Kuwahara 24" Cruiser

Eddie Fiola And Ron House Over A Burbank Police Car

RL Osborn Drop In

A return to the RL Fullpipe post from earlier. Another great Bob Osborn shot of RL from the Freestylin' BMX Action book.

RL Osborn Fullpipe Air

So many nice shots from the first Freestylin' "Book" BMX Action produced. Would love to be able to go back and ride some of those old California skateparks. RL Osborn riding a fullpipe in one of the many cement parks. Not sure which one this is, if anyone has an idea let me know. View more here: http://oldschoolmags.com/mags/Book_Freestylin_Weed.pdf

Kuwahara--The New Force In BMX

And here is another update to the Bicycle Motocross Action February 1980 post. With the exception of the stem, these Kuwahara bikes were always my favorite. Although I really wanted a chrome one.

BMX Action--January 1984 Part One

"Factory Kuwie ace, Troy Daniels, takin' care of biz at the NBL grands." That is what the inside contents description says. Not sure who Troy was, but he sure scored a kick ass cover on his 24.

I always get a kick out of seeing some of the reader submitted photos. And when the names Todd Anderson and Hugo Gonzales are attached to two of them in the same gallery, you know I would have to post them. Legends!

For the longest time I wanted a Redline, and when they introduced the Carrera II, I wanted one even more so. Well, that never really happened, but damn, the Carrera II is one of the coolest bikes Redline produced.

Cult OS Classic Frame at Empire BMX

Visit the BMX Action September 1983 post.

Visit our friends at Demolition Parts, they have had a kick ass year!

BMX Plus---August 1984

BMX Plus always had a way of cramming as much as they could onto their covers. Also, their use of the color spectrum has always been over the top. But there is no beating those grabbing cover tag lines like "Kuwahara's World Champ Laser: Can it Zap You To The Top?" Classic Plus.

There is just something that is so perfect about that chrome Kuwahara Laser Lite. The set up that Gary Ellis is running in that shot are the perfect combination of chrome and gold. Great set up. And when did Kuwahara change it from the "Lazer" to the "Laser"?

I remember walking something like 6 miles after middle school to our local bike shop and being absolutely blown away by one of these Quadangles. Such an awesome frame and one of the all time classics.

The race coverage was always something that seemed to be a little lacking in some of the issues of Plus. Not sure why, but they seemed to prefer more of the smaller black and white shots over the full page color shots. But every once and a while they would have some really great full page photos. Like this shot of Steve Veltman holding a tight inside line at the Lumberjack Nationals.

This seemed to be more in tuned with how they laid out their race coverage. Still some great photography though. And look at that shot of Patterson racer Cody Smart  checking to see how close he is to that tire.

When this issue showed up in our mail box I did the same thing that I always did. Ran inside and read it over end to end. And after seeing this picture of Woody Itson sitting on his handle bars like that I ran out and tried to figure out how to do it. My neighbors must have thought I was crazy. I might have been, but I don't think I ever figured out how to do that trick. 

BMX Plus
Rad TV The Sequel (VHS) BMX PLUS

BMX Action--June 1983

Another great cover shot of a fourteen year old Mike Dominquez dropping a one hander-one footer out of one of the bowls at Skate City. How any one could run those Powerlite bars is beyond me. Does anyone remember running those?

I am used to seeing the Hot Shots pictures towards the back of an issue of BMX Action. I guess they were trying to mix this issue up. Everyone's favorite number one Stu Thompson getting stylish. Who was your favorite? Hill or Thompson? Did Anyone have one of those Schwinn Predators? Look at the tubing on that frame. Not bad for 1983.

Looks like Bob Osborn was getting his nature and scenic photography started early on. Quite the nice view to open the test on Kuwahara's Lazer Lite. Wonder if he had RL put the bike out on the edge of that cliff?

RL Osborn jumping the Kuwahara out of a Gully in Strawberry Fields while Buff and the locals look on. I had a few sets of those MX 1000 brakes and do not recall any of them having that centering screw. Did anyone else have a set with that on them? And where the Hell is Ringo? And you thought I forgot.

Mike Dominquez pictorial in this issue was so good. Such awesome style. It is rad to see some of these guys set ups from back when their were getting started. Looks like the wide bars are making a come back. Now we just need seat post to make it back and we are set.

