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1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
#1 2016-04-08 8:07am
- cwruBMX
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1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
Absolutely 100% OG
I got this locally off of someone who does HVAC out of New Haven CT. He says he saw it on a job before. He then returned one day and asked if she'd sell it. It was sitting in her basement for 30 years since her son passed.
It's striking to me to see a bike in this shape after so many years. What's interesting is that it has a lot of the higher end parts of the laserline - Elina seat, Ukai speedlines, but it's clearly a Survivor with a OPC. I dont know the backstory of how they made these changes at factory and such. I'd be happy to hear people's views on whether they think it's a Survivor of if it's a Laserlite with a swap out of the 400s.
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#2 2016-04-08 8:14am
- Axel10
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
The OPC is most likely original at time of purchase 
read the 'special note' here: http://www.kuwahara-bmx.com/kuwahara-laserlite/
Very cool story and a beautiful survivor 
Less Drama, More BMX
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#3 2016-04-08 9:31am
- glenn1011
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
Great bike!
Old school Sherwood Park.
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#4 2016-04-08 9:36am
- erdalicious
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
WTB: * NOS Oakley F1 grips black/yellow * KKT FMX/LMX Pedals * Skyway Tuff Graphite pedals/cages * NOS Oakley 2 red right side only * NOS Oakley 1 red left side only * NOS chrome KKT FMX left side pedal 9/16
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#5 2016-04-08 12:57pm
- BDUBinVegas
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
marked
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#6 2016-04-08 1:38pm
- bwnharo
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
Wow, beautiful bike.
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#7 2016-04-08 2:45pm
- justapok
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
That's a super clean complete racer ; a very cool testimony of an era
20" before dishonnor
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#8 2016-04-08 3:18pm
- rebel959
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
"The Best That Never Was."
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#9 2016-04-08 7:30pm
- pkripper68bmx
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
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#10 2016-04-09 3:40pm
- 84laserlite
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
Nice!
''Have been Old Schooled''. I think the list of things I pretend to care about is now longer than the list of things I actually care about. Need * Cheap set Sugino 400 Redline crank Dust caps Tap Your Stem Bolt Down ,Or Hammer On it 4 Hrs for Fun.
11 X'' Champion'' Old-school B.M.X Shows` ~
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#11 2016-04-09 3:58pm
- Bravo
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
The Survivor/2.5 and Laserlite shared the same f/f for '83-84. Usually identified with lower spec Sugino stem, spider and 1pc setup, DC 890 and KKT AMX pedals. Also Takagi parts were used depending on availalability.
Full spec Laserlite depending on what country US/UK/Europe was available with Redline 400's or Sugino power disc/1pc setup/Hatta or Sugino sealed B/B and DC MX900. Also had a Suntour MS-1100 stem and locknut, XC pedals and HF/LF Suntour sealed bearing hubs with Ukai Speedlines/Araya 7X.
The Elina aero-turbo seat and kuwi branded IRC tires were standard gear on both bikes
Bones heal, chicks dig scars, pain is temporary, glory is forever.
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#12 2016-04-09 4:36pm
- cwruBMX
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
From the Kuwahara website.
Special Note: We have reason to believe The Laserlite was also available with low end parts similar to the Survivor (through bike shops only) because bike shops replaced the high end parts (mainly the cranks) and sold them with 1 pc cranks to meet the demand for Laserlites by making them affordable. We also believe these bike shops sold Survivors as Laserlites to meet that demand. However, a true factory Laserlite was released with high end parts, which is clearly documented in review magazines and advertisements from that era. Our research is based on seeing original un-touched Laserlites with these low end parts (Survivor build) configurations first hand. On another note, since a Survivor and Laserlite use the same frame & fork, these builds can technically be passed off as either model depending on the parts.
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#13 2016-04-09 4:44pm
- cwruBMX
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
Bravo wrote:
The Survivor/2.5 and Laserlite shared the same f/f for '83-84. Usually identified with lower spec Sugino stem, spider and 1pc setup, DC 890 and KKT AMX pedals. Also Takagi parts were used depending on availalability.
Full spec Laserlite depending on what country US/UK/Europe was available with Redline 400's or Sugino power disc/1pc setup/Hatta or Sugino sealed B/B and DC MX900. Also had a Suntour MS-1100 stem and locknut, XC pedals and HF/LF Suntour sealed bearing hubs with Ukai Speedlines/Araya 7X.
