Radar
March 6, 2026
Kuwahara has been on a kick lately. We first reported on the Japanese brand’s Elk Bar, a throwback to the Ritchey Bullmoose, and this week, it announced the Grasshopper 1, a vintage-inspired rim brake MTB. Let’s check it out…
There isn’t much information on Kuwahara’s website, other than it’s a 26″ wheeled vintage-inspired frame with 2.3″ clearance, 100 x 135 spacing, a 1 1/8″ head tube, square taper cranks, and rim brakes. There are two builds, three finishing options (black, blue, and raw) and either silver components for around $800 and a black parts build for around $900.
Build Spec:
- Fork 4130 Cr-Mo Fork
- Rims 26″ x 1.75-2.125 Double Wall Alloy Rim 32H
- Hubs Kuwahara “Twin-Turbine” hubs 32H Front 100mmx9mm / Rear 135mmx10mm
- Tires Kenda K-1027 26” x 2.1”
- Brakes DIA-COMPE DC-980 Cantilever Brake Black / Silver
- Brake Lever DIA-COMPE SS-6 Brake Levers Black / Silver
- Crankset Alloy Crank BCD : 110mm / 170mm with Chainring 40T
- Bottom Bracket BSA Square Taper 68mm
- Free Wheel 18T CP Finish
- Chain KMC Z410
- Pedal M537 Alloy Black / Silver 9/16″
- Stem Kuwahara Stem EX:90mm / Bar Clamp: 25.4mm
- Headset Integrated 1 1/8″ Campy type Black
- Grips Kuwahara Lightning Grips Clear Black
- Handlebar Alloy Flat Bar W:650mm / BS:6 degree / Bar Clamp: 25.4mm
- Seatpost 27.2 x 350mm Black / Silver
- Saddle Kuwahara SX Saddle Black
Like the elk bar, these are only available in Japan. But you can roll over to Kuwahara to check out the Grasshopper 1.