Guide
Kuwahara Decal Sets
What are the correct Kuwahara decals to put on your build? Where do you buy them? Are they N.O.S. (New Old Stock)? Are they reproduction? If so, are they quality reproductions? And most importantly, are the Accurate decal sets?
We have been asked so many questions through email regarding Kuwahara decals that we decided to make the ultimate Kuwahara frame set decal guide to help Kuwahara collectors track down the proper decals to restore their Kuwie’s back to Factory specs
We have gone through an intensive, in-depth and fair, decal comparison analysis process and purchased various Kuwahara decal sets from all over the world, first hand, from many different sellers. And YES. we purchased almost every kind of Kuwahara decal set, including rare decals like Pantera and even Waldo set’s from as many different sellers as physically possible! We like to be thorough! *Also, Thank you to a few individuals who sent in hard to attain decal sets and/or originals.*
OUR RESEARCH INCLUDED:
- decal stock quality and accurate details such as protective laminate.
- printing quality (should be Silkscreened or Litho printed or an equivalent process comparable in quality to factory originals from the 1980’s)
- measurements of die cuts (the actual clear sticker size itself from edge to edge all around).
- measurements of each letter/word and a side by side comparison with original sets (removed from survivor frames)
- registration accuracy (where each colour or layer sits over the next)
- font accuracy (in most cases, you will not find a font to match, so most fonts must be custom traced)
- letter/font thickness, and color match
After years of research and giving several reproducers / sellers of Kuwahara reproduction decal sets the opportunity to bring forth their best through a thorough testing, we came to the conclusion that as far as factory correct details go, BMX-Rider is the only seller online that sells accurate Kuwahara Decal sets worthy of any vintage Kuwahara BMX.
Not to mention, BMX-Rider is also now a Worldwide “Authorized / Licensed” reseller of Kuwahara bmx decals so that title right there makes them even more legit. Visit their website here.
We even wrote a whole article on it which you can read here, but as most collectors and enthusiasts in the world know by now, BMX-Rider’s name almost always comes up when any discussion involving quality Kuwahara decal sets comes up. And to be fair, in recent years, a few newcomers have started reproducing Kuwahara decals as well, with one seller out of Australia, however, after purchasing and testing their sets, their quality and accuracy is subpar for the most part.
For Official quality Kuwahara Pad Sets, we have found Jumpsports in Thaliand to be the best and they are also an Authorized/Licensed reseller. Buy padsets here.
SCAMMER ALERT – FALSE ADVERTISING: With all of our research pointing to one respected seller, we must still warn and inform the un-knowledgeable newbies and the un-convinced, of the falsely advertised NOS decals being sold online.
We found some sellers located in Thailand are falsely advertising the majority of their decals as N.O.S. Be aware that their decals are truly NOT New Old Stock by any means. They are reproductions but poor ones to say the least. However, the “Lightning Bolt” Chrome-Moly decals seem to be NOS from our research.
NOTE: Be also AWARE that poor quality reproduction Kuwahara decal sets were being printed even back in the 1980’s.. so if you do find a subpar Decal set advertised as N.O.S., it truly could be new old stock from the 80s.. but a legit poor quality repop decal from back in the day!
CONCLUSION: If you have any doubt, compare to a BMX-Rider set or contact us for any help.
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4 Generations of Decal Sets
There are 4 generations of Kuwahara decal sets produced between the years 1979 and 1988. Generation 2 is the most common decal set you will find on the popular 1982 – 1984 Laserlites and Novas. However, ALL main tube and fork decals are the exact same size for any 16″, 20″, or 24″ frames and forks.
GENERATION 1
Years Active:
1979 - 1980 (Version 1)
1980 - 1981 (Version 2)
Factory Models (Version 1):
KE-1, Early KZ, and KM-1
Factory Models (Version 2):
Late KE-1, Early KZ, and KM-1
FEATURES:
- Japan Flag on left side of main tube decal text.
- All fonts used on all frame areas are considerably different from other Generation decals.
- Does not include the ® symbol.
- Silkcreened on clear vinyl stock.
- Red color used is darker than standard CMYK red.
- Version 1 decals have square Die Cut corners whereas Version 2's are rounded.
- Version 1's Head Tube decal has white to the edge of the die cut whereas Version 2 has clear edges.
