RADBMX.CO.UK
Old School BMX 1980 - 1988 => Old School Race (riders ready, pedals ready... GO!!) => Topic started by: 20to26 on November 11, 2011, 10:27 AM
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After much searching and eventually posting a wanted ad I landed a new Kuwahara project. I was planning a Freestyle build but this baby came up...
Thanks to Woody for responding to my post and hooking me up with the F&F my brother had - it's his 40th coming up so I'm building this as a tribute to him. So I guess this is "Project: Brutherly Lurve"
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--CtbQxai134/UFDgZMOFVKI/AAAAAAAAALM/4x4P8OLWuv0/s640/Kuwahara-Laserlite-1983.jpg)
As you can see it's going to be a long road back to blingdom.
:)
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just retweeking my chrome one.
love laserlites, my icon bmx as it were.
looking forward to seeing the work in progress :daumenhoch:
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Dependent on the build you decide to follow I may be able to assist with parts.
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cheers Frosty
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here's a snap of mine
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y91/frosty_paul/BMX%20misc/DSCF1733.jpg)
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yummy.
those tyres.....
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Kerching! :buck2:
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Looking forward to seeing this finished :4_17_5:
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i need those tyres ;)
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Yup they took a while to locate a few years back fatty and skinny, perfect for the build. :daumenhoch:
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...removed the headset cups and headed over to a certain someone to work their magic on the finish 8) - Film at 11.
In other news: decals, cranks, bars, post, saddle, grips, pads, clamp all in da house!
Still need a Suntour Stem, hubs, chain, tyres and brake caliper over the coming months.
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What hubs are you after h/f sealed suntours or something else? Also colour.
I have some Kuwi tyres that are a later spec with a comp III type tread, that may be of interest, see pic
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y91/frosty_paul/BMX%20misc/DSCF1918.jpg)
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Frame and Fork has been stripped of the rust and nasty old chrome ready for the next stage:
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y47/purcellbmx/photo15.jpg)
:)
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looking good mate cant wait to see the progress 8)
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More belated pics of the restoration process - forgot I had this thread actually...
dropouts are pretty clean - this is after some serious prep work by 'the master'
Before:
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-R4LFeW-QioI/UFNn5VA3EaI/AAAAAAAAATU/mvO-vSD0j3Y/s640/IMGP5114.JPG)
After:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dWSGEemk8NU/UFNqo3KcOSI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/GYx55sFpP30/s640/flat1.jpg)
The brake bridge:
Before:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xs_pXkjUeOc/UFNn7AizuNI/AAAAAAAAATk/6PxU4eolgxw/s640/IMGP5118.JPG)
After:
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zUlZEXRjNjo/UFNqqDHMtBI/AAAAAAAAAoY/3UVoS5NOx4o/s640/flat2.jpg)
The condition of the chrome meant that there wasn't going to be a way back to chrome again.
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Lookin' good. :daumenhoch:
Love to get me hands on one of them ! :smitten:
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Looking good so far, look forward to seeing more updates fella
:daumenhoch:
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Holy build thread resurrection Batman!
After two plus years on the quiet I've finally got some movement on this build!
The frame & fork have been sitting wrapped in bubble wrap, and hasn't seen the light of day in all this time.
The 2014 Spring build off on BMX Museum prompted me to get this done as I've got 99% of the parts collected now - although I have a suspicion I'll be changing one or two as my 'tastes' have changed and I really want to do this project justice without spending masses of money.
The only sticker on the frame when I got it was from the bicycle store in London that originally sold it. I thought that was quite a poignant aspect to that build - the fact that sticker survived all these years intact. Considering the condition of the rest of the frame that's pretty incredible!
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-E1p8B9FL4cg/UFNoD6cL-BI/AAAAAAAAAUs/BDQbqiOm66s/s400/IMGP5128.JPG)(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2g3A_YRaLSA/UFNn1ciYQLI/AAAAAAAAAS0/6EDnv36udRQ/s400/IMGP5110.JPG)
So when in London a good few months ago I went to the bike shop to see if I could get a sticker from them for the frame. As it turned out Holdsworth Cycles was closing down that very day!
I determined that I'd keep that legacy in mind when completing this build. A fitting tribute for all the years that store has built and sold bikes of all kinds - and once upon a time in 1983 this Kuwahara Laserlite.
I came away with these and they'll be the signature in a sense.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WlZwUvKBQIU/UuPNjdonDHI/AAAAAAAAC2A/ja5Dsob9nk8/s400/image_2014-01-25_14%253A41.jpg)
So yesterday I restarted with the wheels & Stidds wheel building guide. Ta!
