Checked the brake levers and found 1283 stamped in them and checked the cantis and found 0184 (both Diacompe) so that leads me to think it is an '84.

T-Mar

I have a 1985-86? Tri A Shimano 600 non index equipped

it has the Kawamura sticker so I assume that it is onehttp://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287771

I have seen the serial number info and this bike does not seem to fit as it has no letters before the serial number.

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 thre

The database shows plenty of models from this period with Kawamura format serial numbers, so my asumption is that, despite the Kawamura decal, it was built by someone other than Kawamura. Giant used a two section serial number, with the date section stamped on the droputs and the actual serialization portion on the bottom bracket. Given that they were the other big manufacturer of Nishiki during this period, I'd check the dropouts, even though Giant tpically built only the entry level models. It 's also possible that somebody else built and painted the frame but shipped it to Kawamura for decals and assembly.

If you post a good, overall, drive side photo and head decal photo, I should at least be able to identify the model year for you.

Tmar
Thank you
Here are the pics
I have made some changes to the bike but when I bought it was in its original condition. The only part that was not original from what I could tell from a Nishiki Brochure was the tires. I still have the parts I took from it, stem, bars, pedals, rims, seat. The stem was a bit aggressive as I used the bike for Ragbrai and made into a more comfortable riding position for me. The rims had little wear but would only accept a wire beaded tire. Also the rear would not stay true after three try’s at the LBS. I bought the Mavics used with Omas hubs and English threads. The old cassette was a 600ES which is still on the Araya rims
Tange 2 tubing lugged frame

Internal cable run

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
Whether Giant, Kuwamara or otherwise it is a quality frame that rides smooth and I am happy with the bike.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287814http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287815http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287816http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287817http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287818http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287819http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287820http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287821

here are the pics of the bike when I bought ithttp://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287825http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287826http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287827http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287828http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287829http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287830http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287826http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=287831

Gallo, that's definitely a 1985 model. You said you've seen a 1985 brochure. Can you post the link or PM me a copy? Thxs.

The font used for the model name is the same as the font used on 1984 model year road bikes. The tube material decal on the seat tube looks the same as the decals used on the 1984 model year road bikes.

Is the headbadge a big fat gold "N" with "NISHIKI" printed underneath, surrounded by a coloured banner? If yes, then it is probably a 1984 model year.

After looking at date codes on components, '84 sounds like the correct year. Our youth pastor has the bike but I'll try to remember to check out the headbadge next time I'm at his house.

The "t" on the forks is for takara, another brand of bike. These forks are probably not original to the bike. I have not seen any other early 1980s Nishiki with takara forks.

Reply to an old post #567.

I think the mystery red bike is a 1984 Sport. The Sport frame was also made by Giant. The rear seat stays in the photo are not from a Century frame, but they are seen on Sport frames. The "N" on the fork crown is consistent with 1984 Nishiki models.

Reply to old post #620.

Are you sure that this is a 1986 Modulus frame? Was there a Modulus model in 1986?

It does not look like a 1987 Modulus frame. It does look like a 1988 Modulus frame.

Dude...

http://i.imgur.com/9vjkf.png

Hi rencycle,

yes, your frame matches the rpinder International. Your bike is probably a Kokusai model, which later became the International. I think the serial number of your bike is prior to the model name change.

The E means Europe, the bike was intended for Europe. The D means the frame was manufactured in 1984. This usually means the bicycle model year is 1984 or 1985. You need to see the colour scheme and decals to determine the model year.

You do have the frame manufacturing information correct. The Rally is the 1986 model year based on the colour scheme and decals.

Reply to an old post #684

Hi Rich,

this looks like a 1980 or 1981 Custom Sport, that has had a lot of mods. The Toshiba High Tensile Tubing decal is what identifies the model and possible years. It should have chrome forks. The crankset looks original, but not sure about the rest.

It is probably a Century or Sport for the 1984 model year. These are the only Giant manufactured models with one set of water bottle bosses.

Reply to an old post #144


I think this Bushwhacker was made for the Canadian market.

The headbadge was the standard headbadge for Canadian market Nishikis in the early and mid-1980s. However, this headbadge was also used for 1983 US market Kuwamara built models, not Giant built models. This headbadge may also have been used on some special high-end models at different times.

