Author Topic: The Search: oddball Kuwie pair! (Read 8318 times)

20to26 · « **on:** June 30, 2009, 07:24 PM »

Back in 1984 I had this Kuwahara bike - of which I've never seen another:

Which I turned into this to ride trails:

Then this to race:

And then during the week and after the season ended, I turned it into this for one of my best summers ever:

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:

and soon it will be be in my grubby hands ready to build a replica for MK09 (I hope!)

dj_benice · « **Reply #1 on:** June 30, 2009, 07:35 PM »

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

20to26 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 30, 2009, 08:02 PM »

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.

dj_benice · « **Reply #3 on:** July 01, 2009, 08:55 PM »

sounds good, get lots of pics up when it lands and lots more as you restore it

sweetbeats · « **Reply #4 on:** July 01, 2009, 09:01 PM »

Love that Black and White Shot...super retro-ness

magna13 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 01, 2009, 09:42 PM »

Nice bike, nice story

20to26 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 11, 2009, 05:26 PM »

Received a letter from Parcel Farce this morning demanding I pay VAT before they deliver my package.

The good thing is I know it's in the UK now!

dordymush · « **Reply #7 on:** July 12, 2009, 12:48 PM »

liked the blue version at the start

20to26 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 12, 2009, 08:03 PM »

thanks - it'll be a future project that blue bike will

20to26 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2009, 12:25 PM »

Picked up the Nova from ParcelForce, unpacked & assembled:

Got all the right kuwahara stamps on it:
Dropouts

Brake bridge

Seat tube

Handlebars

Forks

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:

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.

moley · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2009, 01:14 PM »

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

James Nada · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2009, 01:17 PM »

Keep the survivor condition for a while- it looks great as it is.

20to26 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 16, 2009, 01:18 PM »

any idea what a "Dia Compe De Lux" brake looks like LOL

munners · « **Reply #13 on:** July 16, 2009, 01:27 PM »

What a nice bike.

Keep it as is! Source the seat and wheel and your laughing.

20to26 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 29, 2009, 06:01 PM »

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:

So what's a man to do - buy another one I guess

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!

daz bmx it! · « **Reply #15 on:** July 29, 2009, 06:09 PM »

Where'd you get the green one from bud?

20to26 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 29, 2009, 06:23 PM »

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.

southern andy · « **Reply #17 on:** July 29, 2009, 08:02 PM »

Steve,

how come they did that Nova and a Looptail Nova, was it something to do with the year

20to26 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 30, 2009, 10:25 AM »

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:

Jt · « **Reply #19 on:** July 30, 2009, 10:50 AM »

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

20to26 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 30, 2009, 04:54 PM »

Thanks J.T I knew someone mentioned it before - thanks for confirming that.

20to26 · « **Reply #21 on:** September 15, 2009, 04:35 PM »

My Bravo frameset finally made it over from stateside in all it's lurid green glory:

details:

Bars:

Post:

A pure white powder coat is planned for my replica build - although I kinda like this green...

MartyC · « **Reply #22 on:** September 15, 2009, 04:43 PM »

Nice, the freestyle version; will look good in white although I do like the green

Not sure about the seatpost though $:-\$

boofy44 · « **Reply #23 on:** September 16, 2009, 10:45 PM »

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.

MartyC · « **Reply #24 on:** September 17, 2009, 01:33 AM »

Quote from: boofy44 on September 16, 2009, 10:45 PM

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

Author Topic: The Search: oddball Kuwie pair! (Read 8318 times)

dj_benice

dj_benice

sweetbeats

magna13

moley

munners

daz bmx it!