BMX Society community forums: abombone - Viewing Profile

Here's my interpretation of the classic Kuwahara 24" Cruiser. Some of you have seen it in different incarnations over the last few years as I slowly dialed it in. I'm finally pretty happy with it...

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'84 Kuwahara Cruiser Frame and Fork, original chrome w/ NOS decals
Kuwahara 28 x 5.5 stamped Laserbars, original chrome
Oakley .5 Grips, OG black w/ plugs
DK XL Inverted Stem
Tange MX 320 Headset, chrome
Suntour Headlock
SST Dirt Skirt
Araya 7X Rims, chrome
Suntour Superbe Track Hubs, High Flange Front and Low Flange Rear
Vintage DT Swiss Stainless Spokes and Alloy Nipples
Mitsuboshi Competition III Yellow Label 24 x 1.75 Tires
Redline 401 Flight Cranks
Redline Flight Sprocket, 39T
Suntour Sealed Bottom Bracket
Hutch 28tpi Bottom Bracket Lock
Suntour XC-II Pedals
Sedisport Nickle 3/32" Chain
Suntour 17T 3/32" Freewheel
Kashimax Aero Leather NJS Track Saddle w/ Chrome Brooks Clamp Hardware
Kuwahara Laser Seat Post
Dia Compe Seat Post Clamp, chrome
Dia Compe MX 900 Caliper, chrome
Dia Compe Tech III Lever, chrome w/ sleeve
Dia Compe Brake Cable, stamped '84
Dia Compe Cable Guides
Kool Stop International Brake Pads
Haro Circuit Board Plate w/ OG Number and Decals
Haro Racing Pad Set, original


This is probably my favorite bike in my small and humble collection as it gets ridden the most. I never had or raced a cruiser BITD but if I had this is pretty much how it would have been set up. As with most Kuwahara builds, I tried to include lots of Suntour goodies ...the hubs and bottom bracket were the hardest to track down. The Oakley .5's are a few years early for this build, but they're my faves. The Kool Stop brake pads have Skyway refills on them in the pics, I like them for riding as they dont wear the chrome Arayas as much as the more abrasive Kool Stop pads. Speaking of the hoops, I rebuilt the wheelset earlier this year with the Superbe hubs. Last year I laced up a pair of Campy Records but always wanted some nice Japanese track hubs for this bike and finally found some. I also have a set of alloy flanged black Tuffs that I occasionally roll on from time to time for that aggro look.

Found and restored this one last year and finally added some finishing touches to the build this summer. My first "real" BMX bike was a Suzook in '77-'79, unfortunately it was stolen while locked up at school during class and never recovered. A few weeks later, I went up to the local bike shop and picked out a Torker as a replacement and never really looked back.....until a few years ago when I realized just how rare these birds were. The Suzuki BMX bikes were introduced a year or two after the respective Yamaha and Kawasaki bikes and were finally Japan's first "competitive" BMX bike, as they were fully race tested before production. While the only thing stock on this highly modified bike is the 100% chromoly frame and fork, I have kept all of the original parts so it can be built back up to "showroom stock" at any time.

I call this one my "California Cup Racer", a tribute to the mid 70's racing series..........

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1976 Suzuki Frame and Fork, refinished in Aspen Yellow
Original California Cup Plate from '76
DG Alloy Box Bars
Malcolm Smith Gold Medal Grips
Shimano SR Double Clamp Stem
Tange Headset w/ werks innertube "skirt"
Araya 7b Rims
Shimano Dura Ace Large Flange Hubs
Union Stainless Spokes and Brass Nipples
Suntour 16t Freewheel
Vintage Cheng Shin C-183 Tires ...20 x 2.125 Front, 20 x 1.75 Rear
Shimano Dura Ace 175mm Cranks
Early Addicks 46t Sprocket w/ Addicks Hardware
Cook Bros Sealed Bottom Bracket
D.I.D. Chain
MKS Rat Trap Pedals
Dia Compe Caliper w/ Scott Mathauser Pads
Weinmann Lever (heated and custom bent) and Magura Cover
Weinmann Cable
Taihei Elina Super Pro Quilted Saddle and Chrome post
"Integrated" Suzuki Seat Post Clamp
OG Black Vinyl Pad Set

I've finally taken a few decent pictures of my bikes and will be posting them up in the near future...
Here's an early Patterson Avalanche that I built up this year, serial #26. Like all of my builds, this isn't a replica per se as I mainly tried to build a nice race bike utilizing some cool OG parts that were available around '80-'81. I'm pretty happy with this one, hope you dig it...


