Confused by a serial number

Fuji Espree - FJ410669

I thought that F was 10 week but thought J was January. Will add photo if required.

Can someone point out what I'm missing..???

Should be a 1985 model manufactured in October 1984. Fuji has 4 different serial number formats during 1971-1989. In this case, 'F' is the production facility. 'J' represents the 10th month (October) and '4' is the calendar year 1984. See the 1980-1989 format for Fuji in post #1.

Of what provenance are these frames?

I have a branded Concorde Prestige with serial S95XXX540, built of TIG welded Tange Prestige OS Road and spec'd with Shimano 6400 8-speed, Ritchey seatpost, seat, tires. It also features Ritchey vertical dropouts. In all fairness the paint is rather thin and delicate and the decals look like they could have come from a dollar store.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f09538502d.jpg

I get the impression that the frame was a generic catalog offering, which companies would purchase in quantity and brand as their own; however, I can't imagine such examples to be abundant given the calibre of its build and the declining popularity of steel racing bikes in the 90's.

You'll have to explain what you mean "provenance".

i.e. did these frames come form large factories or small builders?

based on the bicycles where we've seen these formats, I'd say they were at least mid-size, mass volume manufacturers. They don't appear to be small or limited volume manufacturers, concentrating on high grade bicycles.

The highest end Concordes (at least in the 80's through early 90's) were hand built in Italy. I often hear that these lugged frames were built in the same shop that was building Ciocc's at the time, but I don't believe I've ever seen that confirmed. Not sure about the source of the tig-welded more recent fames or their lower end frames of any vintage. From someone who knew more about them than I, I got the impression that, in the 80's at least, their high end bikes (and sponsorship of the PDM/Ultech racing team) was mainly to draw attention to their larger lower end bikes (Dutch company after all). Not sure where I heard that last bit about a larger lower end road and city bike bit as I don't remember seeing any catalogs that showed that. I do have one of the Italian built lugged frames from ~1990 (the Aquila, it was second from the top and made of SLX, their top model was made of TSX but I can't remember the name, Squadra? or was that the step down, not sure). Super nice rider.

Centurion Turbo
 

I just picked up a nice centurion Turbo 56 cm. Any info or comments are appreciated!

as you can see, serial number is N2S2005.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e8cdf8282.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2f2c19c7a.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c95eb5484.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3325f73bf.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4df7e7f33.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f1227e89b.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c5ec26275.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dda8ae30b.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...55a2346c0.jpeg

Plausible. As TIG welding became more commercially viable for frame building, it makes sense that an outfit with the capacity and technology would scale for economy. Not that that would exclude such a factory from building higher quality bikes; it would just employ different geometry, tooling, tubesets, etc. A generic frame made from top-tier tubing would still command a relatively high value once packaged and sold to market. It's unilkely that a frame like mine would have come from a large production run, given the lack of other examples. TIG welded Tange Prestige frames have little documentation; I would be curious to see any other examples but I haven't unearthed any from my research.


Yes, I have read similar about the Columbus tubed Concordes. The handbuilt in Italy spin on the story is a bit glorified (be it Concorde or numerous contemporary brands), considering that most frames using the better quality Columbus, Reynolds, Tange tubesets would have been handbuilt, whether in Italy, England, Japan, etc. Any larger bike brands would have employed similar marketing, i.e. race bikes are marquee offerings, despite only making up fraction of sales relative to economy scaled consumer bikes. Mid to late 90's bike production is hard to keep track of, with all the material options available and global trade growing rapidly. No doubt any of the top tier bikes featured in catalogs would have been built with greater care and better materials, regardless of origin. Around this time I think these bikes could have been assembled in Taiwan or Japan, with quality that rivaled or surpassed something built in Europe. Look where we are now.