Not a big fan of aluminum but I have to say that the Race Inc cruiser looks pretty sick. And if you get a chance, read the write up on how these things were made. A lot went into making these bikes. Wonder how many of them broke and how many are still around?

ABA Winter National from Chandler, Arizona is the race coverage in this issue. Seems to be a race where the first turn was the place for most of the action. Three and a quarter pages of color coverage of just the first turn to start the article. Still, good looking stuff.

Look there, more first turn action. This is such a rad photo. Showing how fast these guys were going into that turn, enough to actually break loose and start sliding. All but one of the riders has their foot down to control it in this turn. Epic! Would love to see some footage from this race.

Race results and track layouts have been on the high request list here lately. So here you go folks. Take a close look at the picture of Griggs and number 65 and H. So much going on here. Great pictures.

STEM BOLT ACTION ALLEN 8MM FITS MOST BMX 4 BOLT ST
Park Tool FR-6 Freewheel Remover for BMX Bikes
Park Tool PCS-4 Deluxe Home Mechanic Repair Stand
Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair

BMX Action October 1982

Another great issue of BMX Action. As I was looking through this issue, I was pretty amazed at how many great black and white photos there were. A majority of the content looks to have been shot on T-Max, which is fine with me. So many great photos. I could have posted the whole issue up on here. 

I have often wondered who that rider was in these Thun Cranks adds? If anyone knows, let me now. I bet Thun made a killing stocking all of those Huffy Bikes that used to come with their cranks.

I can not get over how cool this track layout was. The amateur section was a little short, but WOW! What a cool Pro section. I think every track these days needs to have a waterhole. Greg Hill out in front over the waterhole.

Bob Medrano with a classic hip hanger. Take note of that track lay out. I sure could build that in my backyard. Love the quad rollers out of the berm in the pro section. And what were they thinking putting those triples in front of the waterhole? Bet that made for some fun Pro races. Great layout none the less. I would love to see some footage from this race.

Two weeks in a row and a Kuwahara has made it into a post. Pretty hard to avoid when their bike is attached to one of the biggest movies ever. Funny, I heard Mike Buff was a stunt double for ET himself. Very cool. They do sort of look alike.

Great to see these guys putting these bike through their paces. Some heavy riding from Buff and RL proved too much for some of the components of the bike. After bending the axles and fork on their test bike, Kuwahara went back and changed the fork to a chrome-moly fork, and the axles to heat treated axles. I wonder if it actually got done?

RL sliding the Scorpion Super Team bike through an awesome berm slide. When I see that name I think of some kind of GI Joe enemy. The "Scorpion Super Team" Strike Force. GO JOE!  Surprised these bikes never really caught on. With it's lugged and brazed construction, and Tange tubing to go with the steeper steering tube angle, I can see how it would not fit in with the more laid back bikes of the times. And brazing never caught on in the BMX world full of TIG welded frames.

If you have a chance, this issue has some much more stuff in it. Go here to view the rest of it. http://oldschoolmags.com/BMXA_82.html

Bicycle Motocross Action--August 1980

Harry Leary doing a classic style X-up on this cover of Bicycle Motocross Action. I think to me that picture took second seat to what they had up in the right side of the cover. Jim Pratt cleared four cars? What? I was floored when I read that for the first time when I was young. I never jumped over a car, but I sure rode off the hood of my mom's huge Chevy Impala.

I think this might have been our first look at "Jumpin' Jim Pratt." He joined the BMX Action Trick team for a while jumping over cars at some of their shows.

There is so much that is right about this picture. The use of 40 gallon drums as your landing ramps supports. The lack of final section at the end of said landing ramp. Pratt clearing four cars in 1980. Pratt ruled!

I will just leave this description up to the photo caption. "Hey, mam, this is poly-unsaturated boogie at its wildest. The Pros; buns out...full tilt bozo...haulin' bananas. In the premiere position. Brent Patterson."

At this time having a Kuwahara was a must. Such awesome bikes with great color combos and great logos. The black with the gold parts is such a good set up. Wonder why Kuwahara kinda died out? Oh yeah. GODZILLA!

To view the rest of this issue, download here. http://oldschoolmags.com/BMXA_80.html

Bicycle Motocross Action January 1981

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