In a message dated 12/6/03 11:35:28 AM Pacific Standard Time,
classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes:
> Date: Sat, 06 Dec 2003 11:01:53 -0600
> From: Todd Kuzma <tullio@TheRamp.net>
> To: <ABikie@aol.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Subject: Re: [CR]Kobe Cobra
> Message-ID: <BBF767A0.4DE72%tullio@TheRamp.net>
> In-Reply-To: <3a.42115d33.2d035f2e@aol.com>
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> Message: 6
>
> on 12/6/03 10:34 AM, ABikie@aol.com at ABikie@aol.com wrote:
>
> >for those of us that skim ior miss something, can someone rewind anmd fill
> me
> >in on the Kobe? we sold them
> >I remember the chapparal was $220 and forgotr the name of the $180 base
> >model. These had a Nrvex-looking lug in the head, even though more of a
> >cold-chisel-like execution
>
> The Chapparal was the model just below the Cobra.
>
> Todd Kuzma
> Heron Bicycles
> Tullio's Big Dog Cyclery
> LaSalle, IL 815-223-1776
> http://www.heronbicycles.com
> http://www.tullios.com
>
Kobe still exists, although it is only a small one-man distributor now in
Bellevue, WA run by a Taiwanese former UW professor named Tung-hsih Huang. He
and his brother used to import the bikes back in the 70s. His brother brought
them in to his warehouse in the Bay Area and Tung-hsih sold them in the Seattle
area. I used to go over to Tung-hsih's house for Taiwanese green tea, which
he would hand pick on trips home. He would prepare it in a pint-size tea pot,
stuffed with tea. He would fill with boiling water, then immediately pour out
the first undrinkable batch and refill the pot. That fill gave you quite a
kick and after that it only got better. Tea and freshly boiled shrimp. And
long discussions about the bike business. Good to reminisce.
Bob Freeman
Seattle