Nishiki serial number
 

T-mar, I know you are/were working on compiling a database for Nishiki serial numbers as well as the Centurion serial numbers, but I could not find a thread dealing with the Nishiki's, and did not want to post it in the Centurion thread.

I got ahold of an unknown year Nishiki Royal at a pawn shop in Denver, and have since fixed it up into a very nice ride. The serial number is GE00147. It had what appeared to be the original Shimano derailleurs (front and back), but it has a triple chainring on the front, which I thought was very interesting.

So here is another SN for your database, and anything you could tell me about the bike would be greatly appreciated, but I'd really like to know what year it is. Thanks in advance.

I have an original Nishiki mixte Olympic serial #KI 04330 with Suntour DRs with date code of VC
that dates it to March 79.

Collegefour, thank-you for thinking of my efforts, but I'm afraid I can't offer any help. So far, I've only come acroos one other case of a G=serial number and we think it dates to 1985. The only reference I have to a Royale is from 1981, though tere was an Olympic Royale in 1978 and 1979. I'd suggest you investigate the component date codes using the info at http://www.vintage-trek.com/component_dates.htm . I'd be interested in hearing about your findings.

A77impala, thank-you for posting. This corroborates my findings.

T-mar, my findings:

The rear derailleur is stamped RD-A105, which I presume is some sort of model number. More obscurely and not as deeply stamped is a JA near the upper jockey wheel. According to the site you linked, it appears that this derailleur was made in January of 1985. Man, you're good with the "guesses"!!

My single data point, for what it's worth:

In March 1971, I bought a brand-new American Eagle Semi-Pro [Nishiki Competition], #KS78091. Sorry, I don't recall the serial numbers of the various Nishikis we sold at Bikecology, although I think many of them did begin with the same two-letter sequence as mine.

Another thought:
K presumably denotes Kawamura, Nishiki's original Japanese framebuilder
Does G signify a later shift to Taiwanese (Giant) manufacture?

Funny you should mention Bikecology. I bought a Nishiki off eBay that was supposed to be delivered today. When it came up missing I tracked it to Bikecology in Terrance, Ca. Seems the seller got the box from them and forgot to peel off the old shipping labels. Doh!