Here's one I got for $15 at a community rummage sale. Serial # WG00603, so it's an '87?
Wrote down the components:

Infinity Tange Tapered double butted Chrom Moly frame made by Kawamura.
Maillard front and rear hubs, front hub being high flanged. Stamped with 37 86, and 41 86. (not original?)
Maillard skewer on front wheel, unknown skewer on rear. (not original?)
Shimano SLR side pull caliper brakes with Shimano SLR hooded brake levers.
Shimano SIS Light Action shifters, indexed rear, friction front. Mounted on downtube.
Shimano Light Action rear derailleur, Shimano front derailleur.
Shimano 6 cog freewheel, twisted tooth.
Sugino VP 175mm crankset with 52/42 gearing.
MKS pedals, missing one plastic foot cage.
Mistral M13L front rim, 36 hole, hard anodized gray. (not original?)
MAVIC MA2 alloy rear rim, 36 spoke. (not original?)
SR seatpost.
Vetta seat.
Winpista handlebars.


http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...irightside.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...shikicrank.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...frontbrake.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...frontwheel.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...hikileftbb.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...irearbrake.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...ikirearder.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...irearwheel.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...kishifters.jpg

geek

Nishiki Alouette
 

I've got a hybride Nishiki, I changed alot of parts though because the ones on this where damaged, not sure whats origanal on it but I bought it used for 50$ nice bike to ride anyway, I found no info on this whatsoeer, it's like it was never made. lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...u/100_0029.jpg[/IMG]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...u/100_0028.jpg[/IMG]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...u/100_0030.jpg[/IMG]

1978 Superbe. Serial# KH05848. All date codes 1977 or 1978. Tubing sticker for "double butted".

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/15...87c58235_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1164/...9817590c_b.jpg

^^ That BB shell is awesome!

As posted in it's own thread I have what I believe to be a Giant manufactured Nishiki Century, model year 1984

The serial on the drop-out is G0184. I believe everything on this bike is stock except the seat (obviously).

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...X/_5076263.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...X/_5076264.jpg

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...X/_5076265.jpg

My Nishiki International, purchased off CL a couple of months ago. It was advertised as a 1978, but according to the serial number (KG 52378) it's a 1977.

The previous owner upgraded/changed a number of components, so I don't know what is original. The current configuration is:

Derailleurs: SunTour Cyclone, the front has a TD date stamp, the rear has a TH.
Shifters: SunTour Power Shift
Brakes: Dia-Compe
Rims: Araya (F), Super Champion Competition Gentleman (R)
Hubs: Shimano (F), Normandy (R)
Crank: Sugino Super Maxi
Pedals: Kyokuto Top-Run

http://keithmo.com/Biking/Bikes/Nishiki1/DSCN0377.JPG

http://keithmo.com/Biking/Bikes/Nishiki1/DSCN0379.JPG

http://keithmo.com/Biking/Bikes/Nishiki1/DSCN0380.JPG

http://keithmo.com/Biking/Bikes/Nishiki1/DSCN0382.JPG

http://keithmo.com/Biking/Bikes/Nishiki1/DSCN0383.JPG

http://keithmo.com/Biking/Bikes/Nishiki1/DSCN0385.JPG

my free find
 

wf06192 could any one tell me anything about it?

Pictures of my free find..

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...8_02220122.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...8_02220121.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...8_02220123.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...8_02220125.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...o/drums004.jpg

Woodrow ---- free find? I'd have to say you did mighty fine! Those Kawamura frames are really sweet and have a nice smooth responsive ride. Your International looks to be in fine shape too. Lp

I've read this thread over and over and can't sort out serial #

CG02664 C-canada got that...G-7 got that...02664 is the th #frame produced that year? But how do you know 90's 80's 70's etc...just by components and styling I guess?

This bike is hanging in a pawnshop right now they want $100 CAD for it. Perfect condition...the crank still has a big sticker on it.

