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My 1983 Kuwahara Laser Lite build - more new bits and started build!

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B-Boyblue:
Hi all.

As mentioned in the welcome section of the forum, i've been into BMX since the early 80s - more 'cause my older brother was into it as i was only 8 or 9 at the time.  When I was 12 in 1985 he gave me his Kuwahara KZ1. Not a bad present eh? My brother is still into BMX and now has a very nice 82 ET Kuwahara Looptail. I had that KZ1 till some scumbag stole it and by then I was learning to drive and VW Beetles took over from BMX as my hobby. ::)

Anyway, back to the Laser Lite and why i decided to build one of these brilliant bikes rather than a KZ1 which was my first BMX. When i was 10 i remember reading one of my brothers magazines (of the BMX variety  ;)) and saw a full page advert ofor the Kuwahara Laser Lite. That was it for me! I loved it, my brother loved it and it was Kuwaharas most expensive BMX. It was the bike Clint Miller, Gary Ellis and the Factory Team used. Needless to say, my folks certainly wern't going to stump up the cash (and rightly so - a 10 year old getting a laser lite just isn't right!) and the quid my brother gave me for helping with his paper round each week wasnt going to go far so having that advert on my wall was about as close to one as I was going to get!

Right, fast forward 27 odd years and to reward myself for the birth of my son Oliver I decided I was going to build the BMX I always wanted - a totally Factory Spec Kuwahara Laser Lite! Unfortunately, having never built and Old School BMX before I wasnt entirely prepared for the amount of money its all going to cost but hey, you only build your childhood dream bike once right?

Now for the Pics...it just a few parts at the moment and i'll add pics and updates as and when I get more bits and eventually start the build.

I actually have two Laser Lite frames at the moment. The frame I'm building up came from Sweden and has its original chrome in great condition. It has a couple of scratches in the rear stay, but nothing major. I was considering getting it rechromed and building it show bike stylee but it seems a bit of a shame really as you cant really see them unless you turn the bike on its side and get close up. It has the Kuwahara Stampings on the rear dropouts, Rear Caliper Bracket and Bottom Bracket which i've been told, only came on the 84 laser lites with the round tubes but mine definitely has the same oval tube as my other frame that doesn't have the stampings. Both have T3 serial nos. If anyone who knows for definite and can shed some light on this it would be appreciated. ;)

The frame closest is the one I'm building..






Rear Dropouts


Rear Caliper Bracket


Bottom Bracket


Rear Stay Scratches - Is it worth rechroming for these??


These are the forks! Mint oval TRXs. I got them from the states from a guy who had just taken them off his show Laser Lite.




Excellent Original Chrome Kuwahara Laser Bars! Got these from a top guy in Germany. Got a couple of other bits coming from him hopefully.







Excellent condition Suntour Stem bought from Ebay and at a reasonable price.



NOS Suntour Arrow seat post clamp bought from ebay that cost an absolute flipping fortune! ::)  but then again, not seen another one for sale so dont know. Anyway, too late to worry about that now ::)




Thats all the bits I physically have at the moment but I do have a Redline / Sugino 400 Crankset in excellent condition on the way over from the states. I'll post pics when they turn up! :)

Thats it for the moment. Loads more bits that i need.

Really hope you like the thread and as its my first build i'm really looking forward to your input advice and comments as it progresses.

Cheers :)


 :)

monkian:
Awesome pair of frames. I wouldn't re-chrome it man, keep OG 8) :daumenhoch:
You probably have a KZ83 (KZ3) & KZ84 (KZ4)
T3J = Tange 83 / October - So even though built in 83 as it's late in the year technically a K84 (K4)
I could be wrong as I'm no Kuwie expert but that's my understanding of it.

Does the unstamped one at least have a Serial No. on the BB?
Hope that helps. Welcome to Rad :coolsmiley: :daumenhoch:

B-Boyblue:

--- Quote from: monkian on February 01, 2011, 10:26 PM ---Awesome pair of frames. I wouldn't re-chrome it man, keep OG 8) :daumenhoch:
You probably have a KZ83 (KZ3) & KZ84 (KZ4)
T3J = Tange 83 / October - So even though built in 83 as it's late in the year technically a K84 (K4)
I could be wrong as I'm no Kuwie expert but that's my understanding of it.

Hope that helps. Welcome to Rad :coolsmiley: :daumenhoch:

--- End quote ---

Thanks! Yeah, Thought it wasnt really worth re-chroming. I want to use it after its built anyway.

Thanks for the info and the welcome. Much appreciated :) I thought that might be the case but on Jamies Kuwahara site it mentions that the KZ84s had the rounder top and bottom tube. Both mine are oval tubed.

monkian:
It may just be that the stamps were introduced in the period between the two being made.
You really need one of the Kuwie boys on here to find out for sure.
No doubt they'll be along sooner or later :daumenhoch:

bobafett:

Sweet frame - I would definitely NOT re-chrome  :daumenhoch:

Look forward to seeing it built  ;)

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