Hey Guys,

I'm new here and, as you might expect, I have questions.

I recently salvaged a silver Bridgestone Kabuki Super Speed road bike that's in surprisingly good condition. I'd like to make this bike rideable again and keep the components close to original.

The Bridgestone-branded crank has a 78 K date code which may date the bike as a '79 model. It also has Shimano Altus road derailleurs and Altus stem mount shifters which I believe are original.

I'm not sure if some of the other components came with the bike. It has a Maruishi-branded Win alloy stem and Win alloy handlebar, drilled Shimano 600 brake levers (with white Dia-Compe hoods), Dia-Compe "5583" polished center-pull brakes, SR SP-3000CP sealed alloy pedals with clips and straps, and a Y.F.C. Super Soft leather saddle.

The front wheel has a "Schwinn approved" Maillard high flange sealed alloy Q/R hub with a 29 80 date code, mated to a Ukai steel rim. The back wheel is missing.

So here are my questions: does anyone reading this have any literature, specs, or other info for the late '70s and/or early '80s Kabuki bikes or know someone (like T-Mar ) who does? Should I upgrade to alloy rims with or without high flange hubs or go with steel rims and high flange hubs?

Although I doubt this is a high value bike, I'd still like to get it back together the way its supposed to be--and I should be able to get it rolling again fairly soon.

This was their basic model with a hi-tensile steel frame. From memory, the line-up went Super Speed...Skyway...HillTopper...Diamond Touring...Diamond Racing. There was also the Submariner with distinctive stainless steel main tubes. It would have come with steel rims, without quick release hubs, and a steel crank set. You can put standard, basic stuff on it and the best advise is don't spend alot of cash on it. Smartest thing would be to use good condition salvaged parts that are as near to free as you can get. Here's a few of pictures of a stock Mixte frame version in excellent original condition. Hope they are of use.

Thanks for the reply cycleheimer. That mixte looks sharp. What model year is it? For some reason my pc wouldn't load your pics when I clicked on them. I'll follow your advice and probably only buy a new chain and cables for my Super Speed.

The crankset on my bike has alloy arms, steel spider, steel rings, and no rust! I have several old wheels in my basement with both steel and alloy high flange hubs (some Q/R, some not) on steel rims. Should be enough there to match a set together, provided I relace one wheel so both hubs and rims are the same.

Could you let me know if the hubs on that mixte are alloy or steel? High flange or low? Rat trap or SR alloy pedals? Also, what brand and model of brake levers does it have? I'd kinda like to use those Shimano 600 brake levers on my commuter. I might be able to dig up some dual control levers from my junk box as replacements on the Kabuki.

Did a thorough search and found pics of another bike here that looks almost exactly the same as mine:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ki+super+speed

If anyone here has literature and/or specs for this bike please let me know.

I no longer have the SSD Mixte (1978 model), but it had high flange steel hubs. It also had Dia-Compe center-pull brakes, and the levers were also Dia-Compe. There is an online group called the Bridgestone Owners Bunch, but I don't know how active they are.

https://www.bikelist.org/mailman/listinfo/internet-bob

I still have a 1978 Bridgestone Kabuiki Diamond Touring, in the same color as the SSD, that I bought new in 1979. It just came out of storage after about 25 years. Now to ride it!

Thanks again cycleheimer. This time I got all of your photos to load. I'm going to use them as a guide for reassembly, which should be completed this week. Of course your brand new DT puts my SS project to shame. And is that a Kabuki sales brochure I see on the floor in your second DT pic?


The additional information you provided is helpful. Found a pair of Weinmann/Dia-Compe dual control brake levers in my junk box that don't quite match the ones on your Mixte, but do look kinda like the ones on the other silver Kabuki pictured in the link from my last post.

As for wheels, I've got a pair of nearly spotless 27 x 1 1/4" Ukai steel rims that I'll match with a steel high flange rear hub and a more luxe alloy high flange Q/R front hub. As I recall this was a common wheel combination on lower-end bikes around 1980. I have an older pair of 27 x 1 1/8" Continental Super Sport tires that are in good shape. Do you think I'd have any problems running them on the Ukai rims?

I also have a choice of 5-speed freewheels, one is a nice '70s-vintage Shimano and the other is SunTour Perfect, both 14-28. What does your DT have for a freewheel?

Haven't decided what to use for pedals yet. The SR sealed alloy pedals that were on the bike seem too nice (although Dan's silver SS apparently has them). Could go with ATB pedals like on the Mixte, or maybe cheaper alloy road pedals without clips and straps.


Guess I've shared enough for now. Do let me know how your DT performs when you take it out--I'm expecting your tales to inspire me to work faster.

Actually, that is the original receipt (11/08/79) stuck in the wheel, and the owner's manual in a small portfolio is on the floor. I bought it "in the box" and set it up myself in '79. I put it away in the mid-80's, and it hasn't seen the light of day from then until now. The reflectors are still in their original bag, as are the toe clips, and I have all the original packing material. The Brooks B17 was an upgrade when I bought it. I'm leaving it free of extras, as I did originally, and have a laden down touring bike to complement it. This always worked for me. When I bought the DT, I also had a brand-new Skyway and a brand-new Hill Topper (saw somebody yesterday riding a later model Hill Topper T15--rare). I did quite a bit of riding on the Skyway and Hill Toppers, and sold them in the early '80s. I had kept the DT just for long distance "joy rides". With your SSD, I would just try to keep the components you use consistent with the type of bike it is. Since it is riding season, the best thing to do now is get out riding and enjoy the summer weather.

My other road bike is a "Foodge", and I rode about 50 miles on it yesterday. Since the picture was taken, I've added a Cat's Eye bar-end mounted mirror and a Cat's Eye detachable headlight.

^ Agreed. Time to get the lead out of my shorts and get the show on the road.

My only real concern at this point is using 1 1/8" Continental tires on 1 1/4" steel rims. Think that'll be an issue?


Your Fuji also looks like a near-new bike; how do you do it?

Reminds me of another project languishing in my basement: a mid-'80s Touring Series IV (in need of TLC).

Cheers!

Pulled these pix of a Super Speed (SSD) off a Craig's List posting, so they aren't perfect.
May be of some use, though. Guy wants $225 ... $90 would be more like a starting point.

"My only real concern at this point is using 1 1/8" Continental tires on 1 1/4" steel rims. Think that'll be an issue?"


That will work fine.