I tried to take a couple sneaky photos with my camera but got busted and asked go leave! I did get one of the serial # though

From what I can remember:

Win handlebars
suntour index/friction shifters suntour derailuers
diacompe brake levers
cantilever brakes


it's an International

I want to buy it!! I love the paint...it's Aqua and Pearl.

EDIT: I found this pic of the very same model on CL Montreal.
the one I am looking at though I would almost call mint.

http://montreal.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-...QAdIdZ52288343

Nishiki Rally
 

I've had this Nishiki Rally for a couple of years now, and I really enjoy the ride (that may be because I have nothing to compare against, other than a couple of cheap department store MTBs).

Going by the serial number, CB 07104, this should be the 7104th frame in 1982. It's got Suntour stem shifters (which I would love to change to brifters, if even possible). The derailleurs are Suntour Sprit in front and Honor in the rear. The brakes are all Diacompe. I have no info on what categories everything fits into... The bike is good enough for me and hopefully my morning commute. I still would love to do indexed shifters though...

Yes, to determine the decade, you go by components and livery. Not too many components have a 10 year life span. In this case, it is obviously 1987, on the basis of the paint scheme and decals. That plus, my wife has the the Canadian version of the 1977 International and it looks nothing like those pics.

thank you
 

wow you answered all my questions. my nishiki marina has G0181 stamped on the drop out. i really appreciate all of your research.

Out-of-sequence SN?
 

The frame to my Nishiki Prestige starts with KE, which would seem to indicate that it's an 85 (E=5, yes?), although if it's an 85 the K should be a W. Maybe this is one of those cases where the exception proves the rule--whatever the hell that means. Sigh. From the original components and tubing (Tange 2) I'd think 1985 should be right--certainly not 1975. It's a nice rider.
JV

woodrow361, I believe your bike is a 1987 based on the serial number and the graphics.

The database has 6 samples of confirmed 1985/1986 models, all with a WExxxxx serial format. A Prestige would definitely be from that period.

There are a number of explanations as to why it starts with a KE, but they are all speculation. First there may have been a transition period, early in the year. Knowing your complete serial number would help. Secondly, Kawamura may have pre-stamped the W or K on the bottom brackets. Yours may have started in 1984, but got finished in 1985 or maybe a batch of older, pre-stamped bottom bracket turned up in 1985. We could work our way down to less probable situations like an employee being on sick leave or vacation, then coming back and not realizing the serial number format had changed.

The bottom line is that there could be numerous explanations and we'll probably never know which is the case. It seems you always find a couple of anomalies in every serial number format.

The complete serial number is WE07436--a fairly low number for the year apparently, so maybe T-Mar's transition-period-early-in-the-year theory is correct.
Speaking of the bottom line, my SN isn't all on one line as in all the photos on this thread that I've seen. The "WE07" is on a line above, with the "436" on a second line beneath it, thusly:
WE07
436
Thanks, JV

Umm, maybe not. I have WE serial numbers lower than yours. BTW, I'm assuming you meant KE07436.

The fact that it is written on two lines almost makes one think that the two numbers on the top line may be a further stratifier, possibly a month, fortnight or week indicator. However, I have W-serial numbers with the first two numbers higher than 12, so that would appear to rule out a month indicator. I also have cases with it above 26, so that rules out fortnight. However, I have nothing above 52, so the a week indicator is a possibility.

However, the assumption that the first two numbers are a week indicator would mean that there were further changes when when adopting the W-format, as I have several examples of C and K-format serial numbers with the first two numbers exceeding 52.

T-Mar, I'd like to add the seventh example. I picked up a 1986 Prestige. Dating is based on the date codes on both Suntour derailers (BK & CB). The serial number is WE16 259. WE16 is on top over 259 in the center of the BB casing. It's a little rough looking. I'd like to clean it up a bit, then I'll take pics and post.
The serial number seems a little strange, the 16,259th frame from 85 produced with a late 85 derailer and a early 86 derailer.

