RADBMX.CO.UK
Old School BMX 1980 - 1988 => Old School Race (riders ready, pedals ready... GO!!) => Topic started by: Mikku on September 22, 2014, 01:44 PM
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So after a 30-year wait to get one and another 9 months of deliberation and parts-gathering, I’ve finally got my ’83 Laserlite up and running. It’s non-factory spec, is sporting a dent on the right rear stay and some of the chrome has seen better days but I flippin’ love it! :smitten:
Given the condition of the frameset and the fact that it was raced over in Massachusetts bitd, I wanted to go for the survivor racer look and apart from the new Panaracer tyres and tubes, Izumi chain, Shimano inner cable and Nitto layback, everything is from the 80s. I particularly like the battle-scarred Haro Tech plate that I also picked up from the States, although the stickers are my additions! The Laserlite's black and chrome colour scheme is a classic but I wanted to add a little bit of red to accent the red of the Kuwahara decals. It’s not the finished article as a few parts need replacing including the freewheel and the no-name bars, plus I’m also going to see what it looks like with a bit (but not too much) more red on it, probably just the chainwheel. In the meantime, I’m just going to enjoy living (and riding) the dream!
Here’s the build thread:-
http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,170336.0.html
Here’s the pre-build shot:-
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m572/Trident393/Kuwi%20Laserlite/Pre-build017.jpg) (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Trident393/media/Kuwi%20Laserlite/Pre-build017.jpg.html)
& here, back home on Japanese soil after 30 odd years in the States, are some post-build shots, the first batch with the bike in street mode and the second batch with it dressed up with pads and plate in ready-to-race mode. Hope you like ‘em:-
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m572/Trident393/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpicsa.jpg) (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Trident393/media/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpicsa.jpg.html)
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m572/Trident393/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpicsb.jpg) (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Trident393/media/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpicsb.jpg.html)
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m572/Trident393/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpicsc.jpg) (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Trident393/media/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpicsc.jpg.html)
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m572/Trident393/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpicsd.jpg) (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Trident393/media/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpicsd.jpg.html)
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m572/Trident393/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpicse.jpg) (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Trident393/media/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpicse.jpg.html)
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m572/Trident393/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpics09.jpg) (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Trident393/media/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpics09.jpg.html)
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m572/Trident393/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpics10.jpg) (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Trident393/media/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpics10.jpg.html)
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m572/Trident393/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpics076.jpg) (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Trident393/media/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpics076.jpg.html)
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m572/Trident393/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpics12.jpg) (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Trident393/media/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpics12.jpg.html)
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m572/Trident393/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpics13.jpg) (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Trident393/media/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpics13.jpg.html)
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m572/Trident393/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpics14.jpg) (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Trident393/media/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpics14.jpg.html)
Parts list
Laserlite KZ-83 frame – made by Tange in March 1983.
Laserlite forks
Tange Beartrap headset
Suntour Power stem
Suntour headlock
No-name bars (Japan stamped) - since replaced with used MCS Pro bars
Tange grips
Dia-Compe Tech 3 brake lever
Dia-Compe MX1000 rear caliper
Clark’s Powerglide rear outer brake cable with new Shimano inner
ACS Z-pads (NOS)
Suntour “broken arrow” seat post clamp
Nitto seat post (re-issue)
Shotgun 2 seat
ACS Z-rims
GT hubs
Asahi spokes
Panaracer Knarler Knobby 20 x 1.75 tyres (re-issue) with Panaracer tubes (new)
Takagi 180mm opc
Tange BB
SR Spider
Sugino chainwheel (44t)
Izumi chain (re-issue)
Suntour freewheel (16t) - since replaced with a used Shimano MX-30
MKS BN10 pedals - since replaced with used Shimano PDMX-15s
Haro Tech number plate
California Lite padset - matching red padset replaced by the og black Kuwahara stem pad and non-Kuwi frame and bar pads
Dice caps - used if I fancy a bit more red!
