Nishiki Comp
 

Hi folks,

I just picked up a Nishiki Comp. From what I have read it was pre 1979. It's in almost new shape. Nervex Lugs, Chromoly double butted tubing, made in Japan, chromed rear triangle with long Shimano horizontal dropouts. The parts are as follows:

Hubs: Campagnolo Record,
Rims:Araya 700c clincher with eyelets
Spokes: stainless straigh gauge
BB: Shimano
Headset: Campagnolo
Crank set, brakes, gerrilieurs, and shifters Shimano 600.
It has Shimano Dura Ace rear brake cable clamps (mounted on the top tube).
Bars: LJIN Japan
Stem: Madallion 1000 Kusuki
Pedals: KKT Kyokotuo Pro Vic II
Seatpost SR Laprade.

It all looks original and seems like it has barely been used.
Can anyone shed some light on this bike? Was it wortk $200 CAD that I paid for it?
How did it stack up in the Nishiki line?

Pretty much any info would be great.

Rafal

Yes, the six-speed freewheel and the sidepull brakes suggest late 1970s. I had one of the first Nishiki Competitions, a 1971 American Eage Semi=Pro. Mine had a heavy, dead feel to it, despite the Ishiwata double-butted CrMo main triangle. Yours probably rides considerably better than mine did.

The Campag. hubs and headset are probably aftermarket upgrades.

If the bike fits you properly, I think you did well.

Your Compe presumably ranks pretty high in the Nishiki lineup. In 1972, they had the Competition (double-butted CrMo main triangle, clinchers, wide-range gears) and the Road Compe (full CrMo, tubulars, 54-44/14-24 gearing).

damn right it was worth it. Near the top for nishiki, I have a 1981 comp II, yours has nicer lugs and a prettier fork. Mine is Unicrown. Also you have the added bonus of a slick looking ss or fixed gear with out the braze ons, mine has a full compliment of braze ons and it is currently in fixed configuration though it will go back to geared with a full campy NR group as soon as I get a FD, cranks, BB spindle, and brake calipers... oh they were made by kawamura in Japan, post the seral number and T-mar will nail down the date for you.

If the bike fits you did real good. I loooooooooooooooove Nishikis. I had one, wrong size, sold it.... I'm on the hunt again.

Weren't the "Stronglight-Look" chainrings for the Shimano 600 'Arabesque' gruppo replaced by aero chainrings in 1978?

P.S.: I think those are not true Nervex lugs but copies, if I'm not mistaken.

-Kurt

Hi folks,

Thanks for all your input.
The serial number is CI 01869. Can someone maybe pin point the age more accurately?
T-mar, Maybe you can help?

By the way, the bike fits very well. It's a little taller than I normally ride but the tt length is dead on.


Cheers,
Rafal

Unfortunately, I can't help decode the serial number. My 1971 was KS78091, if that's any help to anyone.

T-mar doesn't seem to be as active on the forum lately... However I recomend you date the components using this site: http://www.vintage-trek.com/component_dates.htm if you are really curious.

... but you could always PM him. Based on my current understanding of the Nishiki serial numbers, I would place this frame as 1979-1980. The 1978 model used SunTour/Sugino/Dia-Compe. I have nothing on 1979-1980. The 1981 did use 600EX. It was back to SunTour/Sugino/Dia-Compe in 1982. So everything does point to 1979-1981. Date coding the 600EX components, as suggested by Cyclotoine, should help to narrow things down. As John E. states, the Cmapgnolo parts are aftermarket upgrades.

Sorry I haven't been around as much lately. Spare time has been at a premium. I'm technical advisor for our local sanctioned race which is this weekend. My presence should increase starting next week.

Cool! Tell us more about that, when you have the time.

Do those component set-up apply to CompIIs as well?

Now for the main question, What would you guys do with this bike? Keep it as is, convert to a single speed? convert to a fixed gear? I really like the simplicity of a single speed / fixed gear bike but It seems like a shame to strip a bike that has such nice vintage parts.

What do you think?

set aside the parts, you can also put it back together later, you need the brakes for a SS anyway, just put the drivetrain in a box for a later date.

Why not keep it as-is and ride it, or perhaps substitute different cog or chainring sizes if the ratios don't suit your needs?

__
Disclosure: I really don't understand the fascination with or attraction of single-speed freewheels. Fixed-gear makes a bit more sense to me, although in that case I would strongly prefer the very rare late 1940s Sturmey-Archer 3-speed fixed-gear transmission.

I think I will keep the gears on for now. I have changed tires from 100x23c to 700x25c and will change the seat (likely black Brooks B17) and h-bars (maybe Nitto moustache). The current bars are way too narrow. I also see myself putting on a nice pair of full fenders (silver ESGE) and using this bike as my errand bike.

I hope it will be less theft prone since it is not very flashy and conspiciuous.

I'll post pics.