So I recently acquired this frame and fork. At first glance it seems like a Kuwahara KZ1 but there are some features on it that make me question that. Here are the pics...

First an overall pic.



Shots of the gusset




Pic of the rear dropouts




And now for the features that make me question if it is a Kuwahara KZ1.

First the brake bridge



Second the weepholes in the chainstays by the bottombracket. It is the same on both sides.




So I am sorry but I forgot to grab the serial number (I can post it tonight) I do know this though, the serial does not follow any Kuwahara conventions I know of. It does not start with a T or a K and seems have more digits than any Kuwahara serial number I am familiar with. I have checked Jamie's Kuwahara site and it does not seem to have an info on this frame. Anyone have any info?

i don't have an answer for you but i have an 81 kz1 right here and it's all very close including the weld patterns except for the bridge and weep hole as you mention.
my serial number also starts with the traditional T.

Looks like a KZ1 alright except for the brake bridge - I think what you have there could be a 'Survivor' frame?
It was a complete bike - from the time the Laserlite hit in late 83.
The Survivor was the cheaper option to the Laserlite and the KZ1 was no longer made.

So you are saying that the late 83 survivors still had the gussets ala KZ1? Cause the survivor page on Jamies Kuwahara site doesn't show a gusset and the brake bridge is a flat plate. But that could be because the one on his page is an 84 model.

http://www.dreamgate.ne.jp/kuwahara/

Here is a pic



Not saying it isn't a survivor just want to make sure that is indeed what it is is...

Its an Akisu knock-off from back in the day. The weldings and the brake bridge gave it away. It sure as heck ain't a Kuwahara

That's a bummer mate! I hope you didn't get ripped off on this one....

Another giveaway is the rear dropouts. Yours seems to have a second angle cut on the top of the dropout where it meets the chain stays. No KZ ever had that.

I agree. I hope you were not literally taken for a ride with this. But then again, most sellers would not know the subtle nuances of these frames, only BMX crazy folk like us For all we know, they were taken for a ride as well but then again, we would not know...

i have my own 81 kz1 survivor on ebay right now, 1 cent, no reserve, intl shipping so it might be your chance to get the real deal. even including gold v bars and race inc. seat post. cheers.

Thank you for the info guys.

So do you mean it is a knockoff of an Akisu, or an Akisu brand Kuwahara knockoff?

No worries on me getting taken. I got the frame and fork for free and the person who I got it from was forthcoming and told me they were not sure if it was a Kuwahara. I knew this upon taking it and thought it was a cool looking frame anyways. I had suspiscions it could be an Akisu but I posted here because I have never seen an Akisu with the KZ1 style gussets. Do you think it was faked? Does anyone have any more info on Akisu? Where they Chome moly? Where they cheap junk?

Here is a pic of the serial number

So nobody has any info on Akisu?

Ok all you cats, so answer me this (and I know the answer, just wanna hear what you guys say about it)...So many of you say you have a KZ-1...so what is a KZ-2??

Pk are you trying to imply the frame is a KZ2? Because it doesn't look like one to me..

So noboday has any info at all?

Not implying anything, just wondering if anyone can tell me the difference between a KZ-1 and a KZ-2.

KZ1 - KZ2 - no difference in frame sets - weren't they just different in components as complete bikes - just like the Redline MXIII 600/700?

Hi. I think you emailed me with pics a while ago and I told you it was not a Kuwahara...I would agree with Alano, not sure about the front gusset. The welds are so bad it looks like somebody welded them on themselves...I actually have a bike here just like that in Japan that I bought for 10 dollars. Its sitting outside rusting away, I will give it to anybody who can pick it up in person...(no shipping, I live in Central Japan)

Jamie, you might be thinking of the person I got the frame from. I just acquired the frame on the 11th of this month. But you have no idea what it is? I mean chances are if you have one just like it it isn't a one off fake...

The main differences that the ads call out is the one piece chromoly cranks vs Suntour alloy 3 piece, Steel pedals with chromoly shafts vs what look to be KKT lightnings and the Kusuki chromoly stem vs a SunTour alloy stem. Jamie has the ad on his site under "Old Ads".

Andy nails it! Exactly right, so there is no KZ-1 frame or KZ-2 frame, they are all KZ frames.

Ok not trying to pick a fight I have a legitimate question. I discovered something interesting while I was pouring over the ads on Jamie's site. IF the KZ2 frame was no different than the KZ1 frame, why does the Red bike (obviously a KZ2 by the fact that it has the Kusuki Chromoly stem, steel pedals and 1 piece cranks) in the left page of this ad have different rear droputs than the blue KZ1 in the right page of the ad. See for yourself

Left page


Right page



I know that the red KZ2 is sporting the early dropout style but that seems incongruent with the timeline I know of. I must be mistaken?

There are PK Rippers with different dropouts, still the same frame, factory hicups I call them. Not sure why it would have a different fropout, maybe a cosmetic change from one year to the next, still the same frame though...read the ad, it mentions the KZ2 as having the same "tough KZ chromoly frameset". That alone says it all.

whatever you call a KZ, you guys are going to show up and bid when my KZ ends Thursday night, right?

Akisu was infamous for having brake-bridges like that. Back in the day, it was not uncommon to find imitation knock-offs from Taiwan. There were even Haro (Torker?) frames back then that were knock offs with Euro bottom brackets (or threaded ones as we used to call 'em) and they were cheap; much cheaper than the bonafide Kuwaharas and those knock-offs did not last. That is why we used to call them Taiwan Tin foil back in the day.

Thanks for the info. So is that what you think I have here? I still have yet to find an akisu that look like that frame with the exception of the brake bridge and the forks.