Discovered the fork is bent on the Sekai 2700. Steerer is 198mm which is a bit longer than all the other 23" bike forks I measured, most were about 180mm. I found a replacement on a Taiwan built Raleigh. Model name not on the frame but it might have been a Rapide. The Sekai fork was half chrome and the Raleigh fork has no chrome but it looks close enough. Next up is some silver paint for the Raleigh fork.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fb0b1c9015.jpg
Bent steerer on a Sekai GT Deluxe 2700

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9216a66cca.jpg
Bent steerer on a Sekai GT Deluxe 2700

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3ed593d946.jpg
Fork on a Sekai GT Deluxe 2700

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d473121c03.jpg
Bent steerer on a Sekai GT Deluxe 2700 steeerer length 198 mm

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fdf5626ad0.jpg
rubbing on lower bb cup, cracks in the paint. Bent steerer on a Sekai GT Deluxe 2700

More photos of the 1989 Fuji Ace serial number.

Looks like all the characters were stamped pretty evenly depth wise. The first 3 looks like it was a modified 3 or 8 die. Not as fully formed as the other 3s. Doesn't appear to be an 8 stamped an angle.

Both Suntour deraillers are EI (1988 - May).
The Suntour Edge right crank is marked SR 88 H (august?) made by Sakae Ringo.

The wheels look like newer replacements. A brand I'd never heard of before.

Left crank is a SR-Suntour XCT with a code of 4B. another replaced part. Hum, need to double check the length.

This bike may be getting a flat bar conversion. There is nearly no local demand for old dropped bar bikes. Add some stem shifters, non-V-Brake mtb levers and it would look more like a hybrid. The heavier wheels are more suited for this area.





https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...de4ec3c0ce.jpg
3 or 8?
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1c195c3121.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5bd1276549.jpg

This thread is so awesome
 

I’m back on Bike Forums after more than a decade away and it’s so refreshing to dive back into this community.

My girlfriend and I drove by a neighbor’s house yesterday who had just set out an old lugged orange/brown steel framed roadie wih a “FREE” sign. While the bike has certainly seen better days, I immediately lit up, stopped the car, and told my girlfriend that we just found her an awesome new bicycle.

The bike has a Bianchi badge but very little else for identification. It has Suntour Allegro derailleurs, Día Compe brakes, and a Silstar crank. From this thread, the serial number: KS07473 indicates it was made pre-1975 by Kawamura. Very cool.

How a Japanese manufactured Italian branded bicycle winds up at the tip of Long Island, NY 50 years later , I have no idea, but I am so stoked to spruce it up and ride it around with my girlfriend. Maybe I’ll ask the neighbor where he got it once it’s back in great shape, but I think we’ll probably just give it a new chapter to its story.

Cheers, and thank you for this awesome thread! We’ll see you in the Bike Mechanics forum 🔧

Hello hank scorpio,

welcome back to the forum.

I would suggest that the serial number for your Bianchi is not from Kawamura. Rather it is from Oji Bicycle Factory in Tokyo, Japan.

The letter "K" at the start of the serial number is for the month of frame manufacture, November. The first digit "0" is for the year of Frame manufacture, 1980.

That’s interesting. I don’t see anything about Oji Bicycle Factory online - any chance you have more information?

I decoded it as Kawamura browsing the initial post of this thread but may be reading things wrong.

i appreciate the help. I need a few more posts before I can post pictures.

Hi. I have found a Koga Miyata Randonneur Extra, with a color scheme of 1990 (as per catalog).
The serial number should match a Miyata or does Koga when importing frames stamped its own?
If I read correctly here on the forum the frame they were using in Netherlands was an '86 Miyata 1000, but SN doesn't match that year, I think.

my sn is RS44043


thanks

It is unlikely that you will find any English language information on Oji Bicycle Factory. I think this company manufactured various products including bicycle frames and forks. I do not think the company assembled complete bicycles.

There were several companies in Japan that manufactured bicycle frames and forks. Other companies then took the frames sets and assembled complete bicycles.

Ouji Company,Ltd is the current company, but they no longer manufacture bicycle frames or components. The company has a website and the URL contains Japanese characters. This forum will not allow a link to that website.

Japan's Bicycle Guide 1972 shows Ouji fork crowns.

Japan's Bicycle Guide 1979 shows three Oji frames.

Hello morom,

welcome to the forum. The serial number that you quoted is a match for a Miyata frame manufactured in 1989. So a 1990 model year is very likely.

In general the frame manufacturer stamps a serial number into the frame. Sometime the distribution companies also stamped characters into the frame.

That's what I imagined, Koga stamped KM on the fork but serial number is Miyata.
Anyway it's interesting because it has 130mm spaced vertical dropouts, that only appeared on the 1986 Miyata 1000 and then disappeared.

So it appears Miyata produced frames to spec for Koga, instead of Koga just buying frames and add changes (internal cable routing for example)?

It said Bridgestone on the repair tag, but now I don’t know.

serial number M8L 92350
here are pics:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...52f903092.jpeg
I excitedly thought MB-0
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e8c2b9938.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...033805b81.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...abf83c0c8.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c39cfbd66.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dccefd3c7.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9ea442e16.jpeg

Per the Asian Serial Number Guide above, SN format appears to match both Merida (Taiwan) or Miki (Japan) vice Bridgestone. Unfortunately, it's been stripped so no country of origin sticker to help out.

It’s my understanding that Japan was lugged and Taiwan was lugged and tig welded

this has a lot more tig making it Taiwan.

but, I have zero knowledge on Asian bikes.

any and all help is appreciated.

Bridgestone frame made by Merida of Taiwan. Based on the serial number a 1989 model year.

