Table of Contents
Cook Brothers Overview
Craig and Gary Cook made some of the finest BMX parts and bicycles from 1972 → 1992 1). Joe Breeze sourced Cook Bros. forks on his early Breezers 2)
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Craig and Gary Cook mmbhof.org
1978 Cruiser
Pure BMX/26“ cruiser. Derailleurs are added a little later and this cruiser probably doesn't belong in the timeline, except to show the progression of BMX to MTB as riders converted cruisers & klunkers to offroad machines. Cruisers like this weren't raced down repack but were quite capable. Serial #314, SunTour V GT Luxe (1977-82), looptail frame.
1978 Cruiser socketcycles
1979 Cook Bros. Mountain Bike
The Cook Bros. first real mountain bike is clearly a converted BMX racing cruiser with decent gearing and some quality components.
1979 Cook Brothers mmbhof
1980 Cook Bros. Racing Cruiser
Steve Cook's3) personal “racing” cruiser, which he modified, raced and used to inspire Steve to start a bike shop in Durango, CO. This is not a production mtb.
1980 Cook Brothers Racing Cruiser radavist
1981 Cook Bros. Cruiser 26
Original sales receipts are attached to the bmxmuseum listing. Unknown derailleur (original?). At this point, Cook Bros. are not selling mountain bikes.
1981 Cook Brothers Cruiser 26 bmxmuseum
1982 Alpine
Serial #04. XT M700 v1 rear derailleur (1982-84), AG Tech front (78-87), Magura brakes, Cook Bros modified Mafac brakes, Nitto bullmoose bars,Cook Bros hubs & bottom bracket. The owner states that this is both a 1980 and original components. 1982 seems more probable.
1982 Alpine
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1983 Alpine
Its likely that Cook Bros built only about 30 Alpines.
1983 Alpine
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1984 Bonzo Fury
Cook continue to make limited numbers of bikes through the mid-80's.
Note the unique uni-stem.
1984 Bonzo Fury facebook
1985 Bonzo Fury
Only 10 were made in 1985. The derailleur is from 1987 and the decals are not original - so it's been restored. Cook hubs.
1985 Bonzo Fury velocult
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1987 Mt. Palomar
Craig Cook, sole owner of Cook Bros. as of the early 1980's, sold the Cook Bros brand to Jack Witmer in 1984 4) and split from Cook Bros. He later produced 40 MTB frames under the “Cook Designs” brand starting in 1987. In this example, the Ritchey Force stem is from 1987, the Shimano XT M730 derailleurs are from 1986-88, the CQP cranks were made by Gary Cook from the same era and are not Cook Bros. cranks.
1987 Mt. Palomar retrobike
Production Notes
[1]. Production is a complete mystery.