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Nishiki 'Terry' funny bike - need help

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Nishiki 'Terry' funny bike - need help

Old 02-04-10, 02:40 AM
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Nishiki 'Terry' funny bike - need help

Hi all,
I'm new here. I recently picked up a curious Nishiki 'Terry' or 'funny' TT bike - 700mm rear, 24" front. I'd appreciate any info about these bikes. Its labelled Nishiki sport series Prestige. Frame made by Kawamura, 48cm, Tange2 tubing. SN RGO 170. Its missing the front wheel ! And these 24x1 front wheels seem to be rarer than hens teeth (if you happen to have one you don't need, do let me know . There seem to me at least two sizes of '24"' wheel, the 520 and 540. I'm 'assuming' I need the 520. FYI, axle center to underside of fork crown measures 295mm/11 3/8". (axle center to break block centerline is 260mm/10 1/4, tho who knows when the brake blocks were moved last)
Any info appreciated
thanks!
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Old 02-04-10, 06:30 AM
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They're ladies bikes designed for womans uniqure body proportions NOT TT bikes.
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Old 02-04-10, 06:49 AM
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Its not a funny bike.

Rims (and/or complete) wheels are still available since they are still used for recumbents. Might take a good LBS to set you up though. Tires are also still available.

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Old 02-04-10, 06:57 AM
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Tery bikes sold a model with a 24" wheel, thier dealers may still have some available. https://www.terrybicycles.com/cycling_savvy/bikedealer
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Old 02-04-10, 09:24 AM
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+1. These are models designed for small women. The 24" front wheel permitted a lower standover height using traditional lugs and a horizontal top top tube. It also allowed a shorter top tube, without severe toe clip overlap with the front wheel.

The subject model is likely a circa 1987 model. Pics may allow me to determine the exact year. The serial number is not any of the recognized Nishiki formats.

As stated, there are different 24" wheels. Most of the proportional women's bicycles used the 520mm version, as opposed to the 540mm. To ensure this is the correct size simply take a tape measure and determine the distance from the centre of the fork dropout to the centre of the brake pad mounting bolt. This dimension measures 269mm for the 540mm wheel and 260mm for the 520mm wheel.

520mm tires and wheels are still available, though selection is limited.
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Old 02-04-10, 09:30 AM
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And you thought it was for someone with extraordinarily long arms.
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Old 02-04-10, 09:44 AM
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+ What they said.

The Terry-designed frames were only made, from what I can gather, in mid-level quality and above. I've seen them with Tange 1, Tange 2, and Tange Prestige frames. Many different bike firms presented a model with this design, and there is an active bunch of owners today.

The 24x1 wheel is, if it's a Tange frame, the 520, and tubes and tires are available, even in a fairly narrow tire. The front wheel is available by special order from some bike shops, and once in a while they pop up on eBay, often listed as a 24" wheel, so it would take a little research to find the 520. Depending on clearance and brake reach, you can find a close enough wheel.

I'd suggest site mash or something where you can search bicycles, list Terry and 24" and see what comes up.

Last edited by RobbieTunes; 02-04-10 at 03:05 PM.
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Old 02-04-10, 10:00 AM
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Originally Posted by jgedwa
Its not a funny bike.
They sure LOOK funny, though!
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Old 02-04-10, 10:58 AM
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I just refurbished and gifted a similar Terry to my sister this past Christmas. As the others have said, the front wheel is almost certainly an ISO 520mm "24x1". There are a couple options for tires, though not many. In my searches, I found the Panaracer Pasela, Schwalbe Durano, and a wider Terry-branded tire. The tubes aren't terribly common, but are available, as well.
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Old 02-05-10, 03:36 PM
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Just what someone else thinks they're worth if you are wondering...


https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/bik/1587425960.html
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Old 02-05-10, 07:53 PM
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Hello longcranks, welcome to the forums. almost everyone made these " frnt wheel models at the end of the '80s. Fuji, Shogun, Bianchi, as the OP says a Nishiki

OH is there something on this frame that says Terry? are we sure this is a ladies geomentry? pics?
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Old 02-05-10, 08:16 PM
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Georgena Terry has a interesting history of how her Company came to be. She was sick of screwed up gemotery on bikes small enough to fit her so she started building the 27/24 combo to fix the toe over lap issues and get a good ridgid diamond frame small enough for a woman around 5ft and still geared for decent speed since the gear of most rode bikes of the time was for 27 or 700c wheels.. Then her friends wanted one and she ended up in business. Sheldon Brown posted some information about her on his site.

