MAMACHARI Philippines
 

Starting this thread for special bicycles of Japan called "Mamachari" (mama> mom, chari> bicycle).
Usually mothers uses these bicycles for other functions aside from carrying their children to and from school. These are bicycles designed for carrying babies, toddlers, and children. The baskets serves as baby/child carriers and easily converts to regular baskets for other utility functions. The bicycle have smaller front wheels or rear wheels. Manufacturers are Maruishi, Bridgestone, Miyata, and Marukin. Aside from my mamachari collection, I will be scouting for these bicycles here in Metro Manila and have their pictures taken for posting in this thread. If you have one of this bicycle feel free to post their images.

Maruishi Frackers
 

My 1st mamachari. Manufacturer of this mamachari is Maruishi and the model is called Frackers. Got the bicycle in 2006 The baby carrier I bought from other source. Front wheel is 24" and rear is 26". The bike was repainted and installed with new spokes, tires, and hubs.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/...6b32f3e8a6.jpg

Bridgestone Mamachari
 

My 2nd mamachari, a Bridgestone. Had it painted and installed new tires, hubs, carriers, and lights.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/...9d4328d53a.jpg

Maruishi Frackers Como
 

My 1st Frackers Como with OGK carriers. Front wheel is size 24" and rear is 20".
Installed with front Nexus Dynamo Hub and sensored headlight.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3358/...1632c55577.jpg

Maruishi Frackers Papa
 

Bought this Maruishi Frackers Papa from a trader. Unfortunately there was no carrier. Instead I installed a metal basket in it's place while waiting for the original carrier to show up. The seat was also changed for comfortability. Expandable rear carriers was also added.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/...6fe40a7de2.jpg

Interesting commuter bikes. Thanks for sharing. In the Philippines, you apparently use them to move the family around too. Not many people do it in the US. Most of them are probably on this forum, hehehe.

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/5...26citybike.jpg
Panasonic

It jumped out at me when shopping for bikes just after arriving, b/c it literally towered above all the other bikes at the shop. About $90!! Aluminum frame, wheel-generated headlight, SS, basket & rear rack.
Brought back my Thudbuster on my 1st trip home & rode in super-cush style for the next 4 yrs.
One drunken night, it was ghost-ridden off some stairs, resulting in the bent fork you can see.
Even put on the SPDs a few times when I did longer rides visiting the local temples.

Maruishi Frackers
 

Another Maruishi Frackers I bought from my brother. Stainless fenders, rims, spokes, rear carrier, and Nexus 3-Speed IGH. The carrier was bought from another trader.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3359/...bef4a51c3c.jpg

Maruishi Frackers Como
 

Another Maruishi Frackers Como I bought from anothere trader. This one had original carriers.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3408/...dd3c509f2d.jpg

Bridgestone Raku-Raku
 

Bridgestone Raku-Raku - Alloy frame, Nexus 3-Speed IGH, Front Dynamo Hub, and Stainless carrier.
So far I changed the front rims to stainless steel and white side tires. Rear Rims subject to change also. Front rim size is 22 x 1 3/8 and rear is 24 x 1 3/8.
This particular Bridgestone model has cable control seat height adjustment. You can change seat height without dismounting from the bicycle or while cycling.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/...23216905f9.jpg

Vintage Mamachari!

That's me on the rear seat, with my mum and sister. This was before my mom crashed us (or, more accurately speaking, a car made us crash, but still, I blame my mother :lol:) and I made my parents get me my own bike. :p

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_SdF0uuk3iUc/TA...old%20pics.jpg

Mamachari or Papachari ?
 

I had this Bridgestone mamachari and one time my brother's grandson Adam with his mom visited us. The kid did enjoy the ride. Everytime he visits our place his eyes are glued to the mamachari. Adam is 8 months old.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1308/...3d1a81d0ce.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/...d607743f48.jpg

Father & Son
 

This father & son are enjoying the late afternoon cycling.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/...c2a6fa2625.jpg

Maruishi Mamachari
 

Got this Maruishi Mamachari restored, painted and installed my extra baby carrier and here it is. Still to follow are front dynamo hub and stainless steel rear carrier.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/...9fdae3758b.jpg

Bridgestone Angelino
 

My 2nd Bridgestone mamachari, the Angelino. Alloy frame, Bridgestone dynamo hub, Nexus 3-Speed IGH, stainless steel rims, and stainless steel rear carrier. Though the trader included an OGK rear basket, I preferred to remove it for now.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/...c25778abcd.jpg

On Board
 

My brother's grandson taking his first ride with my Bridgestone Angelino.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/...6333180d4c.jpg

3 Wheeler Mamachari
 

My Bridgestone Picnica Wagon converted to a mamachari.
I installed OGK's Quick Release Child Carrier and Basket. Fabricated an elevated bracket for the rear. Basket and carrier are interchangeable in position.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/...d87c7c785d.jpg

These bikes look fairly exotic to me, although I think I have seen something similiar in NYC. Do they have to have different size wheels to fall into this category? Maybe what I have seen were just modified cruisers?

So far, all the stock mamacharis I have seen have different wheel sizes. Front wheel size may be 22 or 24 and the rear 26. The reason perhaps the front wheel is smaller is to compensate the size of the carrier. The handlebars of these mamacharis are tailored to hold the carriers. Another reason is stability, lowering the center of gravity. I have another mamachari, the Maruishi Frackers Como wherein the front wheel is size 24 and the rear size 20. As for me, I keep customizing my bicycles and experimenting which bicycle is comfortable with these carriers.

Ha! That reminds me: a lot of pizza delivery guys in NY have modified bikes with a smaller front wheel and a large basket, platform or a lockable box above the front wheel that can fit stacked up pizza boxes.

I missed those pizza parlors you have there. I was in Brooklyn, NY where my son was born and do have friends there in Queens. That was in 1995 and was back in 1997. During those days my hobby was amateur radio so my interest were on amateur radio equiptments. Anyway, thanks for viewing this thread.

Those are beautiful and original bikes, I followed this thread with great interest.

Emom Mamachari
 

I got this mamachari with my Grass Chopper accidentally. First of all the mamachari frame was something new to me. Even the wheel size is different. Though it had no child carrier it's something different from my mamachari collection.
Installed with a Nexus 3-Speed IGH, stainless fenders, and rims are stainless steel. I'll be sourcing for a child carrier to match it.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/...2b96499dd3.jpg

I'll throw my US found one up here. I snagged this mamachari from the bike co-op this morning.

It has a 24" front wheel and a 26" rear wheel in Japanese sizing. The rear rim is a 650A but Sheldon says that a standard 590 Raleigh tire should work for it. It has a rear roller brake, front caliper, bottle-generated headlight, nice rear wheel connected bike stand and two child carriers/baskets.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ichicagoa3.jpg

I lend this mamachari to my brother for him to take his grandson for afternoon rides.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2705/4...bf807239ff.jpg