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 LaserLite 1982
This is a very rare first generation model of Kuwahara LaserLite with teardrop shaped top- and downtubes (and the fork too). Made by Tange in Japan 1982.
I got contacted by Patrick L in the summer of 2014 who had found my website and asked me if I would like to buy his Kuwahara. Of course I wanted to buy it 🙂 Patrick also lives in Stockholm, so it was a short drive to pick it up. He had got it from his grandmother when he was young, but he just rode it for a while and then stopped riding BMX. It’s been stored in a garage since then.
It was in very good original condition when I got it. I have only replaced the pedals, tires, brake lever, brake cable, and decals for fork and seatpost (to the same as original). Unfortunately, the tires are both in 2.125¨ size instead of a staggered set of 1.75 + 2.125. The decals are a bit worn, but I wanted to keep the bike as much original as possible, even though I have got new repop decals to replace. Sidewalls of rims have been refurbished. All spokes and nipples was taken off to be polished, and then put back again.
Parts marked by *** is original to the bike from when it was brand new.
NOS = New Old Stock.
| FRAME | 1982 Kuwahara LaserLite. Chrome. *** |
| FORK | Tange ARX 1¨ threaded. Chrome. *** |
| STEM | Sugino. Black. *** |
| HANDLEBAR | Kuwahara (Nitto). Chrome. *** |
| HEADSET | Hatta. Black. *** |
| GRIPS | O.G.K “Cobra”. Black. *** |
| CRANKS | Takagi 1-piece. 180mm. Chrome. *** |
| BOTTOM BRACKET | Hatta. Loose ball bearings. Silver. *** |
| CHAINRING | Takagi 44T. Black. *** |
| SPIDER | Takagi. Chrome. *** |
| CHAINRING BOLTS | Takagi. Chrome. *** |
| PEDALS | KKT AMX 1/2¨. Black. (NOS) |
| CHAIN | Izumi 1/8¨. Black/nickel. *** |
| SEAT | Elina “Aero Turbo”. Black. *** |
| SEAT POST | Kuwahara (Nitto) layback 22.2mm. Chrome. *** |
| SEAT POST CLAMP | SunTour Arrow. Black. *** |
| REAR BRAKE | Dia-Compe 890 with centraliser. Black. *** |
| BRAKE LEVER | Dia-Compe Tech-3. Black. (NOS) |
| BRAKE CABLE | Dia-Compe cable with translucent silver brake cable housing. (used) |
| RIMS | Araya 7X 36H. Black with shiny sides. *** |
| HUBS | SunTour high flange 36H. Loose ball bearings. Black anodized. *** |
| SPOKES/NIPPLES | Chrome spokes. Chrome brass nipples. *** |
| FREEWHEEL | SunTour 16T. *** |
| TIRES | IRC BMX Racer. 20 x 2.125¨ front and rear. Black/skinwall. (NOS) |
| DECALS | Original (except for repop decals for fork and seatpost). |
I loved it….
Hi, i have a kuwahara 1st. Generation laser lite with teardrop frame. I am wondering if anyone can tell me what it is worth?. It is like the one Shown on this site. It is not showroom, but has minimal rust, and is mostly complete. The brakes need work and some of the stickers are scratched up. Thank you,
– Josh
Do you want to sell?