Kuwahara padsets

Kuwahara padsets. That is what is missing from my ride. Unlike the ones that are currently available, these are meant for handlebars which are more easily available nowadays and the quality is absolutely fantastic. I managed to get a set and I was impressed!

Kuwahara 2012 or so it seems

I had to really do a double take when I saw this on BMXMuseum.com. Incidentally, this picture was taken from their site and they hold all copyrights. Kuwahara coming out with a new model? Well, all I can say is that it is a refreshing change. Interesting looking frame. I do not get the rationale of the "holes" in the frames though. And another surprising thing is that this one is set up with Profile Racing cranks. I thought all these new-school racers were strong advocates of aluminium cranks? Not too much info on the frames are available but there are some more pics available on the BMXMuseum.com site. Check it out!

Kuwahara Laserbars

Don't laugh. These bars may be more than 26 years old but I know of at least two riders that still use this bar to race modern races. The feel of this Laser Bar (what Kuwahara used to name their bars back in the day) is very comfortable and the pull-back is not too great. Sadly, you cannot get them anymore. What comes close to them would be an S&M Slam Bar, if you can still get them. These S&M bars, like the Laser Bar, have a width of 28" and a height of at least 8". I still have one of these laser bars on my Kuwahara but then again, my Kuwahara is just an exhibition piece now.

Kuwahara KZ-01??

Came across this on the Kuwahara BMX website and I had to do a double-take...what in the heck is this? Is Kuwahara getting into the retro thing as well? Sure looks like it but the cranks, well, couldn't they have chosen something something else? Some hollow chromoly units? Not asking for a Redline 401 or anything like that but they could have least done something more. And from what I can see, that looks like a fake Suntour pro-sized stem. But other than that, looks like a step in the right direction. It will never be like the Kuwahara's of yester-year but it looks kinda cool in a retro way.

If I bought this, first thing into the trash would be stem, followed by the brakes. Replace the stem with either an NOS Suntour stem and at least an NOS Dia-Compe 1000 caliper. Cranks would also be replaced with at least a pair of Redline Flights. Only then it will look like Clint Miller's bike of old. Hey, if you wanna keep it retro, go all the way!

Haro Race Lite 2011

I have always liked Haro Bikes. Since day one, they have been churning out quality bikes at affordable prices and they last a long time. My Backtrail X24 cruiser is proof of that. And it is still with me after all these years and still riding great.

Which brings me to the topic of this new bike by Haro, called the Race Lite. All I can say is, nice colours. The specs of the bike are as follows.

Frame	7005 Alloy w/fully internal head tube - 21" TT
Fork	Sinz Stealth Carbon 1-1/8" Threadless
Grips	SINZ Sticky Grips
Handle Bar	Full Crmo 8" rise
Cranks	"2-pc Alloy 175mm, Euro Sealed Bearing external cartrige BB"
Gearing	39/14 Cassette cog
Tires	Intense Micro Knobby 2 20x2.125 F/20x1.75 R
Hubset	36H Alloy Shell sealed bearing / Cassette rear
Rims	Alienation 36H Deviant DW Frt/36H Runaway DW Rear
Seat/Seatpost	Haro plastic Pivotal seat w/Pivotal post
Pedals	Haro DX Alloy
Rotor	N/A
Pegs	N/A

Looks like that they are going the Kuwahara way (new-school, not old-school) of using Deviant as their main supplier of rims. What I would replace is the SINZ carbon fork and get a Supercross fork that is WAY stronger and weighs about the same. As for cranks, well, everyone seems to be gearing (pun not intended) towards aluminium cranks nowadays. I would personally change the cranks to Promo Powerbites. But all in all, it looks a pretty killer bike...but it is not a thrasher. So much for those days when one could do some nifty tricks, even with a race-bike. For me? I would rather wait for the SE Racing PK-Ripper looptail that is about to be released. But I am rather torn as I do love Haro.

Kuwahara Laserlite 2011

Came across this new bike from Kuwahara...the LaserLite 2011. Wow. The colours. I do not know who is the designer at Kuwahara who chose the colours for this bike but I can tell you one one thing, it sure ain't making it. Colours aside, it comes with some pretty decent componentry that will satisfy most new-schoolers now...FUNN cranks and Alienation rims, Tioga tires and well, from what I hear, a pretty expensive price. Well, there are lots of other bikes out there that can get you more bang for your buck. I personally would give it a miss though.

