Kuwahara Count - Detailed shots.
#1
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Kuwahara Count - Detailed shots.
I need an intervention. I see something cool and different and next thing you know I'm blasting over a high mountain dirt road to get to the next valley and another old bike finds it's way into my stable.This time it's a Kuwahara Count, first time I've seen one of these. According to T-Mar Asian serial number sticky it's a 1983. Picked it up from the original owner who's owned it since he was 12. He said it's sat unused for around 20 years now although a few years ago he did have it all serviced up but then still never road it. Somewhere along the way he "upgraded" the rear RD with an early Dura Ace but I'd sorta like to have seen the original Suntour on there. I do have some really nice Cyclone derailleurs and shifters that may find there way onto this one. I actually picked this up a couple of weeks ago. Took it out the next day for a wonderful 30 mile ride without really doing much of anything to it other than swapping is some different wheels until I sort out the hubs on the ones it came with. The first ride was wonderful, we connected right away. Anyway not sure where I'm going with this one but it's sure going to get it's share of rides. Paints probably the worse of any of my bikes. Lots of scuffs in the black paint that I've crudely touched up with some gloss black testors. This winter I'll wet sand the touch ups then apply a gloss over them and let it go at that. When I got it I was hoping most of the marks in the paint would wipe off or polish out but not on this way. Quite the shame as a full polish job on it brought out a beautiful overall sheen to the bike. This had to be gorgeous when it was brand new.
Anyway, how about some pics...
How I brought it home, literally from the Cherokee to the garage door for the 1st picture
How I've got it setup tonight.
The black and red is pretty cool.
Still plenty of shine left
"Upgraded" RD, notice those spoke holders?
Factory Drillium
Nice work, I don't know if the gold outlining was factory or not. That's a pretty headset.
Stem still rough after a couple of round of metal polish
Levers are in good shape with only a few marks.
Kuwahara
Anyway, how about some pics...
How I brought it home, literally from the Cherokee to the garage door for the 1st picture
How I've got it setup tonight.
The black and red is pretty cool.
Still plenty of shine left
"Upgraded" RD, notice those spoke holders?
Factory Drillium
Nice work, I don't know if the gold outlining was factory or not. That's a pretty headset.
Stem still rough after a couple of round of metal polish
Levers are in good shape with only a few marks.
Kuwahara
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#2
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More shots
Suntour AR FD
Brakes got the job done just fine on the test ride
First bike I've had with these cool centering pieces that actually seem to work
Pretty lug work
Decent shine still
More lugs and lining
Suntour shifter always feel nice
Saddle and seatpost grabbed from my stash for use right now
Loving the black and red
Nitto bars
Suntour AR FD
Brakes got the job done just fine on the test ride
First bike I've had with these cool centering pieces that actually seem to work
Pretty lug work
Decent shine still
More lugs and lining
Suntour shifter always feel nice
Saddle and seatpost grabbed from my stash for use right now
Loving the black and red
Nitto bars
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#3
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And even more
Real Headbadge
Not a bad looker from a few feet away
Not the lightest but made a wonderful riding bike if the first test ride is any indication
Yeah, had to jazz it up a bit with the colored bolts
Oops, left the red cable out of place from when I polished the stem. Bars are a bit narrow for me and I've got black tape with red perforated holes to redo things with. Top of the bars wrapped backwards
Fork detail, not fancy but pretty.
BB area detail
23 lbs 4 ozs as in all these pics so one of my heavier rides. This may get my black Brooks Swallow saddle on it combined with some 700 x 30 Vittoria Corsa G 2.0 I just got. Just make this a cushy fun riding ol' beauty of a bike.
Real Headbadge
Not a bad looker from a few feet away
Not the lightest but made a wonderful riding bike if the first test ride is any indication
Yeah, had to jazz it up a bit with the colored bolts
Oops, left the red cable out of place from when I polished the stem. Bars are a bit narrow for me and I've got black tape with red perforated holes to redo things with. Top of the bars wrapped backwards
Fork detail, not fancy but pretty.
BB area detail
23 lbs 4 ozs as in all these pics so one of my heavier rides. This may get my black Brooks Swallow saddle on it combined with some 700 x 30 Vittoria Corsa G 2.0 I just got. Just make this a cushy fun riding ol' beauty of a bike.
