The FAST AND FORMIDABLE Redline Proline
Conceived and designed in 1977, the prototype Redline Proline landed in the evolving BMX Market as a fast and technical pro-level race bike. But for all intents and purposes, the Proline wasn't just a bike; it was a statement of Redline's commitment to performance and innovation. This ambitious yet assured brand ethos supported the innovative culture on which the company was founded in 1974, and the Proline's groundbreaking and original design characteristics position it as a legendary race bike from a legendary era.
As BMX grew and found its young and intrepid audience, breakages and equipment failures were commonplace, creating opportunities for skilled metal workers, neighborhood fabricators, and industrial designers to imagine and create better hardware solutions. Early BMX product design focused on resilience through experimentation with a variety of raw materials, geometries, and production philosophies borrowed from the hot rod and motorcycle industries. Consequently, the cottage community of machine shops and fabrication houses across southern California kicked into overdrive in the late 1970s in search of formulas that balanced reliability, performance, and aesthetics. But as many quickly found out, genuine innovation isn't something that can be adopted and learned overnight. It was Redline's deep experience in building products to meet the demands of flat track motorcycle racers, using lightweight aircraft grade alloys - notably 4130 Chromoly - and the fine art of heliarc welding that gave the company an advantage—Redline’s ability to set the standards for reliability and performance in a demanding and rapidly emerging landscape put daylight between the brand and its competition.
Early versions of the Redline Proline were built and tested in NBA races across the San Fernando Valley from as early as 1977, with Redline test rider Byron Friday seen piloting the new model in early magazine coverage. By 1979, when the evolved and polished Proline finally cut tread in the dirt, the company had assembled a formidable roster of emerging talent into a race team that dominated the NBA and ABA circuits deep into the novice ranks.
The Redline Proline became the embodiment of Redline's brand philosophy, a statement of intent from the sports-leading innovator and market leader: Innovation delivers the rider an advantage, as the Redline Proline became the weapon of choice for fast, ambitious bike racers with a winning mentality.
