Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Kobe Chaparral

I recently began to clean up my old 10 speed that I have had for years - and not really sure how old it is. It is a Kobe Chaparral and was Made in Japan. It has Sun Tour VGT rear derailers. The shifts are built into the ends of the handle bars - only bike I have ever seen with the shifters there. Does anyone have any information on the bike that I own. i bet it is at least 25 years old.

Yeah, I would like more info too. I just got a 10 speed Kobe Chaparral with very similar components (Dia-Compe-V, vgt, SunTour and Takagi Tourney Cranks) except my shifters are on the stem. Looks like a quality bike + it has a great leather? seat. I think the whole thing weighs about 31 pounds, which is great. It would be interesting to know more about this bike.

Stem shifters + 31 pounds weight = entry level bike. My entry level Peugeot came with a leather seat.

Many Japanese entry level bikes were pretty good.

You can date it by looking up the component codes at the vintage Trek site.

What is the frame made out of? That is another guide to grade. But 31 pounds is on the porky side for that era. To be that heavy, it likely has a high ten steel frame (low end). How accurate is your weight measurement?

but but where are the pics?

Kobe was established in California in 1974, at the tail end of the bicycle boom. Like many companies they had the bicycles built in Japan and selected a Japanese sounding brand name, due to the popularity of Japanese brands. They do not appear to have lasted very long in the US, as I've never found any 1980's references to them.

I'm not familiar with the Chaparral. However, it sounds very much like their Cobra which used a hi-tensile frame, SunTour VGT derailleurs with bar end shifters, Sugino Maxy crankset, Dia-Compe center-pull brakes and Suzue hubs laced to Araya alumiun rims. The bottom of the line model was the Kona, with SunTour Honor/Spirt derailleurs, steel crankset and rims.

It sounds the Chapparal my have sat in between these two models. It would be helpful if the two Chaparral owners would confirm if their bicycles have steel or aluminum rims and whether the there is chrome on the fork ends and stay ends, or just the fork ends. Finally, the serial numbers and good, overall pictures, taken the drivetrain side, would be very much appreciated.

The Kobes appeared to have been typical of Japanese manufactured bicycles of the era, being well designed, manufactured and finished. However, like most Japanese bicycles from this period, the frames lacked the resiliency typical of European brands.

I have a Kobe Capri( kinda my Rosebud) that I bought in 1975( I was 12) from 2 summer worth of grass cutting money. My first big purchace. I was saving for a Nishiki, but the bike shop owner said the Kobe had better componets for the money.

the Capri came with 27" wheels, stem shifter and Suntour derailleur. It was not the lightest bike, so after my brother painted it blue when I gave it to him to store for a few years I decided to lighten it up a bit with some parts borrowed from a Trek Multitrack I found cheap.

Her it is in it's current form. The 7 speeds are enough for running around the neighborhood with the kids and the new parts took about 7 lbs off it. I still have all the original components except the wheels and may someday put her back to almost original condition.

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad157/matketze/031.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad157/matketze/032.jpg
http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad157/matketze/030.jpg

Thanks for your help guys. I'm still trying to find some sort of catalog or something this bike may have been in and possible an extended history on manufacturer - T-Mar I was wondering where you found your info. Anyway It is definetely not a high-end model but I got it relatively cheap and it's got tires that are at least half the size of my mtb. Anyway here are some components that it came with:
129638

Thanks for your help guys. I'm still trying to find some sort of catalog or something this bike may have been in and possible an extended history on manufacturer - T-Mar I was wondering where you found your info. Anyway It is definetely not a high-end model but I got it relatively cheap and it's got tires that are at least half the size of my mtb. Anyway here are some components that it came with:
129638

This link took me to pictures of the bike that I have, except my shifters are not on the stem but at the end of the handlebars. Otherwise this is my bike. I changed the seat this past summer and put on new tires, new shifter cables, a new light, new handlebar tape. Rides great and happy I cleaned it up. Looking forward to next spring to get a rack for my Jeep so I can take it out more and ride. Enjoy your Kobe - it will treat you well.

I'm glad someone else has this bike - and yeah, before buying this bike I actually did some research and I was hoping to get the one with shifters mounted on the end of the handlebars since it's pretty unusual - how do you like them in comparison with the other type? I like the current shifters as well though - those levers feel very serious almost like they would operate some sort of secret door or similar contraption and not some wire. I've just finished putting this bike together after lube and clean and I have to say thay it rides pretty well - it's stable and quet although I do need to change the tension on rear derailleur and maybe invest in some different brakes and possibly seat since it doesn't seem to be that comfortable for longer rides but it does look great...

Originally I was thinking about repainting the bike and updating the components but now I'll probably just touch up the existing paint and keep as many things running for as long as possible - it seems that back then everything was done with a lot more pride and soul than things are done now, maybe it's because every single part all the way down to reflectors (as far as I can tell) was made in one country - in this case Japan, which for me is very unusual.