The subect bicycle is a 1983 model manufactured in late 1982. The bicycles were manufactured Tano of Japan, with frame manufacture subcontracted to Nomura. At the time, it was the top model in Centurion's 6 model road line, The MSRP was $535 US. It was only manufactured for two years, 1983 and 1984. From what I can see, it appears to OEM with the exception of the bar tape and lever hoods. 1983 catalogue image attached. Enjoy your new acquisition.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cfcb9cfaa0.jpg

Tsunoda data incoming. This is a Lotus Odyssey. I think model year 81, because the date code of the Mighty Tour crankset is J11. Features of frame seem correct for 81 too- side pull calipers, brazed top tube cable guides and down tube bottle bosses.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f794e9da56.jpg

Anyone know the biggest tire I can squeeze into this Turbo? It definitely can’t handle a 30 strada Bianca.

Thank You

1990 Bianchi Axis cyclocross bike manufactured Jan 1990; Japan manufacture.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cdc05f1eb.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3eb59d152.jpeg

This follows the format of S(1) as noted in the initial post. So what does S(1) mean?

:love:

Such a great wealth of knowledge here!!!!

When I don't know the identity of the manufacturer, I assign a (somewhat) arbitrary identifier to facilitate cross-reference between the bicycle brand and the manufacturer. In this case, the constant character in the manufacturer's format is a 'S'. However, there are a couple of other unknown manufacturers who also have a slightly different format with a constant 'S'. To differentiate between them, I call them S(1), S(2) and S(3).

It's nice to know that some members are using the guide as intended. Given the number of queries that I answer in this thread about bicycles that are covered in the 1st post, I sometimes wonder. Still, it has 150K+ views, so there must be others who are using it. Yet, there's not a single "like" on the original post. Go figure!

Nishiki Bel Air
 

I was told that this is an 86 Nishiki Bel Air. It’s a repaint. No catalogs anywhere so no idea what original parts are. Serial WE18 513. Bike measures 20”.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7e1876dd1.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c66984e62.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...27f8d1614.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...99f9df0c2.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a8700d790.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f73ac9bd3.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e4d1a2edb.jpeg

I have the 1985 specs but nothing for 1986. However, based on information I've collected on other 1986 Bel-Air, it appears to be mostly OEM, with the exception of the steering compartment. It has at least new bars, stem and grips. The derailleurs, crankset, brakes and wheels are OEM (or at least consistent with other 1986 Bel-Air). The 1985 version used a different rear derailleur (LePree) and did not use the bronze anodized versions of the rims, brakes and chain rings.

If it is a repaint, at least the previous owner used the correct style of replacement decals. Besides the difference in components and decals between the 1985 and 1986 models, there were several of variations in frame characteristics that confirm this is a 1986 model manufactured in 1985, such as the chain stay bend, down tube stops and bottom bracket cable guides.

BTW, there is no need to cross-post between the Nishiki Serial Number Database thread and this one. I try to monitor both of them. Regardless, the extra data and contribution are appreciated.

Steering
 

Do you know what the original steering components were?

Went to view a Bianchi - "an original made in Italy". Anyway, here is the SN for your Asian serial number collection.

Serial of H1C5037. Has a made in Tiawan sticker on head tube.

Equipped with Shimano 300EX (seat post replaced and wheel set now mismatched)

Assuming Hodaka made but SN seems to be short a few digits. In the SN photo it looks like there are other numbers stamped but painted over

Sorry for photos, garage not well lit

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f3788b6cf1.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b6dd93b631.jpg

It's a 1991 Bianchi Premio, manufactured by Hodaka of Taiwan in March of that year. It was the bottom model in Bianchi's six model, road line. MSRP was $420 CDN. Thxs for posting.

T-Mar.

Thanks for replying. Nice ride to the bike. I tried to get it to shift with the 6 speed FW but no luck. Serious improvement with a 7 speed FW though. Not sure it is or was a$400+ bike but ride was pretty smooth. Pic for posterity - tried to load earlier but guess they didn't load.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9a846af9b6.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b988bfe3ef.jpg

OEM spec was 7 speed, so the SIS shift levers would definitely have an issue handling 6 cogs.

Unfortunately, I can't positively identify the 1986 Bel-Air steering components from the photos and they are not listed in the 1985 spec sheet.