bossohboss

Hey guys,
I just have a favour to ask to identify what model my Nishiki is. I posted last week on the Serial Number database thread but that thread seems to be not used anymore.
Basically I got the Nishiki a few years ago in a second hand shop, the bike is not as it was originally. It had been converted into a touring bike with 700c wheels but the wheel size was originally different.
I use it for commuting and I actually did a 160km cyclosporfif on it last week.
The serial number is KS171108 so it appears that it is pre 1975. The thing is it has cantilever brakes and none of the pictures Ive seen of Nishikis like the competition from 1973 have that style of cantilever brake (incidentially I had to remove the rear cantilever brake frame mount as to accommodate a 700c wheel, the brake pads weren't in the right place at all so I put on a side pull brake).
So any help in identifying it would be greatly appreciated.
heres some pictures:

wrk101

Seat post diameter? I don't see many (if any) original parts on that bike. Unusual to have bottle braze ons on the bike. I think that rame has been modified and repainted. So the canti braze ons may not be original. Stem size? My Internationals (1973) all had smaller 833 stems.

Nishiki serial number database is still being used. I posted several bikes to it last month. There was a posting before yours that was only two days prior.

Based on your serial number, bike is either a 1972 or a 1973. I believe you have a highly modified competition.

That seat post appears original and probably has a date code on it.

curbtender

May have been a mountain/hybrid bike frame. They had one with 28" wheels, I don't recall the model.

roccobike

For whatever reason, your pics aren't working for me. All I get is a red "X". I have to admit, I'm stumped. I've got a couple of Nishiki MTBs in the basement, I'm going to check the serial numbers to see what they say.

bossohboss

Hey thanks a million. Ill check out the seat post if theres anything on it, yeh the frame must have been repainted as theres no hint of previous Nishiki writing. i can see that the seat post says Taihe Compe or else Taihel Compe. The handlebars are road champion they might be original too as I recognised them in other pictures on the database.
Heres a few links for the photos if you can't see them. I hope they work.
https://i968.photobucket.com/albums/a...e/100_2054.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/49973854@N05/4963795324/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/49973854@N05/4963794174/
I really appreciate the help and expertise, thanks guys

Bianchigirll 

very interesting bike I wonder if it originally had stem or barend shifters. I am also curious about the bottle bosses. they look real high I wonder if there is a real boss there or something else? brakes are odd to cantis in teh front, replacement fork?, and sidepull in rear but it looks like a small bridge for a housing stop like you would see on an older touring bike or nicer bike with centerpulls

lverhagen

If you look at the seatstays right below the tips of the calipers you can see chipping paint where there may have been a pair of canti bosses that were removed somewhere along the line. Either this or it came equipped with centerpulls depending mainly on the era, I think.

Cheers

bossohboss

Yeh it was me who got rid of the bosses for the cantilevers at the rear. There was just no way to get the angle of the brake pads hitting the wheel with the positioning of the cantilever bosses and the new sized wheel, I ended up not using the bike, I tried a few things but thats what I had to do to get a good reliable brake (also limited cash!) So there was canti bosses on the back, matching the front so I dont think there were replacement forks. But right now the brakes work well and its absolutely lashing out and I'm ok (just drying clothes!)

Yeh the bottle is up really high, maybe there was bar ends indeed.

Once again thanks for the comments