jameslent

Just bought a Nishiki International from a guy here in Columbia, SC, who said he used to do charity rides on it back in the eighties. Paint job is a white-yellow-green combo. It has a Tange Number One double-butted frame, 4130 Cr-Mo fork, Sakae SX cranks, Shimano Light Action derailleurs/down-tube shifters, MKS AR-8 toe-cage pedals, Dia-Compe QR sidepull brakes, and 700c wheels with Weinmann rims and Maillard QR hubs. I'll have pictures when my wife gets back from visiting her parents and returns the camera. From the codes on the derailleurs and the handlebars, it's probably a 1987 model. Anyone have any more info on where it stood in the Nishiki lineup? It's a bit small for me, but it rides quite nicely. My commuter is a Nishiki, too -- a 1989 Prestige -- and the International seems like a superior bike in a lot of ways.

The weirdest thing about it are the seatstays. They're a single tube that splits right before the brakes to go around the wheel -- there's very little tire clearance, and certainly no room for a fender. I haven't seen that before on a steel bike. On the single-tube part is a decal that says Loyola, which I can't find any information on. Maybe it's some kind of identifier for the guy who rode it way back when?

East Hill

T-Mar is the expert, but I have both a Prestige and an International, and I would say that the Prestige is the more upscale model.

But I am dying to see the photos .

East Hill

bcoppola

My guess: previous owner was affiliated with one of the several Loyola Colleges, Universities or other Catholic institutions around the country named for St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Of no significance in IDing the bike, therefore. But perhaps divine Providence led you to it, my son.

cyclotoine

Yeah but this international is different. it has the late 80s mono-stay (cool!) and tange 1 is a good tube set. I reckon you have one fine frame there. A good light weight commuter or even fast rider/century bike.

East Hill

True! I remember T-Mar talking about the evolution of the International. At any rate, it sounds as if it will be a good addition to T-Mar's database .

East Hill

T-Mar

The Prestige was typically a notch or two below the International, but that could all depend on the exact year, as International specs varied quite a bit. However, I don't know if we want to go by those component codes. While the Tange #1 Internationals were produced circa 1986-1988, they were typically equipped with SunTour derailleurs. Given the Sugino crankarms and Dia-Compe brakes, I suspect this was the case with your model also. Also, while Maillard hubs were used on some early 1980s models, they would be out of place for late 1980s. I suggest you try to determine the age via the serial number. See https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/390318-nishiki-serial-number-database.html .

jameslent

T-Mar, I can't seem to find a serial number on the frame anywhere. I looked in the usual places, including the drive-side dropout, but no luck. The guy I bought it from said he'd owned it since "the early eighties," so I wouldn't be terribly surprised to find out it was older than the component codes indicated. It does seem to be pretty similar to this bike, though: https://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=207600. I also found mention of a reputedly 1989 Nishiki with the same white/yellow/green color scheme. Do you know of any other weird places the serial might be hiding?

Here's a photo:

T-Mar

Serial number location could vary, especially if it very late 1980s, when various manufacturers were being used. Normal locations are the bottom shell, rear droputs, top or bottom of the seat tube, seat lug, head lug or head tube. Personally, I don't recall Nishiki using mono-stays in the early 1980s. The fade paint and Tange#1 tubing would also be out of place for that era.

I think we are to the point where you need to post pics, which would also make a certain lady very happpy. Baring pics, please answer the following questions, which will help to determine the era:

1. Are the derailleur cables routed under the bottom bracket or on top of it.?

2. Is the fork a Unicrown design (i.e fork blades curve into, and are welded to, the steering tube)?

3. Is the rear dropout vertical, or horizontal? The latter has a long nearly horizontal slot allowing the rear wheel to be moved forwards or backwards while vertical dropouts have a vertical slot that is only big enough to accept the axle, without any fore/aft adjustment of the rear wheel).

4. Is the last "I" of the Nishiki logo partly obscured by a smaller rectangular decal with somew writing on it?

jameslent

1. Both derailleur cables are routed under the bottom bracket.
2. The fork is a Unicrown design.
3. The rear dropouts are vertical.
4. The final "I" on the downtube is partially obscured by a rectangle with "Performance Equipe" inside it (see photos).

I found the serial number; it's stamped on the bottom of the downtube just above the bottom bracket: W89060920.

Pictures here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesle...83078/sizes/l/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesle...83086/sizes/l/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesle...83104/sizes/l/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesle...83110/sizes/l/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesle...83120/sizes/l/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesle...83130/sizes/l/

T-Mar

1989 model. The Shimano Light Action derailleurs are replacements.

John E

How does he do that? A tip o' the helmet to our friend, T-Mar.

jameslent

Thanks, T-Mar. Sorry it took so long to find the serial -- it was stamped rather faintly, so I missed it at first.

If the Light Action components are replacements, what came stock?

Roll-Monroe-Co

Hah! That was exactly my reaction! Another amazing call!

tk89

Well, here I am resurrecting a 2 1/2 year old thread but i just got a Nishiki Prestige "Performance Equipe" and had some things to add here.

