arlahile

I recently picked up what I believe is a late 70s Olympic 12. It has the nice metal head badge and the chromed fork ends. Dia-compe center pull brakes. Sugino derailleurs (I think - it's at the shop). Crank says "Nishiki". Also decals that read "Chrome molybdenum" and "Made in Japan", both in script. That's all I can remember at the moment - I will get some pics this week. It came without wheels, saddle, and pedals, I picked it up for $40, which is probably a tad high.

Bottom bracket serial number (maybe it's elsewhere?) reads "S1 1D187", which doesn't seem to jive with anything in this thread!

Thanks to everyone who's been participating in this!

Arla

T-Mar

It would appear that the manufacture of your frame was subcontracted, as that is not a Kawamura format. The Olympic 12 designation was first used in 1978 and was still in use as late as 1987, though it was not used consistently during the intervening years. Regardless, the presence of center-pull brakes suggests it is circa 1978-1979. Sugino would be the brand of the crankset, not the derailleurs, which are almost certainly SunTour. To narrow down the year you will have to refer to the date codes stamped on the components, which can be decoded using the info on the Component Dates page of the Vintage-Trek website. Forum members will apreciate the pics and findings of your research.

riva

Who made the aluminum Nishikis? I just picked up an Altron 7000 frameset, I'm thinking late 80's?? I'll post the serial tomorrow, # was hidden under the cable guide.

T-Mar

An Altron 7000 should be circa 1987/1988. I don't have any Altron 7000 serial numbers in my database yet, but an old road test says the frames were designed and manufactured by Kawamura. Hopefully, the serial number will corroborate this statement.

arlahile

https://picasaweb.google.com/arla.hil...eat=directlink

I've uploaded some links showing the Olympic 12 - sorry they are lousy cell phone pictures.

Notice that the "Nishiki" decal on the downtube is upside-down!

Arla

riva

T-Mar, I pulled the ally Altron's cable guide off of the BB. The format is three characters each on two rows.

No pic yet, but IIRC it was this:

KH0

996


Edit: I double checked, and its actually: KF0

T-Mar

Well, KH would be a 1988 Kawamura frame, which is the right era per my previous post. Until now, I have not seen any Kawamura serial numbers past 1987 or with less than 5 numerals, but it makes sense if you consider increasing offload to Taiwan, leaving Kawamura with the higher models and a smaller volume. Being avant-garde technology for the time, aluminum frames would be more likely to be made in Japan than Taiwan. Pending further info, I'd say it was a Kawmura frame. Any "Made in..." decals?

riva

Its KF0, so its an 86? Maybe late 86 mfg for an 87 model? Chainstay says "handcrafted by Kawamura" and the ST says "Japan." Components left on the bike are Sprint. 27.2mm seatpost fits in, but its tight. Maybe it needs a 26.8?? Gotta find the die grinder to take off those ugly shifter bosses..

quaycur

I can't make heads or tails of this thing. The bike is a Sport and had 12 speeds and purple paint with a fade to white at the headset/fork. Logo was painted. Shifters were on the down tube. Neither the serial number nor the shorter separate number give me any clues. The brakes (the original Dia-Compe side-pulls) told me it's an '86, where the front hub (what I assume is the original Joytech with an Araya rim) says '87, as does the stem. The year and place of manufacture would be fun to know, but I'd really like to know for sure that this thing does indeed have a cromo frame. Judging from other similar models I'd say it does.

Serial number: GB745200
Definitely separate number also on the BB: C68K

The picture of the BB is mine, but the side shot of the frame is a very similar one I found on ebay (mine doesn't have those little paint slashes on the frame near the seat, though). I've already sandblasted the frame for painting, so it wouldn't do much good to show it now (though I will have a build thread started soon). So, what's the deal with this thing?

T-Mar

I don't have any serila numbers like that in the database. A good, drive side pic may help. To determine the tububing, I'll beed to know the seat post size. What are the derailleurs and crankset?

quaycur

My landlord got it for free a few years ago and it just got passed on to me, so I have no idea what's been done to it.

- 25mm seat post (it says Meng-Fa on the side of the seat post, don't know if that's a brand)
- Sugino cranks (AT or GT I believe)
- Shimano 105 rear derailleur
- Suntour x-3000 front derailleur (28.6 stamped on inside of seat post tube clamp)
- Suntour x-3000 down tube shifters (shifter posts are brazed on to the sides)
- Sovos rear wheel hub, Weinmann rim (can only make out "215" on the sticker), Shimano 6-sp gears (only number I can find on it is MF-Z012)
- Modolo Anatomic Bend aluminum handlebar (had purple and turquoise cow hide looking bar tape)
- Shimano Exage brake levers

FBSeal

Yesterday I picked up my lovely NOS Nishiki Olympic Royal. The frame number starts with EA. Could that mean "Europe 1981"? The bike was imported to the Swedish market. The Dura-Ace parts are 1982-1984 according to a friend working for Shimano.



Bonus question: Was the Primus pump included by Nishiki or by the Swedish importer?

