Birdie6463, read post #1, referring to the Merida & Miki entries. The only thing you have to figure out yourself is the decade for the year indicator. In this, we know it's 1980s based on the Mountain LX components, which were only manufactured in the very late 1980s.

Great LOL

Just another data point, I picked up a 1972+/- Volkscycle 100, the one made in Japan. Its the nicer model, pretty much all generation 1 Dura Ace.

Serial number is BS01542M

[IMG]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4613/...2f773e0c_k.jpgfullsizeoutput_bd5 by wrk101, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4628/...9c323001_k.jpgfullsizeoutput_bce by wrk101, on Flickr[/IMG]

Angel View Araya
 

Spottted a clean Araya for 60.00 bucks. A kid snapped it up while I was looking around. Snapped a pic of the serial number in the event T-mar is collecting data...

@T-Mar
I have 2 Yokota serial numbers for you. The first is a Yokota ElCapitan B90038856, the second is a mixte road bike (unknown model) 89051508.

Here's a Mizutani Super Seraph. SN 783182

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X7IWxv51BH...-701228.JPG=s0

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-etsRJ_o518...der-711328.jpg

Some Mongoose MTB content

Hill Topper SN 6-K2446

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPN6eoIJL1...-780740.JPG=s0

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCrDkRXOSN...410-775614.JPG

ATB SN ? none ?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8iteKD5vaN...der-750258.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-crwoPl94cw...411-778359.JPG

Thank you T-Mar for a wonderful reference ... but now I am going to have to turn my Bianchi Incline upside down again. I know for a fact I bought it new in 1989 from Any Mountain. I read the S/N to be H4A50763 but that can’t be right! The cable guide somewhat covers the S/N ... will report back when the Bianchi and I are in the same place and I can take another look.

I will offer a data point...we bought our Nishiki Cascade MTB in 1990 and the S/N is W89103641. Would I be correct to interpret that our bike was built by Kawamura and the S/N translates W US market 89 year built 103641 sequence number?

I don't think that I currently have any Incline in the database but the ones I've seen had the 1988-1989 decal scheme (i.e small triangle before the Bianch name). That is a Hodaka serial number format and they were a known source during this period.

While I don't know the name of the source,it would appear to be a Taiawanese source, likely October 1989 and therefore a 1990 model. Is there a country of origin decal? Can you post or link to pics?

I will post a photo when I figure out how to do it, but meanwhile I looked at some photos of the Nishiki and indeed it has a black “Made In Taiwan” sticker at the top of the down tube.

Here are a couple of photos of the 1990 Nishiki Cascade, bought new from a bike shop in Tahoe-Donner, California in the Spring of 1990. The only things that have been changed are the tires and shift cables. The black stripe near the steering head says "Made in Taiwan."

Yes, it's definitely a 1990 model. The Nishiki logo with the Cunningham design reference was introduced for the 1989 model year, but that year's Cascade used thumb shifters. Rapidfire shifters, as used on your bicycle, were introduced for the 1990 model year and the Cascade was upgraded (sic) with elevated chain stays for the 1991 model year.

I am finally able to post photos of the Bianchi Incline for reference. I bought it new in Fall of 1989 from AnyMountain in San Jose, CA and the sales slip gives the serial number as H4A50763. The actual serial number on the bottom of the BB is covered by a plastic cable guide. So one is left with A) the sales clerk mistook a "9" for a "4" or B) Hodaka sold Bianchi a 5 year old frame to build into my bike! Your opinion will greatly interest me!

The Bianchi logo decals are definitely 1988-1989 and tubing decal are the style used on the Asian manufactured models. The unicrown fork and geometry are era correct for 1988-1989 and definitely not 1984! Either the LBS misread the serial number or a factory worker grabbed the wrong stamp. I can't see the derailleurs and crankset well, but they appear to be 1989 Shimano Mountain LX.

Can you post pics of the Fuji?

Data point: GT Force road bike SN SK6A54003

​​​​​​​date codes read S (1994) on shimano RSX group fork has date 1995
​​​​

I picked up a Bridgestone Eurasia Diagonales EAG D2 (I think!) today in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It has the Serial No. E210414 which from what I can work out from your data T-Mar should mean that it is from May 1982 - is that right?

An interesting point is that a previous owner has written his address on the frame - with Google street view, I can look at his house!
I hope it wasn't knicked (stolen)!

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6a30259e1b.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...30dd765b3d.jpg

Alih, based on the frame features, in conjunction with the serial number, it does appear to be a 1982 model.

Yeah, I think it is from 1982. The only thing that doesn't add up is that in the Eurasia catalogue the frame has braze ons for the shifters, mine has a Suntour clamp.

The catalogs of Japanese vintage bicycle

Oops - my mistake. The '82 catalogue shows the suntour clamp, I must have seen the braze ons in a different year.

It all came apart like a dream. I just need to try and find the spare parts here in Cambodia. Mud guards (fenders) and a front rack should be easy enough to find but drop bars and brake levers that are age appropriate will be a challenge.

Any suggestions what diameter bars would fit in the Nitto Technomic stem? I don't have any calipers to measure it.

The Nitto Technomic was available in both 25.4mm and 26.0mm clamp diameters, so you're going to have to measure it.

T-Mar,
Would you mind figuring out this Giant Sedona I just picked up? It's Taiwanese made but no idea what year it's from.
Thanks
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/972/2...87dc0d35_b.jpg
IMG_3940 by 2cam16, on Flickr

2cam6, I have seen no evidence of Giant using that format prior to 1987, so I'm assuming it is weeks 31-32 of 1995. That is in the grey area where it could be either a 1995 or 1996 model. I do have a listing for a 1995 Sedona with Shimano STX. So, if your bicycle is equipped with Shimano STX, that would confirm the 1995 manufacturing date, as STX was only produced for the 1994-1999 model years. Also, Giant didn't enter the American market with self-branded models until the very late 1980s, so the probability of a 1985 would be very small.