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1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26 
#1 2014-06-08 9:01am
- RyanPartridge
- Pro Member26" Cruisin' with a Coaster Brake
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1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Winner 2014 BMX Society Best 26" Cruiser
This frame was custom made in 1980 for Jim Curwood, an old friend of Gary Cook. Jim worked for Laguna Distributors in the mid 70's and soon after opened his own bike shop, South County Cyclery aka "Buy My Bikes" in south Orange County, which is still open today.
All the finish is original and done by Jim Cunningham at CyclArt in San Diego. First the dropouts were chromed and paint fade was applied, the frame then went back to Cook Bros in Santa Ana to have the solvent transfer Cruiser decal applied to the middle bar. The frame then returned to CyclArt to be shot with pearl and finally clear. From there it traveled straight back to Santa Ana where Gary Cook took the frame on tour to be displayed with him at the trade shows to promote the CBR Cruisers. After about a year, Jim Curwood got his frame back, built it up, and displayed it in his shop.
According to Jim, a jeweler from Laguna Beach would come to his shop and beg him to sell the bike for years. Eventually the bike was traded to the jeweler for a 1,200 dollar diamond. In the early 90's the frame & fork surfaced in a Laguna Beach bike shop and was purchased by a surfboard shaper out of Huntington Beach and locked in a shipping container along with several other cruisers. In early 2014, I was introduced by a friend of mine to this local surfboard shaper and purchased the frame & fork.
I brought the frame back to South County Cyclery, met with Jim Curwood and he shared with me the history of the frame. I then built the bike like you see it now, kept it as secret as I could, and displayed it at the 2014 BMX Society annual show. Enjoy!
* 1980 CBR Cruiser frame & fork
* CBR Slantline stem
* CBR front hub
* NOS Sturmey Archer drum hub w/Suntour freewheel
* Araya 7x hoops
* Takagi Cr-Mo 180x24 cranks w/NOS Tange sealed BB
* D.I.D. chain
* KKT magnesium pedals
* Mitsuboshi Cruiser Mits
* Vintage Brooks B-72
With original owner Jim Curwood...
Last edited by RyanPartridge (2014-06-08 10:39am)
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#2 2014-06-08 9:10am
- vinro4416
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Great history and stunning build. Congrats.
K I N G S T I N G | C H A M P 2 6 | P A N D A 2 6 | G T 2 6 | L A G U N A C R U I S E R | K O S K R U I S E R
HUNTING FOR... (Rider survivor condition cool with me, cause parts will be used for riding)Cash and/or Trade for other 26ers or parts
> UKAI SPEEDLINE 26" RED or BLUE
> 26 SQUAREBACK CHAMP og finish preferred
> DX PEDAL single, spindles, dust caps, parts
> FINISH LINE GRIPS gd cond blue, red, black
> SHIMANO 'SAFETY' PADS frame/bar/stem pad
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#3 2014-06-08 9:24am
- RyanPartridge
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Thanks Vin!
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#4 2014-06-08 9:41am
- Araya51
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
WOW.!!! That thing Awesome... The history its just kool to have something like this in your posession is just priceless.. Nice best keeped secret.!!
Congrats on the award.
Someday I want to have a chance to check this cruiser in person..
There Are No Rules.!!!!
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#5 2014-06-08 10:03am
- locort
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Ryan...that bike is a trip...the color scheme is at least 8 or 10 years ahead of its time. It's an amazing piece with all the history! Thanks for sharing and congrats on the award.
Last edited by locort (2015-03-04 9:25pm)
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#6 2014-06-08 10:33am
- Burning River
- BMXer 4 Life
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Rad Cruiser , Rad Member and congratulations on the win . 
" Some may never live, but the crazy never die. "
~ Hunter S. Thompson
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#7 2014-06-08 10:37am
- reservoir.grizzly
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Great bike! Congratulations again Ryan!
Wanted: 1975
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#8 2014-06-08 10:41am
- redcar
- Pro MemberChicken Flour Taco
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
WOW!!!! Seriously... WOW! That bike is amazing! Who wouldn't love to have a bike painted like that? AND it has OG Cook decals on it too...just amazing.
Sharks are like dogs, they only bite when you touch their private parts.
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#9 2014-06-08 10:47am
- LIVE TO RIDE
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
I'll give you $50 bucks for it!? 
Ryan this Magic Unicorn is by far the raddest bike/story on the site and to win the Society show the day of unveiling was the easiest choice of the day for the judges.So glad I got to check it out in person!Beautiful bike.
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#10 2014-06-08 11:06am
- I-4 Gypsy
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Amazing bike! Congratulations Ryan!
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#11 2014-06-08 11:08am
- ras_droolie_star
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Dibs... Now I can't wait till all the other cbr hoarders get wind and try to one up or at least unveil their rarities. I know there still unseen niceties out there.:
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#12 2014-06-08 11:35am
- 1manta
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Clean score Ryan! Congratulations on best 26" .
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#13 2014-06-08 12:57pm
- racethis
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Awesome bike, great new owner, and a shiny new trophy to complete the trio!!!!
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#14 2014-06-08 1:24pm
- downbylawberlin
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
RAD as it gets...
F**K KHE!
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#15 2014-06-08 1:36pm
- Innocenti
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Special bike. Special journey. Thanks for the post.
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#16 2014-06-08 4:21pm
- 26krusier
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Rad Cruiser!
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#17 2014-06-08 4:24pm
- pkripper68bmx
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Very cool cooks bro racing 26"
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#18 2014-06-08 6:03pm
- RyanPartridge
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Thanks everyone for the compliments! Much appreciated!
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#19 2014-06-08 9:13pm
- cobra_standard
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
If only there was an emoticon for angels singing...
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#20 2014-06-08 10:04pm
- TWENTYFOUR7EVEN
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
good job!
Want to buy:
Schwinn maximizer red orphan 20x2.125
NO TRADES
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#21 2014-06-09 4:12am
- CHABY
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Awesome bike,great story.
Chaby`s Coatings: Chrome/Gold Plating/Polishing and Powder coating. BMX Restorations. We restore more than just BMX bikes. CHABYS.COM Find us on Facebook or call us @ 508-728-4590
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#22 2014-06-09 4:39am
- LIVE TO RIDE
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
cobra_standard wrote:
If only there was an emoticon for angels singing...
Exactly what I was thinkin!
Momma Says "bikes Are The Devil !!"
NEVER TURN DOWN A CHANCE TO LIVE
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#23 2014-06-09 6:51am
- RyanPartridge
- Pro Member26" Cruisin' with a Coaster Brake
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Thanks fellas!
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#24 2014-06-09 6:55am
- Burning River
- BMXer 4 Life
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
" Some may never live, but the crazy never die. "
~ Hunter S. Thompson
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#25 2014-06-09 7:12am
- RyanPartridge
- Pro Member26" Cruisin' with a Coaster Brake
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Re: 1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser 26
Burning River wrote:
Hah!
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