Message edited by: Kurt. ]

Jamie...I've gotta ask you about this comment:

quote:

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I have some left over beater parts I was planning on using...

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Were you only joking when you said that? Just wondering why you would use beater parts on an NOS frame build?