RADBMX.CO.UK
Old School BMX 1980 - 1988 => Old School Race (riders ready, pedals ready... GO!!) => Topic started by: 20to26 on June 30, 2009, 07:24 PM
-
Back in 1984 I had this Kuwahara bike - of which I've never seen another:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/sc00040235_2/web.jpg'ver=12462603480001)
Which I turned into this to ride trails:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/85-20Jan-20FH-20Trails-20Whip/web.jpg'ver=12462804400001)
Then this to race:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/85-20Hillcrest-20Favourite/web.jpg'ver=12462804540001)
And then during the week and after the season ended, I turned it into this for one of my best summers ever:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/85-20late-20B-W-20air/web.jpg'ver=12462600110001)
I been trying to find out what model Kuwahara it was. There have been many suggestions from a Nova, to a Tange frame, to a non-looptail Nova, a Supernova and even a rare Laserlite. It's been quite a run around and I've pm'd quite a few of you to pick your brains - thanks for that!
Anyway I found this in Colorado recently and it just seemed so right my heart skipped a beat:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/Picture-201/web.jpg'ver=12462598470001)
and soon it will be be in my grubby hands ready to build a replica for MK09 (I hope!)
-
http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=89767.msg895740#msg895740 is it like that one, all round tubes and round brake bridge ??? I had del make up the supernova decals as a p1$$ take as couldn't find out model, tried jamie but no joy..... came with some tange made forks used on cro-mo burners but I picked up the red uns on ebay n they looked better imho :)
-
DJ from what I can see in the pics the tubes are round on my original, I had thought it was an oval DT but I become less convinced. Looks like they're the same as what you describe. I'm so keen to get it refurbed and built up like it was in the last pic. Perhaps a blue one like it was to start will be a future project if I find another.
-
sounds good, get lots of pics up when it lands and lots more as you restore it :daumenhoch:
-
Love that Black and White Shot...super retro-ness :smitten:
-
Nice bike, nice story :daumenhoch:
-
Received a letter from Parcel Farce this morning demanding I pay VAT before they deliver my package. :police:
The good thing is I know it's in the UK now!
-
liked the blue version at the start 8)
-
thanks - it'll be a future project that blue bike will
-
Picked up the Nova from ParcelForce, unpacked & assembled:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP7632/web.jpg'ver=12477312840001)
Got all the right kuwahara stamps on it:
Dropouts
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP7619/web.jpg'ver=12477311970001)
Brake bridge
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP7618/web.jpg'ver=12477312170001)
Seat tube
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP7624/web.jpg'ver=12477312690001)
Handlebars
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP7620/web.jpg'ver=12477312110001)
Forks
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP7626/web.jpg'ver=12477312290001)
Overall this bike looks almost original spec bar the seat (Kawasaki), Grips, Rear Savos Wheel (front is faded black UKAI Speedline - anyone got another?) and brake caliper.
Some more detail pics:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP7627/web.jpg'ver=12477312410001)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP7621/web.jpg'ver=12477312050001)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP7622/web.jpg'ver=12477312770001)
I've got the decals for it but need the oval Kuwahara decal for frame & fork leg as shown in the pic above. If you have a couple please pm me.
I'm not going to be able to restore it for MK09 so I may bring it along as it is if I have the space.
-
Kuwi Nova Bike test :-
http://bmx-recollection.com/Downloads/Archive/Bike%20%26%20Product%20Tests/Kuwahara%20Nova%20Test%20-%20BMX%20Racer%20%26%20Freestyle%2009-1984%20(Sept).pdf
-
Keep the survivor condition for a while- it looks great as it is. :daumenhoch:
-
:daumenhoch:
any idea what a "Dia Compe De Lux" brake looks like LOL
-
What a nice bike.
Keep it as is! Source the seat and wheel and your laughing. :)
-
I've been thinking a lot about building the blue Kuwahara Nova as that's how the bike started it's life. It think it will be well appreciated and quite a rare resto. So I've started to collect the parts. Anyone got a spare Elina Turbo?