I had SBD strip and powder coat some really mangy UKAI Speedline rims and laced them using Asahi spokes from JT to some mint chrome sealed bearing Suzue hubs.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JBQ6gIB-zo0/UuzZLszxnqI/AAAAAAAAC6c/18XEpb-j-kg/s400/image_2014-02-01_11%253A23.jpg)(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2u02LkhbxJc/UuzaIFOj-VI/AAAAAAAAC6o/dCpEhXIJjrk/s400/image_2014-02-01_11%253A24.jpg)(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-89FbemU8Npo/UuzaeOOp3yI/AAAAAAAAC6w/bZwH9g0ZTpA/s400/image_2014-02-01_11%253A25.jpg)
I need some new hub decals and to way to reinstate the speed lines on the rims. The eagle eyed might have spotted that the rims are now gun metal grey.
In keeping with my idea to restore the frame & fork from the rusty patina of the opening post, I decided to keep the Tange headset it came with instead of fitting a NOS Tange MXII that I'd gathered.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-62xHSH3Fao8/UFNoC6SBumI/AAAAAAAAAUk/qXqyAFYtjmg/s400/IMGP5127.JPG)
That one task has got me some momentum so today I spent some time in the garage with the Tange 125 headset...along with some wet & dry sand paper, cutting compound and autosol. Not perfect but that's ok - it's the only original bit about this bike now besides the steel!
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-l4zZ8k9-x9w/UuzcWndZLtI/AAAAAAAAC68/0_RZ2g0uPh8/s400/image_2014-02-01_11%253A35.jpg)(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3WHweqe7ISQ/Uuz9bzhKPAI/AAAAAAAAC7w/mPTWVMlc8Lo/s400/image_2014-02-01_13%253A57.jpg)
And the Hutch (I think) head lock that also came fitted to the headset.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xsf0OHJgzJs/UuzoMlr4TbI/AAAAAAAAC7g/c08K2trjsWI/s400/image_2014-02-01_12%253A22.jpg)(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-J3_uhdFP26Y/Uu0ImHB3SyI/AAAAAAAAC8A/f3xSA1o5F7s/s400/image_2014-02-01_14%253A45.jpg)
:)
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A real labour of lurve. Look forward to more updates
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looks like this is going to turn out sweet as... love the colour of the rims. Just for info, something in the back of my mind says the headlock may be a D.K.
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Alrighty then - thanks Hutchman. You can see that at some point those recesses were cut into it so it could tightened with a spanner.
Spent some time polishing the nos silver stem - sheesh I must get a proper polisher. Dremel and hands is tough work!
I wanted to use a WIN hinged stem on a build for some time and thought this would be a good frame to use it as I was going a custom route just like my brother and I did bitd - only our first Kuwahara's were off the shelf stock:
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i7EJ2WAdhPg/UTDPi3f8EEI/AAAAAAAABW4/ddSYRHw-Wn0/s400/IMAGE_EE8FDD09-F034-4ED8-82A1-41FE9A792218.JPG)(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YvbcI2irIyk/Uu5hVUNe9SI/AAAAAAAAC_c/3Rn2HNw0Z1A/s400/IMAGE_237.jpg)
Dug out the cranks that I've been hoarding for years waiting for the right project:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tXWK6N0cLuQ/UZOYfpIBFII/AAAAAAAAB3s/h9xOHoGAj7A/s400/IMAGE_5375AF36-EDCD-4027-87DC-7F4767E0364A.JPG)(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4SEo4xIv_Uc/UZOXj7Z6ohI/AAAAAAAAB3M/Cq5CyKYUbEM/s400/IMAGE_40BD5E7E-BB65-4072-8844-7632F06542FF.JPG)
...and the pedals to suit and some Win Nova bars (I mistakingly sold my nos Laserbars with a Nova some time ago :uglystupid2:)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yy3LpC1Y-gc/UZOXIYROnbI/AAAAAAAAB28/q0piCbjvA3E/s400/IMAGE_65B4C956-82FD-4353-890C-A5FD12160112.JPG)(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uVHnCacNDj8/UFDgQLZKydI/AAAAAAAAAKc/T-es_ALCcP8/s400/IMGP5268.JPG)
Seatpost is a NOS Laserlite one - that's lurking somewhere in the loft :LolLolLolLol:
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Good going you've obviously got some patience :daumenhoch: are the frame and forks painted now
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If you ever want rid of the headlock ... gis us a shout ! :daumenhoch:
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Good going you've obviously got some patience :daumenhoch: are the frame and forks painted now
Just pulled this out from it's hiding place of two years - never even opened it when I got it back from SBD.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wbFifrDUfmg/Uu5Aa9JwtgI/AAAAAAAAC9E/NwrpjxaNjyw/s400/image_2014-02-02_12%253A55.jpg)
I'd had a sneak peak but nothing quite prepared me for what I saw - I've never had a frame take my breath away before...