I was also wondering what's the best way to shift/tune using the ratchet shifters - I'm used to clicks and in this case it seems you just go of the sound and resistance and I really don't want to wear out the sprokets. Anyway, I'm already invested into this old piece of steel and hoping to wear off a few sets of tires on it.

I have only had a bike with the shifters in the handlebars, so I can't tell you if there is another system I would enjoy better. I guess I just got used to having them and working them. A little practice and you figure it out. Most of my riding is on pretty flat surfaces (Chicago) so I don't have to shift a lot anyway. Might be different if I was riding more hilly terrain. Overall I enjoy the bike. I know today there is a bigger selection and shifting/brake options, but I'll stick to this for now - I just needed a more comfortable seat and handlebar tape. Enjoy your ride. Ic ould use a few touch ups on the paint myself but I love the blue color.

I recently acquired a fairly pristine 1978 Kobe Chapparal. It had been sitting in a garage for about 30 years and came withe the original receipt and owners manual. It had retailed for 175.00 and came fitted with a Hi-tensile lugged frame, SunTour VGT derailleurs with bar end shifters, a Takagi Tourney crankset, Dia-Compe center-pull brakes and forged low flange Suzue hubs laced to dimpled steel rims. The fork ends are chrome, the stay ends are not. The front wheel has a quick release and the rear is a bolt on. This all seems to support T-Mar's suggestion that the Chapparal fits between the Kona and the Cobra in the product line. although no lightweight, all and all it's a pretty nice low to mid level touring bike with some nice details like hand painted lug ends and high position brake levers. The ride is smooth and forgiving. Here is a pic;

nice looking bike

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=175242&d=1287964961

Nice Kobe Chapparal, it looks to be a step up in the line up over my Capri. Mine came with all of the same componets except it had a cottered crank and stem shifters. Can you tell if the bar ends are original?

Yes, the bar end shifters were standard equipment. The original owner bought the bike in June of '78, rode it off and on for a year or two and then it sat in a garage until I bought it. The bike was completely original when I bought it, even the bar tape and tires, however the gum wall tires were shot. Tubes and tires are the only components that have been changed out.

I'd appreciate it if Kobe owners would post their serial numbers. That may permit me to determine who manufactured these bicycles for Kobe. TIA.

The serial # of my Chapparal is on the lower end of the seat tube and reads IA24580. Hope that's helpful, and thanks T-Mar for your knowledge, interest, and research.

I have a Kobe Cobra that I too have been trying to get information on. It was all Suntour except the brakes (dia compe side pull) and crank (super maxy). It had bar ends and GTV deraillers. The wheels that I have are not original. This might help.
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5342/kobew.jpg

T-Mar, the serial # of my Kobe Capri is 82076. It is a 25" frame, purchased September 1975.

Thxs for the serial numbers people. We have two different formats, so it looks like Kobe used different contractors over the years.

KOBE, I have no idea who manufactured your bicycle. Most manufactuers include a alpha indicator for the company. None of the numbers seem to match the purchase year either. The other possibility is that the bicycle was old stock. An 8 may represent Showa 48 on the Japanese Imperial calendar, which translates to 1973. if it had been manufactured in late 1973, it could be a 1974 model. However, the boom was in full swing during 1974, so it seems unlikely that it would have sat on the floor for about 18-24 months. Still, it would be interesting to see what the date codes from any known OEM components.

916vern's Chapparal poses a similar problem. We could come up with a couple possibilities based on old stock, which is more likely in this case, given the era. Again, it would have to based on the Japanese Imperial calendar but by this time most Japanese manufacturers recognized North Americanas their dominant market and had switched calendars. Again, component date codes may provide further insight. Most likely, the "I" is the manufacturer identification. This may represent Ishibashi, a known Japanese bicycle manufacturer, however it's purely a guess.

Thanks T-Mar, I was kinda thrown off too by it not having a alpha character. I did purchase it in late 1975, could the ending #76 designate a model year instead of a manufacture year?

Thanks T-Mar, I was kinda thrown off too by it not having a alpha character. I did purchase it in late 1975, could the ending #76 designate a model year instead of a manufacture year?

I wouldn't rule it out but it seems unlikely. Most manufacturers started manufacturing for the next model year around September or October. Given that you purchased it in September you'd have to back it off at least a month to make it across the ocean, through the distribution chain and into the shop. Plus, I have yet to see any other manufacturer that coded by model year.

It's risky trying to to decode serial numbers on a sample of one. I'm only truly confident when I have dozens of samples, like I do for Bianchi, CCM, Centurion, Nishiki and some other brands. We can only hope that some other Kobe owners will pop up with similar serial numbers. In the meantime, investigate the OEM component date codes. Taht data may increase our confidence level.

My Cobra serial number is T(not I)A 73048. The guy I bought it from said his daughter bought it brand new and it is absolutely original (including the tires and bar wrap), but he did not know what year. Other than the dried out tires (IRC) and hoods (DiaCompe), it looks like a one year old bike. My understanding is this is a high-end saddle. 20" (50cm?) frame, 27" Araya wheelset - my wife or daughter just scored a craigslist gem!
217653217655217657217652