But that left me still wanting to build my much loved white Kuwie that's in the nostalgic black & white shots that I have of it:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/85-20late-20B-W/web.jpg'ver=12462599970001)
So what's a man to do - buy another one I guess :)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/l_8ea1d4bd7b9047e8bed2ea44d0f3d0bf/web.jpg'ver=12488857890001)
Ok so it's lurid green and sold as a 'Bravo' - but the frame is the same as the non-looptail Nova that I have and the funny little platforms on the forks go well with my intentions to build my old Kuwie in freestyle disguise.
So plans are afoot with this oddball pair!
8)
-
Where'd you get the green one from bud?
-
I found that one in USA on museum - just F&F, bars + post (which I promise I wont use LOL) - which is why I had to sell off my GT.
-
Steve,
how come they did that Nova and a Looptail Nova, was it something to do with the year ??????
-
Dunno Andy but that blue one was bought new in late 83 or very early 84. That non-loop tail was also sold as a Survivor model and the frame used on Bravo's too. I haven't really understood what Kuwahara was up to round those years. Kuwahero & Bodamus know a great deal more about the K - sometimes I'm told they just shipped what they had to fulfill orders, and living in the southern hemisphere at the time probably meant that we got some strange & unique models ie the blue one and my KZ framed bike with Nova spec! Which is another project on the go.
Just take a look at this for model variations:
(http://www.dreamgate.ne.jp/kuwahara/oldads/kuwaad.jpg)
-
i had a blue nove with gold bits on in 1989..bought it out of loot for 30 quid. it was practically brand new.....
had a black one in 83, and then a chrome one in 84 ( sold the black one and bought my brothers chrome one)
never saw a blue one anywhere, mags or anything, and then i saw the ad in loot a few years later, i went to sale and picked it up....
exactly the same as your one mate :daumenhoch:
-
Thanks J.T I knew someone mentioned it before - thanks for confirming that.
-
My Bravo frameset finally made it over from stateside in all it's lurid green glory:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100197/IMGP8609/web.jpg'ver=12530181710001)
details:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100197/IMGP8610/web.jpg'ver=12530181820001)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100197/IMGP8612/web.jpg'ver=12530181880001)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100197/IMGP8613/web.jpg'ver=12530181760001)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100197/IMGP8611/web.jpg'ver=12530181480001)
Bars:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100197/IMGP8615/web.jpg'ver=12530181610001)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100197/IMGP8616/web.jpg'ver=12530181400001)
Post:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100197/IMGP8614/web.jpg'ver=12530181330001)
A pure white powder coat is planned for my replica build - although I kinda like this green...
-
Nice, the freestyle version; will look good in white although I do like the green :daumenhoch:
Not sure about the seatpost though :-\
-
the kuwahara ET replica nearly bankrupted the company,they made shed loads and couldn't get rid of them so they had to re-use
what they had left on other bikes.
-
the kuwahara ET replica nearly bankrupted the company,they made shed loads and couldn't get rid of them so they had to re-use
what they had left on other bikes.
Never knew that, bitd at Heff's Bike Shop we could have sold them all day long but couldn't get the stock; so that's ironic :shocked:
-
Exhibitionist forks :daumenhoch:
-
Steve , lovin' the blue one with gold parts :daumenhoch:
-
Well I've got a little further down the road after collecting various parts for my three Kuwie builds. Here's a pic of the trio before sending two of them off to SBD for powder coating:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100111/IMGP0339/web.jpg)
Just a couple of bits to get (a used chrome Kuwahara layback post being one of them)
-
Nice trio :coolsmiley:
:daumenhoch:
-
My brother (Spen 69 ) bought me a NOS Bravo frame for my birthday last year , when i say NOS i mean it has never seen paint or chrome let alone a wheel . Hey ho me and my bro are not good at keeping things NOS so its a raw metal frame thats going round the track at MK 10 :laugh:
Get them built and hammer them .
-
wow - how on earth did a raw frame make its way to the UK. That is rather special! Are you going to clear lacquer coat it?
I'm off to SBD this am to collect my freshly coated beauties!