The Elina aero-turbo seat and kuwi branded IRC tires were standard gear on both bikes
This bike has Speedlines and LF Suntour hubs.. Also according to the site the Survivor had a Promax Aero seat, not Elina. Just seems to me this bike falls somewhere between Laserlite and Survivor and I wonder what it was when it was considered when it left the factory.
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#14 2016-04-09 5:01pm
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
I've heard basically the same from Howie Cohen's website when it was up and running. He is the one that would have known. Can you share the actual link on the Kuwi website 
Everything Bicycles distributed the f/f/kits in the US and I agree upon the local distribution of parts and affordability factors. This is an '83 german advertisement and note the clear difference in specification.
By '84 Kuwahara were making their own parts with Takagi and released power discs and 1pc stamped cranks. This is why I believe that the Survivor had this particular factory specification. Also note the option of front and rear DC brakes 
Bones heal, chicks dig scars, pain is temporary, glory is forever.
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#15 2016-04-09 5:33pm
- cwruBMX
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
Bravo wrote:
I've heard basically the same from Howie Cohen's website when it was up and running. He is the one that would have known. Can you share the actual link on the Kuwi website
Everything Bicycles distributed the f/f/kits in the US and I agree upon the local distribution of parts and affordability factors. This is an '83 german advertisement and note the clear difference in specification.
By '84 Kuwahara were making their own parts with Takagi and released power discs and 1pc stamped cranks. This is why I believe that the Survivor had this particular factory specification. Also note the option of front and rear DC brakes
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#16 2016-04-09 5:51pm
- hermes33
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
Sweet time capsule!!!
1984 schwinn predator p2200 1986 haro group 1 rs2 1986 Schwinn Predator Free Form Z
1986 haro sport & 1986 haro master
1987 schwinn predator free form ex
1988 haro sport 1986 Schwinn Predator Qualifier
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#17 2016-04-09 5:52pm
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
I always question that website as it is not official and I have never seen some of those specs local or factory and especially a labelled teardrop '82 Survivor.
Even Kuwahara's official Survivor 2.5 advertisement is incorrect and I've seen a disclaimer from them saying it was done before official release in '83 
I can't find the advertisement but I will and post it up soon.
Bones heal, chicks dig scars, pain is temporary, glory is forever.
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#18 2016-04-10 3:26pm
- Knarly
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
Awesome Kuwi !
Love it when these bikes resurface and they were actually cared about enough to be kept indoors and protected.
Nice find!
LOOKING FOR........ or consider in a Trade ;
-Mint or NOS BLUE Cal Lite Johar FRAME pad.
-Mint or NOS CHROME Cal Lite Johar BAR pad.
-Orig. Blue ZERONINE Pro XL FF
"WHEN IN DOUBT, CRANK IT !"
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#19 2016-04-10 4:05pm
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
Kuwahara distributed Promax/M.K Shoji/Elina aero-turbo seats on Survivor/Laserlite's from as early as '82-84
Also the fading out of Ukai speedlines would have been logical for the progression towards the newer Araya 7X.
Bones heal, chicks dig scars, pain is temporary, glory is forever.
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#20 2016-04-10 5:44pm
- cwruBMX
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
Bravo wrote:
Kuwahara distributed Promax/M.K Shoji/Elina aero-turbo seats on Survivor/Laserlite's from as early as '82-84
Also the fading out of Ukai speedlines would have been logical for the progression towards the newer Araya 7X.
that's a real cool ad.. I guess the Euro version was quite a bit different... Wait,, is that YOU in the ad?
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#21 2016-04-10 7:53pm
- SKYWAYNE1026
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
Awesome, I'd love to own that
Always looking for nice / rare SKYWAY bikes, parts & gear.
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#22 2016-04-11 9:27am
- Bravo
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
Survivor 2.5 official specs by april '84.
Note the distributor and test input 
Bones heal, chicks dig scars, pain is temporary, glory is forever.
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#23 2016-04-11 11:25am
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
Correct advertisement released in Dec '83
Bones heal, chicks dig scars, pain is temporary, glory is forever.
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#24 2016-04-11 2:01pm
- cwruBMX
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
100% definitively that bike
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#25 2016-04-11 7:04pm
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Re: 1983 Kuwahara Laserlite
Incorrect advertisement of KZ-2 with Survivor spec.
I actually wouldn't mind building one that way
Bones heal, chicks dig scars, pain is temporary, glory is forever.
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