Gallo

Hummer thanks for the links.

This was a garage find here in San Diego I would doubt that it was from Canada but anything is possible. I bought from a guy who knew the owner and said it just sat for years.
The bike had very little wear just garage scratches. Based on the wear of the sprockets pedals and cranks and rims this thing just sat around and was ridden very little

The dropouts say Nishiki and KMF. The frame is very presentable and the workmanship looks good. It has little extra detail like the chrome on top of the triangle and little stars brazed on to the frame for the water bottle bolts.The internal cables runs are tubed for easy cable installation. So overall it seems to be a quality build

While it does have a Tange 2 sticker one would assume it is Tange 2 but it also has a Kawamura sticker and based on TMars logic the chances are it was not put together in its factory due to the anomaly of the serial number.

It remains still somewhat of a mystery except the year of the model which has been nailed down.

What is interesting is the other frames seem to be quality builds as well based on your links but otherwise nothing in common as far as model or year

ryborggg

Hello,
I picked up this old Nishiki Landau this evening from a nice guy who wanted to clear out his garage (he had two new bianchis hanging in it!). I payed $80 and am convinced I got a good deal. I would like to know a little more about the bike however.

Serial: CC04699

Based on what I've read in the forum this Nishiki is an '83 Canadian built frame. However, based on the '83 catalogue posted, the bike shouldn't come in Navy and also shouldn't have a Shimano derailleur (I think?).

Could anyone provide me with a bit more information on what I bought?

https://tinyurl.com/bydxv6t
https://tinyurl.com/by2muz7
https://tinyurl.com/b4houy4
https://tinyurl.com/bdqmzdk
https://tinyurl.com/b5arlwh


Sorry some of the images are upside down!
Shimano (Golden Arrow?) derailleurs/brakes
Sugino crank

Oh, and it says Designed by Norco, as well.

Thanks again!

OLDYELLR

T-Mar would be the guy to ID the serial number and whether those are the original components. That '83 catalogue is one I uploaded to Image Shack years ago and many of the images are gone now, but I still have the original on my desk. I's certainly made the rounds. Here it is on someone's flickr site

T-Mar

Well, it is a 1983 Canadian market serial number, but that doesn't mean it is a 1983 model. Conceivably it could be a 1984 model manufactured in late 1983. Most of the Asian manufacturers started building the next year's models in the last quarter of the year. This allowed for inventory build-up, shipping and distribution. Certainly, almost nothing matchs the 1983 Canadian catalogue; not the colors, not the tubing, not the derailleurs. Unfortunately, we don't have a 1984 Canadian catalogue and no other 1984 Landau have surfaced. The other possibility is that they changed the specs after the catalogue came out, but that scenario is hard to imagine, given the extent of thedifferences. Spec changes are usually fairly minor. Also, an employee may have grabbed the wrong stamp for the year, but again this would be a relatively small probability.

The component date codes may provide further insight. Refer to the components page of the Vintage-Trek website on how to location and decypher the codes. If the codes are from the last half of 1983, that would point towards it being a 1984 model manufactured in late 1983.

ryborggg

The front derailleur: Shimano FD-A106
Rear: Shimano RD-A105
Breaks: BK-S105
Pedals: Kyokuto Pro Vic II (Serial? KKT-PV2)
Crank arm reads Sugino Japan 165 2GC


Re: The "105" Line, I found this on a german site:
And that's the best of what I can make out.
Anything else you can tell me with that info?

T-Mar

The only date code is possibly the 2GC for the crankarm and it's meaning is indrerminate. All you've provided for the Shimano components are the part numbers. We need the date codes, which are a double letter stamp about 1/8" high. First letter is the year, where G = 1982, H=1983, I = 1984. Second letter is the month, where A = January, B=February, C= March, etc. Example: date code HD would be 1983, April.

Timbos

T-Mar, thanks for doing this! Here's my Nishiki Colorado mtb "Richard Cunningham designed
" stats that I just picked up for free from someone off of craigslist:

sn is W90032761 (on the down tube, beginning on the bottom bracket; W900 is stamped strong, the other digits stamped weaker)
seat tube labelled 4130 cromo (although I can't read the rest of the label…yet…working on that…maybe butting info on there?)
fork is "TANGE" and "made in America" labelled with replaceable straight forks, four bolt; unusual setup that looks like it may be custom but am not sure since I can't find any stock fotos to compare with; forks appear to be straight, race angle provided by the post/fork offset similar to shock forks.
FD Exage 500 LX
RD Exage 500
Cranks are biopace (48-39-24 'buzzsaw' stamped on the small ring, not biopace, custom config?)
rs DEORE w/friction switch (sis not marked…but it has to be, right?)
fs DEORE (but, alas, as is typical, the top cap has popped off; this is set to friction but has the SIS slot so I guess I can switch it back with a screwdriver if desperate to have indexing on my biopace rings…yeah, no)
The seat post is stamped "KALLOY" and 29.6 and 92-07 (not original?), the seatpost clamp is missing and I had a heck of a time getting the seat post out of the frame…but thanks to liquid wrench and super penetrant, I got it out in pretty good shape
The Vetta seat is dated 91, original maybe
Pedals are quill aluminum body metal Sakaes with steel cage; the aluminum is not corroded around the steel contact points…which makes me suspicious they're not original
Brake levers are Diacomp SS-5 (with nice action still, yay)
Brakes are MB 454 cantelevers and look to be stock

Odd labels:
"Mountain Biking Action" down tube (odd label, not sure if it's part of the sale of the bike or what)
"Designed by Specialized" seat tube (odd too—Specialized made Nishiki brand bikes?)
"Oakley" top tube
"Bike Lane Racing" on left bottom stay (same font type as "Oakley", lettering smaller though)
"Anza" added on the down tube (splash font of some sort)
(someone went label happy on this!)

