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Another style/generation of Brian MX forks...
Rare forks
Lets see them
by jz56oval
13 July 2011 - 12:06 PM
Post #81
MultiQuote
25 August 2011 - 01:10 AM
Post #82
15 January 2012 - 07:36 AM
Post #83
16 January 2012 - 03:18 PM
Post #84
16 January 2012 - 05:25 PM
Post #85
only one of these ever made.. 20" gold BOTTEMA race forks with extra long legs...i got these from jeff like 4 years ago, he said they were vdc made and some of the earliest as they were done for him while he was still with raliegh, he also said he like the legs to extend further past the drop out as it looked more 'moto' , but for whatever reason the production version didnt come out quite as long ![:OSThumbsUpPeace[1]:](http://bmxsociety.com/public/style_emoticons/BMXsociety/OSThumbsUpPeace[1].gif)
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16 January 2012 - 05:29 PM
Post #86
I always thought that if I didn't have Landing Gear on my Quad I would want Bottemas. Always thought that would look trick..
16 January 2012 - 05:49 PM
Post #87
greyboy, on 16 January 2012 - 12:25 PM, said:
only one of these ever made.. 20" gold BOTTEMA race forks with extra long legs...i got these from jeff like 4 years ago, he said they were vdc made and some of the earliest as they were done for him while he was still with raliegh, he also said he like the legs to extend further past the drop out as it looked more 'moto' , but for whatever reason the production version didnt come out quite as long
WOW.. That is Awesome!!!
In so many ways! Crazy condition, the way the stickers/logo protected some of the finish... Looks like a fossil. Love it.
16 January 2012 - 10:06 PM
Post #88
greyboy, on 17 January 2012 - 03:25 AM, said:
only one of these ever made.. 20" gold BOTTEMA race forks with extra long legs...i got these from jeff like 4 years ago, he said they were vdc made and some of the earliest as they were done for him while he was still with raliegh, he also said he like the legs to extend further past the drop out as it looked more 'moto' , but for whatever reason the production version didnt come out quite as long
Drool..I would love to build a bike around a set of race forks. Nice stuff.
17 January 2012 - 12:48 AM
Post #89
17 January 2012 - 07:00 PM
Post #90
17 January 2012 - 09:13 PM
Post #91
Myke, on 17 January 2012 - 11:00 AM, said:
How about these Matthews?
Looks more like a modified Schwinn fork to me. It was common practice prior to 1975 ( The Ashtabula BMX forks came out in 1975.) to cut down a fork from a Schwinn 24" or 26" frame and either cut new axle slots or just drill new holes in the fork blades. Then you had to spread the fork blades to install the wheel. Like on your fork. But if the axle nuts came loose the wheel would not come off.
17 January 2012 - 10:05 PM
Post #92
17 January 2012 - 11:47 PM
Post #93
sodbuster, on 17 January 2012 - 01:13 PM, said:
Myke, on 17 January 2012 - 11:00 AM, said:
How about these Matthews?
Looks more like a modified Schwinn fork to me. It was common practice prior to 1975 ( The Ashtabula BMX forks came out in 1975.) to cut down a fork from a Schwinn 24" or 26" frame and either cut new axle slots or just drill new holes in the fork blades. Then you had to spread the fork blades to install the wheel. Like on your fork. But if the axle nuts came loose the wheel would not come off.
Thanks for the info. There are curved washers that have a little ridge that insert into the hole in the fork. I will take it apart and post a picture.
In another thread Monster-Robot had mentioned that they were an early Matthews.
Your discription makes sense as well. That's really cool information.
I love real early stuff.
18 January 2012 - 12:17 AM
Post #94
Yup...I'm the one that told Myke that I thought they were Matthews. Some of the early ads (pre-girder fork) show a fork that for quite some time I thought was an Ashtabula. But once I had the full size scans I could see that the fork had no axle slot. The girder forks also have no slots so I thought it made sense.
I've never seen the modification that Sodbuster mentions but it totally makes sense. We know that Matthews/LRV changed things up frequently and as they were one of the early companies they used a lot of less-than-delicate parts.
Mykes serial number is also very low and the bike appears to be all OG. So...just a guess on my part.
If I can ever get Tom S back on-line maybe we can get an answer.
I've never seen the modification that Sodbuster mentions but it totally makes sense. We know that Matthews/LRV changed things up frequently and as they were one of the early companies they used a lot of less-than-delicate parts.
Mykes serial number is also very low and the bike appears to be all OG. So...just a guess on my part.
If I can ever get Tom S back on-line maybe we can get an answer.
18 January 2012 - 04:20 AM
Post #95
It's an opinion it doesn't mean I'm right. Matthews could have been the one to pair down the fork and came up with the washer set. Nothing is written in stone when it comes to bicycle production methods is another of my opinions. Other then that it's just observations. I would love to see more pics of this fork though. 
18 January 2012 - 05:37 AM
Post #96
More pictures of the fork on my Matthews.
There is a countersink that is machined into the fork at the axle hole for the bevel on the washer to fit in. The washer has a slight curve to it that matches the curve on the fork.
Note the screw that is on the bottom of the steerer tube?
Thanks for the info on this!
Oh and not to get off topic.....what brand front hub is this?
There is a countersink that is machined into the fork at the axle hole for the bevel on the washer to fit in. The washer has a slight curve to it that matches the curve on the fork.
Note the screw that is on the bottom of the steerer tube?
Thanks for the info on this!
Oh and not to get off topic.....what brand front hub is this?
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18 January 2012 - 05:58 AM
Post #97
18 January 2012 - 06:38 AM
Post #98
reilley1, on 17 January 2012 - 09:58 PM, said:
Sod is correct. You can see how that modification is done on "Petersons complete guide to the bicycle" (1975) (If my memory is still working correctly)
Hub Steel or alloy?
Hub Steel or alloy?
Thanks for the info. Would it be possible this is what Matthews was doing for a fork before they made their own? As you can see the finish on the fork was done after the modifications.
Plus it really looks like this bike is in it's original form. Maybe even before the MS-1 seat was used.
Does anyone have that fork article to post? That would be great to see.
I think the hub is alloy. I don't have a magnet handy. It does say "made in france" and "approved 74" on the center.
18 January 2012 - 07:52 AM
Post #99
18 January 2012 - 01:17 PM
Post #100
is that a schwinn scrambler tire also?
This post has been edited by z-4wheldrft: 18 January 2012 - 01:17 PM
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