National sport deluxe info?
 

Does anyone have any info on national bikes I can't find any on internet I'd like to know the year and value at least I'm keeping it for my wife she loves it its a national sport deluxe 12speed thank you

Please post photos of said bike, and use commas, periods, or semicolons.

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National is one of the brand names for Matsu****a (Panasonic).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panasonic_Corporation

https://www.mediapost.com/publicatio...bal-brand.html

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National bicycles have a known serial number format, so we should be able to determine the year from the serial number. It should be 1980s based on the 12 speeds, unless it has been upgraded. This brand, in conjunction with the era, also indicates a non-American market model.

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Fuji, for example, launched 6V gear blocks for the entire range beginning with the 1978 model year so it could also be a late '70's bicycle.

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Fuji had a one year exclusive on the Ultra 6 freewheels, due to the joint development with Maeda. So, that makes a 1979 model the earliest. For the sake of a single year, it was easier to state 1980s.

Thanks very much T-Mar! ;)

Am still determined to get something right...any year now. :lol:

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National sport deluxe
 

serial #0M11132

Seriously? Can't we use a valid corporation's name without having a 'net nanny' block it?

The frame was built in 1980. Up until now, I had always operated on the understanding that the alpha character was a month indicator. This could still be the case if they skipped a letter such as the 'I', which could be misinterpreted as a '1' (one). However, it also opens up the possibility of it being a fortnight indicator. So, it could have been built towards the end of 1980 which would make it a 1981 model or mid-1980, in which case it is more likely a 1980 model. Either way, it is very early 1980s.

Thank you