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Kuwahara (?) mystery MTB

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Kuwahara (?) mystery MTB

Old 06-03-14, 05:38 PM
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belacqua
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Kuwahara (?) mystery MTB

Can you help me figure out what I've got here?

Kuwahara binder bolt and Kuwahara headset.

TT decal says "Puma" and DT decal says "Apex"

Serial number begins 8603 but are these thumb shifters (Suntour Power Ratchet I think) and derailleurs (Suntour Alpine, never heard of it) '86 era? Sugino cranks, Suzue hubs, 6sp. Dia Compe cantis and levers. Cool MKS platforms. Tubing sticker says "Built with 4130 Chromoly Special Tube." That's right, "Tube." (I've seen kuwaharas with a sticker that says "Chromoly Seat Tube.")

Conditions not currently ideal for photos

Maybe Sixty Fiver knows something?






Last edited by belacqua; 06-04-14 at 08:57 AM.
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Old 06-03-14, 07:59 PM
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It looks like it'll be a fun fun ride.

I'd guess no newer than 85- I don't know of any ATBs that had bullmoose bars after that.
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Old 06-03-14, 09:56 PM
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It's awesome.

I agree that it looks older than 86 but then how to read the serial number?

On closer inspection the brand name is "Apex" and the model is "Puma."

Unfortunately the brazing on the bull moose bars is cracked all the way around one lug socket. Don't know what to do about this. Bar mfcturer is "WIM" (Japan)?

The suntour power shifters are awesome.
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Old 06-03-14, 10:32 PM
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Hi belacqua,

I would suggest that the brand name of the bike is Apex, custom built in Japan for ??? Johnsen Co., Dallas Texas.

The frame builder was Kuwahara. The model name is Puma.

There were Kuwahara brand name MTBs sold in the USA and Europe. The model names were members of the cat family including: Alley Cat, Cougar, Lion, Lynx, Oncilla, Panther, Tiger, and Puma.

Kuwahara made frames for several brand names in the USA.

In Canada the model names where completely different, but some of the 1986 models still had bullmoose handlebars.

Can you tell us the full serial number?
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Old 06-03-14, 10:40 PM
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whatever it is that's a cool bike, lots of quality stuff
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Old 06-04-14, 05:05 AM
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Not that this helps, but for additional reference...I have a gray/gunmetal frame with the same steel sticker but no other stickers. Same size and geometry. Serial # starting with 86, but the fork is a uni-crown. The canti brakes on mine (which appear to be original) are the typical A-frame shaped Shimanos. Amazing (quality, not fanciness) brazing/lug work. Based on the fork and brakes, mine might be newer, but the serial # would allude to the same year. It does appear that Sixty Fiver is our local Kuwahara expert...
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Old 06-04-14, 06:50 AM
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I just saw that the Suntour Alpine 5050 group was from 1986.
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Old 06-04-14, 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by The Golden Boy
I just saw that the Suntour Alpine 5050 group was from 1986.
Thanks for the tip--good chart here: Suntour Museum
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Old 06-04-14, 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Hummer
Hi belacqua,

I would suggest that the brand name of the bike is Apex, custom built in Japan for ??? Johnsen Co., Dallas Texas.

The frame builder was Kuwahara. The model name is Puma.

There were Kuwahara brand name MTBs sold in the USA and Europe. The model names were members of the cat family including: Alley Cat, Cougar, Lion, Lynx, Oncilla, Panther, Tiger, and Puma.

Kuwahara made frames for several brand names in the USA.

In Canada the model names where completely different, but some of the 1986 models still had bullmoose handlebars.

Can you tell us the full serial number?

I think you are correct. This is looking like a low end offering by Apex, built from CrMo/Hi-Ten mix by Kuwahara in 1986.

May I ask where your detailed info about Apex is coming from?


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Old 06-04-14, 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by belacqua
Thanks for the tip--good chart here: Suntour Museum
Exactly where I found that! I was looking up the XCD from the other thread and just saw the Alpine listed!
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Old 06-04-14, 11:04 AM
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The serial # placement is interesting - mine is on the non-drive side of the seat tube.
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Old 06-05-14, 02:42 PM
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Thanks for posting the picture of the serial number and the Professional Bicycle Dealers decal.

My only information about Apex is from the decals on your bike.

I can only offer you this scenario that may apply to the Apex brand and Professional Bicycle Dealers Association. In the 1980s some Local bicycle Shops (LBS) were having trouble securing a source of brand names to sell. Schwinn had cut off supplying several LBS and other distributors were making exclusive arrangements with larger bicycle retailers. Groups of small LBSs banded together and created their own brand names. Vista (National Independent Dealers Association) is one example and I think that Takara may also fall into this category.

The serial number on the BB shell is normal for early Kuwahara MTBs, that is where it is on my 1987 Kuwahara Shasta.

Your Puma is similar to the 1986 Aries model in Canada: stamped rear dropouts, same tubing decal and cable guide braze ons. In Canada in 1986, I believe the next model up was the Shasta and it had forged dropouts.

Originally Posted by wintermute
. . . Serial # starting with 86, but the fork is a uni-crown. ...
wintermute,

check the next two digits in your serial number, they indicate the month in the year. Your bike may be a 1987 model year, with the frame built in late 1986. My 1987 Shasta has uni-crown forks.
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Old 07-06-14, 02:44 PM
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Hi... New here.

I scored an oldie Kuwie MTB off CL and looking to fix'er up!

I could use some help with ID... The only # I could find is 83 9 68346 .... ??

Pics coming soon.... When I figure out how to post here. = Says they are too big.

J
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Old 07-06-14, 04:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Jasonator604
Hi... New here.

I scored an oldie Kuwie MTB off CL and looking to fix'er up!

I could use some help with ID... The only # I could find is 83 9 68346 .... ??

Pics coming soon.... When I figure out how to post here. = Says they are too big.

J
When you're trying to link large photos, clear the checkbox that says "Retrieve remote file and reference locally". This means what it says- the forum leaves the picture file where it's at and just points to the image.

Here's a photo of my personal MTB on my personal web page:

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Old 04-09-21, 03:59 AM
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I have a bike, has the same forks as the red Kuwahara. My bike is a Kuwahara Pro Performer. Not sure the year, but it has the same bull handlebars too! Best bike I've ever rode.
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Old 04-09-21, 04:44 AM
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Originally Posted by ICashedAKobe
I have a bike, has the same forks as the red Kuwahara. My bike is a Kuwahara Pro Performer. Not sure the year, but it has the same bull handlebars too! Best bike I've ever rode.
Welcome to the forums. Kuwahara built bicycles have an open format serial number, where the first two characters represent the year and the 3rd and 4th indicate the month (i.e. a serial number starting with 8409 would be 1984 September). Be aware that most manufacturers start building the new models late in the calendar year. There is no hard and fast rule but it usually starts around September. So, in the example, a September 1984 serial number could represent a 1985 model.

Edit: Given the traditional fork crown and bull moose handlebars, it should be mid-1980s.

Last edited by T-Mar; 04-09-21 at 04:50 AM.
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