T-Mar, I'm sorry, I've made this confusing. The initial letter IS a W, not a K. I had it backwards in my initial post, where I said it was a K. The problem was a touch of dyslexia combined with my trying to carry the serial number from the bike shed to the keyboard in my leaky head instead of writing it down. To clarify once and for all: the SN is WE07436. Problem solved--the W indicates 85 or later, and the E indicates 85. Sorry to have muddied the waters unnecessarily.
Incidentally, thanks for your willingness to share all that you know about Japanese bikes of that era. My Nishiki and my Miyata Nine Twelve are my two favorite bikes, I think.
JV

Well, at least it's another sample that contradicts the possibility of it being a month indicator. Even a week indicator would make it too early in 1985 to be a 1986. A fortnight indicator would put it into August, which makes a 1986 model possible, but still the frame would have to have hung around the factory for 1/2 year waiting for that derailleur.

The other consideration is that the serial number evidence indicates that some low end production had been moved to Giant , in Taiwan, as far back as 1980. We know this continued through 1985 and it would make sense that, over the intervening years, more models and volumes were sent to the more cost effective operations at Giant. It quite possbile that management forsaw the yen-shock of 1985 and had already offloaded much of the Nishiki production, leaving only the lower volume, high end and some mid-range models at Kawamura.

Or maybe my assumptions on the format is wrong. After all, it is only reverse engineering based on observation and analysis. It's meant to be a dynamic and is not cast in stone, though many members take it that way.

Frankenbike?

I picked up a Nishiki Regal last week and I can't find any info on these things.
serial # CD10480
Suntour shifters and f.d.
Shimano Exage r.d.
Shimano biopace chainrings
full Dia-Compe side pull brakes
Araya rims

Has Norco scribbled on the chainstay.

Is it weird to see Suntour and Shimano on the same bike??

That should be a 1984 Canadian market model, designed by Norco. The Exage rear derailleur is too modern for it and it is an obvious replacement.

I friend of mine found this early Nishiki Rally at a yard sale. I tooks some pics and wrote down the derailer letter codes and the serial number. From the research I've done, the Rally is usually the bare bones, initial entry level bike for Nishiki (when that model was available as a road bike). So finding the cottered, steel crank on this bike was not a surprise. However the date codes on the Suntour Honor and Spirit (sp) derailers is a puzzle. The Suntour date codes are ZE (rear) and ZH (front) indicating this is a 1984 bike???? I'm really surprised to find a 1984 LBS brand with cottered cranks at that late date.
I can only come up with a few senerios, 1) this is a special model made for department stores 2) the derailers were replaced in 1984 (but why both?) 3) This is a Canadian model (I doubt it) 4) I'm reading the date code chart incorrectly 5) Nishiki really did turn out this low end bike in 1984!
The serial number is located at the bottom of the seat tube, not the BB, it is ARYH 332012.
So now I'll be the grasshopper and wait for the T-Mar to educate me. (As always very much appreciated). If someone else has any clues about this bike please let me know. Thanks for the info.

Well, the frame was made by Araya, not Giant or Kawamura. This is the first sample of an Araya made Nishiki that I've seen. My 1981. 1982 and 1983 Canadian catalogs all show the Rally as the bottom end model but equipped with cotterless cranksets. You've read the codes correctly, so it should be a 1983 or 1984 model, assuming the derailleurss are original. Beside the crankset the other other interesting thing are the brakes, which appear to be center-pull. The Rally had side[ull as early as 1981, according to my literature. The 1983 model also went to cable tunnels on the top of the top tube, but this one still has the old stops under the tube. FWIW, my analyisis is a the bottom of the line Canadian model, but with extensive rebuilding. We haven't cracked the Araya codes yet, so the year is unknown. Which headbadge/decal does it have?

I started a thread yesterday asking for any information about a Nishiki Katmandu, a hybrid/commuter style model with Exage LX/CX components. (here). It was manufactured in Taiwan, and apparently originally sold (or maybe later serviced) from a bike shop in Whippany, NJ.

I found a serial number on the bottom bracket (running around the bracket, not across it like the others I've seen in this thread): M2D0002445

... Just uploaded pictures to the other thread.