Scorpion BMX Bikes

This create was recently showcased on CycleEXIF, see the article HERE. The finished build is visible on BMXMuseum.com HERE:

The uncommon ’79 looptail Madison Taipan, off the exact same Koizumi factory range since the identical (in every means, club the gusset hole) Diamondback big Pro framework of the same 12 months but also more difficult locate. Among those needle-in-a-haystack right-place-right-time results that makes you squeak with delight once you remove it of the field to discover that small Koizumi baseball icon!

Light and beautifully made, as one would anticipate from Koizumi, i understand of significantly less than 10 of the Koizumi Taipan structures that I know occur. Just like the ‘Scorpion branded’ launch of the same frame, a recorded reputation for the first Taipan frames is restricted, but both the 1979 ‘VM’ serial Taipans (mooted to own emerge from the Kuwahara factory, using Tange tubing, much like early ‘VM’ DB Large Pro) plus the succeeding 1979 ‘baseball’ Koizumi Taipans (noticeably much better welds + additional small variations), seem to were commissioned as just a gusset variant towards Diamondback Pro on a single production outlines. A brief history and development of these looptail, Japanese manufactured, Madison Taipan (and Scorpion) frames appear inextricably connected to compared to the first DB Pros.

So, with my intrigue-o-meter hitting maximum in the end this research, I’m inspired to make this a mean bespoke build worthy of a blue blooded framework. Because of the frame, with my plumped for forks and taverns, at risk of Super (‘Fiola’) yellowish gloss powder coat, along with black colored and silver components in the works, I’ve nicknamed the build Bumble-Bee as a tribute towards the world-famous-in-New-Zealand yellow and black HMX-500 BMXs of the identical period. After all, whenever you discover a Japanese built, United states designed, Aussie frame… then name it after a slice of Kiwi history? 😉

PARTS CHECKLIST

Frame: 1979 Koizumi Madison Taipan, 4130 Chromoly, baseball serial
Forks: Akisu, stamped 1980
Tires: Skyway Tuff II, sealed bearing, black with Dicta 16T freewheel
Cranks: Takagi Tourney 170, black/silver
Chain ring: Takagi 130BCD 44T, black
Seat clamp: Suntour, black/silver
Stem: Sugino DB, black/silver
Decals: Personalized Madison Taipan Pro Decals, impressed because of the DB big professional collection of the age
Custom Madison Taipan professional shields, motivated by the DB Large professional pads of the period
Seat: Kashimax, black suede with silver decals
Brakes: Dia Compe 890, black, stamped Feb 1982 (+ Skyway Tuff shields)
Brake Levers: Dia Compe MX124, black, stamped July 1985
Brake Cables: Hi-Tech, black
Neco, aluminium, sealed bearing, black colored
Pubs: Race Inc, aluminium
Grips: Oury Waffle, black colored
Tires: Kenda Comp III
Chain: Izumi Black/Nickel
Chainring bolts: Chromoly, brushed chrome finish
Seat Article: Fluted aluminium, black/silver
Pedals: pattern Pro TTK (early 80s) polished aluminum
BB: YST sealed square taper

FRAME SPECS

Information: 4130 Chromoly
Head Tube position: 75°
Seat Tube direction: 68°
Top Tube length (from point A-B): approx 480mm (18 7/8″)
Frame weight: 2.295kg (5lb 1oz)
Back dropout: 3mm (1/8″)
Wheelbase: 930mm (36 5/8″)
Bottom bracket level: 290mm (11 7/16″)
Chainstay length: 375mm (14 3/4″)
Serial #: 9J6934⚾ (inside left rear dropout).

BECAUSE THEY WERE…

The original 1979 Koizumi made Diamondback big Pro frame, from whence (with a gusset mod) arrived the Aussie Madison Taipan and Scorpion releases below.

The same 1979 Koizumi framework as a Madison Taipan, using the more traditional Taipan decalset (my custom set is modelled following the DB Large professional put).

Similar 1979 Koizumi frame as a Scorpion (another Aussie release), with OG Mongoose-esque decalset.

DEVELOP DIARY…

(substantially more pics and details of the finished create at the bottom for the web page!)

Sketching up the build design to spec with my ideal components listing is where everything begins…

Slim OG paint flaking off like pastry after 33 years in storage. Definitely time for refinishing…
(other people with a looptail Taipan frame who’d like to refinish inside OG purple, Roberto took a sample of this OG paint from my frame for their documents before powdering it. He’s the man to send your frame to if you would like a near-perfect match!)

Race Inc bars and Takagi chainring BMX parts before de-anodising

Aluminium Race Inc bars and Takagi chainring BMX parts after de-anodising, ready for polishing/refinishing

Stripping the old candy coat of this 1980 stamped Akisu forks.

Forks – before and after stripping the old candy coat from the chrome.

NOS 1982 Dia Compe 890 caliper bolts lookin’ awesome shiny after their particular vinegar bath to get rid of some surface oxidisation

Sugino DB stem before and after restoration with brand-new artwork for the Taipan

Cyclepro TTK 80s pedal cages and fluted aluminium chair post before de-anodising.

Pattern professional TTK early 80s pedals and fluted aluminum chair post after de-anodising and refinishing/polishing

Takagi Tourney (170) cranks before stripping, polishing and refinishing.

Kashimax MX, stripped and washed before re-covering with black colored suede…

Kashimax MX after re-covering with black colored suede…

The framework, forks and taverns right back from Roberto’s Personalized Powder in fresh Super Yellow gloss…

Roberto did a beautiful work retaining weld meaning through the dust…

Mission complete!

Shout-Outs:

To all the the cool cats, within Oz and overseas, from who we obtained rad small bits and pieces for build. A special mention goes out to Brett Tyack from Detailed bicycle Co. for his angry discounts and awesome attitude, and fellow Kiwi Damien Munroe which kindly donated the 1982 stamped 890 DC calipers from his NOS ex-bikestore stash.

To any or all those, both on and offline, with provided a kind or constructive term in regards to the build as it progressed, and particularly to James which unfailingly, 24/7, leaves up with my exuberant verbosity about create plans and parts restos and colour combinations, and suffers quietly through numerous stubbed feet inflicted because of the piles of components and tools I inevitably keep lying in unsuitable locations!