Guide
Kuwahara Frame Sets
This page is a quick guide to understanding and recognizing vintage Kuwahara BMX frame and fork sets.
Between 1979 and 1986 Kuwahara frame tubes were mainly made by Tange and Ishiwata in Japan. However, they were welded together by companies like Toyo, Kuwahara, G.J.S., and Giant. Kuwahara forks were made and welded mainly by Tange but there were also forks made by Ishiwata. Another exception is the Pantera frame and fork which was made by Giant in Taiwan.
From 1986 to 1988, Kuwahara frame and forks were made and welded by Anlun in Taiwan due to the aftermath of the Plaza Accord.
| Years Active | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Kuwahara | 1979 - 1980 | Non Looptail Race frame w/ Single Gusset |
| - Rear dropout has single triangle hole | ||
| Apollo | 1981 - 1986 | Non Looptail Lugged Race frame (Mild Steel) w/ Single Gusset |
| - Rear dropout has no hole | ||
| KZ | 1980 - 1983 | KZ-1 / KZ-2 - Non Looptail Race frame w/ Double Gusset w/ Drilled Centerpull Hole |
| KM | 1981 - 1983 | KM-1 / KM-2 - Mini Race frame w/ Small Gusset |
| E.T. / KYZ | 1982 - 1983 | E.T. / KYZ (Tri-Moly) - Looptail Race frame w/ Double Gusset (E.T. 1982 only) |
| E.T. / KYZ | 1982 - 1983 | E.T. / KYZ (Hi Tensile Steel) - Looptail Race frame w/ Double Gusset (E.T. 1982 only) |
| KZ-83 | 1982 - Feb. 84 | Laserlite / Survivor - Non Looptail Race frame w/o Gusset (Sold mainly as frame set) |
| - 1982 Teardrop top & bottom tubes | ||
| - 1983 to February 1984 Oval top & bottom tubes | ||
| - "Kuwahara" stamped seat post tube & brake bridge w/ "K" stamped dropouts (Late 1983 and on) | ||
| KZ-83 (v2) | 1983 | Laserlite / Survivor - Non Looptail Race frame w/o Gusset (2nd Version of Koizumi made Frames) |
| - Oval top & Round bottom tubes w/ closed end tubes | ||
| - Flat or Round brake bridge | ||
| KZ-84 | Mar. 84 - Late 84 | Laserlite / Survivor / Bravo - Non Looptail Race frame w/o Gusset (Longer top tube) |
| - 1984 Oval top & Round bottom tubes (Oval top & bottom tubes - early 1984 only) | ||
| - "Kuwahara" stamped seat post tube & brake bridge and "K" stamped dropouts | ||
| KZ-85 | Late 84 - Feb 86 | Laserlite / Survivor / Bravo - Non Looptail Race frame w/o Gusset |
| - Late 1984 to February 1986 Round top & Round bottom tubes | ||
| - "Kuwahara" stamped brake bridge and "K" stamped dropouts | ||
| Nova | 1983 - 1984 | Nova - Looptail Race frame w/o Gusset |
| - "Kuwahara" stamped seat post tube & brake bridge and "K" stamped dropouts (early 1984 only) | ||
| Super Nova | 1984 | Nova - Non Looptail Race frame w/o Gusset |
| - Round top & bottom tubes | ||
| - "Kuwahara" stamped seat post tube & brake bridge and "K" stamped dropouts | ||
| Super Nova | Late 84 - Feb. 86 | Nova - Non Looptail Race frame w/o Gusset |
| - Late 1884 to February 1986 Round top & bottom tubes | ||
| - "Kuwahara" stamped brake bridge and "K" stamped dropouts | ||
| 24 (v1) | 1982 - 1983 | Non Looptail Race frame w/o Double Gusset |
| - 5" head tube & double thick dropouts | ||
| 24 (v1) | 1984 | Non Looptail Race frame w/o Double Gusset |
| - 5" head tube & new style dropouts | ||
| - "Kuwahara" stamped seat post tube & brake bridge and "K" stamped dropouts | ||
| 24 (v2) | 1982 | Non Looptail Race frame w/ Double Gusset |
| Pantera | 1983 - 1984 | Pantera - Non Looptail Race frame w/o Gusset |
| .- Rear dropout has single triangle hole | ||
| Exhibitionist | 1984 | Twin top & bottom tube Freestyle frame w/o Gusset |
| 1985 | Twin top & bottom tube Freestyle frame w/ Gusset | |
| Scamp | 1985 - 1986 | Scamp / Scamp CB (Coast Brake) / Scamp Jr. (16") - Non Looptail Race frame w/o Gusset |
| - Rear dropout has single triangle hole | ||
| - "Anlun" stamped brake bridge and dropouts | ||
| Laserlite-3000 | 1986 - 1988 | Non Looptail Race frame w/o Gusset |
| - Round top & bottom tubes w/ closed end tubes on rear triangle | ||
| - "Kuwahara" stamped brake bridge and "K" stamped dropouts | ||
| Nova Titlist | 1986 - 1988 | Non Looptail Race frame w/o Gusset |
| - Round top & bottom tubes | ||
| - "Kuwahara" stamped brake bridge and "K" stamped dropouts | ||
| Bravo KT | 1986 | Twin top tube Freestyle frame w/ Gusset |
| - Built-in loop stander connected to twin top tube | ||
| Bravo Pro | 1987 - 1988 | Pro / Team - Twin top tube Freestyle frame w/ Gusset |
| - Built-in standers on rear triangle bottom tubes | ||
| - Cross bar from seat post tube to bottom tube | ||
| Magician | 1986 | Single top tube Freestyle frame w/ Gusset (Tri-Moly) |
| - Built-in loop Stander above brake bridge | ||
| Magician | 1987 - 1988 | Pro / EX (Tri-Moly) - Twin top tube Freestyle frame w/ Gusset |
| - Built-in loop stander connected to twin top tube | ||
| - Cross bar from seat post tube to bottom tube | ||
| Hopper | 1987 - 1988 | Non Looptail Race frame w/o Gusset (Tri-Moly) |
| - Rear dropout has no hole | ||
| - Built-in chain guard tabs |
NOTE: All frames were made from 4130 chromoly steel unless noted otherwise. All frame dropouts feature the 3 hole design and fork dropouts feature the 4 hole design unless noted otherwise.
