an old school friend sent these pics to me of a 26" torker cruiser that he scored thinking it's an '83. He is trying to find out the correct year to faithfully restore it. He was also given this description of the serial number.....

26" Torker Cruiser serial number OT 0063 C
Located on right hand, inboard, rear drop out.

I have been told this bike was made in October (OT)
The sixth bike made (006)
Made in 1983 (3)
Cruiser ©


I thought Torker serial numbers were pretty much without meaning.(?)

In '82 in 20" (I think) was when the 280 came out and it had stepped out head tube at either end ,was this the same in cruisers? '83 was the same except for the oval gussett hole.

The decals also changed in 82, the head tube decal went to a yellow T rather than the tire and Torker MX of previous years. If these decals are original wouldn't it be more like 1979-1981 or so?

Any help on IDing this bike would be appreciated!

Thanks.

Hey, I had one of those same bikes in 1981 with the same sticker. Great bike. By 1982 the 24" cruiser took prominence. Circa 1981 I think all Torkers had that sticker. I have some pics racing the 26" Torker cruiser.

Yea, no date coding at all in Torker serial numbers, could very well be the 63rd cruiser they made though.

That head decal is odd though, that decal with the lightning bolt is from 1977.

i will check mine. bought local in 81, still has og stickers in place.

Torker serial numbers have no production dating whatsoever. I have a 26" cruiser and it starts off with XT. I have a 20" that starts with a TQ and one with a VT. I have a 24" 340 cruiser that starts with CG. The numbers have some meaning to the production guys who made them but nobody has ever found out the code so that cruiser your buddy is looking can only guess to what year it was made in. The head tube sticker was used for about 5 years.

Did ANYONE other than CBR make a cruiser that early? I thought the big wave for 26" was 1980-1982 and by 83 the stardar was pretty much 24"

How do you know the decals are 100% original? Was it told to him by the original owner? I cannot tell you how many times people have told me it was 100% original but all kinds of newer and older parts!

Killer bike and he is trying to ID on another site too - is this one going to be for sale and being promoted and figured out before eBay?

Mongoose made the Kos, Laguna, MCS, Powerlite to name a few.

thought this would be a good place for this......"rapid" roy roboucas on a torker 26 at dunedin florida probably about '81.
mike

Man oh man! Cool photo! 26'ers are big, but the Torker 26 owns them all! That is one big rig..

26" Torker cruiser BITD:

Lums Pond, Newark, Delaware NBL national. 16-24 cruiser moto, last turn. Bob VonMoss (25v) (me) riding high on the last turn to take the moto win on a Torker 26".


another moto, table top before the last turn.


Larry VonMoss on his 26" Torker cruiser, laying down in the second turn in front of Mark Lopez (MCS) and Frankie Perino (Thruster).


crash in another moto. Clear view of Thruster tri-power 26" cruiser.


Lawrenceville, NJ 1981 NBL National, Torker 26" cruiser in the lead (Bob VonMoss)


Pat Davenport (SE) taking a moto win. Kerensky Bullard (MCS), Torker cruiser


Bob VonMoss at 75-80 BMX, Monrovia, Maryland probably 1981 with MD state champion number plate


more 75-80 BMX action. Torker 26" cruiser takes the win


75-80 BMX. Torker cruiser leads again with Neal Allen trailing.

nah, Teamrob,

that's me on os and him on bmx museum, just trying to propperly date it to restore it faithfully.

Rick the mx head decal was used from late seventies to 81 the one on my avitar which has johnston engineering on it I trhink was from 76 or so.

I don't know that the decals are original but I thought the head tube its self would be different and these decals if original were surely pre 82.

Thank you everyone who has given information here and the pics are awesome!!!!

i'm totally diggin' the old race pics.....it shows that as a spectator, you can see the racers no matter where they are on the track.
mike

I've noticed that almost all the cruiser pics from BITD are 26" cruisers. There are hardly any cruiser pics from 1982-4 ish. Those 26" cruisers really turn peoples' heads or conjure up more nostalgia.