Author Topic: is this a kuwahara (Read 5531 times)

stuntmaster · « **on:** November 22, 2006, 09:33 PM »

seen as there allways confusing over these things and had this one for over a year now and was wondering as different to others i see ie oval tubes

stuntmaster · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2006, 09:35 PM »

brake bridge but no kuwahara stamp

oberonspacefruit · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2006, 09:36 PM »

oberonspacefruit · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2006, 09:37 PM »

nice though.

harris · « **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2006, 09:38 PM »

looks similar to my old one

stuntmaster · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2006, 09:38 PM »

front end pic and tange made as has tange in serial number

now i was told it was a lazorlite as they did do oval tube`s and i thought my mate had one bitd

oberonspacefruit · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2006, 09:39 PM »

loverly frame. i would have said tange too.

stuntmaster · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2006, 09:43 PM »

i know it tange as serial number are same style ie place and numbering as my aero pro that tange made . now where the kuwahara buff showtime as he might know and if it ain`t what is it ie what tange

showtime · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2006, 09:55 PM »

the tubing is too "pointy" oval to be a Laserlite & the brake (although right shape) doesn't have nough weld on it! the Kuwahara ones are welded all the way up both sides

as for being stamped this was only on the 84 & later bikes so depending on your serial number that shouldn't be an issue!
also you look to have the right dropouts, flattened stays on the inside & welded both sides etc

however to my knowledge Kuwahara didn't make a frame with tubing that ovalised

its still Tange made & a nice Aero frame but i'd say not a Kuwie, Tange made bikes for quite a few companys back then

have a nose round jamies site for more detailed information

nice fram tho, i like it

stuntmaster · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2006, 10:03 PM »

still not sure as just found a advert on nsr site and that says the new kuwahara with oval tubes . i email him to see what he thinks .frame is welded same on both side on brake bridge

snav69 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2006, 10:04 PM »

I grabbed this from jamies kuwahara site , hope it helps

The Kuwahara Laser Lite was the ultimate BMX ever made by Kuwahara. It had the best technology, used the highest quality materials, had the best components and was the most expensive Kuwahara BMX ever made. All the factory Kuwahara riders used and raced the Laser Lite. It was Kuwahara's flagship model.

There were two models of the LaserLite. The first model, the KZ-3 or KZ-83 had aero or oval tubing (top and down tubes) including the forks while the later model known as the KZ-4 or KZ-84 had slightly less oval tubing that was practically round (the top tube was very slightly oval in shape while the lower down tube was completely round).

The KZ-83 models with the Oval tubing did not have any of the "K" mark or "Kuwahara" stamped into them while the later model KZ-84 frames had the"K" mark from Kuwahara stamped into the front fork ends, rear drop outs and Kuwahara was stamped into the rear brake bracket as well as under the frame on the bottom bracket area plus "Product of Japan" was stamped there along with the serial number. These were Kuwahara's original high end bikes with their lightweight and special hollow frame which was a big seller for Kuwahara and showed to others all over the world the quality of the now famous LaserLite.

Paul

retrogeezer · « **Reply #11 on:** November 22, 2006, 10:05 PM »

I was always under the impression that one year the Laserlite had round tubes and another year had the oval.

Was also told that only Kuwies had that brake bridge with the 2 holes?

Those stickers have to be original....remember I had a pic of it as a complete bike Paul.

harris · « **Reply #12 on:** November 22, 2006, 10:07 PM »

jobs a gooden

stuntmaster · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2006, 10:09 PM »

i only posted about it retro as never seen another lazor with my style tubes as always see the round tube ones like the other one i got and i still believe it to be one and won`t sell it even if it wasn`t .

Frosty · « **Reply #14 on:** November 23, 2006, 12:55 AM »

I think I agree with Showtime on this. My KZ 83 has the oval tubing but it is much more subtle. Also re: the brake bridge, I don't think the two holes are an indicator of Kuwi as the pic below shows a different type plate with two holes, albeit different sizes and also the plate is welded on top of the chainstays rather than in between.

Where is the serial number and what is it? This may help.

stuntmaster · « **Reply #15 on:** November 23, 2006, 07:42 AM »

serial number is under bottom bracket and has the f letter in it

showtime · « **Reply #16 on:** November 23, 2006, 08:13 AM »

have a nose for info on Jamies site HERE

what i meant about the welding on the brake bridge was it doesn't go all the way along the edges like every Kuwie i've ever seen, yours has a small gap in the middle ob both left & right hand sides!

my serials are (KZ1) K1J0711 the K means Kuwahara made, 1981, J = October, 0711 is the individual fabrication number

my Laserlite is T3G2062 the T means Tange made, 1983, G = July, 2062 fab no as before

all the Kuwie/Tange made bikes should have frame numbers following this format

apart from a couple of very rare KGB numbered sets

a pic of 83 & 84 rear brake bridges (84 is stamped)

jT Racing · « **Reply #17 on:** November 23, 2006, 08:19 AM »

that's a bit cryptic it has an f.

My factroy team laserlite is from 82, and has mega aero tubing like that allthough the brake bridge is fully welded. i would be sure it was a kuwahara if the serial starts with a T then number, then a letter between A and L then more numbers. Mine is T2L0005 the 5th one made

The 83 models got less oval and then in 84 well, you know the rest.

showtime · « **Reply #18 on:** November 23, 2006, 08:24 AM »

i remember helping you ID that over on V

basically 83 Laserlite tubing is not true oval! its like fatter tubing thats been flattened a bit in the vertical plane making a rounder oval shape rather than a pointy one

the full frame number would definitely help

jT Racing · « **Reply #19 on:** November 23, 2006, 08:52 AM »

the first factory bikes were teardrop, thats how i found out it was a factory bike(can't remember who told me but they seemed to know thier stuff). thats why it's aero tubing not oval.

just checked, my brake bridge is also welded like that, nice find fella. what's the full serial??

Frosty · « **Reply #20 on:** November 23, 2006, 11:47 AM »

That is quite a find then.

Townsend and Stunty get pics posted up on Jamies site with details of tubing welds and serial no's!

jimwise68 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 23, 2006, 12:33 PM »

Quote from: stuntmaster on November 23, 2006, 07:42 AM

serial number is under bottom bracket and has the f letter in it

f must be for factory then.

Indeed a nice find.

Could be a very special frame.

jT Racing · « **Reply #22 on:** November 23, 2006, 01:01 PM »

more than likely that it is F for june, A jan, B feb, etc...

mine did have ARX forks but i switched em for TRX because i like em more. Still got the ARX though and they are the right forks for the 82 frame set.

Frosty · « **Reply #23 on:** November 23, 2006, 01:16 PM »

is it in the museum?

jT Racing · « **Reply #24 on:** November 23, 2006, 01:37 PM »

No, not finished.

could do with a dust off too and a polish.

there you go.

Author Topic: is this a kuwahara (Read 5531 times)

snav69

retrogeezer

Frosty

Frosty

Frosty