BMXmuseum.com Forums

Lixy · 2012-10-30 2:19am

1979 Madison Taipan

My custom build of the Aussie DB Large Pro!

The rare '79 looptail Madison Taipan, off the same Koizumi factory line as the identical (in every way, bar the gusset hole) Diamondback Large Pro frame of the same year but even harder to find.
Light and beautifully made, as one would expect from Koizumi, I can count on one hand the number of these Koizumi Taipan frames that I know exist. A documented history of the early Taipan frames is limited, but both the 1979 'VM' serial Taipans (mooted to have come out of the Kuwahara factory, using Tange tubing, as with the early 'VM' DB Large Pro) and the succeeding 1979 'baseball' Koizumi Taipans (noticeably better welds + a few other minor differences), appear to have been commissioned as simply a gusset variant to the Diamondback Pro on the same production lines. The history and development of these, Japanese manufactured, looptail Madison Taipan frames appears inextricably linked to that of the early DB Pros.
Restoration of all the parts and the design and fabrication of the decalset and padset was done by me personally (I love the hands-on stuff!). The frame was beautifully refinished in Super Yellow gloss powder coat by Roberto's Custom Powder. It's easy to see that the early DB aesthetic was my inspiration for the build design, the custom decals and padset. I've nicknamed the build Bumblebee as a tribute to the world-famous-in-New-Zealand yellow and black HMX-500 BMXs of the same era. I mean, when you find a Japanese built, American designed, Aussie frame, why not name it after a slice of Kiwi history?
There's heaps more pics of the finished build, along with a detailed build blog with lots of design and parts restoration pics on my BMX blog here: http://www.lixbmx.com/madison-taipan
PARTS LISTFrame: 1979 Koizumi Madison Taipan, 4130 Chromoly, baseball serialForks: Akisu, stamped 1980 Wheels: Skyway Tuff II, sealed bearing, with Dicta 16T freewheelCranks: Takagi Tourney 170Chain ring: Takagi 130BCD 44TSeat clamp: SuntourStem: Sugino DBDecals: Custom Madison Taipan Pro Decals, inspired by the DB Large Pro set of the eraPads: Custom Madison Taipan Pro pads, inspired by the DB Large Pro pads of the eraSeat: Kashimax MX, black suedeBrakes: Dia Compe 890, stamped Feb 1982 (+ Odyssey Slim by Four clear pads)Brake Levers: Dia Compe MX124, stamped July 1985Brake Cables: Hi-Tech,Headset: Neco, aluminium, sealed bearingBars: Race Inc, aluminiumGrips: Oury WaffleTires: Kenda Comp IIIChain: Izumi Chainring bolts: ChromolySeat Post: Fluted aluminiumPedals: Cycle Pro TTK (early 80s) polished aluminiumBottom Bracket: YST sealed square taper

ADDITIONAL SPECSMaterial: 4130 Chromoly Frame weight: 2.295 kgHead Tube angle: 75°Seat Tube angle: 68°Top Tube length: 480mm (18 7/8")Frame weight: 2.295kg (5lb 1oz)Rear dropout thickness: 3mm (1/8")Wheelbase: 930mm (36 5/8")Bottom bracket height: 290mm (11 7/16")Chainstay length: 375mm (14 3/4")Serial stamp: Inside left rear dropout
My initial build design sketch...

More pics...

The 'Bee 'n' Me...

classof70 · 2012-10-30 3:26am

Excellent..Love the page lay-out ,Bikes not bad either....

Axel10 · 2012-10-30 11:21am

AMAZING

BMXDAZE · 2012-10-30 4:19pm

Typical Lixy build .... Very sweet

scruffah · 2012-10-30 7:49pm

My Lordy girl, this build is a stunner! Your eye for detail and planning is inspired...this is one of my favorite customs, EVER!
My hat is officially off!

MickRich393 · 2012-10-31 6:59pm

Great story and build, and nice to see something different!