& last but not least, thanks to all the Radsters who have helped me out with parts, advice and inspiration – all very much appreciated. :bow:
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Nice work :daumenhoch:
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Great build. Lovely rider. Enjoy. Would like that myself. :daumenhoch:
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That is beautiful :smitten:
I love the little touches of red and would leave just as it is. May I suggest some red caged KKT Lightenings instead of a chainwheel if you want to add more ;)
Great build and enjoy the ride buddy :daumenhoch:
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Super cool
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That is really nice mate. :4_17_5:
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Very nice. Looks fast! That Shot Gun II gives it that extra bit of va va voom!
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Looks brilliant Mick! :daumenhoch:
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Thanks for the comments guys! :)
I thought I'd try a Shotgun for a change and really like it, so thanks to Vos for that! :daumenhoch:
KKT peds would be nice but the MKS were much cheaper (bought off eBay in the US), though are a little more faded than I was hoping for, but you can't win 'em all! ;D Here's a better pic of them:-
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m572/Trident393/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpics05.jpg) (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Trident393/media/Kuwi%20Laserlite/2ndpics05.jpg.html)
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MKS pedals are 8)
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Yeah, I like 'em too! :daumenhoch:
I've just been browsing through the Kuwi museum on here and found this advert posted by glenboy:-
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m572/Trident393/BMX%20Stuff/KuwiwithZs.jpg) (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Trident393/media/BMX%20Stuff/KuwiwithZs.jpg.html)
I had no idea that Kuwis ever came with Z rims as standard, and although it was a different model, I now feel more reassured about having them on the Laserlite! :)
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Nice :daumenhoch:
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Mikku
Sweet ride...After finding mine I have spent countless visits to your build thread for comparison and to give me a bit of non OE vision!
I am really liking the red anno...just sets it off and marks it out against the catalogue builds...not that I mind that but BITD my bikes stayed standard for a few weeks max so these builds are a reflection of that.
Mine will be coming in under £100 including respoking the arayas as there are a few rogue spokes!
Its a keeper tho so cost is not on my radar!
:daumenhoch:
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Glad you like it! :daumenhoch: Am really looking forward to see what you do with yours, though I still can't believe how much (or rather, how little) you paid for it!! :coolsmiley:
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Love it. Looks like it could have been a genuine BITD find :daumenhoch:
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Cheers Paul! :daumenhoch:
Went out for a spin yesterday and I flippin' love how this bike rides! That said, the dodgy freewheel is really starting to annoy me now, so if anyone has a suitable replacement going spare, drop me a PM!
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That dodgy ol' freewheel has now been replaced and a few other small changes made! :daumenhoch: More details here with some updated pics:- http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=184328.msg1849739#msg1849739
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love a survivor :daumenhoch:
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nice build Mick !! :daumenhoch:
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Get some pics up Mick... I think you had it bang on before tbh but wouldn't mind another look. :daumenhoch:
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Get some pics up Mick... I think you had it bang on before tbh but wouldn't mind another look. :daumenhoch:
All here mate:- http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,184328.msg1849739.html#msg1849739
Have a butcher's and lmk what you think! :daumenhoch:
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Hope your neighbors across the street don't mind the porn shots being taken in their parking area Mick ;)
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Lovin' the pads and the plate ... Those little extras make it for me ... I loved all the cool accessories bitd!
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Lovely that is Mick. :4_17_5: Must confess tho to knowing absolutely nothing about Kuwis & the different models, you've nailed the survivor look, that I do know. :daumenhoch:
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Thanks for the comments guys! :daumenhoch:
Hope your neighbors across the street don't mind the porn shots being taken in their parking area Mick ;)
One man's porn is another middle aged man's harmless photographs of a child's bike!! That said, I certainly get a few odd looks when I'm taking snaps of the Kuwi around and about the place! ;D
Here's a pic of the older pads that are now on it:-
(http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m572/Trident393/BMX%20Stuff/black%20pads%20007.jpg) (http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Trident393/media/BMX%20Stuff/black%20pads%20007.jpg.html)
The lighting's a bit crap but they're not a bad match in terms of colour, age and condition.