New-school Kuwahara cruisers

Came across this new-school Kuwahara 24" cruiser at this site named kuwahara-bike.com and I must say that we are kind of surprised. Frame and fork is made of 4130 chromoly steel but the thing that surprised us the most was the choice of names for the cruiser - Survivor. Not only that, check out the gussets on the part where the downtube meets the top-tube. They do not look anything like the Kuwahara's of old. And the front wheel is radial-laced. Something tells me that this could be a recreational bike, something for the average leisure ride. we have been asked if these models are for sale in Singapore but honestly, I do not know. What I do know is that there is some hope for Kuwahara if they do make some models out of 4130 chromoly instead of the ever ubiquitous aluminium. Cheers to Kuwahara on that one!

Someone wants a Kuwahara

I get many mails on a daily basis. Some of them are inspirational, some are nostalgic and some are even asking for some information with regards to the BMX scene here in Singapore. Some just see the many gatherings we have for the old-school and want to know more, like this guy who writes me an email the other day. Seems like he had a Kuwahara BMX back in the day.

Hi there,

I love your site!!! Its really heartening to know that there is such a huge interest in the old school bikes!

I would love to own one again (I use to have 1 of those Laserlite back in the late 80's)
Am pretty sure it's almost impossible to find 1 these days but do you think you could point me in the direction where I can find the newer Kuwaharas? Any shop around that sells them?

Thanks in advance, Cheers!!

Well mate, would love to tell you where you can get one but they are pretty hard to come by, old and new! The old ones are understandable because they are pretty rare and you can find some old people who do own some valuable old bikes that they probably picked up for a song when BMX started to die out in the mid to late 80s. As for the new Kuwaharas, you can check out the website at http://www.kuwaharabmx.com and check out some of the bikes they have there. They are not made in Japan like the quality Kuwaharas of old. They are now made in Taiwan but the stuff coming from Taiwan now is of good to excellent quality, not like the Taiwan from back in the day.

Keep those emails coming in guys! We can be reached at admin@osbmx.com anyday!

Old-schoolers re-discovering BMX

I have been getting lots of email recently, many of them from old-schoolers who used to ride BMX back in the day. It must be BMX entering the Olympics and the looming Youth Olympic Games.

Hi stumbled on your website, wonder whether you can advice on what BMX bike to get that resembles what we rode on in the 80s. I rode a kuwahara Z1 and a redline600, hope i still remember the models. rode some races too with sky boys / scarecrow, though i was really young at the time.

also how do i know when there is action on the singapore bmx track and scene, which is at Tampines i am told. any news info on kids bmx lessons, races etc?

thanks for any advice

Thanks for that email. Well, the team that took over the BMX duties in Singapore (not us - we have been there and done that already) have organised some clinics for BMX but not that many nowadays. I will put up some info when I get it.

As for bikes looking like the Kuwahara's back in the day, well, SE Racing do make some bikes but whether or not they resemble bikes back in the day, I have got to level with you. I do not think we are the same size as we used to be way back when. My Kuwahara Survivor is too small for me...that is why I ride a 24" cruiser. But sometimes some companies, bike companies that is, make limited runs of old-frames. Skyway is one of them. They found some old un-welded tubes in storage and welded them up to be frames again. They were selling for a pretty penny but they were nice looking frames!

For anything else, keep your eyes peeled on our forums or scope Ebay!

Silver Kuwahara pads

A friend of mine gave these to me years ago. They are still sealed in their original plastic bag and they will stay that way for a long time yet. Silver Kuwahara padsets! And they will stay in the bag forever. I also have another set of Kuwahara silver padsets but they are being used and are on my current bike

Razak's son in training

This is Razak's son. Looks like he has the gate balancing act all dialled-up. This the way it should be folks...start them when they are young and they will grow up to be pretty good BMX racers. I only started when I was 15 years old but this kid has an advantage. He is ring an old Kuwahara too! Perfect bike for the perfect kid!

Kuwahara 25th Anniversary 2008 frames and forks

I do not know how official this is but it seems that Kuwahara are releasing the 25th anniversary of their frames and forks. It seems that only 250 are made. This may be an April Fool joke or it might be kosher. The pic above was taken from a UK BMX website. If it is true, I might seriously consider getting one. If I can't, no big deal. I will just be happy with my current Kuwahara Survivor bike. But I like the look of the new one. Looks so clean!

Night cruising at East Coast McDonalds on 8th December 2007

We are having the monthly old-school BMX meeting at East Coast McDonalds on the 8th of December 2007. Come one, come all! We will be meeting up at 2130hrs onwards. Bring your old-school bike down and let us relive the days of old when life was so much simpler, and so were the bikes!

More details here: http://z15.invisionfree.com/Singapore_BMX_Forums/index.php?showtopic=1049