Model
Kuwahara Nova
Lifecycle: 1983 – Early 1986
Frame Model: Nova (1983) / Un-officially titled “Super Nova” (1984+)
Factory Colors: Chrome or White w/ Black parts, Black or Blue w/ Silver parts
Frame: Tri-Moly – Chrome-Moly Tubing (Front Triangle) / High Tensile Steel (Rear Triangle) (1983), 100% Full Chrome-Moly Tubing (1984 – Stamped “Kuwahara”)
Fork: 100% Full Chrome-Moly
Serial #: Starting T3, K4, K5, K6 (very rare) – K6B is the very last month
Decals: Generation 2 w/ ®
Tubing Differences: Looptail (1983) / Non-Looptail (1984-1986)
Top Tube Length: 18.25″
Weight (Complete Bike): 11.23 kg / 24 pounds, 12 ounces
Weight (Frame): 2550g +/- (Looptail) / 1950g +/- (Super Nova),
Weight (Handlebars): 1050g +/- (Pro handlebars)
Original Retail Price (Approx.): $209.95 – $239.95 USD (Chrome), $229.95 USD (Painted)
Facts: The Looptail frame is approx. 600g heavier than the Super Nova frame. The Super Nova frame is the same weight as the Laserlite frame.
Interesting Facts: By October of 1984, it looks as though Kuwahara was using the same exact frame (KZ-85) for the Bravo, Laserlite and Super Nova as they all looked identical in geometry, and weld craftsmanship when put through a comparison test. February is the last month of 1986 which is the very last year of the Japan made Tange frame sets which were used available right before they switched to Anlun made Nova Titlists.
Opinions/Errors: One magazine review in the 80’s stated that the Super Nova was not 100% Full Chrome-Moly, where as other magazines have stated that the 1984 Super Nova is Full Chrome-Moly. FACT: The 1984 Super Nova is much lighter (actually around 600 grams +/-) than the 1983 looptail Nova and almost has the exact same geometry, and weight (actually lighter in one of our weight comparison tests) as the 1983 Laserlite, therefore we can only conclude that the 1984 Super Nova is a Full Chrome-Moly frame regardless of the welds on the rear triangle. Regarding the rear triangle welds on the Super Nova, most people say it cannot be chrome-moly due to the different look of the welds. However, 1985 full Chrome-Moly Bravos and Laserlites use the same frame set and look similar to the Super Nova and they also have the exact same looking welds.
Confirmation: Confirmed through a source (on April 2021), Kuwahara International has confirmed that the non-looptail frames were indeed ALL Full Chromoly. And ALL the Looptail frames produced were in fact Tri-Moly.
Stamping Note: The 1983 Looptail version was non-stamped and the 1984 Non-Looptail version was stamped “Kuwahara”. However, there were also left over 1983 Looptail versions that were stamped “Kuwahara” with serial numbers “K4…” similar to the 1984 Non-Looptail versions.
Buyer / Collector’s Beware: The Nova / Super Nova handlebars are NOT the same as a Laserlite or Survivor. They are approx. 250 grams heavier and the cross bar has a smaller diameter.
| 1983 Nova | Late 1983 Nova | 1984 Nova | Late 84 + Nova | Nova Titilist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year: | 1983 | Late 1983 - Feb. 1984 | 1984 | Oct. 1984 - Feb. 1986 | 1986 - 1987 |
| Model: | Nova Looptail | Nova Looptail (Stamped) | Super Nova Non-Looptail | Super Nova Non-Looptail | Nova Titlist |
| Frame: | Tange (Round) | Tange (Round) | Tange (Round - Stamped) | Tange (Round - Stamped) | Anlun |
| Fork: | Tange TX-Super | Tange TX-Super | Tange Round (K Stamped) | Tange Round (K Stamped) | Anlun (K Stamped) |