-
That raw frame came from me I aquired it some time ago :daumenhoch:
bodamus :)
-
Well I just got back from Londonium and unpacked SuperBikeDan's glorious handiwork - cast your eyes on these botox beauties:
Luscious Liz - The Blue One
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0381/web.jpg)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0382/web.jpg)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0387/web.jpg)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0386/web.jpg)
Kate's Dirty Sister - The White One
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0389/web.jpg)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0390/web.jpg)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0391/web.jpg)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0393/web.jpg)
8)
Now to collect the remaining bits & get em built for MK
-
Beautiful :smitten:
-
Those are totally awesome looking 8) . Loving the candy blue , could be tempted to do mine and slam some blue shiney side 7x's i've got on my workbench on it . Will they be at MK10 ?
-
yeah the plan is for MK10 - still a couple vital bits to find & decide on
-
Loving this thread :daumenhoch:
That black and white shot with the lens flare is a dream 8)
Look forward to seeing these beauties come together.
-
Nice 8)
-
I woke up this morning with a hankering to start building "Luscious Liz"!!!
oer....The thoughts of that lovely SBD powdered frameset...
I figured this was the best way to see if I've got all the bits for the build - so here's some teaser pics for you to enjoy while you wait for another World Cup game to start - oh and do some work of course ;) :
NOS Kuwahara Laser bars, Sir?
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0431/web.jpg)
Original 80's padset, check:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0434/web.jpg)
Due to the sore lack of Elina Turbo saddles I've had to make one spec change from the original bike - some of you may know the problem...
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0433/web.jpg)
Taking shape in the sunshine - she's looking schweet - that blue!!!
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0430/web.jpg)
sheesh I need to get the lurking KZ-Nova finished too... and the white one... MK's around the corner!
:buck2:
-
Back in 82/82, we had a dutch lad move to our village for the summer with his dads work, he had a blue nova with gold bits, he had the Elina UL chequer post seat on it as standard, was bought in Holland and brought with him.
so technically, it may not be the wrong seat.
Mark M
-
Thanks for that confirmation Mark!
-
That blue is awsome, really looking forward to seeing that built up. :smitten:
-
For some reason I've kept this Kuwahara head tube decal for more than 25 years... now I've got somewhere to put it. My replica build of one of my fave bikes ever - the one in the B&W pics at the beginning of this thread.
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0442/web.jpg)
As my white replica Kuwie starts to take shape now too - I feel strangely nostalgic.. I had so much fun on my custom painted white bike BITD, the white mags spinning in the sunshine - putting this one together is really bringing things back. The butterflies from the big races and the shin burgers from flatland tricks or no-footers gone wrong - heck even the surging adrenaline from trying to go higher on the quarter and emulate my idols in BMX PLUS. BMX lives on!
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0440/web.jpg)
It's times like this that I love this Hobby!
-
Looks like some really cool builds coming along nicely. Great work so far. Looking forward to the result.
-
After the frustration of discovering that the SR crank that I'd bought, and stored for a couple years, was a 28tpi thread version, I was fortunate enough to acquire one that I really wanted from xGoose - I couldn't wait to offer it up this afternoon:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0784/web.jpg)
While I was in the zone I fitted the brakes:
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0785/web.jpg)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP0786/web.jpg)
just a couple bits to find fit and she'll be ready for MK10
-
Finally finished the blue & gold Nova and entered it into MK10 Street Bike class
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP1124/web.jpg)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP1114/web.jpg)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP1127/web.jpg)
(http://gallery.me.com/dvoutlaw/100127/IMGP1118/web.jpg)
Spec:
Repowdered Nova F&F by SBD
Nos Kuwahara Laser Bars
Nos Cobra style grips by Faun
Reanodised gold Dia Compe Tech III levers with og 890 calipers stamped '83
Nos Elina Ultra Lite saddle & fiberlglass seatpost
Nos Suntour Arrow seatclamp
Nos Suntour Mini Stem & Headset lock
Nos YST Chrome headset
Nos SR high flange hubs and pedals
Nos Araya style Sumo rims
Nos Sugino Crank, Spider and Chainring
Nos Tioga Comp III tyres
Nos Izumi chain
Original 80's Kuwahara Osaka Japan padset
:)