Lixy · 2012-10-31 8:05pm

classof70 wrote:
Excellent..Love the page lay-out, Bikes not bad either....

Haha, cheers bro - killer page layouts are where it's at.

Axel10 wrote:
AMAZING

Thanks man! Now all I need are some tasty waves and a cool buzz...

BMXDAZE wrote:
Typical Lixy build .... Very sweet

Cheers Mark! Almost as cool as your mean Apollos... almost!

scruffah wrote:
My Lordy girl, this build is a stunner! Your eye for detail and planning is inspired...this is one of my favorite customs, EVER!
My hat is officially off!

I'm honoured by your hat removal Darren! Put it back on quick though bro, you'll get sun stroke or something, haha, it's 32 here in BrizVegas today!

In all seriousness though, I really appreciate your comments and support man, you're a legend. Can't wait to see that HMX500 of yours

MickRich393 wrote:
Great story and build, and nice to see something different!

Thanks heaps for the kind words! Love your profile pic - I'm a big Hokusai fan! And you actually live in Kanagawa?! Too cool.

scruffah · 2012-11-01 4:06am

scruffah wrote:
My Lordy girl, this build is a stunner! Your eye for detail and planning is inspired...this is one of my favorite customs, EVER!
My hat is officially off!

I'm honoured by your hat removal Darren! Put it back on quick though bro, you'll get sun stroke or something, haha, it's 32 here in BrizVegas today!

In all seriousness though, I really appreciate your comments and support man, you're a legend. Can't wait to see that HMX500 of yours

Ha ha, i have a skinhead cut too so burning the noggin is an all too real occurance No worrys Lixy, credit where its due...you are beating most of the boys at their own game anyways, any builder would/should be taking notes on your builds...they are up there

Fishie · 2012-11-02 2:02pm

That is one sweet little gem well done as always Lixy:D

Lixy · 2012-11-08 3:26am

Fishie wrote:
That is one sweet little gem well done as always Lixy:D

Thanks heaps man!

oddballlover · 2012-12-02 8:03pm

Beautiful bike ...! From Alaska!

Lixy · 2012-12-02 9:02pm

oddballlover wrote:
Beautiful bike ...! From Alaska!

Cheers bro! Hope you're keeping warm up there!

Fulthrotle73 · 2012-12-19 4:47am

wow this a beautiful build.

Brix · 2013-02-23 11:34pm

Clever and creative! Love the custom decals and pads...very cool!

olnordicflyer · 2013-03-26 1:28am

Really nice blog also.... Well done, wish there were more rad chicks into it especially here in sweden

Lixy · 2013-03-26 1:51am

Fulthrotle73 wrote:
wow this a beautiful build.

Stoked you dig it! Thank you!

Brix wrote:
Clever and creative! Love the custom decals and pads...very cool!

Thanks so much dude, the custom decals and pads were a lot of fun to design and make

olnordicflyer wrote:
Really nice blog also.... Well done, wish there were more rad chicks into it especially here in sweden

I wish there were more rad chicks into old school BMX too man, sometimes I definitely feel like the odd one out in this scene... haha. Thanks heaps for your praise of my blog, really glad to hear you enjoyed it

Sending you a big 'Hi' all the way from Australia to Sweden!

Last edited by Lixy (2013-03-26 1:52am)

FRESH · 2013-07-09 9:57pm

Insanely cool.. Loved seeing this come together!! Page layout is awesome.. Love the creativity and attention to detail.. Way to think outta the box and do these builds the way you do em Lixy. Great work.

stuthompson4president · 2013-08-28 4:10am

Churrrrr bro!!!
Here's the thing..that build is simply ART.
Ticked every freakn box mate.
Btw my pride and joy is my hmx500 even like it over my 1980 s'goose as its the poverty pack that every kid had back in nz that I couldn't even afford.
S.E,Goose wasn't even on the radar therefore I have no emotional connection to the high end of town.
Actually won heaps of motos against the rich kids borrowing my mates hmx (we used to share between motos bitd)
Paul (melbourne)

kerm · 2013-09-09 4:04am

Welcome To The Dark Side Lixy / The Other Side (site) lol

& Bee + all your Great Builds.

