RADBMX.CO.UK
Old School BMX 1980 - 1988 => Old School Race (riders ready, pedals ready... GO!!) => Topic started by: Clean on February 28, 2013, 02:06 PM
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Some of you may recall one of my recent threads about the price of Kuwahara ETs?
http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=158205.0 (http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=158205.0)
Well, you know how it goes sometimes, you find yourself browsing German eBay late on a Wednesday evening and stumble across an item that just cannot be allowed to escape. After several message exchanges with a pleasant film memorabilia collector called "Thorsten" I agree a BIN price for a beautiful survivor Kuwahara ET; the low end "Replica" rather than the fully specked "Original".
From the pictures I was sent I knew that the condition of this survivor was good, but only when it landed last week, and I was able to inspect it close up, was I really able to appreciate it, and OMFG is it in good condition. :shocked:
The bike looks like it was ridden for six months in 1982 and then stored in someone's front room; I am yet to find a spot of rust on it save the bosses where the pedals screw into the cranks.
In terms of kit, the Chainguard and Reflectors are long gone (probably the day it was bought), and the rear tyre has been replaced, but absolutely everything else on the bike is genuine, authentic and original to the day it left the box. Sadly the OGK Grips were cut out to allow for travel of the Brake Levers, but I kind of like this as it adds to it's authenticity as a survivor.
Mechanically the bike is super tight everywhere and the wheels spin forever and are perfectly true. The only mechanical glitch is the pedal spindles, which are a bit loose, and as they are sealed cannot be cleaned and tightened, so I am on the lookout for a pair to replace them ahead of a public outing.
The paintwork has a few scratches and scrapes, as you would expect, but really is outstanding for the age, and I have yet to find any rust whatsoever. Decals have also seen better days, but are perfectly acceptable for the age, of particular note is the Championship Chro-Mo Foil on the Right Fork, the WIN BMX Foils on the Stem and Bars, and the original Bike German Shop Decal on the Top Tube.
When I say that the photographs really don't do this bike justice, I do not exaggerate; hopefully you will see it very soon at one of our 2013 wobbles.
So here is the specification for the 1982 Tange made Kuwahara ET "The Replica":
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/x71/rkw1971/Kuwahara%20ET%20BMX/KuwaharaETReplicaSpecifications.jpg)
And a few piccies taken today under a fresh blue sky:
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/x71/rkw1971/Kuwahara%20ET%20BMX/DSCN1633.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/x71/rkw1971/Kuwahara%20ET%20BMX/DSCN1626.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/x71/rkw1971/Kuwahara%20ET%20BMX/DSCN1628.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/x71/rkw1971/Kuwahara%20ET%20BMX/DSCN1630.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/x71/rkw1971/Kuwahara%20ET%20BMX/DSCN1631.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/x71/rkw1971/Kuwahara%20ET%20BMX/DSCN1637.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/x71/rkw1971/Kuwahara%20ET%20BMX/DSCN1639.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/x71/rkw1971/Kuwahara%20ET%20BMX/DSCN1640.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/x71/rkw1971/Kuwahara%20ET%20BMX/DSCN1641.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/x71/rkw1971/Kuwahara%20ET%20BMX/DSCN1643.jpg)
I know it might not be a super mintola resto of a drilled out Hot Heart with the correct, high end, NOS parts dripping of it, but that's why I love it; it's the real deal if a little ratty. :smitten:
Now the question is "can I enter a bike I did not personally build in BOTM?" :angel:
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First up...WOW thats in friggin awesome shape and theres NOTHING wrong with a survivor bike at all :4_17_5: Every bike has been done to a show standard and it's really nice to see a few more bikes in their original finish... As for BOTM. ?....gets my vote :daumenhoch:
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That is excellent mate, a proper piece of history saved and gone to a good home.
Nice one Rich. :coolsmiley: :daumenhoch:
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Excellent buy. I'm sure I sure this too on eBay a few weeks ago. Were the photos of it in a living room (vaguely remember it hanging up(?) at an angle).
The buzz around E.T. and these models were the first time I heard of Kuwahara back in the day. Loads of us wanted one in my neighbourhood. 8)
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Lovely :)
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Nice one. :daumenhoch:
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thats ace
i would love that
nice one :)
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Nice one :daumenhoch:
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Rich
One word........WOW :smitten:
:4_17_5:
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Great find Rich, shame we can't get to see it in the flesh on Saturday
Lush
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Hell, that's nice!!!!!!! :4_17_5:
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That looks in awesome shape Rich, top drawer mate. :daumenhoch:
As for entering it into BOTM...................................................No, i'm the only person allowed to enter a bike that hasn't been built by the submiter personally. :LolLolLolLol:
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One word - jealous
Two words - incredibly jealous
Three words....
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yep it. :daumenhoch:
Survivors where its at. 8)
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nice example that in original condition :daumenhoch:
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Great survivor Rich , love it :smitten:
Gone to a good home aswell :daumenhoch:
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Very very nice Rich . :smitten:
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Finally the secret is out >:D
Love a survivor and this is lush. End of. Get it entered in the competition Rich and let's see how it fares against all those re-chromed show ponies mate. Can I ride it?
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Wow !
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:smitten: :smitten: :smitten: very nice Rich :4_17_5:
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Love it :smitten: :daumenhoch:
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What a score :4_17_5:
One word Rich ;)
"That's fookin' lovely " :smitten:
:D
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Excellent score Rich. :daumenhoch:
I hope it came with a Frankfurter...!
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Great piece of history there Rich :coolsmiley: :daumenhoch: :smitten:
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Love it
Give me a survivor any day
:daumenhoch:
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Reet good r kid :daumenhoch:
Just need to change thas back tyre 8)
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Woahh, that's nice,
love them Kusuki slant stems.... :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch:
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Keep coming back to this !
Love it, please can I have it :angel:
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Sweet find Rich,lovely survivor :daumenhoch:
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great pick up :coolsmiley:
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Nice one Richard :4_17_5:
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Man, that's awesome 8) :daumenhoch:
just as it should be. OG paint for me every time.
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That's amazing!! The bike millions of kids dreamt of.. I remember entering a competition, in a Sunday magazine to win one. Never happened and was gutted :'( least I still get to see them & gone to a nice guy. :daumenhoch:
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top score mr clean, and worth the wait id say.. well done. awsum find. :daumenhoch:
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Thanks for all of the kind comments, peeps. :daumenhoch:
You can see it / touch it / ride it / smell it in Chester in a couple of weeks..... I will have the ET Kuwie with me, too! :LolLolLolLol:
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Nice :4_17_5: - but I would turn it into a hot heart, just to be different..... :2funny: :2funny:
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Nice :4_17_5: - but I would turn it into a hot heart, just to be different..... :2funny: :2funny:
:LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: nice one that would be different :daumenhoch:
lovely bike that rich one of my favourites atm , really like it :daumenhoch:
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Really nice to see a survivor 'base model' of an ET.
Most are messed with or made into the higher spec ones.
Spot on and well done for saving it.
oldskoolcool ;)
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Thats a real beauty! Love it! :daumenhoch:
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:shocked: WOW.......that is one super clear survivor :smitten: