Double gusset, serial #K1A02..... on BB Shell

Is that 1981? What model?

Possible pics coming....

Here's a picture...

looks like an 81 KZ frame, or a kyz (chromed and marketed as different, but still a KZ frame built in 80-81 and sold around 84).

[ May 16, 2007, 03:53 PM: Message edited by: Ringer ]

Yep KZ-1 I have the same frame

I paid $125

Good deal? Or too much? Frame/fork dropouts are near mint. Takagi 180's Kuwahara decaled bars and post (but are they really? I don't know....anyone?)

Original bike shop decal and bike registration decal from Utah still intact. Suntour high-flange hubs w/ Ukai Speed Stripes in black (dated 1981).

I drooled at the Comp 2's w/ great tread, but they are very dry.

Was it a decent price?

great deal, nice score!

measure the bars and post a pic. Look like unstamped Laser bars from here, but that will help. Seems to be 99% original, I don't think the stem is. Built like a Kuwi of around 1984-ish. Very similar parts to a Survivor or Nova on a KZ frame. Grips look like Ame tris and seat seems to be elina aero turbo right?

[ May 16, 2007, 06:40 PM: Message edited by: Ringer ]

Correct Ringer....seat Elina Turbo, Grips Ame Tri.

The stem is a perfect condition 1st Gen DK (all square corners).

But doesn't the serial number indicate a 1981?

What's up with the extra hole in the gusset? For a rear brake setup?

yes, it is to mount the cable stop for a centre pull brake.

Nice score, 81 KZ1. Go to Jamie's Kuwahara site to decipher the serial #.
You can also feel free to send it to me for a loving and caring Kuwahara home.

81 KZ-1 frame, but may have been sold later with different parts. The ad for the KYZ from around 1984 has a looptail, they were rechromed ET's. Thats why I suspect some chrome KZ-s may have been sold in that lot...just a guess. Those parts are too correct for 84'ish Kuwi's (also could have just been carefully rebuilt by someone). Check these ads:

1985 Kuwahara Ad on Jamie's Site

KYZ on Jamie's Site from around 1984

Not a KYZ without the Z-rims I guess though. So yeah KZ thats been upgraded

[ May 16, 2007, 09:09 PM: Message edited by: Ringer ]

Hmmn let me chime in on this Kuwa moment....
KYZ??? But no looptail on this one, triangle tange/Kuwa triple holed. I estimate a KZ frame 1981, built by Koizumi in the month of January!
Lot's of Laserlite parts as Ringer noted. The price would easily double if listed on EBAY.

The difference between Kz-1 and Kz-2 is the parts that it comes with, 1 piece cranks vs. 3 piece Suntour VX or Takagi Tourney or Redline 400/Sugino 400 and wheels alloy or steel and stem and seat clamp designate the bike, kz-1 being the better. The frame is KZ, Kyz is a looptail similar to the ET but not painted as such red/white fade style. Parts are sugino, suntour, takagi, KKT.
Your parts look like 84' not spec for this 81' f&f.

Bottom line (Keep it Warm) You Scored Dude!

Mike

nice score Tom

Similar as the one Ive just sold, wth the extra hole on the gusset:

$125 is a very good price, I paid $100 just for the f/f alone.

Here are the bars from the front. There is a Kuwahara decal on the rider side on the left. It's the same decal as shown below on the seatpost:



Seat/Post/clamp....Kuwahara decal on the handlebars is the same as this post decal:


Are the bars/post Kuwahara year 1984? I know they are not 1981.

If I take this on as a project, I will build it as a 1981 KZ-1 using the frameset and wheelset as a starting point.

You got a good deal there!

Another question: As I look at Jamie's website and all the old ads....I notice that all the decals on the KZ-1's are WHITE lettering w/ black outline (even the chrome frames). What's up with the black lettering on mine? If I want to build it as a KZ-1, I'm assuming I will require the white lettering decals. Correct? Or no?

Is it as Ringer mentioned.....a true KZ-1 frame that was stickered and sold as a later model?

I think the bars and seat post are Kuwahara Laser....correct?

KIW,

Your bike is an early 1-81' it might have had either sticker set. I think 12-80' and earlier had the white on black lettering. Also the earlier KZ-1 Frame had a larger diameter hole in the Head Flange gusset.

What finish are you gonna do? Polished, chromed, powder?

The wheels might be correct if Ukai Speedline or Arraya and Sutour large flange hubs, if they are polished on below the spoke spoke hole then they are the elusive correct KZ-1 Early Suntour large flange in black which are near impossible to find and could sell for twice your bike price alone.

Peas,

Mike

Yodasghia....They are Ukai Speedline hoops laced to large flange Suntour hubs (Shimano 17T freewheel). I never checked for the polished portion of the hubs (never ever heard of that variation of Suntour hub) but I will check tonight. This bike is LOADED with that 25+ year old gease and grime that turns to thick "fuzz' if you know what I mean.

I won't have time to tear it down til the weekend.

Ok, so the decals stay on it.

Finish: I will leave it as a chrome finish. It's going to need an Oxalic Acid bath and lots of cleaning though.

Bars and post are Kuwahara Laser from about 84, A lot of laserlite/survivor parts on there.
Hubs...Yoda talking about the ones below, it took me a year and a half to finally find a semi-matching front.

I'm starting to think my matching blue pair of those hubs was a lucky find. I found each individual within a month of each other last year, perfect color match. Never seen a front or rear again

Yep - looks like an 81 KZ frame and fork to which someone has updated the parts later on.

The KZ2.5 was an updated KZ1 but that frame serial seems to 'old' for it to be a KZ2.5.

As for the seat post - if you pull it out further you should find it is stamped 'KUWAHARA' further down.
Bars look to be Kuwahara too although they are also usually stamped.

A for the decals - some were black, some were white.
I guess mainly depending on what the frame colour was.
However this doesn't seem to have been very consitent - I have seen both white sets and black sets on chrome frames and coloured frames.

I have have a black set on my Laserlite and a white set on my black powder KZ1.

[ May 17, 2007, 06:29 PM: Message edited by: AndyDiamond ]

Not all of the seatposts and bars were stamped. My seat post was original to the bike, laserlite, decal present, but no Kuwahara stamping. Bars were stamped.

There you go - more inconsistencies - lol

Everything is torn down except the stuck seat post (as usual, right?) I'll work on that tomorrow.

It looks like the rear wheel has never been moved. Dropouts are near perfect, no marks at all.

Where are the bars supposed to be stamped? I looked them over quickly and didn't see any stamp. Is it under the grips? No knurling.

My hubs do not have that machined side. Regular Suntour high-flange.

The bike came apart SO easy...everything was oiled/greased. I was shocked when the post didn't budge.

Bars would be stamped in the same area as the K sticker.

KIW,

As for the stickers as AD said black and white will be found on the Chrome Sets, but if the "Rising Sun flag is on the side of the K-uwahara instead of on top the K then certainly early pre-81'. Kuwahara Meister and builder of spec. builds and to his credit Kuwa Decal Master -Jimbo420 aka Eventide and all round cool cat can set you up with some excellent decals, era specific. He da man....

On the seat post, not sure of your plans but I heard of a good trick, put plently "plastic wrap" around your decal, then thin cloth, then wipe the inside of your stem clean to clamp down on your post, get a steel tube for leverage and don't scratch your stem but wiggle it loose. WD-40 and a shot of Jack Daniel should make her loose!

Post pics along the way to glory!

Lates,

Mike

Much thanks to Jim, Eventide, for those stickers!

Ok, I got the seat post out last night. It is not stamped Kuwahara. It is just stamped with the typical depth markings as well as "Japan".

Also, the oval Kuwahara lightning bolt decal is installed facing the rear of the bike. The decal is original and old as it has some wear.

Is this a Laser post?

KIW:


If your bike was an 82' end of the year model and Kuwa-Factory was saddling up Laserparts on a KZ-1 test bed (that would be possible, highly unusal and cerainly a One-off). I was thinking that's how the parts might have gotten there? Becuase with no stampings on the post it points toward early year parts = JAPAN Factory (non-stamped). This was (pre-Taiwan and Thailand) manufacturing and stampings to protect trademark.

sidebar*
Have y'all ever noticed the difference between Elina lightning seats and a really good copy, the lightning bolt is straight instead of bent? Some Kuwa parts were coming out of Thailand and if you set them next to each other you can notice the beveled edges, weight, fit and finish quality of the Japan parts over mass production.

Anyhooooo. Yes, I think your part is an early real deal Holleyfield Japan Factory Laser post. I think that I gave you the longest answer in the world.

Sorry KIW, I will do 5 push ups right now. I really did them just now 5. Whew!

Embrace this day and just take it all in,

Mike

[ May 19, 2007, 09:02 AM: Message edited by: Yodasghia ]

Bat signal has been issued for Eventide, aka Jimbo420! Your skillz iz needed Home Skilletz!


Peas,

Mike

Sorry fella's, but you have the wrong guy. I dont even know how to make decals.

Wut, KIW, no worries, he used to go by JIMBO420 and later Eventide? This ain't hime so I appoligise and will get in touch with Jim the Kuwa man for ya.

Sorry (JImbo420),

Mike