1981 Kuwahara KZ1 Frame

How about this 1981 Kuwahara KZ frame, serial #K1D0908, that recently went for $830.00 bucks on ebay? Unbelievable. I haven't seen a KZ go for this much before. Glad I already have one:)

As listed on eBay. Sold at $830.00. Item #370464007816

E.T. on a Kuwahara

Here is a sweet illustration that Bob Haro did way back in 1982 for BMX Plus magazine. Bob was also a featured stunt rider in the movie. He is the one who knocks off the police light as he is riding over the car. Unfortunately, Bob and the other riders were not credited for their work, since they were not SAG members.

Kuwahara E.T. Original Condition

Time to go way back in time, all the way back to 1982. When a short little alien with a glowing finger made Kuwahara a household word. Here is an original unrestored E.T. looptail. It appears to be a Model 3009, also known as the Replica model. It looks like it is in amazing shape, and even still has the original powder that covers the tires.

As listed on eBay. Offered at $6,000.00 starting bid. Item #270588717537

Kuwahara KZ-1 Restoration Part 1

Recently I had a chance to pick up an unrestored Kuwahara KZ-1 from a very nice lady called Sara who lives in Florida. She had listed the bike on vintagebmx.com asking to know how much it was worth. Remarkably nobody took the time to give her an opinion on what they thought it should be valued at. I came across the post in April and contacted her to see if it was for sale. It was, and by May, the bike arrived at my place in Los Angeles.

I had a white frame and fork KZ-1 with blue components back in day, and loved that bike. I foolishly got rid of it once I got a Garelli as my main mode of transportation. I can't even remember who I sold it to. But I think I got about 40 bucks for it. So when the chance came to get another one, I had to jump on it.

Sara was a great person to deal with and made all the shipping arrangements to insure that the bike arrived to me in the best shape possible. It's true, there are still some really nice people out there, if you just know where to find them.

The KZ-1 appears to me mostly all original with the exception of the tires, brake clamp, seat post, seat, headset and chain. The frame and fork are very straight with no cracks, dents, or rewelds. All the original decals are still there, but they are completely shot. They now have an interesting marble finish to them. It still has the original Redline V-bars, which have some surface rust, but are otherwise in very good shape. The front Suntour hub is really faded and is now more silver in appearance. It's a pretty complete bike, and should clean up quite nicely. I am not going to restore it back to show quality, but rather just clean it up, replace some parts, and keep it as original as possible.

And the best news is that the serial number is still intact, unlike some of them that have been filed off by bike thieves a long time ago. This one is an authentic Kuwahara. Serial number KGA7 1176.

I will be posting more pictures of the restoration process as I dip the frame, fork and hadlebars in an Oxalic Acid bath to get rid of the surface rust. I will also be putting on new tires, seat, seat post, chain, grips, and decals. Stay tuned!

E.T. Kuwahara "Gold" Limited Edition

According to the seller this is the only factory built Gold Kuwahara E.T. KZ 2.5. Reportedly made for the grand opening of E.T. at Grauman's Chinese Theater. I can not confirm or deny these claims, but highly doubt that they made an all gold bike for the premier of the movie, since the model in the movie was red and white. Either way, this is a very unique bike, and would look great in a collection. Perhaps there is a Japanese collector out there that has a yen, pun intended, for this bike. Just as long as it doesn't turn out to be fools gold.

As listed on eBay. Offered at $12,000.00 or best offer. Item #110532466038

Remember The Good Old Days?

I remember, back in the day, riding my white Kuwahara KZ1 down to the local drug store to check out the latest issues of Creem or Circus magazine. I rarely had enough money to buy the mags, so I would usually just get some Fun Dip candy. How's that for a great idea, a little bag of colored sugar that you ate with a sugar stick? Genius! Yet for some strange reason, it always made me feel a little bit happier. The other great thing was that I could leave my bike outside the store without ever worrying if it was still going to be there when I got back. No locks, no chains...just blind faith.

Had I known that that old Kuwahara would become a valuable collector's item, I would have treated it with a little more respect. Instead of letting it fall down when I got off the bike, I could have gently laid it on the ground. But what kid in his right mind is going to do that? It was much more satisfying to just let it fall.

Fast forward 25 years or so, and I have once again been bitten by the BMX bug. I can't really ride anymore like I use to, but it sure is fun to look back and remember when.