Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Kabuki, Bridgestone- Diamond Formula

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA
cos
08-13-09, 03:07 PM
Hi,

I cannot locate a date of manufacture for my Kabuki road bike- how can I find out how old the bike is? It is labeled as mfg'd in Japan- and to my knowledge (not much) has mostly all original parts. I bought the bike used, 15-20 years ago in college and it has remained in my garage since then...

I am curious if it would be considered vintage and how I can find out exactly how old it is.

Pics posted to help identify...

Thanks, any help would be appreciated!

balindamood
08-14-09, 11:43 AM
I have the same bike, 1-2 years newer (mine is the "Diamond Formula D"). I have asked a similar question and not gotten a single response from anyone, anywhere.

I have therefore concluded that you and I have the only two bikes on the planet and they are subsequently nearly priceless.
cos
08-14-09, 12:28 PM
ha! Good answer!

I did speak to a guy at a vintage bike shop who said the Kabuki was a mass production bike that was built to last...therefore the only real value is for someone looking for a dependable road bike for transportation. So it sounds like they are not highly sought after. Mine will just remain hanging on the wall I guess...

Thanks for the response.

balindamood
08-14-09, 05:55 PM
Kabuki was Bridgestone before their 2nd try at the US market in the mid-eighties. Bridgestones from the mid to late 80's have a bit of a cult status due to the influence of one Grant Peterson who had, and still maintains, his own ideas of how a bike should look, handle, be constructed, and so forth. Our bikes predate that revolution, and do not garner the same respect. However, I will say that I have a similar price-point Lotus from the same year and the frame on the Kabuki has a much better build quality. In fact, I was rather suprized as some of the sloppiness of the lugs on the Lotus as they were generally much better than this one. Not enough of a population to draw any scientific conclusions, but good enoguh for network news.

Enjoy it. It looks like a nice bike regardless of the name on the headbadge.