Nishiki Serial Number Database
#552
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That's a 1988 Olympic with Shimano Exage, Uni-Crown fork and the distinctive routing of the rear brake cable through tunnels under the top tube. It was normal practice to commence manufacturing in the autumn for the upcoming model year, so it is a reversed CG code, as you surmised. Being a Canadian model, there are some minor differences to the USA model. The USA model would have had a red fork and the saddle would have been white.
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Just inherited my dad's bike. According to him he bought it in '72, but it was a '71 that the shop owner was having a tough time selling because it didn't have any decals. It's a Nishiki Pro, original everything - including sew-up rims with high flange sunshine hubs, dura ace brakes, suntour derailleurs, sugino cranks, pro-compe cassette and a chain that's never been broke.





#555
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Just inherited my dad's bike. According to him he bought it in '72, but it was a '71 that the shop owner was having a tough time selling because it didn't have any decals. It's a Nishiki Pro, original everything - including sew-up rims with high flange sunshine hubs, dura ace brakes, suntour derailleurs, sugino cranks, pro-compe cassette and a chain that's never been broke.
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Thanks for the info, T-Mar! I'm certainly willing to believe that my dad's memory could be off by a year! Though I do trust that he didn't replace any components - either the Dura-Ace were stock, or the shop swapped them out while building the bike...I think it's more likely that they were stock.
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Thanks for the info, T-Mar! I'm certainly willing to believe that my dad's memory could be off by a year! Though I do trust that he didn't replace any components - either the Dura-Ace were stock, or the shop swapped them out while building the bike...I think it's more likely that they were stock.

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Thanks for the info on my bike, having a blast riding this bike. I think this one is going to rekindle my interest in vintage steel frames and components that fizzled for a little while. I need to replace the junky plastic pedals that came with the bike first thing, I think I still have some sort of extra pedal in the one box of components that I kept over various recent moves. Then thinking a new saddle, not a big fan of the feel of the one on there; colorwise I am torn between a white one or adding another touch of red. Hmmm...
Lots of nice bikes in this thread. And these forums in general. I think I had a different user name years ago with a no longer used email address, but was always more of a forum reader than poster.
Lots of nice bikes in this thread. And these forums in general. I think I had a different user name years ago with a no longer used email address, but was always more of a forum reader than poster.
#560
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I just got a Nishiki Sport, silver color, serial number 9171281, ten speed, SunTour components, Nishiki cranks? (that's the name on the cranks". Any guess what year it is or do you need a pic or more info?
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Here are some pics and additional info. Rear derailleur is Suntour Honor. I found some numbers on the rear drop out 60679. It has a sticker that says FEMCO 1207 cromol. Made in Taiwan.





Last edited by dbikingman; 11-17-10 at 04:39 PM. Reason: addded pic and additional info.
#563
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Interesting, I've never seen that Nishiki logo before It looks like something homemade. Femco 1207 tubing was being spec'd circa 1978 but that alloy crankset would be an anomaly for the that year. My database has a known 1981 with that basic crankest, but no Nishiki logo. It also doesn't have the Femco decal. By 1983 the Sport had a CrMo frame, so we know it's not that late. It should be circa 1979-1982.
The serial numbers sound like a Giant frame, which would also be supported by the Taiwan decal. However, Giant typically also stamped one dropout with a Gmmyy to identify the manufacturer, month and year. Is there something on the other dropout? If not, it may simply indcate an earlier format, as my database currently has no samples farther back than late 1980.
You may be able to narrow things down using the date codes on the various components. Please refer to components page on the Vintage-Trek website for decyphering the codes. Get as many as possible and please post what you find. Good luck.
The serial numbers sound like a Giant frame, which would also be supported by the Taiwan decal. However, Giant typically also stamped one dropout with a Gmmyy to identify the manufacturer, month and year. Is there something on the other dropout? If not, it may simply indcate an earlier format, as my database currently has no samples farther back than late 1980.
You may be able to narrow things down using the date codes on the various components. Please refer to components page on the Vintage-Trek website for decyphering the codes. Get as many as possible and please post what you find. Good luck.
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I rechecked the dropout and I think the numbers is G0679. So date of manufacture is June 1979.
#566
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I have a Nishiki Colorado. I believe it is a 1988 or 1989. S/N is GZ897538. Rear derailleur has been replaced (original broke). Shimano EXAGE brakes and front derailleur. SIS shifters, 18 gears. U Brake with rear under chainstay. Frame is CroMo throughout. Joytech hubs on the original rims (I think Araya but not sure)
Color is kind of a metalic pearl aqua with the stem to the handlebars cream.
I assume this is a mid-level bike, does anyone have any other info or a MSRP?
EDIT: Also has Biopace chainrings
Color is kind of a metalic pearl aqua with the stem to the handlebars cream.
I assume this is a mid-level bike, does anyone have any other info or a MSRP?
EDIT: Also has Biopace chainrings
#567
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Some Nishikis that I have owned: Sport

