Nishiki Medalist, Searching Yardsales Pays Off!
#1
Bike Junkie
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
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Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
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Nishiki Medalist, Searching Yardsales Pays Off!
Last Friday night, I responded to a yard sale ad on CL that listed a Nishiki "race bike" for sale at a Saturday yard sale. No Pics. I called the guy and he said he wanted $125, didn't know the model. My first thought was this is probably a 70's, low end, cottered crank bike with rusted steel wheels. When he said the rims were "Araya 700C" I said "I'll be right over". I figured the lowest bike it could be is a late 80s Olympic. When I got there it was dark but I saw a complete bike. My flashlight revealed "Medalist" on the top tube and a "Tange 1" decal on the seat tube. Oh, Yeah! He lowered the price, I grabbed it and ran. It needs some work, but it's all there, Suntour Cyclone M II derailers, Suberbe brakes, Sugino Aero Mighty cranks. The Serial number is GE 04671 and does not appear to follow the typical Nishiki serial numbers in the Nishiki database. The rear DR is has the newest date code of the two derailers. It was manufactured in September of 1984. So I estimate this is a 1985 model. From what I've been able to gather from a BF search, this model is one of Nishiki's nicest bikes and was only offered for a couple of years. It may not have been cataloged. It's been a long time since I've been excited about a bike, but this one has my full attention. I went down to look at it three times the night I bought it and this morning I changed the rusted chain before going to church.
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#4
Bike Junkie
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
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Thanks for the comments. Yes this one stays with me. Being a Nishiki fanatic and since the frame size is only one cm larger than my optimum frame size, this one is a keeper.
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#5
Ellensburg, WA
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Nice bike - great find and great price!
I'm waiting for yard sale season to begin here again in the "north". I was at someone's house yesterday and peeked in the garage on my way out and saw three mountain bikes hanging in the back of the garage, what looked like a Sekai road bike in the front and two identical Klein Rascal mountain bikes (let alone the two Trek mountain bikes sitting behind the garage). I may have to get to know these folks a little more - I'd love a Klein.
I'm waiting for yard sale season to begin here again in the "north". I was at someone's house yesterday and peeked in the garage on my way out and saw three mountain bikes hanging in the back of the garage, what looked like a Sekai road bike in the front and two identical Klein Rascal mountain bikes (let alone the two Trek mountain bikes sitting behind the garage). I may have to get to know these folks a little more - I'd love a Klein.
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1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
#6
Gone World Hepster
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Location: Lincoln, NE
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Nice find roccobike, now if you won't be needing that beat-up old saddle. The Suntour Symmetric shifters are always a nice Nishiki addition. It's just a personal prejudice of mine, but the sooner you remove those doofus aero bars to restore the clean, aesthetic lines of a beautiful bike the better.