More pictures in this Norwegian thread:
https://terrengsykkel.no/ubb/ubbthrea...&Number=731698

cremated

Nishiki Europa Tri-A . I just purchased this bike this morning...ostensibly for parts. I'm now very curious about it as it seems to be a much higher quality bike than I thought. The serial is CFO4214 It is a tange 1 frame wearing a suntour cyclone 7000 set. I would sincerely appreciate anything you might be able to tell me about it. Is it worthy of restoration or merely a middling quality example. I just found this community this morning while googling nishiki. Thanks in advance for any assistance. I'm in Barrie Ontario.

cremated

I just purchased the bike pictured. Any thing I can deduce from it I will be happy to relay . The serial is CF04214 The set is Suntour cyclone 7000, There is a "designed by Norco decal where you suspected.The frame is Tange 1. I do believe the pink boots are original as they match the paint colour and the cable colour. Hubs are Samsin, Rims are Araya front and a Mavic MA 40 rim has been laced to the Samsin rear hub. Is this thing worth restoring or should I strip it for parts for my beater as originally planned.The Araya wheel is gold...........first I've seen. This is the first time I have ever posted to a web site. Sorry for the double post.. Cleaned and lubed it, installed two tires and a seat post from my crashed Bianchi,listed it for sale at 225.00. Sold for full price in 16 hours.

mrmartin

I have four Nishiki road bikes:

Red Nishiki International Serial no. KC 03041 (1983)
Blue Nishiki International Serial no. KC 44040 (1983)
Gold Nishiki International Serial no. KG 12836 (1977)
Blue Nishiki Olympic Mixte frame Serial no. KG 27575 (1977)

Photos and detailed information at https://www.mrmartinweb.com/bicycle.html#Nishiki

jtgotsjets

Thought I'd contribute a little.
I know next to nothing about bikes, first of all. I picked up a red nishiki century last week on impulse. It seemed like a good price ($80) for a road bike in decent condition (tires won't hold air, but it did come with the original manual).
I'm at work right now, so I'll post pictures and an s/n later.
However, looking through the photos in this thread, it doesn't look like anything else I've seen. The defining feature I was looking for was the main nishiki logo, which on most of the bikes here (and all of the centurys) was in bold, block letters. On mine it is written in an elegant serifed typeface; does this suggest a date or era to anyone offhand?

probe1957

Riva, a couple of weeks ago, I picked up an Altron 7000 that appears identical to yours. I have it stripped now. Will post pics and info when I get it put back together. The guy I bought if from bought it new in, he thought, about 1992. He did have some recollection of the bike shop guy saying he had had it in inventory for a few years. He couldn't remember what he paid for it.

10speedfla

I recently picked up a Nishiki mixte style bike. I had never heard of it before, but I was really looking for a small size mixte bike, and I found it on Craigs list. It is a Nishiki century, dark blue with gray decal. I will try to post some photos if anyone would like to see it. The serial number does start with a "G". I would like to put on different pedals, does anyone know what size (I'm really new at this!) would work? Thanks! I just want to put the "rat trap" style pedals, which is what I see on most of the photos.

jpr99

I just discovered the Nishiki serial number page. Trying to figure out when I bought this buy.
Some information on the bike:
Nishiki Casade - Richard Cunningham Design ( Red base color with Black and White specks)
26 size rims
Shimano brake system
Can't remember what the other times are. Pretty much it's still pretty basic items on it.
On the frame it says Made in Taiwan. Can't find a serial number anywhere.
I've posted some pics. If need be I can do better when I get home. Work camera is really bad.

https://s700.photobucket.com/albums/ww1/jpr99/

afilado

Adding link to post containing detailed info for data base.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/551289-nishiki-superbe-pics-robbietunes.html

Njord Noatun

Hopefully this question is not too off-topic, but as I have all the Nishiki specialists gathered in one place...

Does anyone know where I can find a (hopefully, quality) scan of this page of a Nishiki catalog or brochure (female bicyclist in yellow holding a black Nishiki Cerino [?])?



Thanks for any pointers.

OLDYELLR

The Cervino was one of the top, if not the top, bike sold by Nishiki. The other one was the Maxima, reportedly built by Colnago. Right below those was the Ultimate (at least in the early eighties timeframe). None of these were in any Nishiki catalogue I've ever seen, in person or images on the 'net. This is the first one. From the "camera" watermark in the corner, this looks like an eBay image.

Here are some pictures of a nice Cervino, but I don't believe a Brooks saddle would have been original. THey were considered antiquated and heavy back in the 'eighties.

gomonroe1

I just bought a very clean Nishiki Pretige. It is a Performance Equipe, white in color, with 4130 CR-MO throughout, triple butted frame, 4130 CR-MO fork. Sunntour Edge Accushift 4050 components. Brakes are Edge, Diamond comp BRS. Handlebars have "Champion" logoed on top (not sure what that is all about.) I found two serial numbers on bike. First is "GM852270." The other (not 100% if got it right is "068H12 (this one is partially covered by a piece of plastic used to keep cables aligned.) My best guess on how to interpret the number would be "Giant" manufactured in 1985. Anyone else able to make sense of this? Also, I couldn't find anything that states the size of the frame. Would love feedback on year and size of bike. I will post photos soon.

killerbug

Enclosed is a picture and some information for the Nishiki database.
The bike was purchased new in 1972 in Phoenix AZ.
Serial no.=KS14560. There is a fancy letter W on the bb shell as well.
Date code for the Sugino crank is 46H which I believe is August 1971
The frame is double butted Chrome Molybdenum, 25 inch
The bike has been in continuous use since new and as such little remains of the original components save the bars, stem, shifters and crank. I also cold set the stays to allow a 7-speed freewheel
I currently commute to work and have used the bike for commuting to work, college and countless informal centuries which we simply referred to as "long rides".

Note: I will have to submit pictures later as the site photo management software is apparently not working at the moment.

Jhereg

Should be getting in a couple days a prestige I located on craigslist. Got me a little program that lets me search all craigslist cities and found 2 nice Nishiki's that were the triple butted variety. One prestige, other was a modulus. I'll post serial numbers when I get it.