Originally Posted by
T-Mar
That's a really low serial number from 1984, so it should be a 1984, as opposed to 1985 or 1986. Do you know for sure it's a Nishiki? Given the serial number, it could be a Norco. If it's Nishiki, it's almost certainly a Bushwacker.
Sorry T-Mar, I didn't answer your question directly in my last post.
Do I know this is a Nishiki? No. It could be anything.
From what I understand and from pictures that I have seen, most first generation MTB frames in 1983 and 1984 were based on the Specialized Stumpjumper from 1981 and 1982, which in turn was based on the Ritchey designs.
My green MTB frame is probably not too different from most of the MTB frames produced in the first half of the 1980s.
The primary reason why I think it is a Nishiki is the format of the serial number on the bottom bracket. The second reason is that the frame is welded not lugged, which is what I have observed about all the early Nishiki MTBs.