Classic & Vintage - Help me fix up my Nishiki Custom Sport

I could use some advice for fixing up my new-to-me Nishiki Custom Sport

The bike is beautiful in person and also my size. It's a bit rough at the moment but will really come around with some work. Here are some 'before' pics, well mostly before, I removed the toe clips because they were too small for my feet.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/Nishiki%20Custom%20Sport/Nishiki_cs_front.jpg


http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/Nishiki%20Custom%20Sport/Nishiki_cs_side_2.jpg

Since this picture was taken I've regreased the BB and raised the saddle to give a nice fist-full of seat post, not for looks, but because this is where it fits me.

The Avocet that's on it seems comfortable enough, but I'm going to try my Brooks Champion (honey) on it and I think I will steal the handlebars from my Gitaine as they're are wider than any others I own. Is it sacrilege to put French bars on a Japanese bike?

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If you're wondering why I'm choosing the Nishiki over the Gitaine, I'm 6'4" and 265 lbs and the Gitaine feels like it's too light weight to handle my substantial weight atm. I've been loosing weight, and someday maybe I'll feel more comfortable on such a light weight bike, but for today I'm leaning towards the Nishiki.
After looking at bar tape at my LBS, I find my choices unsatisfactory, they have a black gel tape, and cork in either red,tan, or blue. Believe it or not I don't like the feel of cork tape, so that's out. I actually like the feel of the bar tape that's on the Gitaine right now, I think it's a vinyl but I don't know if the white will clean up enough or go with the honey brooks and suit the rest of the bike.

The last thing I need to do is replace the freewheel. The 6-speed that's currently on it works sometimes but slips under load. I have an old 5-speed laying around that I can use in the short run but what do you think of these

Shimano 7-speed MegaRange freewheel

http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=14291

or Sunrace

http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=5150

I don't know if the granny gear will work, or if I should just get a regular freewheel and call it good.

Is there anything else I should upgrade?
Any suggestions are most welcome.

French handlebars often take a smaller clamp diameter (23.5) so your bars could be loose.

I would recommend Bike Ribbon Pro bar tape in white. It is cheap, stays pretty clean and does not feel "gooshy".

The old FW may have its own issues unless it has been used lightly. A new 6 speed would be my 1st choice with a new chain.
The 7 speed may be a very tight fit, necessitating spacers and then you have to watch your axle length for engagement with the dropouts, and the larger cog might necessitate a new DR.

BTW - wonderful bike!

I would probably move the stem and bars from the Gitaine over as a unit, but the hoods on the Gitane are sticky/decomposing so I'd want to switch out the levers. I can either go with aero while I'm messing with it, or keep the Nishiki levers. Or I could go with a threadless adapter and get modern wide bars. It's not a bike of historical significance. I think your take on the freewheel reinforces my leaning to 'keep it simple' and just get a new freewheel of the same size/type to replace the 6-speed that's there. Any suggestions?

It would cost a few bucks, but if you buy a Nitto Noodle bar in a wider width, I think you would be very very happy with it.
Insofar as the levers are concerned, I would give them a turkeywing-ectomy and a pair of new Cane Creek hoods.

Should I keep the brakes, or look for something a little more spiffy?

I agree with everything Auchencrow has said.

If you're thinking about moving to a 7 speed freewheel just for more ratios you'll likely be OK with nothing or just a spacer on the drive side, but if you're going to a larger big cog you may run into max cog size limit or chain wrap capacity issues with your RD.

+1 on the noodle bar too, i love mine in 46cm.

Your brake calipers look pretty decent...a new set of levers would be a good upgrade though. If you like a chubbier aero lever the Cane Creek SCR5 is my fave but if you prefer a more svelte lever you might prefer a non-aero 80's Shimano SLR lever or a new aero Tektro lever.

What kind of derailleurs are on there?

The Raleigh Alyeska I recently restored had the same drivetrain (except it was a triple). I put Belleri bars (French) on it because 42cm SR randonneur bars are uncomfortable as hell for a full grown man and my LBS had the Belleri for $10.

I use a Nitto Noodle bar on my ride. Love it. I traded my 46cm Noodle for a 44cm which I prefer, but I suspect your shoulders are wider than mine so I'd start with the 46cm if you go that route.

Do the chain wrap math, but I suspect your AR RD can handle a bigger granny.

If you keep the brake levers, perform the aforementioned operation and get a set of Cane Creek hoods. Those look like Dia Compe 500 brakes. With some new Kool Stop Supra 2 pads dialed in properly, they'll give you plently of stopping power, even at your size. I'd keep them for now. That said, dual pivot calipers and aero levers will give you better/more mechanical advantage. Regardless, new, good-quality pads are in order.

I have wide feet and haven't been very comfortable with clips so far. I use the MKS Lambda pedal with some of those Tioga sharp spikes and ride with running shoes. I love that setup, but I'd like to try half clips or clipless on some longer rides. Platforms are hard to beat when riding in traffic for me.

Nice ride. Enjoy it!

I like the cut-outs in the current levers, but could take or leave the turkey legs. I've got 2 sets of aero levers (1 new/1 used) in my parts stash that I could use, but I want to go with the cane creek because they look comfortable and I tried a similar set out at the LBS and just liked how they felt. This will be a rider, so it doesn't matter so much what I do. I really don't ride many hills, so a bigger granny might be more work than it's worth, except for those times when I'll be cursing that I don't have it. I do have a Suntour V-GT on the shelf that I could swap in if I need to, but I've enjoyed the smooth shifting of the Suntour AR deraileurs on my other bikes. And as stated, I'm 265-lbs, no need to worry about a gram here or there with components, I will choose robust over light-weight any day, of course I wouldn't turn my nose up at anything that is both of those things.

.... I do have a Suntour V-GT on the shelf that I could swap in if I need to, but I've enjoyed the smooth shifting of the Suntour AR deraileurs on my other bikes. .....

BPJ -
The V-GT will almost assuredly swallow any granny gear you throw at it, and the shifting is as good or (IMO) better than the AR (which is good too).
You can have your cake and eat it with that DR.