Tobbe's BMX museum
I had this catalog too. I bought the GT Performer in this exact color scheme. If I remember correctly it…
Kuwahara E.T. Coaster. 1982
As a kid, I was heavily inspired by the movie E.T. to start riding BMX. I have always wanted to get a Kuwahara E.T. bike since then, but it took me almost 30 years to get one. This is the cheaper toy store model, also called “Apollo” or “Coaster” since it got a coaster brake.
This is actually an Motobecane MX-15 frame from France, but they used the same frame like Kuwahara did for the Apollo E.T bike.
The frame/fork was sandblasted and then powdercoated white, then it was painted with 2-components car paint in “Pearl cherry red” and several layers of clear coat. The seat have been re-covered with new fake leather in black. I couldn’t find the correct 2-bolted stem for this bike, so I went for a 4-bolted version instead (used on one of the other cheaper E.T. models).
The pad for the handlebar is mine from back in the days, but it was shortened to fit on a Haro Kneesaver handlebar in the early 90´s.
The correct NOS Neal number plate was purchased from England, but without the normal Kuwahara E.T. print. So I have made the Kuwahara E.T. die-cut decal for the plate by myself.
I would like to thank Barspin-Danne for the powdercoating and to Steven Spielberg for making the movie E.T.!
| FRAME | 1982 Kuwahara E.T. Apollo. Pearl cherry red/white. |
| FORK | Tange TX-1200 1¨ threaded. Pearl cherry red. |
| STEM | 4-bolts. Tilted. Black/chrome. (NOS) |
| HANDLEBAR | WIN V-bar. Chrome. |
| HEADSET | Hatta MX-II, 1¨ threaded. Chrome. |
| GRIPS | O.G.K. Black. (NOS) |
| CRANKS | 1-piece 175mm. Chrome. (NOS) |
| SPROCKET | Sugino Snowflake 44T. Steel. Chrome. (NOS) |
| PEDALS | Victor Rat trap 1/2¨. Black. (NOS) |
| CHAIN | D.I.D. 1/8¨. Black. (NOS) |
| SEAT | Padded. Black. |
| SEAT POST | Straight Cr-Mo 22.2mm. Chrome. (NOS) |
| SEAT POST CLAMP | Steel. Chrome. |
| FRONT BRAKE | Dia-Compe 890. Black. |
| BRAKE LEVER | Dia-Compe Tech-2. Black. (NOS) |
| BRAKE CABLE | Dia-Compe. Black. (NOS) |
| RIMS | Steel 1.75″ 36H. Black. (NOS) |
| HUBS | Shimano low flange steel 36H. Coaster brake. Loose ball bearings. Chrome. |
| SPOKES/NIPPLES | Chrome stainless steel 190mm spokes. Chrome brass nipples. (NOS) |
| TIRES | Cheng Chin knobbys. 2.0¨ front and rear. Black. (NOS) |
| DECALS | Kuwahara E.T. repop decals from Australia. |
| PADS | Kuwahara E.T. (genuine). Black. |
| NUMBER PLATE | NEAL – Kuwahara E.T. (NOS) |
var min första BMX bra jobbat tobbe vilken nostalgi trip fick aldrig tag i E,T pads till min.något som kändes väldigt viktigt då
Hey Tobbe this bike turned out great looking. Great job! I remember you buying it from me as the mx15.
This is one rad looking website you got!!
Hi, Don’t know if this site is still active, however if it is ad be interested in whether there would be interest in this bike I found.
It seams like the original toy store model, as you are showing, has a red plastic seat, and all original stickers. Have som rust on the rims, but seams to be ready to ride.
Can I send pictures to get confirmation on model?
/:Mattias (Gävle )