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sO21-OOC3NE/Uu5BOkYDp6I/AAAAAAAAC90/nXzpEbYGt0o/s400/image_2014-02-02_12%253A58.jpg)(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TEnhHBEe3nI/Uu5BVsIW85I/AAAAAAAAC98/HA7MVU49cdg/s400/image_2014-02-02_12%253A59.jpg)
My iPhone5 pics just don't do this paint job justice at all - I'm going to need to break out my DSLR and take some better pics...
:smitten:
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wow !! whats the finish called?... super chrome?
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It certainly looks like chrome!
SBD went all out on this - some earlier pics show the process of what Dan went through to build up primer to smooth out the pitted surface. Once suitably primed he painted it, flatted it back, painted it, flatted it, then did the same with a few layers of clear coats. Dan's a magician!
The paint looks deep - like on a prize winning hotrod - just what I asked him to try achieve.
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I SOOOO need this for my Trident.
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Just for info, something in the back of my mind says the headlock may be a D.K.
I reckon you're right Dave, this is mine but obviously a bigger one.
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/p191/carpcrazyox/shiney.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/carpcrazyox/media/shiney.jpg.html)
Will this still be ready for your bro's 40th or has that date gone now ????
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bragging again !! ;D very nice headlock.. is that the one on your Zeronine?
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:LolLolLolLol:
should have read that before i posted it :-[
Yeah on the Zeronine.
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Will this still be ready for your bro's 40th or has that date gone now ????
Nope life got in the way and it was put into hiding. My bros was chrome so there's every chance I'll build one exactly like he had. But this build still has that as its first motivation although it's taken a turn towards what might have been rather than what actually was. Do I sound like a hippie now? Lol :crazy2:
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Subscribed!! I'm putting an '83 together at the moment so am glad you've resurrected this!! Love the choice of parts (it's always interesting to see something different from factory-spec and those cranks are sweet as!) plus the tie-in with the original bike shop is a nice touch! Can't wait to see it finished!! :daumenhoch:
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This must be the longest running build of mine that I can finally say "it's done".
This is my 1983 oval tubed Tange made KZ-3 "E.T. LASERLITE" custom build complete with original bike shop decal and Tange MX125 headset just like it had when I got it some years ago (serial number T3G2200).
It was in quite a state...note the only decal.
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4x7GUfwMCBg/UFNoE61WM_I/AAAAAAAAAU0/GgpcJ66O_Eo/s640/IMGP5129.JPG)
I needed to complete this rather mystical build for my own sanity's sake and get some shots in the correct light to try and show just how deep this gloss back is - and just how chrome some of the other features are...
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/---_LKqo4JyU/VRBGtbmFGDI/AAAAAAAAEwQ/XGHPat6gGdo/s640/IMG_1163.JPG)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JqU-N39ueTc/VRBGlhzefvI/AAAAAAAAEvQ/xXcm8-4Lpwc/s640/IMG_1171.JPG)
Yep - deep gloss black with custom chrome Kuwahara delcals... #ftw
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jiOp69GnZ7Y/VRBGvSyhKrI/AAAAAAAAEwc/L8dExawoaaE/s640/IMG_1161.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gbEoljOvIxc/VRBGwNJF9II/AAAAAAAAEwo/0jYgeiQJt_4/s640/IMG_1160.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yWmlUF3rT1k/VRBGomQ8heI/AAAAAAAAEvo/S4NSzSS--D4/s640/IMG_1168.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9BJF3-fgAdo/VRBGU_p_-7I/AAAAAAAAEtM/2wVTNikDJU4/s640/IMG_1189.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--9582dcfgVU/VRBGd9PXQpI/AAAAAAAAEuY/oibGDvA_G4M/s640/IMG_1178.JPG)
Because the bike was originally sold by W.F. Holdsworth cycles in Putney, London, who have now gone out of business, but who were also a road bike manufacturer in their past, I wanted to build a Laserlite with a little bit of a difference. As if they received a newly released Kuwahara Laserlite frame & fork and built it up for a customer - yeah I have a wild imagination...
