Photo Gallery

Project objective:

To purchase a vintage red 1979 Torker MX bicycle from eBay and replicate the original June of 1979 Toker MAXFLYTE Complete Bike (Published Torker ad. Page 20 in the June issue of 1979 BMX Action Magazine (BMXAM) http://oldschoolmags.com/mags/BMXA_7906.pdf). eBay purchase price $740.00   

Goal:

To locate within a timely manner and purchase original lightly used parts (when possible, if not, then NOS parts or last resort, reproduction parts) at today's current market pricing. Basically, replicate the original ad photograph.

Parts list (Parts not listed with prices are the parts that came with the bike when purchased from eBay):

Torker parts:

Frame and fork set: used Torker MX Red LP-M # *TN837LM* TN=(June 1979), L=LP (Low Profile=Expert size) and M=(Mild steel)

Pad set: reproduction Yellow/Black lettering eBay $74.99

Cook Bros parts:

Bottom Bracket: reproduction bearings and shells (BB: I was told that Torker used the Cook Bros BB before Torker came out with their own 17mm axle BB) eBay $54.00 

Crank spindle collar lock rings: reproduction 5mm type (needed for proper chain, sprocket to frame clearance) eBay $18.75 

5/16 stem bolt step washer: 2x reproduction (Used on front axle to fork gusset) eBay $26.00

Suntour parts: 

Freewheel: used 16t date stamped UJ =(Oct 1978)  

Cranks: used VX gold 170mm eBay $167.90 I believe the Torker MAXFLYTE Complete Bike cranks may have been Sugino gold Super Maxy cranks, since the Powerlite Complete Bikes used them. Hard to tell from the black and white ad. Or either or... 

Crank Dust caps: reproduction VX eBay $18.99 

Sprocket: NOS red 43T eBay $72.00

Race Inc. parts: 

Handlebars: gold 

Seat post: used red 7/8 eBay $38.00

Dia-Compe parts: 

Rear brake: used gold 1020 date 10/81(parts lot with both levers) eBay $76.00

Front brake: used gold 980 date 10/79 BMXMuseum.com $40.00 

Cables: NOS Yellow Dia-Compe eBay $20.00

Misc Other parts: 

Chain: JAG 

Stem: Tuf-neck red, non-stamped, sharp corner, original gold rainbow decal.

Headset: Schwinn Stingray type 

Headset dust cover: NOS Dirt Skirt gold original BBS made in USA BMXMuseum.com $35.00

Front rim: Araya 7c gold

Front hub: SunShine gold 5/16 26t axle, hub stamped *5384*, laced with 1.8 spokes 

Rear rim: Araya 7c gold used eBay $60.00 

Rear hub: SunShine NOS factory non-anodize transparent gold painted stamped *5384* laced with used 2.0 spokes eBay $199.00 

Red rim stickers: Araya reproduction stickers eBay $4.99

Axle nuts: NOS Bicycle research Products Inc. gold aluminum Acorn type 5/16 26t BMXMuseum.com $34.00 

Valve caps: NOS gold Acorn type to match (above) axle nuts eBay 8.00

Crank spindle: used Crupi 5/8 Titanium eBay $90.00 

Crank bolts: Sugino NOS eBay $14.98

Chainring bolts: used steel eBay $11.00 

Pedals: MKS Bonzi BM5 9/16 eBay $64.00 

Brake to frame spacer (looks like Kool-Stop/skyway brake pad fins) custom item eBay $20.00 

Seat post clamp: gold Xcalibur used eBay $41.00 

Seat: used Western Flyer Banana seat eBay $50.00 

Seat sissy bar: black (Not chrome so I could customize it to look like the twin Torker top frame tubes) eBay $23.98 

Grips: New A'ME Rounds eBay $11.99 

Inner tubes: New eBay $13.29 

Tires: reproduction snake belly BMXGuru.com $47.99 

Bike Stand: Sunlite eBay $24.90

Parts purchased and did not end up using them: $223.98 

Original and other parts sold from the bike that were not used: $267.33 

Bottom line total funds spent so far 3.10.2020: $2,061.55

My study conclusion for this project: 

In 1979, Team Torker was number one in the nation. Also, 1979 was the last production year of the infamous Torker MX bike frame line-up. According to the BMXAM Torker ads, Torker changed the name of the MAXFLYTE Complete Bike kit in Nov. of 1979 to TORKFLYTE Complete Bike kit. Different bicycle, same type of black and white ad. Maybe they changed the name during this time, because the MX=MAX was about to be discontinued.

**Torker Advertisement**:

This factory Black/White Torker advertisement ran for 4 months straight in BMXAM from June of 1979 till October of 1979 (**Please note, brake cable is not routed properly. Torker photo prep mistake.**). I could not have built this Torker MAXFLYTE Complete Bike without the published ad. Thankfully these ads, during this time, are free to look at reference: http://oldschoolmags.com/mags/BMXA_7906.pdf or other great issuses https://oldschoolmags.com/bmx_action.html

Before picture:

Purchased Nov. 23, 2019. Seller shipped from Riverside, Illinois. Original survivor paint/decals and all parts show low wear and bike is in good overall condition with a couple of later year parts installed (Rear rim, pedals, seat, grips, tires, and front brake). Appears to me, it was likely sold by Everything Bicycles as a complete Torker bike kit. The original eBay listing "before" picture shows black Ashtabula one piece cranks, gold Sugino snowflake 44t sprocket, gold fluted seat post, and gold Suntour seat post clamp. I believe it came this way when it was sold as a Complete Bike kit back in 1979. The Ashtabula cranks were date-stamped 7/of 79. I mention this because, what seems to make sense is the Torker MAXFLYTE Complete Bike kits were sold and assembled with what Everything Bicycles stocked at the time. 

Looking at Everything Bicycles ads during this time period, Powerlite and Torker Complete Bike kits used Suntour seat post clamps, fluted seat post, Race Inc. bars and Tuf-Neck stems. Just like how I received this gem. Research the ads, and understand the relationship between Torker and Everything Bicycle/Powerlite.