SFP
Dirt Disciple
Because why not, I only have four other builds on the plate eh....
Picked up this '84 Kuwahara Apollo Aries this morning for my roommate Elaine. $40.xx CDN.
She is an OG Vancouver Island ride... sold at "The Bike Rack" out in Langford (Victoria) back in the day.
She has some rust, so needs love and work.... but hell, it is a Japan (Osaka I believe) Kuwahara eh.
It's an early 80's Kuwahara... I got a weakspot for these old bikes.
It has had some bad spray-bomp paint on it. Upgraded Shimano cantilever brakes.
Minus the brakes and pedals and cracked tires, it is all OG Suntour friction shifting with I believe they are Araya VP-22 Rims laced to high-flange hubs.
Front derailleur needs replacing (have an LX that will work)... possibly the entire BB (do Tange still make the old school units?) Would love to find a silver (yeah I know, uber rare in silver - black will work worst case)) Joe Murray Impact Headset (1"... anyone holding?). Going to drop on a new chain.
Non-stock seat, in really good shape and Elaine loves it.
Quality fenders from back in the day.
Generic rack with a semi-rusted basket.
I already have a new stem and rise handlebars (silver both) to replace the badly painted bullmoose handlebars (gonna try to save those). he so needs a full lube job, new grips and new tires.
I will be getting a modern her a HQ locking kickstand as she asked for one.
Questions are...
- do I migrate it to a seven speed index system (I have the parts) or leave it as a 18 speed friction (six in the rear freewheel) (she likes the index system BTW)?
- I honestly like the old school brake levers
- I like the old school bolt on hubs.. so maybe I lace in new rims? I do have way better quality set of wheels, but they are 7 speed cassette - not freewheel
- I have an extra in good/mint shape 7-speed LX real derailleur I can throw on
- beach cruiser, city/hybrid or mountain tires? Am liking the idea of white wall 26"-2.125" tires to be honest
- do I spend the time cleaning, stripping the basket and a repaint or just get her a new one?
I would so love to do a full repaint in factory colours, but this is NOT that project.
On the plus side, as Bones (my local used bike shop owner said), "as she sits it is not something the thieves want eh".
This is gonna be a very different build/restore than my typical projects. Excited about it though.
Feedback and suggestions welcome folks.
A couple of crappy phone photos from my messy kitchen (including serial number which is: 84-10-24846 - is there a registry for old Kuwi's?)
The white 16" pre-93 Kona frame (think it is a 91/92 Fire Mountain - yes I have the matching P2 fork with impact headset) is her BF's project that I am building up as a surprise for him (making this number 5 and 6 eh)
On the plus side I have a Softride Solo (frame, beam, fork, headset) coming home next week to me - some days ya just win eh.
Picked up this '84 Kuwahara Apollo Aries this morning for my roommate Elaine. $40.xx CDN.
She is an OG Vancouver Island ride... sold at "The Bike Rack" out in Langford (Victoria) back in the day.
She has some rust, so needs love and work.... but hell, it is a Japan (Osaka I believe) Kuwahara eh.
It's an early 80's Kuwahara... I got a weakspot for these old bikes.
It has had some bad spray-bomp paint on it. Upgraded Shimano cantilever brakes.
Minus the brakes and pedals and cracked tires, it is all OG Suntour friction shifting with I believe they are Araya VP-22 Rims laced to high-flange hubs.
Front derailleur needs replacing (have an LX that will work)... possibly the entire BB (do Tange still make the old school units?) Would love to find a silver (yeah I know, uber rare in silver - black will work worst case)) Joe Murray Impact Headset (1"... anyone holding?). Going to drop on a new chain.
Non-stock seat, in really good shape and Elaine loves it.
Quality fenders from back in the day.
Generic rack with a semi-rusted basket.
I already have a new stem and rise handlebars (silver both) to replace the badly painted bullmoose handlebars (gonna try to save those). he so needs a full lube job, new grips and new tires.
I will be getting a modern her a HQ locking kickstand as she asked for one.
Questions are...
- do I migrate it to a seven speed index system (I have the parts) or leave it as a 18 speed friction (six in the rear freewheel) (she likes the index system BTW)?
- I honestly like the old school brake levers
- I like the old school bolt on hubs.. so maybe I lace in new rims? I do have way better quality set of wheels, but they are 7 speed cassette - not freewheel
- I have an extra in good/mint shape 7-speed LX real derailleur I can throw on
- beach cruiser, city/hybrid or mountain tires? Am liking the idea of white wall 26"-2.125" tires to be honest
- do I spend the time cleaning, stripping the basket and a repaint or just get her a new one?
I would so love to do a full repaint in factory colours, but this is NOT that project.
On the plus side, as Bones (my local used bike shop owner said), "as she sits it is not something the thieves want eh".
This is gonna be a very different build/restore than my typical projects. Excited about it though.
Feedback and suggestions welcome folks.
A couple of crappy phone photos from my messy kitchen (including serial number which is: 84-10-24846 - is there a registry for old Kuwi's?)
The white 16" pre-93 Kona frame (think it is a 91/92 Fire Mountain - yes I have the matching P2 fork with impact headset) is her BF's project that I am building up as a surprise for him (making this number 5 and 6 eh)
On the plus side I have a Softride Solo (frame, beam, fork, headset) coming home next week to me - some days ya just win eh.