| Headset: | Hatta MX-II | Hatta MX-II | Hatta MX-II | Hatta MX-II | Hatta MX-II |
| Stem: | WIN | WIN | WIN | Sugino | Anlun 'Kuwahara' (Stamped) |
| Handlebars: | WIN Pro | WIN Pro 'Kuwahara' (Stamped) | WIN Pro 'Kuwahara' (Stamped) | WIN Pro 'Kuwahara' (Stamped) | Anlun |
| Grips: | OGK Vinyl 17-77A | OGK Vinyl 17-77A | OGK Vinyl 17-77A | OGK Vinyl 17-77A | AME Tri (Type) |
| B.B. | Hatta MX-II | Hatta MX-II | Hatta MX-II | Hatta MX-II | Hatta MX-II |
| Cranks: | Takagi One-Piece 175/180mm | Takagi One-Piece 175/180mm | Takagi 'Kuwahara' OPC 180mm | Takagi 'Kuwahara' OPC 180mm | Anlun 'Cr-Mo' 180mm |
| Spider: | Takagi | Takagi | Takagi 'Kuwahara' Power Disc | Takagi 'Kuwahara' Power Disc | Anlun Power Disc |
| Chainring: | Takagi 44T | Takagi 44T | Takagi 44T | Takagi 44T | Anlun 44T w/ 'Kuwahara' imprint |
| Chainring Bolts: | Takagi | Takagi | Takagi | Takagi | Generic |
| Pedals: | KKT AMX / SMX | KKT AMX / SMX | KKT AMX / SMX | KKT RMX | VP 330 |
| Chain: | KEC | KEC | KEC | KEC | KMC Silver |
| Freewheel: | Suntour 16T | Suntour 16T | Suntour 16T | Suntour 16T | Suntour 16T VIA Chrome |
| Rims: | Ukai 'Speedline' | Ukai 'Speedline' | Ukai 'Speedline' | Ukai 'Speedline' (Shiny Side - Painted) | Ukai 'Speedline' (Shiny Side - Painted) |
| Hubs: | Suntour Sealed HF | Suntour Sealed HF | Suntour Sealed HF | Suntour Sealed HF | Sansin Sealed LF |
| Spokes: | Asahi 194mm | Asahi 194mm | Asahi 194mm | Asahi 194mm | Asahi 194mm |
| Nipples: | Asahi or Araya (Black) | Asahi or Araya (Black) | Asahi or Araya (Black) | Asahi or Araya (Black) | Asahi Silver |
| Tires: | IRC Racer 80x Skinwall | IRC Racer 80x Skinwall | IRC Racer 80x Skinwall | Cheng Shin Comp 3 Skinwall | Cheng Shin Comp 3 Skinwall |
| Seat Post: | Checkered (Integrated w/ Seat) | Checkered (Integrated w/ Seat) | Nitto Layback 'Laserpost' | Nitto Layback 'Laserpost' | Anlun Layback |
| Seat: | Tahei Elina UL | Tahei Elina UL | Elina Aero Turbo | Elina Flyte Tech | Viscount 'Kuwahara' |
| Seat Clamp: | Suntour Broken Arrow | Suntour Broken Arrow | Suntour Broken Arrow | Suntour Broken Arrow | Tuf Neck Style 'Kuwahara' |
| Brake Caliper: | Dia Compe 890 | Dia Compe 890 | Dia Compe 890 | Dia Compe 890 | Dia Compe MX-901 |
| Brake Lever: | Dia Compe Tech 3 | Dia Compe Tech 3 | Dia Compe Tech 3 | Dia Compe Tech 3 | Dia Compe Tech 6 |
| Brake Cable: | Dia Compe | Dia Compe | Dia Compe | Dia Compe | Dia Compe |
| 1983 Nova | |
|---|---|
| Year: | 1983 |
| Model: | Nova Looptail |
| Frame: | Tange (Round) |
| Fork: | Tange (Round) |
| Headset: | Hatta MX-II |
| Stem: | WIN |
| Handlebars: | WIN Pro |
| Grips: | OGK Vinyl 17-77A |
| B.B. | Hatta MX-II |
| Cranks: | Takagi One-Piece 175/180mm |
| Spider: | Takagi |
| Chainring: | Takagi 44T |
| Chainring Bolts: | Takagi |
| Pedals: | KKT AMX / SMX |
| Chain: | KEC |
| Freewheel: | Suntour 16T |
| Rims: | Ukai 'Speedline' |
| Hubs: | Suntour Sealed HF |
| Spokes: | Asahi 194mm |
| Nipples: | Asahi or Araya (Black) |
| Tires: | IRC Racer 80x Skinwall |
| Seat Post: | Checkered (Integrated w/ Seat) |
| Seat: | Tahei Elina UL |
| Seat Clamp: | Suntour Broken Arrow |
| Brake Caliper: | Dia Compe 890 |
| Brake Lever: | Dia Compe Tech 3 |
| Brake Cable: | Dia Compe |
| Late 1983 Nova | |
|---|---|
| Year: | Late 1983 - Feb. 1984 |
| Model: | Nova Looptail (Stamped) |
| Frame: | Tange (Round) |
| Fork: | Tange TX-Super |
