rgver

Found this at one of the flea markets I go to to keep our store in stock of weird stuff. It was at a price I couldn't leave behind. I'm pretty sure it's late 70's but haven't check the serial # or component dates. I have a few things to finish up on my wife's Univega and then this is either next or second in line for tinkering

John E

It appears to have an integral derailleur hanger and a later-generation Maxy crank, which would indeed put it in the late, rather than the early, 1970s. The barcons are a big improvement over the stem shifters which were standard on earlier Kokusais/Internationals.

rgver

Thanks John, just had a quick look at the serial# and it was built in '77 thanks to TMar's serial decoder.
I like it, I just have better bikes in my stable so this one will be serviced, the fenders aligning better and will be on the local craigslist.

RacerX1

I had one of these! I absolutely loved it. Great project. I had no problem getting $175 for mine. Here's a picture before I got it all sorted out. https://i.imgur.com/XHbUMTB.jpg Check the picture out. Don't see that color scheme everyday!

Prowler 

I'd say you've got a great bike there. I believe, now, that the Nishiki International is a very well kept secret. Mine is a 1980. I knew nothing of them when I got it last fall but have learned alot reading this forum and taking mine down to the frame and back up again. For 1980 it was double butted Tange 2, Suntour derailleurs, Sugino Maxy crankset, Tange BB, Diacompe brakes, Sakae stem and HB, 27" Araya A20 rims, Shimano hubs.



I really like the ride and the bike looks great. I was lucky to already have the yellow Kirkland bag to match the seat and some other subtle yellow bits. I stayed with yellow for the new tape. I'll bet you love yours too and will just itch to take it out again. Congrats!!

dddd

That's interesting how your ~1989 International appears to have morphed into a mid-range road race bike by this time.
No eyelets and no half-step gearing.

I ended up tweaking my '73 (Kokusai) version as a go-fast for the foothills, abandoning the rando handlebar and the stem shifters, and later (post-photo) changing the 48t small ring to 44t and adding a nicer set of Araya steel-rim wheels for some amusement.
It now weighs 29lbs and has 14 speeds, 13-30t with 54-44t rings.
The relaxed 72-degree geometry does at least provide a most stable platform for all-out efforts, making this one a favorite ride!

rgver

This one is going on the local CL. I like it, but I like my others better.
My Viscount is my main go to bike, I love this bike, it's 70's quirky with extra quirky. Still has the original "death" fork, massive deep drops and beautiful crankset, almost everything else has been changed



The Marin in my refurb line is staying, I keep putting off doing it so I'm not tempted to sell it over the winter. I did and sold its next size up brother a couple of months ago, I loved the ride that one gave even a size too large for me, to keep the Nishiki would take up valuable keeper space over this



And my Raleigh Grand Prix kid hauler/wheelie bike. Although the International would make a great replacement for this one, I wouldn't want to inflict the Grand Prix on anyone else.



My wife only wants one bike (yeah I know, right) so she want rid of one of these

The univega just finished for her, pictured here in progress



or this Pinarello that I am strongly pushing her towards, as I want it, I want it so bad but it is painfully small for me



My justification to my wife for buying any reasonable roadbike I see is to only keep three but sell others to pay for my hobby and increase the quality of my keepers, which the Nishiki really wouldn't do.