THE RL 20 II PROSTYLER

IN THE SUMMER OF 1985, REDLINE INTRODUCED WHAT IS REGARDED BY MANY AS THE MOST SOPHISTICATED BMX FREESTYLE BIKE EVER DESIGNED. 40 years later, we celebrate its legacy with the RL 40 Project.

Redline's remarkable impact in the emergence of BMX racing is rooted in cutting-edge engineering, intelligent product design, and a forward-thinking vision for innovation. Company founder Linn Kastan, with his depth of knowledge and expertise from the custom motorcycle frame-building industry, brought a crucial and unique perspective to the development of BMX products in the 1970s and 80s. With equipment failures a common occurence, Kastans’ mechanical engineering experience and meticulous attention to detail led to the creation of a best-in-class range of Red Line Race bikes and top-tier components. These innovations not only drove the growth of the BMX racing scene in the 1970s and 80s, but they also established Redline as the leading brand in the market, respected equally by athletes and fans for delivering consistent quality and exceptional performance in its product ranges.

The early 1980s Freestyle scene emerged from "Trick Riding." Bob Osborn, the Founder and Editor of Bicycle Motocross Action Magazine, created sidebar coverage featuring his son, RL, and his Staff Artist, Bob Haro, riding and experimenting a wedge ramp in the Wizard Publications Office parking lot during their lunch hour. As Freestyle found a committed audience, the American Freestyle Association formed up and organized skatepark contest series, opening the door to a new generation of riders who pushed the limits of existing bikes and components to breaking point. These hardware challenges led to the emergence of a dedicated market for Freestyle products. Although Redline was primarily focused on the BMX racing market, the rapid growth of Freestyle was hard to ignore. In 1984, RL Osborn left the BMX Action Trick Team and signed on to become Redline's premier Freestyle pro, marking the beginning of a legendary association between a prodigious rider and the leading brand.

At the drawing board, Kastan considdered the bikes reason for being and onboarded RL’s feedback and preferences. He considered weight, agility, strength, and dynamics to design a bike that didn't imitate competitors. The mantra of the RL 20 II design process - create an innovative product that would be hard to copy.

Initially available as a "kit" that included a frame, fork, handlebar, and Dia Compe 880 brakeset, Redline's first dedicated freestyle bike, the RL 20 II Prostyler, made its entrance into the BMX freestyle market in the summer of 1985. Built at Redlines' long standing production ally, Kawamura Sangyo in Kobe, Japan, the bike quickly distinguished itself from its competitors due to its sleek design and a range of innovative features.

Each tube was custom-designed with functionality in mind. The elliptical, butted one and a half inch downtube provided torsional rigidity and fed into Redline's now-standard 5-inch tall head tube. The tapered and bullet-tipped ¾-inch diameter twin top tube wrapped around and met in front of the head tube. It featured subtle kinks and shallow angled bends that added strength at the dropout and created additional space that benefitted the rider in the front triangle. Moreover, the fork, constructed from tapered 1¼-inch Chromoly steel, would soon be recognized as the toughest and most reliable steering column in the business. The Forklifter steering system combined a front loading, colod forged stem to what eas the first four-piece handlebar ever designed. As a piece of BMX engineering The RL 20 II was something to behold, but the bikes identity and graphics - including colors such as Radberry, California Red, and Hazard Yellow - were also visionary.

In 2025, we will release a series of limited edition vintage and custom Redline RL 20 II Prostylers to mark the 40th anniversary of this timeless example of 1980s BMX innovation. Three separate models, serialised 1985 - 2025, will be offered through a three month period. Stay tuned to our website newsletter for news and information regarding the project launch. Sign up at the form below.