Hey everybody.

About a week ago I replied to an ad on the craigslist free forums. This older dude had a couple bikes both of which I had never heard of. I'm not experienced in bikes whatsoever. I've been riding a 12yr old + Scott Yecora mountain bike that I purchased new in 95/96 and while it's a good bike I've always wanted a decent vintage road bike.

So I go and check out this guys barn and pull out two bikes. A Takara and a Kuwahara road bike. The Takara looked very nice but was too big for me so I left it. But the Kuwahara fit perfect and despite all the layers of dust and cobwebs it looked to be in really good condition as well. It must have sat there for 10+ years because there were tons of bugs using it as a home. I have found spiders, caterpillars, lady bugs and beetles galore crawling around my apartment since the Kuwahara came into my home.

This forum has addressed Kuwahara bikes a little. But this one is a Kuwahara Count. It's has a beautiful purple/blue paint job and all the components look straight and from what I can tell everything still works. There isn't much info on Kuwahara road bikes out there, but a near mint Kuwahara Count for free has catapulted me into the world of vintage road bikes. I am so excited to learn more adn get it rolling!

How rare are these Kuwahara road bikes? I'm pretty sure it's all original down to the tires. All the components are either Sugino GT, Nitto, Suntour and Dia-Compe. The frame is really very light and has a sticker that says Champion 3 Tubes 4130 Chromemoly Butted Tubing

I am so excited to have found something good that I can use to learn on and fix it up to like new, and all for free!

I'll take some pictures here when I get a chance and post them up here.

I'm curious though, if I were to fix this bike up like new what would it's value be? Or can a value be determined? Not that I want to sell it, I'm just pretty clueless about this stuff and it would be nice to know. I'm going to be using it next spring as my main commuter bike and I don't want it to get stolen or anything, that's for sure.

Respectfully,
-Kenneth aka total newb