Kuwahara Count
 

Hello Everyone,

Ive been in the market to buy a bike for a while and saw this Kuwahara Count sitting around in a family members garage so I figured I would take it and try to fix it up. It seems like pretty much everything is rusted up and needs to be replaced so I figured I would try and make it into a fixie I could ride around town. I was wondering if anyone has had experience with this particular model and could help me out with some suggestions when trying to build it up seeing as I have minimal knowledge on bike parts. http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=520488

Thanks!

It doesn't look bad from here, like it needs a good cleaning, lube, chain, cables, and tires. At least you know the seat post isn't stuck! Do you have the seat and back wheel and derailleurs? Based on forged dropouts, chain hanger, Suntour shifters, Sugino crank, and big front tire clearance it looks like a good quality sport touring bike.

I have the back wheel but no seat. Will post photos of it tomorrow.

The most important aspect of building a fixie from a road frame is there! The rear dropouts are 'horizizontal' - meaning they have the cutout for the wheel to be moved forward and backward to create chain tension.

The rear derailer hanger will not be in the way for the single speed/fixie operation so it is best to leave it though fixie guys typically cut it off. If it is cut off it devalues the frame as it cannot be a road bike again without surgery...

If you have never ridden fixie, please use caution and keep the brakes, or at least the front brake - safety first!

You can get any fixie wheelset - they are all over Craigslist for $100 and less... most of them are flip flop so you can go fixie or single speed. If you go single speed retain both brakes!

The brakes on the bike can be used with the levers and bars on it, if you want to go flat or riser bars, any mountain bike levers should work with those brakes. Test in the driveway before hitting the streets!

The crankset can be used with either of those sprockets but you'll need shorter bolts. Those bolts are meant to hold both sprockets and if you run only one they will be too long. You may have to run the sprocket you decide to use on the INSIDE of the five 'fingers' of the crank arm to get proper - or close - chain alignment. I always prefer preserving the original crankset for a future rebuild back to a road bike and to run a single speed / fixie crankset - which is easier for alignment also.

There is a fixie space on this forum as well where you can get more answers and specifics. The brand of the frame has no relevance though...

Good luck!

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=520624http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=520625http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=520626

Heres some better photos for reference

I don't know why you're not getting more attention, this is a kind of bike that the denizens here profess to love:
http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...g-bicycle.html

I can't claim to know anything about the brand except what I've read here on BF that they mostly built bikes for other people like Centurion rather than using their own brand. Still, based on all the parts and features it has, it seems like a very quality good bike for everyday use, and I bet it would make a great rider if you cleaned it up and greased it, and a real looker with some polishing, either in original form or as a fixie or single speed. What does the tubing decal say?

I have published a few articles on building Single Speed bicycles, or better yet, converting a bicycle to single speed configuration. The procedure will apply to Fixed Gear also. Anyway, here's how to Build A "Single Speed"...

Before...

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...w_FullSide.jpg

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...e_FullSide.jpg

Word of caution! Fixed Gear bicycles are not for everybody. I have ridden a lot and do NOT like the feel of a fixed gear. With this in mind, and just in case you don't like the feel either, you might want to get a Flip-Flop hub which will allow a fixed gear on one side and a single speed freewheel on the other.

Ugh, I shouldn't post after bedtime

I've got a 1980 something Kuwahara American Flyer. 012 frame, Suntour shifters & derailleurs, Sugino cranks, Shimano 600 brakes. I replaced the 27" wheels with new CR-18 alloy ones from Niagra. Soaked the freewheel & all the bits in diesel fuel. It cleaned up much nicer than I expected. I tossed the drop bars & installed upright bars with Suntour thumb shifters. It's currently my favorite city bike.

That looks like it will clean up nicely! That rust doesn't look bad and I don't think you need to replace anything beyond the typical consumable (tubes, brake pads... grease, haha). The hardest part of the conversion will be deciding how deep down the rabbit hole of "correct" you want to get.