While this may be a ‘how-you-find-them’ post, this is one modern classic you’d rather hope to find. Kuwahara will perpetually be remembered for their BMX bikes, particularly one model that transported a young man named Elliot and his extra-terrestrial companion. Their road and mountain bikes also enjoyed great success, albeit off-screen.
Kuwahara road bikes were employed by the Canadian team at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, and although history has blurred the records, the general consensus seems certain that the 1991 UCI mountain bike World Cup was a Kuwahara victory. The details seen aboard this Grasshopper Ex-Comp is a good example of why Kuwahara garnered such respect, such as the lugged seat stays, braze-on cable guides and top-shelf components. It’s a fine example of a modern classic in original condition, which begs the eternal question, restore or enjoy?
The Grasshopper belongs to the collection of a passionate bike fan, Teisuke Morimoto of Japan’s TKC Productions, who’s been active in the Japanese mountain biking arena since 1989. You can see more detail images on his Flickr stream.