If you've been following this long winded build you'll have read that I happened to visit the bike shop on the day they closed down - needless to say the chap I spoke to was a little downhearted but cheered up when I told him what I was up to and handed me a strip of decals. Because of that I wanted to make this a little tribute build - so I changed direction and built a custom Laserlite like it may have been assembled by a bunch of roadies for a lucky kid whose folks had a little more buying power than most in 1983.
I added the E.T. just because this is no ordinary Laserlite and of course the movie had been released the year before. Call it poetic license and nothing more.
As such I slowly collected the kind of bmx parts that were indicative of the early eighties and slightly resembled the KZ-1 bikes; so this Laserlite has the following era NOS and new parts:
Hanabishi CR-MO three piece cranks with original BB
MKS BM-15 pedals
Suntour Silver Arrow seat clamp
Selle San Marco Concor Supercorsa saddle
WIN V-bars
WIN hinged stem
Suzue sealed bearing hubs
Asashi spokes
Dia-Compe two finger lever
Dia-Compe DC 890 caliper
Tioga Comp III tyres
Ame Tri grips - cos I had them and wanted to finish this!
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Pq-2giPxYK0/VRBG3t8dl2I/AAAAAAAAExo/0r0dKSDLO3k/s640/IMG_1152.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ew7s5AprClQ/VRBGfgm8xxI/AAAAAAAAEuo/x1zH5ZLO5x8/s640/IMG_1176.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4nv2ic7orC4/VRBGrfHp73I/AAAAAAAAEwA/KWoOVGKMfY8/s640/IMG_1165.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-raVvg7ExjSM/VRBGa5JG1jI/AAAAAAAAEuA/_vK6xO__bxg/s640/IMG_1181.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GVpzeAeKlOg/VRBGVjicbqI/AAAAAAAAEtQ/RMPJtKjLMac/s640/IMG_1188.JPG)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vPXj7565J5c/VRBGUBHMxXI/AAAAAAAAEtA/bpmEVG3O2ko/s640/IMG_1187.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--B0HA0-doTs/VRBGxN3RA4I/AAAAAAAAEww/WNJZEcClchI/s640/IMG_1159.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x04HV-FljdY/VRBGRi2Y3mI/AAAAAAAAEso/2qEjI-FziPM/s640/IMG_1192.JPG)
The Tange MX125 headset was restored, polished and re-decalled as was the original headlock but sadly that didn't fit over the stem shaft so I had to leave it off.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wGKR2tBXwN8/VRBGTGoFQEI/AAAAAAAAEs4/NJrBA0DNyvc/s640/IMG_1190.JPG)
I also had SBD powder the UKAI Speedline rims in satin anthracite because I thought it would add to the custom feel as opposed to chrome or standard anodised colours.
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VQ_yVISPcy8/VRBGWvlegWI/AAAAAAAAEtY/xIOTSoCOaxE/s640/IMG_1186.JPG)
Here's even more detail pics for you to feast your eyes on:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Zhxggfctxgk/VRBGzpnfTaI/AAAAAAAAExI/2aYRMyjyZxM/s640/IMG_1156.JPG)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-En8lH6j8TK4/VRBGyPcwITI/AAAAAAAAEw4/EjZx67JvwEc/s640/IMG_1158.JPG)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ttPA06TjlHw/VRBG1mM-7cI/AAAAAAAAExY/Fyz-EAX28ik/s640/IMG_1154.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uSD63RbfTo8/VRBG0j0VY7I/AAAAAAAAExQ/zJNljnFwb-c/s640/IMG_1155.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-m2wmQRb8_rc/VRBG4buyjFI/AAAAAAAAExw/TlAgNfP6EJc/s640/IMG_1151.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ra2MDCjd8JE/VRBGeyHvrDI/AAAAAAAAEug/LWbSqnsLSH8/s640/IMG_1177.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-G9Vp1DzZru0/VRBGdMsDqQI/AAAAAAAAEuU/f8dArVQPxnI/s640/IMG_1179.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1I2IxIXcYXM/VRBGsQeUW0I/AAAAAAAAEwI/yNhit-t7G9w/s640/IMG_1164.JPG)
Done.
:)
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Stunning! "wantit" :4_17_5: :daumenhoch:
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That's lovely :smitten:
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Very nice indeed :smitten:
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That is tasty. 8) I wonder why they only made these in Chrome. :-\ This looks so right in Black. :coolsmiley:
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It is hypnotic, it's hard to look away because it is so beautiful! :daumenhoch:
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Now that was well worth waiting for!! :daumenhoch: A great-looking Laserlite and I just love the black finish! :bow: