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RADBMX.CO.UK  |  Old School BMX 1980 - 1988  |  Old School Race (riders ready, pedals ready... GO!!)  |  Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve" // Finished
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Author Topic: Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve" // Finished  (Read 18448 times)

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Offline 20to26

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Re: Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve"
« Reply #25 on: February 02, 2014, 06:22 PM »
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.

Offline HUTCHMAN

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Re: Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve"
« Reply #26 on: February 02, 2014, 06:25 PM »
I SOOOO  need this for my Trident.

Offline southern andy

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Re: Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve"
« Reply #27 on: February 02, 2014, 06:41 PM »
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.





Will this still be ready for your bro's 40th or has that date gone now ????
One build a year, the only way to get it right. No rushing involved.

Offline HUTCHMAN

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Re: Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve"
« Reply #28 on: February 02, 2014, 07:03 PM »
bragging again !!   ;D  very nice headlock.. is that the one on your Zeronine?

Offline southern andy

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Re: Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve"
« Reply #29 on: February 02, 2014, 07:13 PM »
 :LolLolLolLol:

should have read that before i posted it  :-[

Yeah on the Zeronine.
One build a year, the only way to get it right. No rushing involved.

Offline 20to26

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Re: Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve"
« Reply #30 on: February 02, 2014, 07:59 PM »
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:

Offline Mikku

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Re: Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve"
« Reply #31 on: February 08, 2014, 07:29 AM »
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:
From Dorset to Japan:- http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,182215.0.html
Ok riders, random start. Riders ready, watch the gate old gaijin make a fool of himself! :D

Offline 20to26

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Re: Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve" // FINISHED
« Reply #32 on: March 23, 2015, 06:11 PM »
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.



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...





Yep - deep gloss black with custom chrome Kuwahara delcals... #ftw







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!










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.




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.




Here's even more detail pics for you to feast your eyes on:










Done.

 :)
« Last Edit: March 23, 2015, 06:14 PM by 20to26 »

Offline Taipan

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Re: Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve" // Finished
« Reply #33 on: March 24, 2015, 08:50 AM »
Stunning!  "wantit" :4_17_5: :daumenhoch:

Offline stu27

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Re: Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve" // Finished
« Reply #34 on: March 24, 2015, 08:53 AM »
That's lovely :smitten:
negativity is for chumps,positivity is for champs

In2bmx

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Re: Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve" // Finished
« Reply #35 on: March 24, 2015, 09:21 AM »
Very nice indeed  :smitten:

Online BMX1973

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Re: Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve" // Finished
« Reply #36 on: March 24, 2015, 04:14 PM »
That is tasty.  8) I wonder why they only made these in Chrome.  :-\ This looks so right in Black.  :coolsmiley:

Offline babarnum

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Re: Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve" // Finished
« Reply #37 on: March 24, 2015, 08:58 PM »
It is hypnotic, it's hard to look away because it is so beautiful! :daumenhoch:

Offline Mikku

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Re: Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve" // Finished
« Reply #38 on: March 27, 2015, 11:25 AM »
Now that was well worth waiting for!! :daumenhoch:  A great-looking Laserlite and I just love the black finish! :bow:
From Dorset to Japan:- http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,182215.0.html
Ok riders, random start. Riders ready, watch the gate old gaijin make a fool of himself! :D

RADBMX.CO.UK  |  Old School BMX 1980 - 1988  |  Old School Race (riders ready, pedals ready... GO!!)  |  Kuwahara Laserlite '83 - "Project: Brutherly Lurve" // Finished
 

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