I had this catalog too. I bought the GT Performer in this exact color scheme. If I remember correctly it…
Kuwahara Nova 1983 – Black
I found this Kuwahara Nova at Blocket.se (the swedish version of Craigs List) in the summer of 2013, in Solna outside of Stockholm from a guy who had got it since it was brand new in 1983. It was bought at TWS (Two Wheel Service) BMX shop in Märsta.
It was blue when I bought it, but since I already have a blue Nova, I decided to go for black instead. It’s been powder coated in black by Jesper R. Thanks mate!
The seat post comes from an Kuwahara LaserLite. The Dia-Compe 890 brakes and Tech-3 brake levers was anodized in gold, but faded, so I had them polished instead.
Parts marked with *** is original from when the bike was new.
FRAME | 1983 Kuwahara Nova, black (refurbished) *** |
FORK | Tange, black (refurbished) *** |
STEM | Win, polished/black (refurbished) *** |
HANDLEBAR | Kuwahara, black (refurbished) *** |
HEADSET | Hatta MX-II, candy red (refurbished) *** |
HEAD LOCK | SunTour, black/silver (used) |
GRIPS | OGK, black (used) *** |
CRANKS | Takagi Cr-Mo, 170mm, chrome (used) |
BOTTOM BRACKET | YST, looseball bearings (NOS) |
CHAINRING | Takagi steel, 44T, black (refurbished) *** |
SPIDER | Takagi/Tioga, chrome (NOS) |
CHAINRING BOLTS | Takagi, chrome (used) |
PEDALS | KKT SMX 1/2”, black (refurbished) |
CHAIN | Red Star 1/8“, black (NOS) |
SEAT | Concor Aero (Elina Turbo copy), black (NOS) |
SEAT POST | Kuwahara LaserPost, chrome (used) |
SEAT POST CLAMP | SunTour broken arrow, black/silver (used) |
BRAKES | Dia Compe 890, polished (refurbished) *** |
BRAKE LEVERS | Dia Compe Tech-3, polished (refurbished) *** |
BRAKE PADS | Dia Compe, gum (NOS + used) |
BRAKE CABLES | Dia-Compe, clear (NOS) |
RIMS | Araya 7X shineside, 36H, gold (refurbished) *** |
HUBS | SunTour low flange, 36H, gold (used) *** |
SPOKES | CyclePro 184mm, red (NOS) |
NIPPLES | CyclePro brass 14g, chrome (NOS) |
FREEWHEEL | SunTour 16T, black (used) |
FRONT TIRE | IRC BMX Racer 80X, 20×2.125”, black skinwall (NOS) |
REAR TIRE | Duro Comp III, 20×1.75”, black skinwall (new) |
DECALS | Kuwahara repop decals. Homemade “Nova” decals. |
PADS | Kuwahara, black (used) |
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