Classic & Vintage - nishiki sport

i picked up an 80's nishiki sport today that i am going to mess around with it. its teal i'm sure you've all seen it before. just wondering what size the wheels /tires are on this frame.

Thanks.

If they have the original wheelset, they're 27" x 1-14".

sorry to bring up a thread about 5 months later, but i just picked up a nishiki sport and i was wondering how to tell what era it is?

it's pink/white fade paint, with Dia-Compe brakes, Suguino cranks, and Shimano SIS indexed shifters, it's a 12 speed and the derailers say "shimano ultra light"...

it has the same 4130 chromo frame that the 70's-90's had...

i don't need to pinpoint the date, i'd just like to know how to figure out a date range(down to maybe five or so years) based on the components. is there a thread about what years used what?

Check the date codes on the cranks and brakes at www.vintage-trek.com

I'm not an expert like T-Mar or cudak888, but I'll get you started. All the 12 speeds I've seen were from the mid 80's to early 90's. So you can pretty much nail it down to that era. From what I've read, SIS deraileurs did not come on the scene until around 1986 or 87.
Now for hard facts. By 1991, the Sport was a higher end hybrid (called a "cross bike" by Nishiki). It had flat bars and a seven speed Shimano cassette, rapid fire shifters and 700c rims. In 1991 it came in red or black. This information come straight from the Nishiki catalogue.
So, if yours has turned down bars, my guess is its a late 80's bike.
Hope this helps.
USA Zorro may also be able to help.
EDIT: Thanks USAZorro, I meant to include the reference to Vintage Treks and use the date codes on the cranks or rear deraileur to nail down the date.

wow, this is exactly what I was hoping to know! thanks for the quick replies.


I was mistaken, the rear deraileur is Shimano "Light Action" which apparently wasn't introduced until 1994... however the Dia-compe brakes have date codes which place them at 84(front) and 86(rear)...
A Shimano code on the stem shifter bracket/clamp is KC, pointing that particular part at 1986.
I'm assuming the bike is anywhere between 86 and 90.

It's very possible this bike was refurbished or upgraded/updated with different parts by one of its probably many owners... which would explain the SIS shifting and rear deraileur.

there's a "VP" on the suguino crank but nothing that the trek site could explain.

Very cool stuff and thanks for the quick help!

wow, this is exactly what I was hoping to know! thanks for the quick replies.


I was mistaken, the rear deraileur is Shimano "Light Action" which apparently wasn't introduced until 1994... however the Dia-compe brakes have date codes which place them at 84(front) and 86(rear)...
A Shimano code on the stem shifter bracket/clamp is KC, pointing that particular part at 1986.
I'm assuming the bike is anywhere between 86 and 90.

It's very possible this bike was refurbished or upgraded/updated with different parts by one of its probably many owners... which would explain the SIS shifting and rear deraileur.

there's a "VP" on the suguino crank but nothing that the trek site could explain.

Very cool stuff and thanks for the quick help!

Index shifting is a common upgrade, I'd use the earliest component as the true date.

BTW, pics?

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/3176/nishikisport01wg6.jpg
i think i'll call it Sammy(it's got some pearl flake effect to it, very salmon colored)

obviously, i think the bars were wrapped recently and the topclips/christophe straps don't look original.
vetta seats are a dime a dozen, but it looks time-appropriate.

these were all the dates i could find on the componentry:


Shimano Stem shifter clamp, "KC" March 1986
Shimano Rear Derailer- Shimano Light Action ?1994? (a website said these weren't made until 94, probable upgrade)



Suguino Crank- VP? (no one knows about suguino's number systems nor the letter designations... very hard to tell.)


Front Dia-Comp Calipers 1084- Oct. 1984
Rear Dia-Comp Calipers D 86 Dec. 1986

so basically the brakes are all i'm going on, and i figure someone either did a lot of scrounging to find a matching set or they sat around in a warehouse before the bike sold.

the ulock, computer, and light mounts i added. i freakin' hate that ulock on the bike, but it's such a pain to carry on my person that i've been trying to deal with it.

I think the 1994 date for Shimano Light action is incorrect. I have a bike that I bought new in 1986 that has a Shimano Light Action derailer.

I would have guessed late 1980s from the paint color alone. The other component dates just confirms it.

Nice bike cc700. I have two old Nishiki MTBs. I've been looking for a Nishiki Road bike but have not found one. Good luck with yours.