Riviera GT

Modulus (built up with all-black Shimano 105)

and today's UFO, stamped G0684 on the drive side dropout, 4414398 on the left, "N" embossed fork crown, 3 cable guides on top tube, heart shaped clamp stop on downtube, cable stop on chainstay, no headbadge rivet holes, and that's about it:
I built it up as a single with Shimano 600 drilled non-aero levers, Dura Ace centerpulls, Sugino RT crank, ACS Claws 22t FW, Cinelli Frog stem, the old headset from the Modulus, Kalloy chromo post (26.8), and a Masi saddle. Crappy single-wall 700c Arayas for now, probably came with 27's originally. I don't wana turn this into a SS or fixie thread, just wana ID the frameset and add to the knowledge base. I'm guessing Century until T-Mar tells me otherwise. Happy Thanksgiving!
Riviera GT
Modulus (built up with all-black Shimano 105)
and today's UFO, stamped G0684 on the drive side dropout, 4414398 on the left, "N" embossed fork crown, 3 cable guides on top tube, heart shaped clamp stop on downtube, cable stop on chainstay, no headbadge rivet holes, and that's about it:
I built it up as a single with Shimano 600 drilled non-aero levers, Dura Ace centerpulls, Sugino RT crank, ACS Claws 22t FW, Cinelli Frog stem, the old headset from the Modulus, Kalloy chromo post (26.8), and a Masi saddle. Crappy single-wall 700c Arayas for now, probably came with 27's originally. I don't wana turn this into a SS or fixie thread, just wana ID the frameset and add to the knowledge base. I'm guessing Century until T-Mar tells me otherwise. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Nishiki Tri-A Equipé - Looks like it's a 1987. Very clean overall. Came with Santé derailleurs and downtube shifters, 600 brakes, 600 crank and 600 Headset. The Santé stuff looks cool, but I am probably moving to 8 speed with STI of some sort, so the shifters will go. And the 53/42 crankset isn't very practical around here (the FSA Omega with white cranks would look good with the Santé.)









#569
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I've been seeing NOS 600 STI on E-**** listing for $250-300, but you can still pick up a used set for around $80 if you're patient. Harris still has 8-speed cassettes also.
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Well i got my hands on a nishiki ??.It was grey/silver before i powdered it...But can't seem to find any other info...The serial is on the left dropout and starts out with a 400 number any clues???
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It sounds like a Giant manufacturerd frame, which were typically entry level models, circa 1978-1984. Check the right hand dropot. You should stampings, format Gmmyy, where mm = month, yy = year.
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Adding my Nishiki Medalist. Serial: KC 42194. Champion #1 tubes, Cyclone II deraileurs front and rear, Superbe brakes, Sugino Arrow Mighty crank, Suntour Sprint hubs, Araya 700c wheels.
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Hey thanks for the info,I checked the dropout and it reads 4007527 (no letters present)before i got down to the bare metal there was a nishiki decal in blue.The bike Raw(which i should of taken pics)seem to have really good tubing and the brazing was pretty neat (not sloppy as other frames i've seen bare) So this is really a mystery to me. I tried upload a pic but seems to be to big for the format..
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Currently restoring/updating a 1980 Nishiki Sport Mixte s/n (G1080). It's my sister-in-law's bike from when she was a kid. I took it on Thanksgiving weekend without her knowledge and will be delivering it as a surprise on Christmas. I'll start a thread once I'm a little farther along. Thanks for the wealth of information in this thread! This is what forums are about!

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Hey thanks for the info,I checked the dropout and it reads 4007527 (no letters present)before i got down to the bare metal there was a nishiki decal in blue.The bike Raw(which i should of taken pics)seem to have really good tubing and the brazing was pretty neat (not sloppy as other frames i've seen bare) So this is really a mystery to me. I tried upload a pic but seems to be to big for the format..