I was pretty sure these were Bottema forks when I bought the bike for them but now looking closer they have some issues that are now making me wonder. They do have the slot on the steer tube in the threading for the locking ring on the back of the fork (Redlines on the front and Bottema on the rear), they also have a slope to them like a Redline Nickel fork or DeCoster fork but UNLIKE a Bottema M1.

Here are pictures of the fork next to an early Redline Nickel fork. Notice the curve is different where it comes off the crown too. Also both have the welded ends. Someone said maybe Patterson early forks? Would be good too since I have an Early Patterson I need forks for.

The fork in question is the chrome one without the drill hole.

Any help would sure be appreciated.

I do believe their is no such thing as "early Patterson forks", they used Redline, Speedo, etc. at the time.

The fork you bought is a Redline. I'm no expert on dating the version but early on they did produce a leading axle fork, and that looks like it.

I know the Nickel one with the drill hole is a Redline but what about the chrome one? Is that what you are talking about here? I took the picture opposite, with the fork (the crhome one) in question in the back.

Patterson had no forks from 1978-81, then in 82 they made the teardrop- hole {in drop out} forks that look like Redline. { well, trackmaster made the stuff} I would say Randy may be correct.

So Redline made early chrm eforks with extended legs and shorter supports than the nickel forks pictured and in addition they seem to not be as wide as the Redlines. I am fine with them being Redline - trust me - but there are so many differences to the Nickel ones pictured that I cannot see them being Rdline but I can see them made by Redline for something else.

Thanks guys so far but I would like to see some sort of picture that would say 100% Redline.

Once again, I am talking about the Chomre forks that were oriignally chorme and NOT the nickel ones.

The chrome forks are not Redline.

Fredz Legz?????

If Bill says they ain't Redline, they isn't. But RL did make an extended axle fork in the early days, right?

They're cool looking though.

Didn't Jeff Bottema make a shorter version of his forks?

He used to sponsor my Crit Plate Team BITD... Jeff and his family were so cool... I can still hear his moms voice calling him to the phone... (I loved here accent)

For some reason I thought he made shorter ones as well?

Mike

double post sorry about that!

hey rob

they look like early gt properformer forks with out the holes drilled in them. i am not saying thats what they are but take a look.


http://oldschoolbmx.com/museum/gt5.htm

I remember seeing them bitd, and inquiring about them.

Although I always thought the Bottema's looked cool, but I also viewed anything past the dropout as a waste of material, and was just added weight. (unless you were to extend the dropout all the way down, and that would become a load carrying member, but it never was.)

Point being, when I saw that chrome fork bitd, I viewed it as being not quite as wasteful as a Bottema, but still gimmicky, and playing off the Bottema cool factor deal for sure. ....I remember us asking, "Is that like a new Baby Bottema or something?"....No it's the new...??????...(The word "Pro" is nagging at me too.....Proline....National Pro...arg....????)

If someone says something that puts me into the context, I might remember. I can't pin it down. RL sounded right.....but....

Guys check out Jeff's Wikipedia site page for more information on his forks, this may help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Bottema

Bicycle Motocross Action February 1982 Vol.7 No.2 pg.80


Mike

Nice Wikipedia link. In the Ralegh Bottema link, that is the DG he mentioned to me. When I sold Jeff's stuff off, he sent me many sets of Bottema forks. I swear no two where the same. He had them orignally manufactured by a company (well known OEM). One of the large well known resellers was not payign their bills to Bottema. Jeff's Mom, who was handling business issues, shut them down. The reseller went straight to the OEM and bought product and installed Bottema decals. I'm sure there is more to the story, but I think it's a safe bet the OEM sold to many with the same or similar designs. Garage shops weren't ISO certified, had little documentation and not did they use an ECO or MDN process.

Mike - I also remember how nice his mother was. She was kind of the phone as she was in person. Back in 1977, we didn't have cable or the web. I got my cool new music, trends or style tips from conversations with Jeff.

compare them to pics of cyclecraft forks they look about the same

http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/cyclecraft/2604

BenOr -

That is the kind of first hand infroamtion I love to hear - so it is 100% UNsafe to say these could have been sold as Bottema forks BUT SAFE to say with Bottema decals but not really made as Bottema specs?

Did any of the forks you had not have a complete weld all the way up the drououts like these? They welds are very similar to the Redlines but there are sure more characteristics to the Bottema's.

I have heard so many great things about Jeff's Mother. In fact, someone else said they called and talked to her the other day. Amazing sounding woman there! "Behind every great man there is a great woman" - they say.

I would say likely made by VDC. Sold as Cyclecraft, Bottema, Ralphs or other is TBD.

Jeff's mother passed years back. Jeff, like Dain and OM usually has some fun stories to hear.

Ben

Thank you Ben -

I guess someone did not call her the other day - maybe I misread as someone who remembers talking to her on the phone.

So in short, I can add Bottema fork decals to these and hold my head up.

Jeff,

they are very close but not the same as those either. Those have some slight differences form mine too.

Thanks for the effort on these all - I just want to make sure before I throw them on a bike that they are period correct.

you can name them after me if you like, I'll send the decals.