Classic & Vintage - Nishiki Royal- finally done (pics)

For you Nishiki fans, here is my finished project. A Nishiki Royal that I fell in love with and decided to upgrade. The frame isn't in great condition, but the bike rides like a dream. Here's lots of pics. I went with bar end shifters and routed them ergo style. I pulled a lot of the shimano 105 parts off an old bike I had that was too small for me. Enjoy.

http://pages.google.com/edit/mattsbikes/DSCN4839.JPG/DSCN4839-large.jpg

http://pages.google.com/edit/mattsbikes/DSCN4840.JPG/DSCN4840-large.jpg

http://pages.google.com/edit/mattsbikes/DSCN4838.JPG/DSCN4838-large.jpg

http://pages.google.com/edit/mattsbikes/DSCN4842.JPG/DSCN4842-large.jpg

http://pages.google.com/edit/mattsbikes/DSCN4843.JPG/DSCN4843-large.jpg

http://pages.google.com/edit/mattsbikes/DSCN4847.JPG/DSCN4847-large.jpg

http://pages.google.com/edit/mattsbikes/DSCN4848.JPG/DSCN4848-large.jpg

http://pages.google.com/edit/mattsbikes/DSCN4844.JPG/DSCN4844-large.jpg

http://pages.google.com/edit/mattsbikes/DSCN4852.JPG/DSCN4852-medium.jpg

http://pages.google.com/edit/mattsbikes/DSCN4853.JPG/DSCN4853-medium.jpg

Very, very nice. And if you plan on actually riding this bike, you may wish to add a water bottle cage or two... . :)

Very, very nice. And if you plan on actually riding this bike, you may wish to add a water bottle cage or two... . :)

Indeed, that would be necessary. I just barely finished it this evening, so that was sort of an oversight. I am very excited to ride it; a lot.

Awesome. Nishikis rule!

Very nice!

Would you be able to get a better shot of the headbadge/decal?

East "Fellow Nishiki Nut" Hill

mmmm very nice, and just my size!

I don't know if this is a unique logo or if it dates the bike at all. Any info would be nice about the bike. I've done searches for a Nishiki Royal and come up with very little other than that a few people out there have mentioned them. I am suspicious that the bike was made by Kawamura, (1) because of the detailing on the bike being similar to others I've seen by Kawamura, (2) the detailed lug work and (3) because when I removed the bottom bracket it said Kawamura on it. I think it was intended to be a touring style bike. It was stet up with a triple crank and a five speed derailleur. It also has the eyelets in the dropouts for a rack, but lacks them on the top of the stays. It does have two water bottle slots, one on top and one below the down tube as I've seen on similar touring bikes. I'm adding it to my completely original Univega Specialissima as my two favorite bikes.

BTW- this was an abused and neglected bike that a guy gave me. It had been sitting out in the rain for years and was in pretty bad shape. I had to pay the bike shop to drill out the SR Laprade seatpost when every other method failed. The stem was also frozen to the fork. So now, after all of that, I'm glad to be giving it a new life.

http://pages.google.com/edit/mattsbikes/DSCN4856.JPG/DSCN4856-large.jpg

http://pages.google.com/edit/mattsbikes/DSCN4857.JPG/DSCN4857-large.jpg

http://pages.google.com/edit/mattsbikes/DSCN4859.JPG/DSCN4859-large.jpg

http://pages.google.com/edit/mattsbikes/DSCN4858.JPG/DSCN4858-large.jpg

Thanks for the headbadge/decal photos, matimeo.

The 'N' on yours is a bit more stretched out than the 'N' on my 1979 Nishiki Pro. But, the coloured bits around the 'N' are just like the coloured bits on my 1984 or 1985 Nishiki Sport mixte.

Perhaps an '81 or '82? Those lugs are beautiful.

East Hill

Same logo is on my $10 garage sale Nishiki. But it's to big for me so it will have to go.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/DSC01735.jpg

The 1983 Nishiki catalogue is a match for the headbadge/decal. So, somewhere between 1979 and 1985. I would guess from the lack of braze-on cable guides that it would be earlier, rather than later.

Did you find a serial number?

East Hill

The serial number is ARYC466854, located on the side of the seat tube just above the bottom bracket. I'm not sure what that means- I'll google it, but any info would be nice. The component group that came on the bike was very nice. It was shimano parts with a cool little arrow design (I'll try to get pictures later). They were as light or lighter than the 105 parts I replaced them with. Does anybody know where the Royal model fell in Nishiki's hierarchy of bikes?

You've got Golden Arrows [gasp]! That means you have a VERY nice bike.

If you don't want them, let me know. Please.

East Hill

How nice are we talking about? I actually kept the front derailleur on the bike since it worked so nice- plus it had a little stop for the cable and the campy derailleur I was going to use didn't. I was thinking of ebaying the components, I guess they'd go for more as a set... Tell me more about golden arrows.

A 1978 "headbadge" decal.

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/d/250224-2/DSCN1127_edited-1.jpg

Here is a link (http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=318624) to another thread I started about Nishiki serial numbers. I just added some pictures of the components on the bike, which possibly are shimano golden arrow?

Yes, definitely Shimano Golden Arrows. Beautiful!

So, just remember, those are good trade bait if you don't want them :) .

East Hill

BTW- this was an abused and neglected bike that a guy gave me. It had been sitting out in the rain for years and was in pretty bad shape. I had to pay the bike shop to drill out the SR Laprade seatpost when every other method failed. The stem was also frozen to the fork. So now, after all of that, I'm glad to be giving it a new life.

Very nice! Rescued bikes are the best kind ...