Looks like a CB-2 or CB-3 model.

Hi guys, I need help to identify my road bike brand. There is no factory brand left on the bike. But, I got the serial number that written on the bottom bracket tube.
SN: 8371646
And other clue that I got is on the drop out is written: SHIMANO SF
The bike is from the 80s.
Is there anyone can help?
Sorry I cannot post the photo, because I am the new user. Thanks

Fuji Gran Tourer SE
 

Fuji Gran Tourer SE
Serial KI001054 (Kay - Eye - 001054)
appears to be later 1980. I only found the Gran Tourer SE in the 1980 catalog but this one is a different color from those listed and the "Gran Tourer SE" decal is on the downtube vs the top tube. Top tube brake cable clips, not brazed on stops. The wheels have been changed to 700c. Seat is a Schwinn vinyl covering.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b6c407a04.jpeg
Fuji Gran Tourer SE
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0269a214c.jpeg
Fuji Gran Tourer SE serial KI001054
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2008be5b53.jpg
1980 catalog page

ZebraKenko
 

Zebrakenko Blue Sky mixti 1981

fresh donation at the local bike coop. Seen bikes named after horses but is this the only one named after a Zebra? Maybe someone has a history of the name.

"D(1) (Japan): DyFxxxxx or DyMxxxxx. Inusffient data to determine if 3rd character is a fortnight or month indicator. Identity unknown but since format turns up primarily on Zebfrakenko and Zebra, it may be Kenko."



https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bdff65c0cc.jpg
Zebrakenko Blue Sky

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b773fe768d.jpg
Suntour date code WH W=1980 H=August

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...31d8780829.jpg
Zebra Kenko Made in Japan

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...953b818655.jpg
HighTension Steel (zap)

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...77bebd3d0f.jpg
D1K0821 D=japan 1=1981 K=november?

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c3930fa05d.jpg

Nashbar Road MK II

Now a frame set with seat post & headset. Too big for me at 25"/63cm ct, ~22.5 tt
Lightweight cromo frame with forged dropouts and decent lug work.
Had Suntour Cyclone parts from what I can tell. Steel front derailleur mounting band still on the frame. Down tube braze on for the self trimming aero style suntour levers.
missing many parts.
Someone used a tough glue to install the Grabons. Uck. Just toss the bars & stem. Not worth the effort.
front brake bent.
paint is fair. Main detraction is the sweat caused rust at the top tube cable guides.
3 Ragbrai tags from 1996 1997 1998.

"NASHBAR (USA): see Maruishi

MARUISHI (Japan): Unknown, but format appears to be Y?xxxxx based o n very limited sample size. Year indicators appear to be A =1971,1981,etc, , B = 1972, 1982, etc. Second alpha character appears to be either fortnight or month indicator. Easily confused with Tsunoda."

Serial D032306

so D = 1984?

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...507263f1f4.jpg

The Nashbar serial number is hard to read. I sanded it down a bit to make it more legible.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0d032db4cd.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2d2314b29b.jpg
The Finest Bicycles in the World nashbar

Based on the Maruishi serial numbers that I have seen from the mid 1980s, the serial numbers begin with two letters. I would suggest that the second character is the letter "Q". The letter "Q" has been reported several times and the letter "O" has never been reported. The second letter is for the month of frame manufacture, but I do not know which month "Q" represents.

I've got a Miyata frame that I believe is early to mid 90s (no model decal, but it does say 'made in Taiwan' and have the Miyata logo decal with the red triangle from the early 90s). The serial number (which is very clear on the BB) is DOC22055, the prefix of which I haven't been able to track down via google. The letters 'SM' are also stamped on the BB housing, but they can't stand for 'small' since the frame size is 60 or 62cm depending on how its measured. Details (decals, the quantity/type of bosses, cantilever brakes, fender/rack mount points) point to either a road or more likely a 'cross' frame based on their 93/94 catalogs I went through online. It's in good shape and I'm going to build it up with mostly new parts into a commuter.

Asian Mystery frame ?
 

I recently picked up this frame and the seller said it was a Rocky as told to him from previous owner. I’ve taken off the random decals and in the process of taking off the bad rattle can paint job and the paint underneath is in good condition.
I thought maybe it was an early Rocky/Ritchey/Fisher from Toyo factory in 1989 based on serial number. Any help would be appreciated. I’ve been unable to find another frame with all the similar features online.



https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d9ada54e5.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1bf3005d6.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ac62750d6.jpeg

Hello redforest,
welcome to the forum.
redforest album

Picture assist:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7a2bdebff1.jpg

The frame appears to be a 1991 Miyata Sport Cross.

I cannot make sense of the serial number. Perhaps if you posted a picture.

Here is a link to Sport Cross of member @dailycommute

dailycommute Miyata Sport Cross

The frame has similarities to an RMB Fussion but I have never seen a Rocky Mountain Bicycle with this format of serial number.

I have read on a Japanese website that this format of serial number is from Shin Nomura Kogyo or New Nomura Industries, but the author was not certain.

Several brands of MTBs had models with this format of serial number:
Stumpjumper Comp
Parkpre Team
Diamond Back Ascent EX
Fiori San Remo
Bianchi Peregrine in Japan.

None of these is a match for your frame.

The pump peg on the seat tube is interesting. I cannot remember which brand of MTBs put a pump peg in that location.

Edit: January 2025. This frame has been identified as a Norco Rampage in this thread:
Norco Rampage

Thank you very much. I tried to upload but was told I hadn't posted enough.

I will put some pictures of my built-up bike in that thread when I finish it.

Here is a link to a page from the Schwinn Reporter that explains the head badge date codes.

GTS58 Schwinn reporter date codes