agegall

I am looking for a vintage mixte bike to help recreate my youth and ride to work. One of my issues is that most mixte's are made for tiny people so I need a 21+" bike. So far I've found two bikes... Fuji S10 and a Nishiki custom sport. Any thought on which would be a better buy and what is the maximum amount I should spend on each? Both are relatively clean but I like the color (yes I'm a girl) of the Fuji more. Thanks for some unbiased advice.

I'm leaning toward the Fuji since that's what I had when I was younger.

beech333

Pictures would help out, if you can post them.

I've never had a Nishiki, but I have always been a great fan of the men's S10-s. In fact, I like them so much that I recently bought a second one. The Fuji may be slightly heavy, but they are very comfortable and I doubt you will be racing with it.

I would buy the Fuji, but you asked for unbiased advice.

What are your plans for it? Are you going to be a fair weather rider? Will you be riding far? Commuting?

wrk101

Unfortunately, models varied year to year. So some years, a model may be pretty good, other years it might be so-so. So without other details, it is hard to say.

Assuming they both have alloy rims, alloy crankset, split top tube and cromoly frames, they are pretty interchangeable. In that case, get the one in the best condition, particularly the frame. Look for dents, rust, and other defects. For example, the 1973 Fuji S10 mixte had steel rims and high ten steel frame. Entry level for sure. Later years had alloy rims.

The newer Nishikis had better cromoly frames, the older ones were low end high ten steel.

So if one is cromoly and the other high ten, I would get the cromoly bike, assuming it is in good condition.


As far as price, it really depends where you live. Around here, mixtes are hot and priced higher than an equivalent traditional road bike (probably about 25% more). With no pictures or descriptions of the bikes, no idea of the value of these two.