My Wife's 87

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Old 02-06-10, 08:00 AM
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Wow, those are very cool.. looks like a drag racer. Haha
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Old 02-06-10, 08:22 AM
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There's a whole thread of them here somewhere...search for "Terry" in the thread titles....
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Old 02-07-10, 10:48 PM
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thanks for your replies. I understand that the bike is not a Terry, but that it is 'terry-style'.

jim : "Might take a good LBS to set you up though."

sorry, LBS?

tmar: "The subject model is likely a circa 1987 model. Pics may allow me to determine the exact year. The serial number is not any of the recognized Nishiki formats." "Most of the proportional women's bicycles used the 520mm version"

thanks for your knowledgeable response. Its in pieces now, so pics not possible - soon I hope. That is indeed the serial number. The numbers you give for the 520 tally - I'm looking for a 520.

Vinci - thanks for tips on tires

Bianchigirll "Hello longcranks, welcome to the forums"
thankyou, very courteous.

"is there something on this frame that says Terry? are we sure this is a ladies geomentry?"

as I said, it's 'terry-style'. "ladies geometry" - guess so, small people anyway - 700mmm rear and 24" front. The color scheme - purlple and lilac - doesn't exactly scream male.

Grim - thanks for the history

Robbie - I did search, couldn't find, then I did an advance search and it told me the term Terry couldn't be found ?!
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Old 02-08-10, 08:14 AM
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but where are the pics?
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Old 02-08-10, 09:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Grim
Georgena Terry has a interesting history of how her Company came to be. She was sick of screwed up gemotery on bikes small enough to fit her so she started building the 27/24 combo to fix the toe over lap issues and get a good ridgid diamond frame small enough for a woman around 5ft and still geared for decent speed since the gear of most rode bikes of the time was for 27 or 700c ...
So her marketing says, but in actuallity she copied Bill Boston's designs from the 1970s, but apparently without really understanding them.

Mr. Boston, building these bikes in the 1970s, had to work with 5-speed freewheels with 14T small cogs, so he stayed with the larger real wheel. By the time GT copied his work, freehubs with 11T small cogs were available, and the bikes could have been built 24/24 with adequate high gearing, allowing the rider to carry only one spare tube/tire size.

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Old 02-08-10, 10:14 AM
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you have a pm regarding a front wheel...
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Old 02-08-10, 11:21 AM
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Robbie - I did search, couldn't find, then I did an advance search and it told me the term Terry couldn't be found ?!

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ighlight=Terry

This should be the thread, and I believe there's a wheel PM sent above....

That'll be 3.50.

Good luck, and we'll need pics.
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Old 02-08-10, 02:23 PM
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re: but where are the pics?

As I said, the frame is hanging in my garage, sans wheels, saddle and bars. As soon as I get a usable front wheel I'll throw that thing together and send a pic or two - ok?
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Old 02-08-10, 05:28 PM
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ok, no pressure.
hurry.
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Old 02-08-10, 11:32 PM
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seriously. these things are always fun to look at. one day i'll find one. one day.
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Old 02-09-10, 11:01 AM
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I married my first wife in 1986. Immediately on returning home from our honeymoon, we bought her a genuine Terry bike. It came with Shimano 105 components. I don't remember the brand of frame tubes, probably Tange. It was hand-made with very neat brazing work. We paid only $850 for it, which really was a steal, considering how well made it was.

She's probably ridden it a total of ten miles since then. I believe it has the original tires on it.

In my test rides, I found it to be extremely agile, because of the short top tube and small front wheel. Nice bike. Too bad it's not being appreciated. But in the nearly 11 years since I've divorced her, I've learned not to care about what goes on in her life. It's better for my health.
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