My general impression is that this could be an "Oakley" configuration of the 90-92 Colorado from a catalog or distributor somewhere…or maybe some guy who is somehow related to "Oakley" componentized this mtb in or about 1992-93

taped end tube bullhorns(and really nice too, almost certainly not stock)

Front hub is stamped in pathetic fashion MB50, rear hub unmarked but it's hyperglide 7 speed hub that is completely shot; presumably rear hub is Shimano but I haven't bothered to degrease yet to see what it sez on the seals (if anything)
rims are Avaya 26x1.50, meh

Oh, yeah, the paint job is black with ugly spackle; who ever decided that Pollack should be the basis of color schemes on bikes? Actually, don't tell me as there is already enough violence in the world. Be thankful that I don't post a picture of it…oh, maybe someday I'll be into extreme ridicule…

The bike is worn out but I'm game to try out the interesting geometry when/if I get around to fixing it up. Yeah, I'll just do that thing…as soon as my bro gives me back my bottom bracket tools…yep. All I know is that the headset appears to be good so this Nishiki goes onto the project pile…until I (or someone(s) else!) can think of a better idea.

The_Joe

Hey T Mar. I don't have a pic but I wonder if maybe this info is helpful,
My wife has a Landau in blue SN: CA 03998. It came to her possession with Suntour AR deraiileurs, Pro Vic II pedals, and a Silstar crank, It is designed by Norco with their usual "chrome molybdenum" crest on the upper seat tube.

Back of the RD read "MAEDA IND JAPAN XJ"
I assume that XJ is the date code and it would somehow match up with the 3,998th bike of 1981?

T-Mar

Cunningham started desining Nishiki models in 1989. Shimano 500LX was manufactured form 1990-1992 but the 1990 Colorado used the lower, 400LX group, so yours should be 1991 or 1992. The 1991 does have a "web" paint scheme that may be your spackle, but it is blue with white web. The 1992 just states metallic black or pearl white, with no mention of webs or spackles. However, the 1991 is distinguishable from the 1992 by using a straight bladed fork and neon green logos with a gold shadow. The 1992 has a traditional, curved fork and silver logos with a red shadow.

It sounds like there are a lot of replacement parts on your bicycle. The OEM shifters were 500LX. The Deore shifters may or may not be indexed. If they are trigger shifters (i.e. with separate levers for the up and down shifters) then they are indexed. Thumbshifters (where you use the same lever in different directions for the up and down shifts) can be either. The indexed thumbshifters typically have a switch on the front for setting in either index or friction mode. Older thumbshifter, without this switch are friction only. Can you post a picture to be certain?

It sounds like the previous owner put on a lot of promotional decals on his bicycle, to make it look like a pro's bike. The one decal is probably Mountain Bike Action, the name of a popular magazine, which is still in existance. Anza is probably Onza, a popular brand of secondary components, such as handlebars, stems, bar ends, pedals, etc. I'm not familar with Bike Lane Racing and the Specialized decal should be an aftermarket market too, as the only decals shown in the catalog are the downtube logo decals, the top tube model name decal, the head tube decal and the Cunningham design decal on the seat tube and forks.

I doubt this bicycle was raced. Most racers would have opted for a Deore XT, Deore DX or Deore LX equipped model.

T-Mar

While the serial number is from 1981, it could also be a 1982 model built in late 1981. The XJ code on the rear derailleur corresponds to November, 1981, which means the bicycle probably is a 1982 model. Fortunately, I have both the 1981 and 1982 Canadian brochures and there was a difference in the rear derailleur. The presence of the AR confirms it is a 1982 Landau, as the 1981 Landau was spec'd with a VGT.

If you could get the chance to post a picture, I'm sure the other forum members would appreciate it.

Timbos

T-Mar, thanks for the info/input. Hope you found the serial number useful.

Yeah, it's likely a 91. It's black with the webbing/spackle, the front forks are straight, black. I checked the plate numbers on the Deore 7 shifter and it's an LX, the sis/friction switch works; these are over the bar thumb shifters…wish they were under the bar Deore rapid-fires, although I actually prefer thumb shifters for the front gears as I hate when I can't trim the front easily. The bottom bracket is pretty trashed but I threw in some lube and took it for a spin after a quick tune up of the brakes, etc. I honestly liked the biopace on this bike; the first bike I've ever felt positive about biopace. Biopace and a straight fork, who knew?

