prairiepedaler

The Nishiki Prestige seems to get a lot of respect on this site. I'm unfamiliar with the bike but there was one locally I'd enquired on a day or two ago in my size. Perhaps a BF member bagged it. It's gone now and a spilt milk issue but what makes these bikes desireable; Tange #2 ? Or, perhaps something else I'm missing here.

T-Mar

Personally, I don't think they were/are any better than the other mid-range Japanese models of the era. That is to say they were a solid, good value bicycle. I think the model name helps elevate it a bit and then there those were prefer SunTour to Shimano. Some years had added features that appealed to many, such a tri-pulley derailleurs or bronzed anodized components. but overall I could be just as happy with comparable models from most other Japanaese brands. Basically, it is hard to go wrong with a mid-range Japanese model from the 1980s, with the arguable exception of 1st generation Accushift models.

prairiepedaler

Hi T-Mar, I got it wrong - it was an Apollo Prestige, not Nishiki. I think the Kuwahara stuff is nice from what I've seen. This model, assuming originality appears to have suntour AR on board and the drillium always warrants a closer look. I would not turn away a Caravan model if luck would have it. I presume that the Apollo Prestige and the Nishiki might be comparable animals.

The actual bike from the ad:

T-Mar

The Kuwahara manufactured Apollo were also well manufactured bicycles but this one would be a step or two below a Nishiki Prestige. This one appears to be circa 1982-1983, at which time I believe they had a plain gauge CrMo main triangle, unlike the double butted CrMo of the Nishiki Prestige. All the major components also look a step or two down on the Nishiki Prestige.