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Parts Breakdown:
1980 Patterson Avalanche Frame #26, OG nickel
Speedo Fork, OG nickel
LRV Bars, OG nickel
Tuf Neck Pro Model Stem
Tange MX-5 Headset
Araya 7b Rims
Campy Record Track Hubs
Union Stainless Spokes and Brass Nipples
Mitsuboshi Comp II and Cycle Pro Snakebelly Tires
Shimano Dura Ace Crankset, 175mm
Shimano Takagi Chainring, 44T
O.M.A.S. Bottom Bracket
Xcaliber Pedals
HKK Ultra 6 chain
Suntour Maeda Freewheel, 16T
Team Products Brake Lever
Dia Compe Centerpull Caliper
Dia Compe (stamped) '80 Brake Cable
Mathauser Pads
Powerlite PL-1 Clamp
Race Inc Seat Post
Cycle Pro Shotgun Saddle
JT Racing Haro Plate w/ JT Racing Numbers
A'me Cam Grips
Patterson Vinyl Pad Set w/ Tuf Neck Pad (not shown)

I'd like to thank Roc for parting with this frame a few years back, it's a beauty. While the down tube and seat tube decals are original, there's some uncertainty as to whether the head tube decal is or not. It appears to be screen-printed but is darker than the other OG Patty decals I have here. Until I find out anything further I'm just going to leave it for now. JT Plate decals are all OG aside from the Team Products decal. All finishes are original.

A short while back Roc and I caught up and had lunch with his old buddy Brent Patterson near the old Patterson Headquarters in Nor Cal. Roc grew up with Brent and Brian in Hayward back in the 70's and 80's and they used to hang out and ride and race together. Dad Vance ended up stopping by for a short while as well but couldn't stay long due to another commitment. Unfortunately Brian was tied up that day with work and couldn't make it. What a great little encounter for me, both Brent and Vance were so cool and down to earth and were more than happy to share some of their good memories of the Patterson Racing days. They got a kick out of seeing a few of Roc's and my bikes, and both of them think the whole Vintage BMX revival thing is great. Brent even commented that he watches for Patterson Auctions on Ebay from time to time, and also mentioned that "somebody" had recently contacted him wanting to revive Patterson Racing (doh!). Like some of you Patty fans I've always had a question or two about those glory PR years and all of the cool parts and heritage, but I really didn't want to impose as this was really about Brent and Roc catching up. I did overhear a few good stories, like the time when Brent ended up wrecking Roc's brand new Toyota 4x4 during a wild night in the late 70's and practically totaling it...haha. Good thing Brent was racing Pro at the time, apparently insurance didn't cover anything!
I did manage to hear a few things that I hadn't heard or read before regarding PR, and someday soon I will chat a little about that. In the meantime here's a few pics from that great day.......thanks Roc!


Brent and Roc (Vance took off before we could get a pic!)
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Brent and myself
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Brent on Roc's Champion
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Some Patterson goodies that Brent has stored away......NFS!
Team Patterson Shirt
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Early Patterson Racing Products Shirt
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Early Haro Number Plate with hand cut numbers by Bob Haro on the right (this plate graced the cover of the Dec '77 issue of BMXA). And check this out, Roc (!) actually made the plate on the left for Brent around the same time.
You could have been BIG Roc........
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On the left is a UNI Plate that a fan presented to Brent at a race in '82, COMPLETELY hand-painted!. On the right is Brent's 1983 NBL #1 Pro Cruiser Plate. Oh, and there's a stack of gigantic Patterson Stickers under there too...!
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Brent's Factory Zeronine #2 Plate from around '83
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A set of Brent's JT Racing pants from around '83 as well...
Remember how Brent and Brian were nicknamed the "Malachi Brothers" for a while there due to some on-track antics?
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The Crunch lives on..............................
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After all of the drama and trash talk that stemmed from last years Portland show post (after a retro goose was voted by the attendees Best In Show), I wasn't so sure if I would report on this years show here. But its really all about the bikes (and the people who appreciate them...), so here goes. Hope you all enjoy it.....

The second annual Pacific Northwest Vintage BMX Show happened last weekend, and a great time was had by all. The venue was a little smaller than last year, but there was still plenty of room for all the bikes and attendees. From what I heard we had over 100 bikes again this year, and all eras were well represented. Even the OM dropped by (with a few other Freestyle legends as well) while in town for the Mountain Dew Tour! (Thanks OM....you still rule bro!!!!)
It was great seeing all the bikes and talking to everyone, but it was especially cool seeing my old Bike Gallery mate Ken Pliska again.....Ken has one of the sickest collections of survivors around (that Ames is sweet bro). And it was great to meet you Dan....glad those old pads went home with you. And Ben.....thanks for the "heads up" on the Suzuki......with a few tweeks she'll be all there for next year! And Kudos to my homie Roc -thanks for hauling all my gear, and thanks for bustin' out a few more vintage gems so everybody can appreciate them. The Schwerma Champion and the A&A turned out killer!! And finally a big thanks to Paul and crew for organizing everything once again for all of us to enjoy up here in the Northwest.......it really turned into something special this year. Can't wait for next year's show.....

Aaron

Here's a few pics (some were taken by others at the show...thanks guys!):
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