ausin001

This is my first used bike purchase and I'm pretty new to cycling. I got this Nishiki road bike for $125 and was just wondering if it was worth the money and if anybody could possibly ID a year. Is it a bike that I should eventually upgrade parts as I can afford to or is it not worth it? Any and all info will be much appreciated. Cheers!

zukahn1 

The bike is basically worth what you paid for it in its current condition or even a bit more depending on market. There really isn't much to upgrade that would make sense it has fairly decent components Suntour Ar shift group, nice alloy crank and what look like decent alloy wheels with good tires. I would clean it up service all the bearings and ride it pretty much the way it is.

oddjob2

As the guys have said, you paid about FMV. Looks like it could use new cables, they look rusty. Beyond that, save your bike money! You figured out how to post photos quickly, but take a photography class!

RoadGuy

You already own it.

If you were worried about whether it was worth buying, you should/would have asked BEFORE you spent the money.

Like anything else, the time to ask is before pulling out your wallet.

Like other have already written, looks like a decent old bike at FMV. Don't waste a lot of money trying to make it into something that it is not. Replace parts that are broken or rust with like parts.

The only think left now, is the riding. Go ride it, you didn't risk or lose much.

mrv 

howdy -
i paid $25 for an '85 Nishiki frame/fork: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y...o/IMG_6743.JPG
looks to be a similar version as yours.
there's a serial number on the bottom bracket: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g...o/IMG_6752.JPG

and you can figure out how old it is at the old Nishki thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...-database.html

I'm about 90% sure if you investigate real hard you'll find you have spent $125 on a bottom of the line Sport model Nishiki - stem shifters, nutted brakes, 27in wheels (i am guessing)
I have NO idea if that was a good deal.
The frame/fork are Tiawanese built 4130 steel tubing. Lots of steel bikes today still use 4130, but not the high end stuff.

As far as my Nishiki, I got it as a practice/project: strip the paint, braze on DT shifters, rack bosses, another set of water bottle bosses, powder coat it myself.

I'm not done yet: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...587-no/007.JPG
- i've got to buy some long reach, nutted brake calipers, tape, maybe a nice set of Schwalbe tires. Maybe CONTI.
- I need the long reach brakes so I can run 700mm wheels. Also makes room for fenders and fatter tires.

When I'm done I'm thinking I'll have spent about $300~$400, put in hours and hours of work, and have a $125 bike I can sell. Or I'll tour with it, since lots of tour bikes today use 4130 steel.... (i'm trying to comfort myself...)

ps: GET RID OF THOSE STEM SHIFTERS! you get in a wreck or go knee caps over coffee pot and you're gonna impale something important.

Hummer

Year: 1985.

Not the bottom of the Nishiki line for that year. The Rally and the Century were lesser models than the Sport.

vintagepedals

ride & enjoy your Nishiki a lot so you'll get the best value of your money's worth.

helmsgate1

"It's your bike, build it the way you want".
I'm all for upgrading if you want. Save the old parts as you may want to downgrade when you tire of this bike and find a new and maybe better ride. I currently have several "street finds". One I have restored to original condition. Another bike, I have decided to upgrade some of the components and retain others. Of course theses are vintage frames. I'm always have my I peeled for other street finds. For myself I prefer vintage road bikes, but have picked up BMXs, mountain, and tricycles. Upgrade if you want, enjoy every part of the experience.

Helmsgate1

nfmisso

4130 is a chrome-molybdenum steel, and IS used by high end steel frames today. The very highest end steel is a further refinement of 4130, but most still fit into the generic 4130 classification, which is pretty broad.

nfmisso

Where is the picture of the full right side, and the close up of the rear derailleur?