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I love this! Great find, congrats.
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Funny thing is I just recently pulled sidepulls off a Bianchi and Peugeot because they didn't brake well nor stayed centered well. These worked great on the test ride but they do have modern pads holders on them. Right now I did a quick hand polish on them while still on the bike. Once I decide to stick with them I will take them off, take them apart, and then polish them up to a mirror shine. I just can't deny how well they worked.
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Very nice! I really like that Kuwahara headset.
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WOW! Beautiful bike, nice details and photos of the bike.....from now on I am sure that these will now be on a lot of folks radar, I know the make is on mine.
Best, Ben
Best, Ben
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#10
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Thanks! It does photograph better looking than it actually is, paint has a lot of honest wear to it. But man, right now it's in the garage because I've been working on it in the evenings. When I drove into the garage yesterday afternoon and the daytime running lights on my Jeep hit it the bike the shine just gleamed like a black sun. It really did polish up well and looks superb from 10 ft away. The Testor gloss black does not match up well in the sun but I'm hoping when I wet sand and blend it in and then cover it with clear coat it will help it look better.
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Nice find. The colorway is quite reminiscent of a Motobecane.
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I ride a Kuwahara "sage" and it uses a similar, but not quite, headset. One thing about these types of headsets and their sawtooth interface is it makes headset bearing adjustment a little simpler. "Indexed" adjustment I guess you could say. I'm not sure if I'm their biggest fan but the fashion seems to work.
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A Kuwahara with similar headset was just posted on the Craigslist thread, for $100 in Kalamazoo....😘
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I would have bought it just for the headset! I bought a bicycle yesterday, just for the handlebar stem (Kusuki Medallion 800)! It's a disease.
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Beautiful bike!
What's that bit of braze-on on the chainstay above the cable stop in the 5th photo? I can't quite make it out.
What's that bit of braze-on on the chainstay above the cable stop in the 5th photo? I can't quite make it out.
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It's one end of the braze-on's for holding spare spokes. Other end behind the crank. If spokes are carried there it also serves to protect against chainslap.
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#18
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This morning's changes before another test ride. Put on a black Gyes leather saddle and some Vittoria Corsa G 700 x 30 tires. Usually these tires have measured larger than size but on these Mavic G 40 rims they are only 28mm right now. Hopefully they'll stretch a bit. Weird this was the tires turned my hands black working on them. That never happened with my other sets. The do look brand new and I got them from Merlins whom I trust. She put on some weight to an even 24 lbs now.
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God darn that's a nice find. Have always loved Kuwahara. Currently restoring a Kuwahara Hopper (bmx) as we speak.
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70's Nuovo Record Jeunet Franche Compte, '88 105 Trek 1200, '85 Victory Bianchi Vittoria, '89 Exage Bianchi Strada LX, & '11 Shimano Masi Partenza
70's Nuovo Record Jeunet Franche Compte, '88 105 Trek 1200, '85 Victory Bianchi Vittoria, '89 Exage Bianchi Strada LX, & '11 Shimano Masi Partenza
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Hmmm.... I think this saddle kicks it up a notch look wise.
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That saddle was made for that bike.
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Great pictures! I aspire to take such nice pics. You've probably seen my Count thread. I've been recently tinkering with my Count also and have been considering converting it to 650b for next summer if I can get some wheels for cheap.
One detail I don't see you posted a picture of is the two white dots on the underside of the down-tube shifter stop.
One detail I don't see you posted a picture of is the two white dots on the underside of the down-tube shifter stop.
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Great pictures! I aspire to take such nice pics. You've probably seen my Count thread. I've been recently tinkering with my Count also and have been considering converting it to 650b for next summer if I can get some wheels for cheap.
One detail I don't see you posted a picture of is the two white dots on the underside of the down-tube shifter stop.
One detail I don't see you posted a picture of is the two white dots on the underside of the down-tube shifter stop.
I do feel cheated though. Mine does not have the white dots. Tempted to fill them in with red now, LOL!
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#24
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And another old beauty has found a new home. Really enjoyed sorting this one out and riding it last year. Just sold it to a local guy that seemed very happy with it. That's why I snag these old beauty's that languish on the local sales.
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Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.