Ouldog

Nishiki Pro

61 cm (c-c), 57 cm (c-c) seat tube. As noted in my above post about the serial number, I'm trying to figure out what I have.

Presently built up as my single-speed townie.

Frame is in good shape.

NJgreyhead

Just figured out how to post pictures.
Thx.

BigJeff

On a long term borrowing from my dad, I appropriated his Nishiki Kokusai about 10 years ago.

I never knew anything of the make or model, but finding this thread I thought I would contribute.

Yes, it is dirty. I'll clean it up next week after when I get some new tubes for it. I use a gun lock whenever I ride places and need to lock it up, I never understood carrying a huge lock.

T-Mar

Actually, it's a 1978 Nishiki ONP manufactured in late 1987. It's a very low volume frame, which is why the serial number format doesn't match. There have been a few different formats surface on ONP, indicating they were contracted to various sources. One may have been a small department of Kawamura, dealing with custom frames, much the way Reparto Corse was part of Bianchi, yet operated independently and had their own serial number format.

T-Mar

I concur. Based on the serial number and pics, it would appear to be a 1974 model. To corroborate this, the major components will have date codes stamped on them that you decypher using the info on the components page of the Vintage-Trek website. Most, if not all, the components appear to be OEM.

T-Mar

In case you don't know, the Kokusai was the original model name for the lower, mid-range Nishiki International. It was a carry over model name from the orignal brand name, American Eagle. A Nishiki Kokusai would be very rare. Based, on my research, it appears to have been made only during 1972.

gretegruetz

Hello,
I`m from germany and i´ve found an Nishiki continental in darkblue metallic colour,
with Shimano DX parts (front drell. and cantis etc.), brake cable is innertube.
Frame is Tange infinity with Tange unicrown fork and the number is EJ500968.
Does anyone has some more information?
Greetings from germany

T-Mar

Based on the serial number, it was manufactured in 1990, for the Eupropean market.

NISHIKI GOLD

got a bike off a dealer Nishiki can you give me a little info on this bike ???
everything says japan seems like a good bike cleaning up pretty well getting new paint new tires and wheels.
Ks34056 serial number, aprx year,price,price when first sold? any infp you can find or know would be apreciated

T-Mar

It's a Kawamura manufactured model, circa 1974, but that's about all I can tell you as Kawamura does not appear to have built model identifiers into the serial number format. To get the other info, you'll have to post pics of the bicycle.

NISHIKI GOLD

https://img594.imageshack.us/i/nishiki003.jpg/

Follow that link theres a picture of the bike when I first bought it. I appreciate the info you gave me.

T-Mar

Given the block logo, it should be a 1975 model. Overall configuration suggests a Nishiki International. Original price $175-$200.

NISHIKI GOLD

What would you say after a refurb it would be worth?

T-Mar

That's impossible to say without knowing the details of the refurb. I'd also need to know where you live, as local market conditions vary drastically.

juls

For the database: Not all orig/but....what wheels and rdr should have come on it?

juls

4got a pic:

T-Mar

SunTour V rear derailleur and Compe front derailleur. Wheels specs weren't listed but I believe they were Ukai 16B tubular rims laced to Sunshine, large flange, QR hubs.

Edit: Brakes are incorrect too. OEM were Dia-Compe center-pull.

realestvin7

^^^That bike is sick. Too bad it's too small, or you'd have a PM. Lol.

juls

on the hunt for those as I type. BTW-the frame code is 74-but crank code is 72-and I didn't know drop outs had a max cog size...35max(written on the drive side drop.) Thanks T-Mar

realestvin7

I have the hubs, FD and RD you're speaking of. At least I think I do. Lol.

T-Mar

Japan didn't really have any true high end components until Shimano released Dura-Ace in 1973. It took SunTour a couple of years to react with Cyclone. Consequently, the components you seek were available on lots of mid-range models too, and should be relatively inexpensive and easy to find.

I'm curious as to why you think the frame is a 1974?

juls

From the letter "D" in the serial number/after the K (????) Did I read it wrong on the nishiki site? {KD22355**

T-Mar

Nishiki site? Did somebody pilfer my serial number analysis from the first post in this thread?

Based on hundreds of Nishiki serial numbers I've collected, all the pre-1975, Kawamura built Nishiki used a KSxxxxxx format. The alpha year indicator does not appear to have come into play until 1975.

Is it really a "D"? It looks like it's round on the top, left hand side, almost like it's an oh or zero.

Yours is not the first Pro to surface using a non-standard serial number. It suggests that Kawamura either subcontracted these frames and/or had a separate in-house facility, with their own serial number system, to manufacture the high end frames. The latter is not without precendent. Bianchi had a Reparto Corse division for their high end frames. Unfortunately, not enough Pros turn up to confidently analyze the data. At this point, all I can say is that it is 1972-1974.

BobHufford

I think mine is one of these. See https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...tion-for-T-Mar

Would the "Silk" fork indicate that Katatura Silk may have had a hand in building the frames or just supplied the forks?

Bob

juls

I just googled 'nishiki serial numbers and came up on a wwwstevelance site. Reviewing it again-guess I scanned it too quickly-it mentions the 'S'. I mistakenly took it for no 'S' used. Thanks for pointing that out-now its a mystery-lol. The badge is missing-but the decal is bamboo style/so early 70's it is. Thanks. Oh, you would think the fork would nail it down to something, huh.