Author Topic: Calling all ET, Kuwahara and Redline experts - Bars question... (Read 5508 times)

Jazzchimp · « **on:** March 24, 2016, 01:38 PM »

OK, so About 10 years ago I build a part-perfect ET looptail (which still sits proudly at the centre of my collection). But I thuoght it might be fun to replicate the bike from the film. Fook me!! Though that might be easy but it seems no-one knows where to start.

From my research, it's safe to say, Spielberg wanted a chase scene and thought BMXs were the way to go. The studio approached Kuwahara after 40 bikes. They thought it was a piss take and didn't respond. In the meantime they were pointed to 'Everything Bicycles' the main US outlet for Kuwies. They built up some custom KZs for the film.

Right so we know the ET as it was didn't exist. The custom builds could be any parts but logic says whatever the KZ 1 or 2 came with would have been the logical parts rundown.

From spec sheets of stock US KZs it said they had 'REDLINE APPROVED V BARS', were they Kutski/WIN, Nitto or Redline Bars?
And why redline approved? US bars on a Japanese bike sounds odd to me. Anyone help?

My build with WIN bars

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Compare now the height of these bars on the film bikes

A good shot of Elliott's bars

2x spec sheets from BITD which sight 'REDLINE APPROVED V BARS' as the bars?? What are they?

CustardLips · « **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2016, 01:49 PM »

Pretty sure they were Win bars.

Have a chat with Meticulous and Jaan... they should be able to point you in the right direction.

BMX1973 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2016, 02:10 PM »

+1 with the Win Bars.

Quote from: CustardLips on March 24, 2016, 01:49 PM

Pretty sure they were Win bars.

Have a chat with Meticulous and Jaan... they should be able to point you in the right direction.

Jazzchimp · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2016, 02:21 PM »

PM'd Meticulous, waiting for response. Still digging. the ET FB page (yep there is one) are saying they were WIN with a Redline decal on.

NORTY40 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2016, 06:54 PM »

From memory the only difference i found in the Win V bars and the Kusuki redline approved bars was the knurling . I have a set of each here but there in storage at the moment

Gashead · « **Reply #5 on:** March 24, 2016, 07:49 PM »

I may need to correct you Carl, Mr Spielberg contacted Brian Curtis are first, where he said no.....

I think the bars in the film were Redline v bars

Jazzchimp · « **Reply #6 on:** March 24, 2016, 09:51 PM »

And you can see why it's so hard to get under the skin of this. So Gashead you're not wrong, I've seen write ups which say that but other which speak about the failed order. I think they are Redline but I think Win supplied them to Redline?!!? It's frustrating to think we will probably never know.

Anyway anyone got any NOS Wins they want to part with while I'm here??

Jono · « **Reply #7 on:** March 25, 2016, 01:09 AM »

Quote from: Gashead on March 24, 2016, 07:49 PM

I may need to correct you Carl, Mr Spielberg contacted Brian Curtis are first, where he said no.....

I think the bars in the film were Redline v bars

I'm with nick Redline but as said earlier Sam or Chris will know

Jaan · « **Reply #8 on:** March 25, 2016, 02:17 AM »

You're looking to build this then... (Now with correct skinny rear)

I have your answers but i'm off to bed, i'll PM you.

griff · « **Reply #9 on:** March 25, 2016, 10:25 AM »

Quote from: Jaan on March 25, 2016, 02:17 AM

That is a corker Chris

As much as I think the 'official' ET bikes look good, I wished they'd released bikes as they were made for the movie. BITD I didn't spot the differences in spec, but I do remember being surprised to see 'ET' on the decals & pads

Need to go and look for Sam's Bob rep again now, I love that bike as well

Jaan · « **Reply #10 on:** March 25, 2016, 10:52 AM »

Here you go...

I've been fortunate to own this pretty much since Sam finished it.

I've had to make a few changes (tyres, grips, clamp, seat post) since the photos.

griff · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2016, 10:55 AM »

Why thank you, kind sir

So are they Redline or Win bars?

Jaan · « **Reply #12 on:** March 25, 2016, 01:02 PM »

Bars are Kusuki along with the stem. Everything Bicycles were a Kusuki dealer. The parts selection was based on what Howie had enough of in his shop.

Kusuki is the manufacturer and Win was the brand name for their own licensed products. The Win decals were only just starting to appear on their stems around the time of the films production. Once Kuwahara approached Kusuki to supply bars for their ET model sensibly branding was added.

Curiously, Kusuki already had a relationship with Kuwahara but via Redline. The early complete KZ-1s (80-81) fitted 23" Kusuki V-bars "Approved by Redline".

Heres a few ads that adhere to my account above.

Homage

griff · « **Reply #13 on:** March 25, 2016, 01:33 PM »

I'm sure I read not that long ago that someone was trying to put together a collection of replicas of all the bikes in the movie. Might have been on FB somewhere but fooked if I can find it.

Jaan · « **Reply #14 on:** March 25, 2016, 01:42 PM »

Quote from: griff on March 25, 2016, 01:33 PM

I'm sure I read not that long ago that someone was trying to put together a collection of replicas of all the bikes in the movie. Might have been on FB somewhere but fooked if I can find it.

Yeah, he's done all 5.

Most of the parts are incorrect but he's done a fantastic job nonetheless. As he said to me, he's a film fan first, BMX second.

Jono · « **Reply #15 on:** March 25, 2016, 01:46 PM »

Quote from: Jaan on March 25, 2016, 01:02 PM

Bars are Kusuki along with the stem. Everything Bicycles were a Kusuki dealer. The parts selection was based on what Howie had enough of in his shop.

Kusuki is the manufacturer and Win was the brand name for their own licensed products. The Win decals were only just starting to appear on their stems around the time of the films production. Once Kuwahara approached Kusuki to supply bars for their ET model sensibly branding was added.

Curiously, Kusuki already had a relationship with Kuwahara but via Redline. The early complete KZ-1s (80-81) fitted 23" Kusuki V-bars "Approved by Redline".

Heres a few ads that adhere to my account above.

Homage

There's your answer Carl, wondered what "redline approved" meant , now I know

Jono · « **Reply #16 on:** March 25, 2016, 01:49 PM »

3 nos pairs on eBay USA Carl just type kusuki Bmx

CustardLips · « **Reply #17 on:** March 25, 2016, 03:01 PM »

Quote from: Jaan on March 25, 2016, 01:42 PM

Quote from: griff on March 25, 2016, 01:33 PM

I'm sure I read not that long ago that someone was trying to put together a collection of replicas of all the bikes in the movie. Might have been on FB somewhere but fooked if I can find it.

Yeah, he's done all 5.

Most of the parts are incorrect but he's done a fantastic job nonetheless. As he said to me, he's a film fan first, BMX second.

I don't believe it... be nice if he posted some pics to prove it.

Jazzchimp · « **Reply #18 on:** March 25, 2016, 08:13 PM »

Jaan you're my new best friend! I'll be in touch

nitrohopper · « **Reply #19 on:** March 25, 2016, 08:43 PM »

I have these for sale

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