Murray Missile 

After 4 years of neglect I finally retrieved my Takara Highlander from the dark depths of my back garage. I was pulling out bikes to get ready to sell and it was on the cut list until I cleaned it up and got it into riding condition. The big honkin' cruiser saddle and newer seat post were replaced with a fluted SR Laprade and the saddle off my Scott Sportster, I threw a couple old blackwall knobbies on it and raised the stem about 3 inches. The BMX pedals and clear plastic bottle cage are gone too. I didn't take any pictures but it looks SO much better! After a short ride then staring at the lugged frame for awhile I decided it's a keeper. It is so different from the '95 Marin I just picked up yet they are only a few years apart, I know I'd regret it later if I let it go. Plus, Takaras don't have any following so it probably wouldn't bring anything unless somebody bought it for parts for another 80's MTB and it's too nice a bike to be a parts donor. Of the few Takara Highlander MTB's I have found online this is the only one I've seen with the contrasting paint on the head tube between the lugs although there were a few road bikes with this paint scheme. I'm thinking this came toward the end of Takara production which from the little info I've found seems to have been around 1988.

From the way it is equipped I'm guessing it dates somewhere around 1985 to 1988. It has Suntour XC Sport derailleurs, friction thumb shifters, brake levers and hubs. The rear roller cam brake says Cunningham Design not Suntour and the front cantilever brakes are Dia-Compe "weed wackers". The crankset is a Sakae CR triple and the rims are Araya that are dimpled outward for the spoke nipples. One of the neatest features is the slingshot stem.

I flipped it over to get the serial number to see if I could confirm what I was told when I first got it that it that is was probably built by Kuwahara but either I'm missing something or it doesn't match any of the formats listed for Takara in the Asian Serial Number Guide stickie. Any ideas anyone?

ryansu

Nice find OP Sorry but I flashed back to the 80s; The Highlander there can be only one

Murray Missile 

And I have it!

top506

That stem is way cool!

Top

T-Mar

S/N format matches that of the Japanese sourced Bianchi and, if so, indicates December 1985 manufacturer, making it a 1986 model. This certainly matches a spec list I have that shows the 1986 Highlander as being Sun Tour XC equipped. The 1985 version used SunTour Mountech. FYI, the frame is listed as being plain gauge CrMo (no specific tubeset mentioned) and MSRP was $430-$450 US. The '70' stamp may be a combination customer and frame/model identifier, as the Highlander is listed as being model 670. in 1986 and model 570 in 1985.

Thank-you for posting. I'll update the serial number guide to include this manufacturer as a Takara source.

Edit: I just went to edit the guide and noticed that this source is already listed for Takara. The source is listed as S(1), an unknown Japanese manufacturer.

Murray Missile 

Thanks, I had '86 in the back of my mind and I had looked at the "S 1" but It wasn't computing for me. Maybe I was over thinking it. It has the pink background "Tange MTB Cro-Mo" stickers on each fork leg and there is adhesive residue the right size and shape fit the equivalent frame decal at the topc of the seat tube. So, NOT Kuwahara eh? That' OK, I still like it, I'm a sucker for obscure and unique stuff.

UPDATE
OK, I went back to the SN guide and it makes sense now, the "S" in the 2nd spot was throwing me off.

Murray Missile 

I have new tires, cable housing, the tubing decal for the frame and new nuts for the front axle on the way. I need to pickup some touch up paint. Fortunately the few small scratches didn't go to metal. I'm going to tear it down in the next couple days with intentions of having it back together by the following weekend.

Bikerdrummer

I have a Takara Highlander too. Great bike and got it for $150 12 years ago in poor condition, then fixed up. Solid ride.

Murray Missile 

Post a picture here when you get your 10th post, I'd love to see it.

Bikerdrummer

yea, tried but I need to post more!

Will do, it’s yellow and black with and old Shimano Deore group set. The guy at the local bike store said it was super cool.

Murray Missile 

Like this?

Bikerdrummer

Yes! Same paint job. Mine has strait handle bars and the breaks are near the crank.

Murray Missile 

Sounds like it has U-brakes under the chainstays. That was a thing in the early to mid 80's.

tricky 

I'd say mid-late 80s with a peak in 87 when a lot of mass producers (Specialized, Fisher, etc) put them on their bikes for 1-2 years only. If you consider a few of the other boutique-ey brakes like Cunnigham and Scott a U-brake, then you can push that timeline into the early 80's but those are pretty rare. For reference here's the widely produced Deore version of the Shimano U-brake. It was made from 87-88. https://webcache.googleusercontent.co...&ct=clnk&gl=us

Bikerdrummer

I would love to post a pic. Is this my 10th post?!?

madpogue 

No.




But you're close.

Bikerdrummer

This is 8...

Bikerdrummer

This is 9...

Bikerdrummer

10... pix coming soon

Bikerdrummer

The breaks are near the crank. Kind of cool. I’m 5’7” and it fits me perfect.

madpogue 

^^^^ Looks like a Shimano U-brake. Very powerful when adjusted right. Quickly became obvious that it was a bad location for use in read mud. For modern street / light trail use, it rocks.

Bikerdrummer

Here’s a better pic of the u break.

Murray Missile 

I like it.

Murray Missile 

It has FINALLY happened! It is on the stand and stripped down to the frame and fork. They have been scrubbed, rubbed and the bare spots cleared over. Tomorrow I will rebuild the headset and BB then start cleaning components. I've decided to replace the original 3 X 6 XC Sport derailleurs and thumbies with a set of XC Sport 7000 3 X 6 Accushift derailleurs and thumbies salvaged form an old Haro MTB of about the same vintage. I've made them work with a Shimano SIS 6 speed freewheel and will go that route if I can't find a proper Suntour freewheel. It's getting pavement friendly Kenda Kwest K838 26 X 1.95 tires, they run wide at the edge of the tread surface so I trial fit them today and they have enough room between the stays and brakes. I had them on a klunker simulation build and I loved the way they rode so I kept them when I sold it. The "simulation" rode great and I love the look of klunkers but I'm just too tall to build one that looks aesthetically pleasing since I have to have a half mile of seat post and stem showing.

ryansu

I have used those tires and like them. Looking forward to pics of the Takara in rebuild mode