| Headset: | Hatta MX-II |
| Stem: | WIN |
| Handlebars: | WIN Pro 'Kuwahara' (Stamped) |
| Grips: | OGK Vinyl 17-77A |
| B.B. | Hatta MX-II |
| Cranks: | Takagi One-Piece 175/180mm |
| Spider: | Takagi |
| Chainring: | Takagi 44T |
| Chainring Bolts: | Takagi |
| Pedals: | KKT AMX / SMX |
| Chain: | KEC |
| Freewheel: | Suntour 16T |
| Rims: | Ukai 'Speedline' |
| Hubs: | Suntour Sealed HF |
| Spokes: | Asahi 194mm |
| Nipples: | Asahi or Araya (Black) |
| Tires: | IRC Racer 80x Skinwall |
| Seat Post: | Checkered (Integrated w/ Seat) |
| Seat: | Tahei Elina UL |
| Seat Clamp: | Suntour Broken Arrow |
| Brake Caliper: | Dia Compe 890 |
| Brake Lever: | Dia Compe Tech 3 |
| Brake Cable: | Dia Compe |
| 1984 Nova | |
|---|---|
| Year: | 1984 |
| Model: | Super Nova Non-Looptail |
| Frame: | Tange (Round - Stamped) |
| Fork: | Tange Round (K Stamped) |
| Headset: | Hatta MX-II |
| Stem: | WIN |
| Handlebars: | WIN Pro 'Kuwahara' (Stamped) |
| Grips: | OGK Vinyl 17-77A |
| B.B. | Hatta MX-II |
| Cranks: | Takagi 'Kuwahara' OPC 180mm |
| Spider: | Takagi 'Kuwahara' Power Disc |
| Chainring: | Takagi 44T |
| Chainring Bolts: | Takagi |
| Pedals: | KKT AMX / SMX |
| Chain: | KEC |
| Freewheel: | Suntour 16T |
| Rims: | Ukai 'Speedline' |
| Hubs: | Suntour Sealed HF |
| Spokes: | Asahi 194mm |
| Nipples: | Asahi or Araya (Black) |
| Tires: | IRC Racer 80x Skinwall |
| Seat Post: | Nitto Layback 'Laserpost' |
| Seat: | Elina Aero Turbo |
| Seat Clamp: | Suntour Broken Arrow |
| Brake Caliper: | Dia Compe 890 |
| Brake Lever: | Dia Compe Tech 3 |
| Brake Cable: | Dia Compe |
| Late 84 + Nova | |
|---|---|
| Year: | Oct. 1984 - Feb. 1986 |
| Model: | Super Nova Non-Looptail |
| Frame: | Tange (Round - Stamped) |
| Fork: | Tange Round (K Stamped) |
| Headset: | Hatta MX-II |
| Stem: | Sugino |
| Handlebars: | WIN Pro 'Kuwahara' (Stamped) |
| Grips: | OGK Vinyl 17-77A |
| B.B. | Hatta MX-II |
| Cranks: | Takagi 'Kuwahara' OPC 180mm |
| Spider: | Takagi 'Kuwahara' Power Disc |
| Chainring: | Takagi 44T |
| Chainring Bolts: | Takagi |
| Pedals: | KKT RMX |
| Chain: | KEC |
| Freewheel: | Suntour 16T |
| Rims: | Ukai 'Speedline' (Shiny Side - Painted) |
| Hubs: | Suntour Sealed HF |
| Spokes: | Asahi 194mm |
| Nipples: | Asahi or Araya (Black) |
| Tires: | Cheng Shin Comp 3 Skinwall |
| Seat Post: | Nitto Layback 'Laserpost' |
| Seat: | Elina Flyte Tech |
| Seat Clamp: | Suntour Broken Arrow |
| Brake Caliper: | Dia Compe 890 |
| Brake Lever: | Dia Compe Tech 3 |
| Brake Cable: | Dia Compe |
| Nova Titilist | |
|---|---|
| Year: | 1986 - 1987 |
| Model: | Nova Titlist |
| Frame: | Anlun |
| Fork: | Anlun (K Stamped) |
| Headset: | Hatta MX-II |
| Stem: | Anlun 'Kuwahara' (Stamped) |
| Handlebars: | Anlun |
| Grips: | AME Tri (Type) |
| B.B. | Hatta MX-II |
| Cranks: | Anlun 'Cr-Mo' 180mm |
| Spider: | Anlun Power Disc |
| Chainring: | Anlun 44T w/ 'Kuwahara' imprint |
| Chainring Bolts: | Generic |
| Pedals: | VP 330 |
| Chain: | KMC Silver |
| Freewheel: | Suntour 16T VIA Chrome |
| Rims: | Ukai 'Speedline' (Shiny Side - Painted) |
| Hubs: | Sansin Sealed LF |
| Spokes: | Asahi 194mm |
| Nipples: | Asahi Silver |
| Tires: | Cheng Shin Comp 3 Skinwall |
| Seat Post: | Anlun Layback |
| Seat: | Viscount 'Kuwahara' |
| Seat Clamp: | Tuf Neck Style 'Kuwahara' |
| Brake Caliper: | Dia Compe MX-901 |
| Brake Lever: | Dia Compe Tech 6 |
| Brake Cable: | Dia Compe |