Kerm

Lixy · 2013-11-18 2:08am

FRESH wrote:
Insanely cool.. Loved seeing this come together!! Page layout is awesome.. Love the creativity and attention to detail.. Way to think outta the box and do these builds the way you do em Lixy. Great work.

Thanks so much man!

stuthompson4president wrote:
Churrrrr bro!!!
Here's the thing..that build is simply ART.
Ticked every freakn box mate.
Btw my pride and joy is my hmx500 even like it over my 1980 s'goose as its the poverty pack that every kid had back in nz that I couldn't even afford.
S.E,Goose wasn't even on the radar therefore I have no emotional connection to the high end of town.
Actually won heaps of motos against the rich kids borrowing my mates hmx (we used to share between motos bitd)
Paul (melbourne)

Haha, wicked! #Bumblebee4Lyfe

kerm wrote:
Welcome To The Dark Side Lixy / The Other Side (site) lol

& Bee + all your Great Builds.

Kerm

Hey Kerm!! Hope you're well bro and that Apollo is riding smoothly Bee says hi

84HaroSport · 2013-12-15 11:06am

Very slick bike. That's an Awesome layout on page. Attention to detail is amazing. Very nice. Cool to have the ladies building stuff. VERY

Last edited by 84HaroSport (2013-12-15 11:09am)

Backinthesaddle44 · 2013-12-15 12:49pm

Wow great profile on that bike, looks mean and fast.

Lixy · 2013-12-15 2:36pm

84HaroSport wrote:
Very slick bike. That's an Awesome layout on page. Attention to detail is amazing. Very nice. Cool to have the ladies building stuff. VERY

Thanks! Haha, yeah... we're few and far between! It'd be awesome to see more women getting into it. There are at least 3 of us that I know of building/riding/collecting old school and midschool bikes here in Queensland, Australia, which is a good start.

Backinthesaddle44 wrote:
Wow great profile on that bike, looks mean and fast.

Totally mean and fast!! It's light and beautifully balanced, always one of my favourites to ride! Cheers dude!

1982Supergoose · 2015-02-11 2:41pm

Very pimp ride ! Quite unique and very cleanly built. FAVEd just now. Nice!

RadicalNick · 2015-07-01 8:05pm

Stunning! Great job.

Login

1979 Madison Taipan

#1 2012-10-30 2:19am

1979 Madison Taipan

#2 2012-10-30 3:26am

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#3 2012-10-30 11:21am

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#4 2012-10-30 4:19pm

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#5 2012-10-30 7:49pm

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#6 2012-10-31 6:59pm

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#7 2012-10-31 8:05pm

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

classof70 wrote:

Axel10 wrote:

BMXDAZE wrote:

scruffah wrote:

MickRich393 wrote:

#8 2012-11-01 4:06am

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

scruffah wrote:

#9 2012-11-02 2:02pm

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#10 2012-11-08 3:26am

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

Fishie wrote:

#11 2012-12-02 8:03pm

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#12 2012-12-02 9:02pm

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

oddballlover wrote:

#13 2012-12-19 4:47am

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#14 2013-02-23 11:34pm

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#15 2013-03-26 1:28am

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#16 2013-03-26 1:51am

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

Fulthrotle73 wrote:

Brix wrote:

olnordicflyer wrote:

#17 2013-07-09 9:57pm

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#18 2013-08-28 4:10am

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#19 2013-09-09 4:04am

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#20 2013-11-18 2:08am

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

FRESH wrote:

stuthompson4president wrote:

kerm wrote:

#21 2013-12-15 11:06am

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#22 2013-12-15 12:49pm

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#23 2013-12-15 2:36pm

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

84HaroSport wrote:

Backinthesaddle44 wrote:

#24 2015-02-11 2:41pm

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

#25 2015-07-01 8:05pm

Re: 1979 Madison Taipan

Board footer