Help Identify Model of Panasonic Mountain Bike - Early 90s, Tange Frame, Unique Spray Paint

[kclim91]

Hello fellow forumers,

I recently purchased a Panasonic mountain bike from Japan, and I'm having trouble identifying its model. Hoping you could help. Here are some clues and details about the bike:

1. Components and specs of the bike suggest it's from the early 90s.
2. Bike frame is made by Tange and uses CrMo OS tube/ Panasonic oversize tubing.
3. There's a name printed on the frame - "Kazuya, Kutsuwa." Not sure if this is a person's name or a model name associated with the bike.
4. This bike has a distinct spray paint finish. However, it appears to be an original feature rather than a custom paint job. Makes me wonder if it was possibly customized for a team or some other purpose.
5. Interestingly, I purchased this mountain bike alongside another Panasonic road bike. Both bikes share the same name on the frame and have identical spray paint colors.

If any of you have any knowledge or info that could help me identify this bike model, I would greatly appreciate your input! Any insights or references to resources where I can gather more info would be extremely helpful.

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[ishaw]

Can't help, but I really like that a lot. Screams retro in so many good ways.

 

[foz]

I have no idea either, but I really like it! Looks unused!

 

[Elev12k]

Very nice bikes you have there. Panasonic had and still has a customization program. It is called 'Panasonic Order System'. In the US the program was also available, but was marketed as PICS instead of POS for obvious reason. Around 1990 Panasonic left the US market. They stayed in Europe untill somewhere around 1995. Your bikes are probably POS bikes for the Japanese market. The paint is probably special order. Possibly for a team, but that is not necessary. Paint does not only look cool, but is also of nicer quality than the average bike.

The MTB frame is very nice, but not the absolute top in the Panasonic line up. Panasonic had also Tange Prestige tubing frames, welded or silver-brazed with lugs. The roadframe you have is a silver-brazed Prestige tubing frame. It shows a lot resemblance with the PR-6000 roadframe, the frame used by the Panasonic pro team.

I wouldn't be surprised if the MTB frame is a couple years ealier than some of the parts (the XT group). My estimate is 1992.

Below identical frame in another paint I found on internet.

 

[Rebikecumbria]

Looks amazing did you buy it from Japan? if it’s possibly a team bike maybe it is the riders name on the top tube

 

[LilDoodle]

Very nice bikes you have there. Panasonic had and still has a customization program. It is called 'Panasonic Order System'. In the US the program was also available, but was marketed as PICS instead of POS for obvious reason. Around 1990 Panasonic left the US market. They stayed in Europe untill somewhere around 1995. Your bikes are probably POS bikes for the Japanese market. The paint is probably special order. Possibly for a team, but that is not necessary. Paint does not only look cool, but is also of nicer quality than the average bike.

The MTB frame is very nice, but not the absolute top in the Panasonic line up. Panasonic had also Tange Prestige tubing frames, welded or silver-brazed with lugs. The roadframe you have is a silver-brazed Prestige tubing frame. It shows a lot resemblance with the PR-6000 roadframe, the frame used by the Panasonic pro team.

I wouldn't be surprised if the MTB frame is a couple years ealier than some of the parts (the XT group). My estimate is 1992.

Below identical frame in another paint I found on internet.

What are your thoughts around this pair then?

Ive seen this in motorcycles, where a team or elite MX rider will have a roadbike donned in their MX livery.

By the sounds of what you're explaining, this could be similar right? A strong road rider gets a Prestige road bike and decides to have a Mountain Bike for the off season/training/to look at while drinking beers in the shed.

 

[kclim91]

Can't help, but I really like that a lot. Screams retro in so many good ways.

Thanks! I totally agree - love the retro vibe!

 

[kclim91]

I have no idea either, but I really like it! Looks unused!

Thanks, glad to hear! Yeah, it's in pristine condition.

 

[kclim91]

Very nice bikes you have there. Panasonic had and still has a customization program. It is called 'Panasonic Order System'. In the US the program was also available, but was marketed as PICS instead of POS for obvious reason. Around 1990 Panasonic left the US market. They stayed in Europe untill somewhere around 1995. Your bikes are probably POS bikes for the Japanese market. The paint is probably special order. Possibly for a team, but that is not necessary. Paint does not only look cool, but is also of nicer quality than the average bike.

The MTB frame is very nice, but not the absolute top in the Panasonic line up. Panasonic had also Tange Prestige tubing frames, welded or silver-brazed with lugs. The roadframe you have is a silver-brazed Prestige tubing frame. It shows a lot resemblance with the PR-6000 roadframe, the frame used by the Panasonic pro team.

I wouldn't be surprised if the MTB frame is a couple years ealier than some of the parts (the XT group). My estimate is 1992.

Below identical frame in another paint I found on internet.

Thanks for the kind words! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your insights and knowledge about these bikes. Fascinating to learn about the POS. Thanks for sharing the picture as well - it's interesting to see the variations! I'm excited to research more on this bike. I'll gladly update here if I manage to uncover the model.

 

[kclim91]

Looks amazing did you buy it from Japan? if it’s possibly a team bike maybe it is the riders name on the top tube

Thanks! Yeah I did. You're right, definitely a possibility.