Kabuki, Bridgestone- Diamond Formula
 

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!

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.

Kabuki
 

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.

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.