The "TANGE NO 2 Cro-Moly DOUBLE BUTTED TUBES" is also typical of Canadian market Nishikis in the early and mid-1980s. This decal was also used on some Norco bicycles. Norco was the Canadian importer/distributor of Nishiki at that time.

The serial number as stated does not fit the Giant format for this time period. In the early 1980s, Giant serial numbers and date codes were stamped each side rear dropouts.

I would suggest that the serial number started with a "C" for Canadiant market and not a "G" for Giant. The "E" indicates 1985, which looks about right for the rest of the bike.

In 1981, only Specialized made large production run of MTBs, their first year. I think Nishiki's first MTBs were in 1983, but I do not know for sure.

One question remains:

What is a Canadian Nishiki doing in Kansas?

Answer:

Dorothy and Toto brought it back from Oz.

There was another Custom Sport, circa 1981, with a serial number in a similar format.

Do you have any pictures?

Was the serial number on the bottom bracket?

Reply to an old post #694

Hi Mark,

Your frame is from 1976. The Shields name on the down tube. Shields was the Canadian distributor in the late 1970s.

I have seen pictures of US market Internationals from the late 1970s and their frames say "Chrome Molybdenum". I don't know if people were using the term "4130" in the late 1970s.

Reply to old post #707

Hi Ikorpan,

This is a Giant produced frame from 1977. Giant made the Sport model, but I don't know which other models they made in 1977. Possibly, the Rally model also.

I have seen the odd serial number format on one other Nishiki, a Giant made 5-Speed model, also from 1977.

You have made an interesting observation about the headbadge and the tri-colour flag. I have done some checking and it appears that the headbadge for Giant models did not have the tri-colour flag.

Kuwamara and other contracted manufacturers had the eagle with the tri-colour flag.

Thanks for that observation.

TMar,

I have a theory about Giant manufactured frames with the Nishiki name.

Giant was contracted by West Coast Cycle Supply Company (WCCSC) to make bicycles and put the Nishiki brand name on them. Giant made Nishikis were only sold in the United States of America (USA) market.

On what do I base this theory? Several things.

The wikipedia article, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nishiki_%28bicycle%29, suggests that it was WCCSC who contracted Giant because of currency fluctuations. If this is correct, then it was not Kuwamara that sub-contracted Giant, but WCCSC who directly contracted Giant.

Trademark ownership. WCCSC owned the Nishiki trademark inside the USA. In theory they could sell anything as a Nishiki. Outside the USA, I believe that Kuwamara owned the Nishiki trademark name.

Giant made the entry level bikes for WCCSC. Consumers are sensitive to price on entry level bicycles. With Giant making the frames in Tiawan, the price was not sensitive to the increasing value of the Japanese yen. WCCSC entry level bikes could continue to compete on price in the USA.

Kuwamara tri-colour rectangle/emblem. Giant built bikes do not have the Kuwamara emblem, which indicates that Kuwamara was not involved with the manufacturing.

Giant frames in other markets. If Kuwamara contracted Giant, then one would think that you could find Giant made Nishikis in other geographic markets. Nishikis are also found in Northern Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Are any of the Nishikis found here made by Giant?

For the Canadian market, the Rally and Carrera were the entry level models. I have seen a few of these and pictures. None of them have the Giant stamped dropouts. Many have a Toshiba label, which indicates Japanese tubing. I have not seen any that say Taiwan. But this is a small survey size, so by no means conclusive.

Some of the Giant models from the late 1970s and early 1980s were: Sport, Marina, Century, Sebring. Did Kuwamara ever make any of these models? Were these exclusively Giant models in this time period?

I have a NORCO (as I understand these were manufactured by Nishiki but I can't figure out the meaning of the serial number; Y4A9256...

Okay, Nishiki was not a manufacturer, per se, but a brand. In the late 70s and early 80s most Nishiki frames were made by Kawamura and some high end ones by Italian makers like Colnago, Olmo. Norco was the Canadian importer of Nishikis and also marketed a similar line of bikes under its own name.

Norco was the Canadian distibutor for Nishiki in the 1980s. Some Norco bicycles were manufactured by Kawamura, who manufactrured most, but not all Nishiki during this period. Your particular Norco is a 1984 model model manufactured by Yamaguchi. If you can post pictures and/or the brands and models of the major components, I should be able to identify the model and position in the line up.