JohnnyRed34

Hi Guys, what a great site with awesome info. On and off for the past couple of years I have been trying to work out the brand/model of my commuter, the guy I bought it off didn’t know though had done the repaint and sticker kit. Thus I am reaching out to the brother&sister hood here.

I had been hoping that it is a Bridgestone from some of the pics I have seen on here then struck the Nishiki and had a rethink, so over to those in know.

The specs (as I have read off the various parts) Nitto headstem and bars, dia compe vx levers, suntour shifters, gp sugino crank, strong japan seat post and gt seat. Other bits that have probably changed over the years campagnolo rear hub, wolber rims (although I threw this mavic in as the other was flat).

The best I can make out of a serial number on the frame under the bottom bracket is 18M1197

TugaDude

That serial number format is ringing a bell, but I can't remember. My guess is that you have a mid 80s Japanese frame. Lugs were shared among some brands, so hard to pin it down based upon those. Tubing is unidentified. The numbering is similar to Bianchi, but not exact.

Workmanship appears average to good. The components are somewhat of a mish mash, so probably little help there.

Is the seat comfortable that way? That is not a recommended angle and the seatpost seems awfully high. Frame is likely too small for you.

Welcome to the forums!

Bianchigirll 

Stem looks too high as well. Is there any writing on the fork ends or dropouts?

Asuming the fork is original to the frame the Unicrown style would make about an '89ish and later. The shortish lugs make me think other than Bianchi but definitely an Oriental brand maybe a Univega?

JohnnyRed34

Hi there and thanks for the quick responses - right on all counts about the size/seat post/angle etc I was just lashing it together for the pics and accept it is too small, but is also a cool and quick ride that I am super keen to find out some more about.

JohnnyRed34

The Univega is a good suggestion as they look to of been made by Miyata in Japan......

TugaDude

Only some Univegas were made by Miyata.

JohnnyRed34

Hi there, some sunshine has given me a chance to study the frame and fork end and drop outs. Nothing on the forks or drop outs but the main serial looks to start with a Y not a 1 as previously stated, my bad

Y8M1197

Also the following is on the brake hoods stacked on each other in a circle

90 11 12

with 90 on top.

Any thoughts??

Hummer

JohnnyRed34,

your serial number has the format for the frame manufacturer Yamaguchi Sports Frames, Sakai Japan. "Y=Yamaguchi "8"=year 1988.

Yamaguchi made frames for several brand names including Sekai and Norco in Canada. They may also have made frames for Shogun and Lotus, as there is a series of serial numbers for Lotus that have the Yamaguchi format.

Serial Number Project Information

Your bike has a uni-crown fork which was starting for road bikes about 1987.

I have not seen any other Yamaguchi format serial number as recent as the year 1988, so I cannot point you to a bike that may be similar. It appears that Sekai and Norco's last Yamaguchi frames where in 1985 and Lotus in 1987 (if Lotus used Yamaguchi frames).

JohnnyRed34

That's awesome info thanks Hummer, I'll check out those leads.