The stock groupset appears to be Suntour Edge. My white 1989 Prestige comes with "Suntour Edge" branded Diacompe brakes, "CrMo 4130" stickers on the fork and seat tube and has a crownless fork. The decal has a red 'Nishiki" with "Prestige" in smaller black lettering. It also says "Performance Equipe" in smaller lettering and "Triple Butted", as well.

I'm not sure about this, but the 1989 Prestige seems to have been built using 4130 CrMo tubing, as opposed to Tange Prestige tubing. I'm not sure if they two types are one and the same or different materials entirely, but from what I can gather, the 1989 Nishiki Prestige actually doesn't use Tange Prestige tubes...

My particular frame is 54 cm and has a rather aggressive geometry. The top tube is about 1 cm shorter than my 54 cm Felt and Nishiki definitely feels quicker (in steering response) and less stable at speed. That said, the bike is really light for that era and price point and is actually more fun to ride than my Felt. OTOH, I wouldn't want to ride the Nishiki for any long runs. The bike definitely feels more jittery than the Felt and tires me out more quickly.

Then again, the Mavic Aksiums on my Felt probably have a lot to do with the smoother ride or marybe the longer wheelbase.

Either way, the Prestige is a blast to ride and its a keeper.

T-Mar

The Edge group was intended for bicycles in the $450 range. Bicycles in that price range typically came with Tange Infinity, a triple butted, seamed, 4130 CrMo tubest. During this era, Tange Prestige was typically found on $1000 bicycles. It was much lighter and higher strength.

I have one other Nishiki Prestige in my database, which was attributed to 1989 but was equipped with Shimano RX100. Both the serial number and component codes were 1989. While it could have been a 1990 model produced in late 1989, there was no Prestige listed in 1990 by the US distributor. In an attempt to resolve the conflict between these two bicycles, it would be appreciated if you could supply the serial number and a photo.

sjpitts 

I have seen a very similar Nishiki Performance Equipe here for sale in Arizona. I think there is a thread about it.

I also have in my possession a specialized allez transition that appears to have a very similar frame design. At least with the same style "mono stay" and lug at the top of the seat tube. I wonder if they were made by the same manufacture. I think this bike is a 1991.

Konstantino

I have this same Nishiki "Prestige" that tk89 is talking about. it came with the full suntour edge group. It has become my go-to bike. here is a pic of the bike now and a pic of the serial#. btw other than the frame, fork, headset and shifters, nothing is original on this bike anymore.




serial number gb925416 h12

TigreBici

Helo i want to know the year of this nishiki it has a 7x2 and shimano 105 and what s it worth apox is in excellent conditions

T-Mar

Based of the decal style, in conjunction with what appears to be dual pivot calipers, it should be a 1990 Nishiki International with Shimano 105SC. Pedals are replacements. If you want confirmation,you should post the serial number. Value will be dependent upon mechanical and cosmetic condition, along with the local market conditions. To provide a proper assessment asessment we will need a good drive side photo along with close-ups of the major components. Knowing where you live will also help. You will receive more responses if you repost or have it moved to this forum. Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Bike Forums

TigreBici

Thanks. I just disassemble it to put new grease on. Will move to the other forum, thnks so much.

TigreBici

I was unable to find the serial number on the bottom bracket, from texas

brian85

I have a bike that looks exactly like the bike in the OP that T-Mar has indentified as being an '89 model. Here's the part that confuses me: the rear brake caliper is mounted on the opposite side of the seat stays. Both brake calipers and the deraileurs are shimano 105. The rear brake caliper cannot be simply put in the traditional position ("behind" the seat stay) because the nut is recessed into the frame on the rear side.

So ... is it possible that this bike was produced in this way? I can post a picture in a few days if that's helpful!

T-Mar

Brian85, welcome to the forums. I've never seen that. It sounds like the factory accidentally brazed the brake bridge backwards and simply decided to let it go by installing the caliper backwards. Photographs are always appreciated.

brian85

Thanks T-Mar! I've attached some pictures. Are these sorts of accidents common for older bikes? Do you think Shimano 105 is the original groupset?

I was also interested in the lugwork on this bike. It seems like the top tube and seat stay tubes are fillet brazed? The serial number on the bike is very difficult to read (very faint), but I think it's 9068M or W8906 (depending on which side "is up"). The number is located on the diagonal tube near the bottom bracket.

T-Mar

Depending on the order of operations, somebody either installed and welded the brake bolt sleeve backwards or the the top of the mono-stay tube was mitred backwards. The error probably wasn't caught until the brake calipers were installed. This is the first time I've seen this error on a bicycle.

Your serial number indicates June 1989 frame manufacture. Typically, manufacture of the new models starts around September or October. The 105SC caliper has a date code of April 1990. The 1990 International was spec'd with 105SC but having a frame hang around for 10 months waiting for parts would seem to be excessive. One possible scenario is that the frame was set aside in quarantine after the defect was caught. Rather than rework the frame, they eventually decided to install the caliper backwards and outfitted the frame with 1990 components.

Regarding the fillet brazing, I know that the joint appearance was a priority on the TIG welded frames, as initially they sanded the welds on the aluminum frames (such as the Altron) to improve the aesthetics. However, TIG steel fillets are smaller, so these are either fillet brazed or built up and sanded. As a cost concession they only appear to have done the highly visible joints (i.e. top of mono-stay, both ends of top tube and front end of down tube).