The Nishiki that I am building for my son (originally reported here and updated here) is getting closer and closer to completion. This is going to be a great birthday present for him on 2/18. Here's the most recent updates:


An overall picture; missing are the cassette, chain, chainrings (looking for matching 144bcd 52 and 42 tooth rings, FYI -- actually smaller but with the same spread if they are available), cables, brake handles, bar tape, and toe clips/straps.


I switched out the Shimano 600 cranks with Biopace chainrings for these Suntour Cyclone cranks; I was worried about clearance. The 600s were 170s, whereas the Cyclones are 165s. But I only have one chainring for these cranks, a 52 toother (see my FYI above).


Even though I swapped out the Shimano 600 cranks, I'm still going with as much Shimano 600 stuff as possible. For instance, here's the rear derailleur,...


the front derailleur,...


and the downtube shifters. (There's just something so chic about downtube shifters. Oh, so retro. Heh.)


I tried to get a Shimano 600 stem, but eBay wouldn't give one up for the price I wanted to pay. So here's a NOS S.R. stem holding up Motobecane handlebars (I'd be willing to buy or trade for a Shimano 600 stem, for whatever that's worth.)

This has been a fun project. Mostly, so far, it's been parts hunting on eBay as I really haven't wrenched anything yet; it's all only finger-tightened for pictures, heh.