Nishiki International
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Nishiki International
So I just purchased one of these earlier today, and so far i love it! It's my first road bike and I can tell we'll have fun together. Anyway, I know next to nothing about it as of right now, but here is what I do know:
Nishiki International, obviously
Suntour gears (10 speed)
Dia Compe brakes
Sakae Custom Road Champion handlebars
Kyokuto Top-Run pedals
Number on bottom is: KI 17205
Any information is greatly appreciated. I don't have pictures of it right this minute but I will try and put some up as soon as I can. Everything seems to be in pretty good condition to me. Thank you in advance!
Nishiki International, obviously
Suntour gears (10 speed)
Dia Compe brakes
Sakae Custom Road Champion handlebars
Kyokuto Top-Run pedals
Number on bottom is: KI 17205
Any information is greatly appreciated. I don't have pictures of it right this minute but I will try and put some up as soon as I can. Everything seems to be in pretty good condition to me. Thank you in advance!
#2
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Welcome to C&V.
The golden rule for bike IDs here is:
THOU SHALL INCLUDE PICTURES IN POSTINGS.
It makes things a lot easier. However, you listed the serial number and some of the parts, so that helps enormously.
Personally, given that you state it's a 10 speed, my guess would be that it from the period 1975-1980ish. I can't tell you much else, but my 1983 International has a serial number starting with CC...which of course means nothing to you...;
T-Mar, who posts here quite regularly, should be able to give you a year based on the serial number alone. Patience is key...
Leigh.

The golden rule for bike IDs here is:
THOU SHALL INCLUDE PICTURES IN POSTINGS.
It makes things a lot easier. However, you listed the serial number and some of the parts, so that helps enormously.
Personally, given that you state it's a 10 speed, my guess would be that it from the period 1975-1980ish. I can't tell you much else, but my 1983 International has a serial number starting with CC...which of course means nothing to you...;
T-Mar, who posts here quite regularly, should be able to give you a year based on the serial number alone. Patience is key...
Leigh.
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sn
leigh what is the rest of your serial #. my international starts the same, CC 061 88. maybe they know each other.
I think the only original parts on my bike were the headset, nishiki branded and the crankset, drilled sugino GT. i will have to check the BB.

#4
Disraeli Gears
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Are there any date codes on the crankset? Is it a first-generation 3-bolt Sugino Maxy or a later version? Centerpull or sidepull brakes? This information may help us with the date coding.
My 1971 Semi-Pro was KS78091, where the K denotes Kawamura, Nishiki's frame builder. I wonder whether KI denotes Kawamura International, which would make yours a fairly early specimen, within a year after Nishiki dropped the Japanese model name, Kokusai, in favor of its English equivalent.
My 1971 Semi-Pro was KS78091, where the K denotes Kawamura, Nishiki's frame builder. I wonder whether KI denotes Kawamura International, which would make yours a fairly early specimen, within a year after Nishiki dropped the Japanese model name, Kokusai, in favor of its English equivalent.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#6
Lanky Lass
Oh yes, photos would be an excellent addition to this thread.
East Hill
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#8
Who cares, just ride it!
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My International is CC00943. Yours sounds like it has been outfitted with parts from a Nishiki Continental. The Continental that I once had had Sugino GT cranks with drilled rings (now actually on my International), and a Nishiki branded headset. Is the top nut black with white "Nishiki" and the rest of the headset chrome? That's what the aforementioned Continental had. Its serial number was CC06760.
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If there aren't any pics of it this time tomorrow I'm dragging my international out and taking pictures even though I still haven't found a good inexpensive set of 27x1/8 tires for it that don't look totally out of place yet.
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The bicycle in question should be circa 1979. I don't have specs for this this year but I suspect it's similar to 1978 which used SunTour Cyclone derailleurs, a Sugino Super Maxy II crankset and Dia-Compe 500 brakes. The frame was plain gauge CrMo with hi-tensile forks and stays.
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feros ferio
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I guess that's the one constant feature of Kokusais/Internationals through the 1970s.
Do you happen to know the fork and stay composition of the Semi-Pro/Competition, which had a butted CrMo main triangle?
Do you happen to know the fork and stay composition of the Semi-Pro/Competition, which had a butted CrMo main triangle?
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
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BTW, here's a model that you and some of our Nishiki followers may not be aware of. During the boom, Nishiki had a grand touring model called the Safari that came fully kitted with racks, panniers, lighting system, kickstand, pump and water bottle.
#14
Lanky Lass
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#16
Lanky Lass