BTW, I don't race but I favor LX rear shifters on three of my bikes; 1991 Cherry Compte Rockhopper (sans biopace), Novara Nova hybrid touring rig (avec chrome fork; it's a tank in the front), and a Univega Alpina (sans biopace)); the front shifters on each bike is different, the only stock one being on the Rockhopper (thumb, over the bar, sis). I may well have added another 91 to the stable with the punctuated resurrection of this eccentric Colorado…

T-Mar

Rapidfire and Papidfire Plus are great for recreational riding but I actually preferred thumbshifters for racing due to the index or friction option. I was in a race once where a branch got caught and stretched the cable, thowing the indexing off. There wasn't enough adjustment in the barrel adjusters and I spent the rest of the race hunting for a gears. It was the only time I finished last. I wanted to switch to thumbshifters but the sponsor wouldn't let me. Of course, these days there's no option.

The_Joe

Did a "Clean up" on the bike today and was able to snap some pics before mashing my knuckles on the seized stem. The fork is stamped with "Tange 1k". I know of Tange 1 but I'm not sure what the K means there.


The bike as she purchased it last year came with the aforementioned suntour derailleurs, suntour power shifters, suzue hubs w/ araya rims, silstar crankset (should be sugino?), and Nitto Olympiade bars. I'm not sure what of that was actually stock but if replacements they were done some time ago. Oh, and she swapped out the pedals.

Hope this helps everyone.

wrk101

Its not Tange 1. Its just Tange, and the date code is 1981, K is month (November).

wrk101

Recent Nishiki project completed, a 1977 Nishiki Competition. I have two more Competitions to go: a 1974 and a 1973 (Semi-Pro, same model).

Some of the parts are not original, as the bike had been neglected for many years. Paint was in surprisingly good condition, with full chrome underneath. Nice, light weight bike, db cromoly frame.

Its ready for a new home. I might have to keep one of the other Competitions, as they are both my size.....

T-Mar

This is not what I was expecting. What a disppointment. It looks so much like an International of the era, especially with the wheel positioned all the way back in the dropouts. Too bad the upper band is missing from the seat tube. No serial number?

wrk101

I'll post a serial number later.

While similar to the Internationals, it has a frame mounted RD, all chrome under paint, and significantly lighter. I don't have any Internationals right now, and the bike scale is at the other house.

My 1973 and 1974 Competitions both have claw RDs, and came with lower grade derailleurs (the 1977 originally had G1 Cyclone).

Serial # KG 0xxxx

T-Mar

I noticed the difference in the frames. It was the low level of components that got me. I was expecting Cyclone, so at least it's partially explained. However, I was also expecting a Mighty Competition crankset and was surprised to see a wide range Super Maxy.

wrk101

For reference, this is a 1977 International I had. Mostly stock, except buyer didn't want barcons, so I swapped them out with Suntour clamp on levers. Personally, I really like barcons, but a lot of buyers around here don't (except on touring bikes).

T-Mar

Yes, I know, I had a 1977 International too. From a component perspective, it's very similar to the Competition you posted: SunTour VGT, Sugino Super Maxy, Dia-Compe side-pulls, etc.

kc0yef 

American Eagle Kokusai (Nishiki headbadge)
KS155759
H-731 / H-831 Shimano 1st gen Dura-Ace hubs should be 73-77 but date code' SD SO
with slightly curved very large block text SHIMANO on QR
Suntour Bar Ends
Suntour Cable routing clamps
Araya Rims 27 1/4 WO HP
TA three spider Crank
KKT Top Run Pedals
Suntour TF date code 1977 front derailleur
Dura-Ace Crane D-501 Claw mount Short Cage rear derailleur
Forged diacompe seat and handlebar stem
Unknown Brake levers with poor drillium
Diacompe Canter pulls
Kashimax Super Pro suede saddle

T-Mar

Is it an actual Nishiki headbadge? Both brands used the same style headbadge but with their own brand name. Regardless, a Kokusai should be pre-1973. Almost all those parts are non-original.

Vintage_Nick

Nishiki Cresta GT
Serial Number WF11 823 - means 1986 ?
Tange 2 frame with Tange Forks
VESTA sealed headeset
Nitto Technomic Quill Stem
Dia Compe 5583 Canti lever brakes.
Original Spec....
Suntour Aplha 5000 Front and Rear Mech
Araya 27 x 1.25 Fornt and rear wheels
Miche Competition Rear Hub with Suntour PERFECT 5 speed Sprocket
MKS AR8 Pedals
Sugino Alpha 5000 Cycloid Chainset 28.38.48 with sugino stainless bolts

wrk101

I think I mentioned this earlier, but my 1973 American Eagle Semi Pro has a Nishiki headbadge (dated via component codes). I attribute this to using up a stock of frames, maybe running out of headbadges first when they transitioned to Nishiki name, I do not know. 1973 Semi Pro is the silver bike (KS 161175), 1974 Competition is the bronze bike (KS 284672). Several minor details are different: wheel hubs, RD, dork disk, and crank.

This was my dream bike back when I was a senior in high school. I didn't have enough $$ back then to buy one, so I was stuck with my 38 pound Schwinn Continental. I might just have to keep one of them.

Saguaro

Sweet bikes.