Project KE-1

Part One: Introduction

203K - Click for full size image 251K - Click for full size image 52K - Click for full size image
Update : Here are some sneak preview pictures of my KE-1 bike. I am in the middle of moving across the world and did not have enough time and money to finish the bike. So I did a quick build up to see how it will look. This is just temporary, the bike will be done correctly later when I am finished moving and have got things all sorted out. Stay tuned for more. Thanks and cheers !!

60K - Click for full size image Finally I was able to find the very first Kuwahara BMX bike made by Kuwahara. This bike was known simply as the Kuwahara BMX bike back in the late 1970's when it first appeared. It was called the KE-1 from the factory.
This bike is very rare today. It was only made for less than one year by Kuwahara back in the late 1970's. The KE-1 came with a single gusset frame and these were sometimes known to crack under stress and were discontinued by Kuwahara. The KE-1 was replaced with the new and improved KZ-1 in the very early 1980's. 105K - Click for full size image
75K - Click for full size image Because this bike was only in production for less than a year and because of the problem with the single gusset that could possibly crack makes this the rarest Kuwahara BMX bike around today. There are very few remaining in existence.
Here is a close up of the single gusset. Notice the four little holes. The welds on my bike are in great shape and there is no major damage such as cracks or dents. I was very lucky to come across this frame set in this condition. The headset is toast and will be replaced after I have the frame and forks completely restored. 84K - Click for full size image
95K - Click for full size image Under the bottom bracket shows the serial number TOD0357, I am not positive how to read this but have a feeling it is frame #357 from Lot D (April).
Interesting front forks with very small and simple brackets that have no holes in them unlike the KZ-1 and LaserLite forks. There is some rust but it will be taken care of when I bead blast the frame and forks at work. 81K - Click for full size image
85K - Click for full size image

The rear drop outs are also very unusual as well. No three holes like the KZ and LaserLite bikes, these dropouts look similar to some mid 1980's Kuwahara freestyle bikes I have seen before such as The Scamp. The dropouts have some rust but are in good shape and they will turn out nicely.

Stay tuned for updates on the KE-1 project bike. I am already making plans for it now and hope to get started very soon on this bike. I have a lot of projects on the go right now, but I really want to finish this one as soon as possible.

Special thanks to Reece for helping me out with this frameset, Thanks Reece!!