That would be about two inches too tall!
gggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
East Hill
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nishiki
yes leigh the headset on my international is a black nishiki branded in white lettering and the rest is chrome.
the tubing decal is on the top tube and say "chro-moly tange # 2". i believe it has Suntour dropouts. Even tho the cranks might not be original to this bike i do like them. any idea what the CC stands for in the SN. anything to do with the fact the bikes are in Canada?
the tubing decal is on the top tube and say "chro-moly tange # 2". i believe it has Suntour dropouts. Even tho the cranks might not be original to this bike i do like them. any idea what the CC stands for in the SN. anything to do with the fact the bikes are in Canada?
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yes leigh the headset on my international is a black nishiki branded in white lettering and the rest is chrome.
the tubing decal is on the top tube and say "chro-moly tange # 2". i believe it has Suntour dropouts. Even tho the cranks might not be original to this bike i do like them. any idea what the CC stands for in the SN. anything to do with the fact the bikes are in Canada?
the tubing decal is on the top tube and say "chro-moly tange # 2". i believe it has Suntour dropouts. Even tho the cranks might not be original to this bike i do like them. any idea what the CC stands for in the SN. anything to do with the fact the bikes are in Canada?
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I guess that makes mine a 1984, the year they went to cantilevers... But mine is powder coated and the components are total mix not even closely resembling what it might have looked like originally. I have put more miles on my international than any other bike and that margin will continue to grow for years and years to come unless I should happen on a late 80s miyata 1000, specialized expedition, nishiki continental or the like for dirt cheep in 62-65cm.
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1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
#20
Who cares, just ride it!
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yes leigh the headset on my international is a black nishiki branded in white lettering and the rest is chrome.
the tubing decal is on the top tube and say "chro-moly tange # 2". i believe it has Suntour dropouts. Even tho the cranks might not be original to this bike i do like them. any idea what the CC stands for in the SN. anything to do with the fact the bikes are in Canada?
the tubing decal is on the top tube and say "chro-moly tange # 2". i believe it has Suntour dropouts. Even tho the cranks might not be original to this bike i do like them. any idea what the CC stands for in the SN. anything to do with the fact the bikes are in Canada?
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nishiki
i quess time for a few pics leigh. i am not quite sure what you mean by low-rider mounts but it does have lots of eylets.













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#23
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WEIRD! It even has the rear rack mounts on the seat stays.
By lowrider mounts, I mean braze-ons to carry front panniers on a rack that attaches to the middle of the fork as opposed to the eyelets near the fork ends.
If yours has these, two sets of water bottle bosses and of course most importantly, cantilever brake bosses, then I can see NO difference whatsoever between this particular International and a Continental.
The only thing I can think of is that perhaps yours got labelled wrongly as an International when it should have been a Continental. I say this because my International from the same year as yours is COMPLETELY different, as I outlined above.
Anyway, check for the lowrider bosses halfway down the fork and for two sets of bottle cage mounts.
EDIT: Maybe yours is the Kawamura-built version and mine is the Norco version? Or were Norco built by Kawamura as well? T-Mar, please help....
By lowrider mounts, I mean braze-ons to carry front panniers on a rack that attaches to the middle of the fork as opposed to the eyelets near the fork ends.
If yours has these, two sets of water bottle bosses and of course most importantly, cantilever brake bosses, then I can see NO difference whatsoever between this particular International and a Continental.
The only thing I can think of is that perhaps yours got labelled wrongly as an International when it should have been a Continental. I say this because my International from the same year as yours is COMPLETELY different, as I outlined above.
Anyway, check for the lowrider bosses halfway down the fork and for two sets of bottle cage mounts.
EDIT: Maybe yours is the Kawamura-built version and mine is the Norco version? Or were Norco built by Kawamura as well? T-Mar, please help....

#24
Lanky Lass

Not true! We need you simply for your good cheer, even if we aren't picking your brains

East Hill
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TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
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#25
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That's much later than my International, which is a '76.
You can read about how I got mine here:
https://www.salt2salt.com/scans/SD/SD.html
You can read about how I got mine here:
https://www.salt2salt.com/scans/SD/SD.html