Originally Posted by Joe Shmeaux

T-mar,

I was just surfing around on the web and came across your Nishiki database. I have a Nishiki International, s/n KS283796 that I have owned since about '81 or '82. My brother was the original owner, he got it brand new in either '73 or '74 (it could be either, but I'm leaning toward '73). I bought the bike from him with grass-cutting money when I was about 15, matter of fact, it's been my only bike since then! It was pristine when I got it, I just cleaned and lubed everything and polished all the aluminum components and it was absolutely mint. I don't think that my brother ever really rode it very much; I rode it extensively through college years and until I got into my thirties, then tapered off. I've got a co-worker who is a cycling enthusiast - he's been trying to get me back out on it, we'll see when the weather improves here (GA).

It looks essentially just like the '73 "Competition" way back on page one of this thread (some of the components may differ), and it looks neary that nice when it's all polished up. Everything is original except the seat and chain, added a Blackburn rack back in the '80's, also a Cannondale seat pack and a featherweight pump. I removed the chintzi chain gaurds long ago... I GOTTA replace the crappy three spoke stamped aluminum crank, though! Been meaning to do that since I was 15...

I'll try to get a picture of it posted soon. It's a little dusty and lacks "lustre", but it's always been kept in the house when not in use, so it's still in great shape.

Eric Buckley