I believe this is from 1989 or maybe 1990, based on the date codes on some of the Shimano components:




Model: Nishiki Prestige
Serial Number: W90020940
Component Group: Shimano RX100 (seems most likely)
Tubing Material: Tange Number One, double butted, Tig welded
Color: Red

I haven't been able to find a similar model in this thread or searching the web. The serial number is stamped near the bottom of the downtube, and the head badge is different from most that I have seen. Components are a mix of Shimano RX100 (date coded 'N', or 1989) Shimano RSX (ergoshifters), and mid '90's Shimano 105. The crankset, brakeset, and rear derailleur appear to be original and it leads me to believe this is an '89 or '90, possibly a '91.




I'd love to see pics of something similar. It's a nice bike, and I really like the seatstay.

Hi, I need help ID'ing a bike. I recently inherited my dad's pre-1974 American Eagle (Nishiki), since last year he sadly passed away. It is 100% original (except for rear tire and handlebar grips), however, sometime in the last 12 months, the front wheel/tire disappeared in my relative's posession. Unfortunate. So in addition to ID'ing the bike, I am also looking for guidance as to where to get an original front wheel and quick release.

Bike Description:
Serial #: KS87779
A "W" and PDS also stamped into the bottom of the frame.
Front gears: Suntour Sugino
Pedals: Kyokuto Pro Ace
Shifters: Suntour - Mounted on the downtube
Frame: American Eagle Front logo & Japan sticker and Chrome Molybdenum sticker & WDCSC stamp by rear wheel quick release
Rear quick release - Suntour
Brakes: Suntour Diacomp
Rear Hub: Sunshine 5345 0
Rear Wheel: Araya Lightalloy 27 x 1 1/4 w/o hp
Rear derailleur: Suntour GT
Seat: Fujita
Handlebar riser: Compe
Brake levers: Diacompe
Handlebars: KB Japan Champion
Front derailleur: Suntour Sport

One additional interesting feature is a large metal disc with holes in in behind the largest gear on the rear wheel.

Thanks and any help is appreciated.

That does seem like a new data point. Curious about the chainstay on the non-drive side: Is it labeled "Handcrafted by Kawamura"?

With the other info you provided, seems quite reasonable to see the serial number - W90... - as 1990. The W still indicates made for USA market and the second and third numerals indicate 1990.

Agreed, I didn't see any others in the thread with a serial number in that location. I'm hoping the frame construction is a clue, maybe there are other imports from that era with the monostay? The geometry is really tight and quick, short wheelbase...my size 13 feet hit the front tire if I don't keep them back on the pedals, but I'm also far too tall for it.

I don't see anything on the non-drive stay, and no 'Made in XXXX' decal anywhere either, unfortunately. I really can't believe how hard it is to pin this kind of info down-and not just for Nishiki bikes, it seems like every single manufacturer has really poor records when it comes to tracking what was sold over the years. It sure makes it fun and interesting!

I was gonna bump for TMar to see the new posts.

The 87 catalog suggests that the move to Giant of Taiwan was going hard. Prestige WAS a Kawamura model name... but I wonder if the radical design changes, including the decreased number of lugs, suggest a Giant build (pure speculation).

I'd be curious to know the geometry - wheelbase, chainstay length, seat tube and, perhaps, top tube - if you'd be so kind. Historically, the chainstays were a relaxed length - not so severe as the tighest racing geometries got to demanding.

Ran into this somewhere over the interweb... been meaning to get it online. It's pretty large, so I'll just link to it... it's two pages circa 1974 with pretty good details about Nishiki's line.

https://webwerkx.com/users/vendorz/ni...01of2%20sm.png

https://webwerkx.com/users/vendorz/ni...02of2%20sm.png

Great links-Thanks for that. Most info I've seen picture wise. A little generic on the bar and stem descrips tho.

Hi and thanks, these are great links. Honestly, I'm still not quite sure what model the bike is. Anyone have an idea? Also, do you know where can I get a front wheel to match my rear wheel (Araya Lightalloy 27x1 1/4 w/o hp? Thanks!

User13-pics would be best-it may be an international on the cusp of the name change from a.e. to nishiki. Is it silver by any chance?

Hi Juls, thanks for the reply.
Yes, it is silver. I will take some pix this weekend and post a couple.
I looked at all the pix in those links above, and none matched the bike, because my shifters are on the down tube.
I've also emailed some people on craigslist that have a front wheel for sale. We'll see what happens!
Thanks again.
Josh

I had some time to take measurements, the construction is as follows:

Seat Tube: 53cm c-c
Top Tube: 54cm c-c
Chainstay: 41cm c-c
Seatstay: 51 cm c-c (approx)
Head Tube: 100mm
Wheelbase: 95-96cm

After staring at my pics I started to wonder if the fork might be off or something, but they are perfectly aligned with the plane of the head tube, and there is no sign of crash or damage, the dropouts are even and nothing appears off, the bends are parallel and the fork is straight...it's just stubby.

To User13- It may be tedious as this thread is so large-but peruse it-I wouldn't be surprised if you find your model. The search is sometimes very broad here on the forums-but still a wealth of info. I have sellers remorse with mine (somewhere in this thread)-it had a nishiki hb but decal saying american eagle. It was my first complete rebuild. The freewheel was HUGE!