- Version 1's holes in the letters A and R are knocked out (not filled in with white) on the Main Down Tube decal unlike Version 2 which are filled in with white.
GENERATION 2
Years Active:
1981 - Mid Oct. 1983 (w/o ® Symbol)
Mid Oct. 1983 - Late 1984 (w/ ® Symbol)
Factory Models:
KZ, Laserlite, Survivor, Nova (w/ ® Symbol only), KYZ, Apollo (16",20",24"), 24" BMX, 24" Cruiser
FEATURES:
- Japanese Flag positioned above the "K" of "Kuwahara" on main tube decal.
- All fonts used on all frame areas are considerably different from other Generation decals.
- Chrome-Moly "Lightning Bolt" seat post tube & handlebar decal included (on Laserlite, Survivor, & 24" models only).
- Litho printed on clear polyester stock with a protective laminate.
- Red color used is darker than standard CMYK red.
- Yellow color is darker than standard CMYK yellow (more like a yellow/orange).
- Did not include the ® symbol until mid October 1983 which was placed at the bottom right corner of all decals except the 4130 decal.
GENERATION 2 (FLAGLESS)
Years Active:
1982 (w/o ® Symbol)
1983 - 1984 (w/ ® Symbol)
Factory Models:
ET (w/o ® Symbol), Pantera (w/ ® Symbol), Exhibitionist (Cut-Out) (w/ ® Symbol)
FEATURES:
- Japanese Flag is not included on main tube & fork decals except on Exhibitionist model.
- All fonts used on all frame areas are considerably different from other Generation decals.
- Chrome-Moly "Lightning Bolt" seat post tube & handlebar decal included (on Exhibitionist model only).
- Litho printed on clear polyester stock with a protective laminate.
- Red color used is darker than standard CMYK red
- Yellow color is darker than standard CMYK yellow (more like a yellow/orange).
- Did not include the ® symbol until mid October 1983 which was placed at the bottom right corner of all decals except the 4130 decal.
- "4130" and "Japan Flag" seat post tube decals were not included on ET and Pantera models.
- Headtube had slanted "Kuwahara" words on ET and Pantera models only.
- ET fork decals had 3 stripes at top of words.
- "The Bicycle Source / USA" decals included on Exhibitionist models only in North America.
GENERATION 3
Years Active:
March 1984 - 1986 (Bravo Only)
1985 - 1986
Factory Models:
Laser-Lite, Laserlite-3000, Exhibitionist, Nova, Nova Titlist, Bravo, Bravo KT, Magician, Scamp, Scamp Jr., Apollo
FEATURES:
- Japan Flag was replaced with a 3 colored 'flag' integrated into the K of the main tube and head tube decals.
- All fonts used on all frame areas are considerably different from other Generation decals.
- Includes the ® symbol at the bottom right corner of every decal.
- Litho printed on clear polyester stock with a protective laminate.
- Decal sets came in many different colors combinations
- Model names were depicted in a new Script font and placed on the handlebar and seat posts.
- Chrome-Moly "Lightning Bolt" seat post tube & handelbar decal were replaced with the a new
"Kuwahara" Script font decal.
GENERATION 4
Years Active: 1987 - 1988
Factory Models:
Bravo Pro, Bravo Team, Magician Pro, Magician EX, Hopper
FEATURES:
- Japan Flag was replaced with a 3 colored 'flag' integrated into the K of the main tube and head tube decals.
- All fonts used on all frame areas are considerably different from other Generation decals.
- Includes the ® symbol at the bottom right corner of every decal.
- Litho printed on clear polyester stock with a protective laminate.
- Decal sets came in many different colors combinations
- Model names were depicted in a new Script font and placed on the handlebar and seat posts.
- Chrome-Moly "Lightning Bolt" seat post tube & handelbar decal were replaced with the a new
"Kuwahara" Script font decal. - Colored shadows and grids were added beneath each decal except for the "Kuwahara" script decal.
FACTS: SOME INTERESTING AND KEY DETAILS TO NOTE – All models produced mid October 1983 and later included the ® symbol in all the decals (including “Lightning Bolt” seat post & handlebar decal) except the “4130” seat post tube decal. This ® logo was found ONLY at the bottom right corner of each decal. Factory original decals also include little ‘placement dots’ on the main tube decals of all models, on the ‘model name’ decals (Laserlite, Survivor, Nova, & Pantera) and on the fork decals of E.T. models only.
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