Help identify year of Union Sakai
02-13-21 | 03:10 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Full Member
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 225
Likes: 133
From: Ukraine
Bikes: Union Sakai
Help identify year of Union Sakai
Hello all
can someone please help me with the SN of the frame (Union Sakai suspect 1979)
It's yellow. M9M39259. Maybe it can point to original frame manufacturer?
can someone please help me with the SN of the frame (Union Sakai suspect 1979)
It's yellow. M9M39259. Maybe it can point to original frame manufacturer?
02-13-21 | 03:42 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,212
Likes: 3,123
Welcome to the forums. The serial number format is consistent with that of Japanese manufacturer Miki. It was manufactured during a calendar year ending in '9' and based on the frame characteristics, 1979 would be most appropriate. There is some disagreement over whether the 3rd character represents a fortnight on month, making it either mid-calendar year or end of calendar year manufacture. In the latter case, it would be a 1980 model, as opposed to 1979.
Miki is best known in the USA for manufacturing some of the mid and high end Centurion and Sekai models during the late 970s to early 1980s. While they typically didn't build entry level models, your bicycle is reminiscent of a Centurion Le Mans of the era. I don't know what brands they might have manufactured for the Ukrainian market. I'd appreciate a photo of the head badge, as I'm not sure if this is the same Union brand that we saw in the USA. Thxs for posting. Photo assist...
Miki is best known in the USA for manufacturing some of the mid and high end Centurion and Sekai models during the late 970s to early 1980s. While they typically didn't build entry level models, your bicycle is reminiscent of a Centurion Le Mans of the era. I don't know what brands they might have manufactured for the Ukrainian market. I'd appreciate a photo of the head badge, as I'm not sure if this is the same Union brand that we saw in the USA. Thxs for posting. Photo assist...
02-14-21 | 06:05 PM
#4
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02-15-21 | 01:58 PM
#6
Cyclotouriste
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,792
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From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
Union (at least this Union) is a Dutch bicycle manufacturer and trader, and has been in business with varying degrees of success since 1904. They are best known for their affordable utility bikes.
However, in the seventies they expanded their portfolio with racing and sports machines, and to help boost their sales they started their own cycling team.
Exactly 44 years ago today the picture below was taken of the Union pro cycling team. The second from the right is Rini Wagtmans, former pro and one of Eddy Merckx' leading domestiques in the Molteni team, who was hired to get the operation airborne.
The pro level bikes were - at least initially - produced by Gianni Motta - a former colleague of Wagtmans - and the more affordable models, such as the Sapporo and the Sakai, were made by Miki.
However, in the seventies they expanded their portfolio with racing and sports machines, and to help boost their sales they started their own cycling team.
Exactly 44 years ago today the picture below was taken of the Union pro cycling team. The second from the right is Rini Wagtmans, former pro and one of Eddy Merckx' leading domestiques in the Molteni team, who was hired to get the operation airborne.
The pro level bikes were - at least initially - produced by Gianni Motta - a former colleague of Wagtmans - and the more affordable models, such as the Sapporo and the Sakai, were made by Miki.
02-15-21 | 02:21 PM
#7
Cyclotouriste
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,792
Likes: 7,017
From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
Just an additional note: not all Sakais were made by Miki. At least some were made by Yamaguchi, as T-Mar has shown us in this thread.