| Years Active | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| TX-Super | 1979 - 1980 | Tange Made - Full Chromoly Round Tubing w/ No Hole Dropout |
| - Factory stock on The Kuwahara (KE-1) | ||
| TX-Super | 1980 - 1984 | Tange Made - Full Chromoly Round Tubing w/ 4 Hole Dropout |
| - Factory stock on KZ, E.T., Nova, Super Nova, KYZ (high end model), KM-1 (high end model) | ||
| TX-Super (Short) | 1981 - 1983 | Tange Made - Full Chromoly Round Tubing w/ 4 Hole Dropout |
| - Factory stock on KM-2 (low end model) | ||
| - Shorter steerer tube & shorter leg tubes | ||
| ARX | 1982 | Tange Made - Full Chromoly Tear Drop Tubing w/ No Hole Dropout |
| - Factory stock on Laserlite & Survivor (early KZ-83) | ||
| TX-1200 | 1982 - 1985 | Tange Made - High Tensile Round Tubing w/ 3 Hole Dropout |
| - Factory stock on KYZ (low end model) and Apollo | ||
| 24 BMX Gen.1 | 1982 | Tange Made - Full Chromoly Round Tubing w/ 4 Hole Dropout |
| - Factory stock on 24" BMX Generation 1 | ||
| - Longer steerer tube to fit 5" frame head tube | ||
| - Thinner leg tubes than Gen. 2 forks | ||
| 24 BMX Gen.2 | 1983 - 1984 | Tange Made - Full Chromoly Round Tubing w/ 4 Hole Dropout |
| - Factory stock on 24" BMX Generation 2 | ||
| - Longer steerer tube to fit 5" frame head tube | ||
| - Thicker leg tubes than Gen. 1 forks | ||
| 24 Cruiser | 1982 | Tange Made - Full Chromoly Round Tubing w/ 4 Hole Dropout |
| - Factory stock on 24" Cruiser | ||
| Tapered | 1983 | Koizumi Made - Full Chromoly Round Tubing w/ 4 Hole Dropout |
| - Factory stock on Koizumi v2 Laserlite & Survivor frame sets | ||
| - Tapered leg tubes and slanted ends | ||
| TRX | 1983 - 1984 | Tange Made - Full Chromoly Oval Tubing w/ 4 Hole Dropout |
| - Factory stock on Laserlite & Survivor (KZ-83 / early KZ-84) | ||
| Giant | 1983 - 1984 | Taiwan Made - High Tensile Round Tubing w/ 4 Hole Dropout |
| - Factory stock on Pantera | ||
| Exhibitionist | 1984 | Tange Made - Full Chromoly Round Tubing w/ 3 Hole Angled Dropout |
| - Factory stock on Exhibitionist & Bravo (KZ-84) | ||
| - Built-in peg standers at top of forks | ||
| - Thinner leg tubes than 1985 Bravo forks | ||
| - "K" stamped dropouts & Fork Standers | ||
| Bravo | 1985 - 1986 | Tange Made - Full Chromoly Round Tubing w/ 3 Hole Angled Dropout |
| - Factory stock on Exhibitionist & Bravo (KZ-85) | ||
| - Built-in peg standers at top of forks | ||
| - Thicker leg tubes than 1984 Exhibitionist forks | ||
| - "K" stamped dropouts | ||
| K Fork | 1984 - 1986 | Tange Made - Full Chromoly Round Tubing w/ 3 Hole Angled Dropout |
| - Factory stock on Laserlite, Survivor (KZ-84 / KZ-85) & Super Nova | ||
| - "K" stamped dropouts | ||
| K Fork | 1986 - 1988 | Anlun Made - Full Chromoly Round Tubing w/ 3 Hole Angled Dropout |
| - Factory stock on Laserlite-3000 & Nova Titlist | ||
| - "K" stamped dropouts (Gen. 3 Logo's K) | ||
| Freestyle | 1986 | Anlun Made - Full Chromoly Round Tubing w/ 3 Hole Angled Dropout |
| - Factory stock on Magician & Bravo KT | ||
| - Built-in peg holes at top of forks | ||
| - "K" stamped dropouts (Gen. 3 Logo's K) | ||
| Magician EX | 1987 - 1988 | Anlun Made - Full Chromoly Round Tubing w/ 2 Hole Dropout |
| - Factory stock on Magician | ||
| - Built-in peg holes at bottom of forks | ||
| - "K" stamped dropouts (Gen. 3 Logo's K) | ||
| Scamp | 1985 - 1986 | Anlun Made - Full Chromoly Round Tubing w/ 1 Hole Dropout |
| - Factory stock on Scamp |
NOTE: All Tange “K” Stampings use the Generaton 2 Logo’s K w/ Flag above the K unless noted otherwise
