Classic & Vintage - Found an Italian Nishiki

Folks:
I acquired a very strange road bike from a colleague who was cleaning out his garage. It has a Nishiki decal on the head tube. It is Columbus DB frame and forks and has Campy dropouts. The only other marking on the bike besides the serial number on the bottom bracket casing is a decal that says, "Handcrafted in Italy." My co-worker said he purchased it in 1982 new. It is equiped with tubular rims, Record small flange hubs, a Super Record rear derailleur, Brev. Int. Campy Brakes, a 170mm Campy Strada crankset with I think 52/40 chain rings, TTT alloy stem and bars, Campy front derailleur with clamp rather than brazing attachment, and Campy down tube shifter that attach directly to the top of the down tube rather than the sides. My colleague says he thinks the frame was built by Olmo. Unfortunately, it is 60 cm and is too big for me. The brake pads look like they have had almost no use. Also has a Campy bottom bracket. Anybody heard of such of bike? And does anyone have any suggestions of what to do with it? I am cleaning up the parts. I can keep them and look for an Italian frame that fits me to equip and sell the frame because it doesn't fit. Any idea if the frame has value? I have a serial number!! Maybe this helps.... "60 1660"

Folks:
And does anyone have any suggestions of what to do with it? I am cleaning up the parts. I can keep them and look for an Italian frame that fits me to equip and sell the frame because it doesn't fit. Any idea if the frame has value?

Isn't Mhendriks looking for a 60cm Nishiki?

Last I heard he was. ocjerry, send MHendricks a PM. If he's interested, he'll deal with you fairly.

Folks:
I acquired a very strange road bike from a colleague who was cleaning out his garage. It has a Nishiki decal on the head tube. It is Columbus DB frame and forks and has Campy dropouts. The only other marking on the bike besides the serial number on the bottom bracket casing is a decal that says, "Handcrafted in Italy." My co-worker said he purchased it in 1982 new. It is equiped with tubular rims, Record small flange hubs, a Super Record rear derailleur, Brev. Int. Campy Brakes, a 170mm Campy Strada crankset with I think 52/40 chain rings, TTT alloy stem and bars, Campy front derailleur with clamp rather than brazing attachment, and Campy down tube shifter that attach directly to the top of the down tube rather than the sides. My colleague says he thinks the frame was built by Olmo. Unfortunately, it is 60 cm and is too big for me. The brake pads look like they have had almost no use. Also has a Campy bottom bracket. Anybody heard of such of bike? And does anyone have any suggestions of what to do with it? I am cleaning up the parts. I can keep them and look for an Italian frame that fits me to equip and sell the frame because it doesn't fit. Any idea if the frame has value?

Colnago built a bike for Nishiki about that time. It could be one of them.

These bikes have come up in previous discussions. Apparently there were at least two Italian built models, the Cervino and the Maxima. A couple of owners stated their Cervinos came in cartons marked Olmo. A previous employee of West Coast Cycle the Nishiki distibutor) states they were made by Viner. The Colnago name has been associated with the Maxima. There was also a Nishiki Ultimate that used the Campagnolo NR group, but apparently it was a Japanese built frame.

One thing thing that I can state for a fact, is that neither model appears in the 1981 or 1982 catalogs. So either they are from a different year or they were uncataloged, limited edition models.

I have one myself, but I'm not sure of the year, manufacturer or model. I suspect mine is closer to the mid-1980s. There is no serial number. Like yours, it has Columbus butted tubing and Campagnolo dropouts.

These bikes have come up in previous discussions. Apparently there were at least two Italian built models, the Cervino and the Maxima. A couple of owners stated their Cervinos came in cartons marked Olmo. A previous employee of West Coast Cycle the Nishiki distibutor) states they were made by Viner. The Colnago name has been associated with the Maxima. There was also a Nishiki Ultimate that used the Campagnolo NR group, but apparently it was a Japanese built frame.

One thing thing that I can state for a fact, is that neither model appears in the 1981 or 1982 catalogs. So either they are from a different year or they were uncataloged, limited edition models.

I have one myself, but I'm not sure of the year, manufacturer or model. I suspect mine is closer to the mid-1980s. There is no serial number. Like yours, it has Columbus butted tubing and Campagnolo dropouts.
I have a serial number!! Maybe this helps.... "60 1660"

Last I heard he was. ocjerry, send MHendricks a PM. If he's interested, he'll deal with you fairly.

There is a "Nishiki" God! :eek: Thanks guys for mentioning my name. I emailed Jerry and my search may be over. :D

Colnago never built bikes for Nishiki...

Maybe a picture would help?

Koffee

Or at least give us something to drool over...

There is a "Nishiki" God! :eek: Thanks guys for mentioning my name. I emailed Jerry and my search may be over. :D


Well Guys, my search is over and I got this bike thanks to a great forum member (OC Jerry) Everything on this bike is Super Record Campy with the exception of the Modolo Brake lever hoods and my Fujita Professional Saddle. The wheels I have on here are from my old Nishiki ( Super Champion, Suntour Winner Pro 13-26) but the wheelset that came with it (Campy Record Hubs, Regina Extra Oro 13-23, Fiamme Red Label Tubular rims) are still looking for tires so if anyone has any suggestions, let me know. Anyways, it's a great ride as I took it to the Solvang Prelude this past weekend. Thanks Again OC Jerry!

mswantak,
you'll appreciate the decal work! :D

Where does the rear shift cable enter? I see it exits at the end of the chainstay, has "aero" top of the tube shift boss, but the images do not show where the cable enters...any extra friction?

Could be Rauler built, an effort of which Colnago had a hand in.

The cables enter the downtube after leaving the shifters. Problem with that is when you service the bottom bracket, you have to change the cables as well.

nice ride. I have a japanese model that looks similar. Complete with matching stem and bars to yours.. the diacomp brakes even look like campy imitations.. however I don't have any of the unusual cable routing and shifter mounting. Any idea on Date? SN: KA05967.

nice ride. I have a japanese model that looks similar. Complete with matching stem and bars to yours.. the diacomp brakes even look like campy imitations.. however I don't have any of the unusual cable routing and shifter mounting. Any idea on Date? SN: KA05967.


Thanks for the compliment. Date? Well I would say late 83 or 84 and that's only because the Campy SR derailleur says "Patent 83" Serial # on the bottom doesn't reflect a date but does reflect a size (60 1660)which I can concur on that. This bike replaced my 78 Nishiki Comp that met an untimely death (Frame Buckled and fork bent in an accident) Still have the Super Mighty drilled crankset. Loved those drilled rings! :D

What a beautiful bike! WOW! How come every time I go out to my garage all I find is junk? :p

the super mighty cranks are beautiful indeed. They seem in almost TOO good condition. I just wish they were 175 instead of 170.