Kuwahara E.T. Coaster. 1982

As a kid, I was heavily inspired by the movie E.T. to start riding BMX. I have always wanted to get a Kuwahara E.T. bike since then, but it took me almost 30 years to get one. This is the cheaper toy store model, also called “Apollo” or “Coaster” since it got a coaster brake.

This is actually an Motobecane MX-15 frame from France, but they used the same frame like Kuwahara did for the Apollo E.T bike.

The frame/fork was sandblasted and then powdercoated white, then it was painted with 2-components car paint in “Pearl cherry red” and several layers of clear coat. The seat have been re-covered with new fake leather in black. I couldn’t find the correct 2-bolted stem for this bike, so I went for a 4-bolted version instead (used on one of the other cheaper E.T. models).

The pad for the handlebar is mine from back in the days, but it was shortened to fit on a Haro Kneesaver handlebar in the early 90´s.

The correct NOS Neal number plate was purchased from England, but without the normal Kuwahara E.T. print. So I have made the Kuwahara E.T. die-cut decal for the plate by myself.

I would like to thank Barspin-Danne for the powdercoating and to Steven Spielberg for making the movie E.T.!

FRAME 1982 Kuwahara E.T. Apollo. Pearl cherry red/white.
FORK Tange TX-1200 1¨ threaded. Pearl cherry red.
STEM 4-bolts. Tilted. Black/chrome. (NOS)
HANDLEBAR WIN V-bar. Chrome.
HEADSET Hatta MX-II, 1¨ threaded. Chrome.
GRIPS O.G.K. Black. (NOS)
CRANKS 1-piece 175mm. Chrome. (NOS)
SPROCKET Sugino Snowflake 44T. Steel. Chrome. (NOS)
PEDALS Victor Rat trap 1/2¨. Black. (NOS)
CHAIN D.I.D. 1/8¨. Black. (NOS)
SEAT Padded. Black.
SEAT POST Straight Cr-Mo 22.2mm. Chrome. (NOS)
SEAT POST CLAMP Steel. Chrome.
FRONT BRAKE Dia-Compe 890. Black.
BRAKE LEVER Dia-Compe Tech-2. Black. (NOS)
BRAKE CABLE Dia-Compe. Black. (NOS)
RIMS Steel 1.75″ 36H. Black. (NOS)
HUBS Shimano low flange steel 36H. Coaster brake. Loose ball bearings. Chrome.
SPOKES/NIPPLES Chrome stainless steel 190mm spokes. Chrome brass nipples. (NOS)
TIRES Cheng Chin knobbys. 2.0¨ front and rear. Black. (NOS)
DECALS Kuwahara E.T. repop decals from Australia.
PADS Kuwahara E.T. (genuine). Black.
NUMBER PLATE NEAL – Kuwahara E.T. (NOS)






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