Hi Juls, thanks again. Here's some pix that you had said I should upload. Just did 2 for reference. Going to look at a wheel tonight that is an exact hub match too.
Josh

That should clean up very well. The wrap around seat stays were used on nishiki competition-I don't know that Amer Eagle had a model name. TMar (Nishiki Guru ) started this serial database. The KS in the # means early 70's. The stem looks like an earlier compe stem/maybe late 60's?
The crankset however looks newer. Report your progress and give a ride report. You sure can conquer some hills with that freewheel! Trek has a site of date codes for some components-google 'dateing vintage bicycle components' and it should come up.

Yeah... that's stubby. The 87 catalog shows Prestige wheelbase at 1008 mm and the chainstay at 415mm.

Your Araya rims are probably laced to Sunshine hubs, I see them often on Ebay (clean off your hub and check to see if it's Sunshine, the etching is shallow so it you'll have to clean it well). Be patient if there's not one listed now, it will show up.

Hi Milmo, yes you're totally correct, it is on a Sunshine hub. Found one on Craigslist and we are planning the meet up so I can purchase.

I am doing Ragbrai this year and was looking for a steel bike as I did not want to bounce my carbon frame on the back of a bike rack for 4000 miles. I came across a Nishiki Tri A in pretty good condition my guess is it has less than a thousand miles of ride time. I purchased it for 235 with new tires and tubes. runs great and fits. Need to go through it before I break it in. the wheels need a bit truing however it is rideable as is. I think this is original as it came off the LBS floor save the tires

bike ad here
https://for-sale.yakaz.com/nishiki-tri-a
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/bik/2944736258.html

When I look at the serial number rules this does not fit the matrix I have seen on this forum. There are no letters whatsoever.

its is stamped 944 8693 the 944 is on the left side of bottom bracket with a large space between and the 8693 right side with the bike upside down. Any thoughts of why no letters as seems the norm from what I have read on this thread

Build as is now in my garage are the following

Tange 2 tubing lugged frame

Internal cable runs

cool gussets for water bottle ( the cage is a black Uniavega)

Full Shimano 600 group

600 headset

600 Suicide six friction

600 front and rear derailer

600 brakes and levers

600 bottom bracket and cranks

600 pedals with traps

Biopace sprocket

Araya gold anodized rims

SE hubs

SR stem

Sakae world champion bars

turbo saddle

leather bar tape with italian flag colored tape

Just found this brochure online that is my bike with all specifications. I emailed the seller and asked if he pulled cycle pro tires off the bike. Everything else is as described in this brochure is how the bike is set up. Mine bike is raven black which makes it less racy than the metallic pink or Ferrari red.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/2130633...n/photostream/

Nishiki Tri-A. Current theory is it's a 1989. Serial number is W89091769. Does this place this as a USA made Nishiki, assuming W=USA, 89=year, and the last 6 digits are manufacture number?

Front and rear derailleurs are both stamped "EG," placing them at July 1988.

Still haven't figured out how to enlarge the picture within the post......

I just noticed that this bike is extremely similar to the Nishiki Prestige Shogun700 posted. Mono-stay, serial number in the same place, etc. If the assumptions are right about the serial number, mine's just a year earlier.

I picked up this Nishiki International 10 speed yesterday on CL, Its paint is a Brown/Green/Gold - ish, which I think is really cool. It looks sort of similar, with similar components to the Kokusai posted by BigJeff on post #628 back on page 26.

I think this bike is sweet how it stands, but I was thinking of converting it to a single speed with some other possible component changes, but I wanted to know exactly what I have before I do something I may regret. I think its pre 1975, but I am unsure of the year and the value of this bike. Any help/suggestions/info would be greatly appreciated.

Serial number: KS300592
Rear Derailleur: Suntour V-GT Luxe
Front Derailleur: Suntour Compe - V
Shifters: Suntour
Hubs: Shimano
Rims: Araya
Stem: Dia-Compe
Brakes: Dia-Compe
Crank: Sugino Maxy

That paint is fantastic, cool bike.

As a side note, I've been to a couple bike swaps in the last couple weeks and seen 2 or 3 with similar headbadges but different geometry, so these oddballs are out there.....

I just picked up this frameset:


Nishiki Medalist Serial # KC 22377

Apparently this is rare. Non catalog model with Tange Champion #1 tubing, chrome dropouts, DS chainstay and paint over chrome fork. I love this deep metallic gray. I had an 82 Nishiki Cresta with the same paint, very nice.

user 13-this is so odd i happen to see your post. Earlier today I happened upon this site. I have an old American Eagle but when I read the posts, none of the posts were anything like my bike and i believed mine to be a late 60's so nothing applied, but my bicycle seemed pretty well crafted. when I got home today I went and looked at the components to get numbers and names and not many of the names names matched as far as all on one bike. My serial number-K S 70152 wasnt like the others so I go to post and your bike nearly matches mine part for part-the seat is different-mine Freggio D' Oro. What are sunshine hubs-mine are blue anodized. My derailuer levers are in the end of the handle bars and the cable housing is stainless steel. if you get some info, wanna drop it one me?