Welcome to the forums. This appears to be a Giant manufactured frame, from after they changed their serialization format. The Exage Motion was the predecssor to Exage 300EX and was manufactured in 1989, so the bicycle could be 1989 or 1990. It's certainly possible to reverse engineer the serial to get either but my 1990 product list shows the Sport being Shimano Tourney equipped, so I assume it is a 1989 model.

The parts compatibility is not as big as you may think. 27" wheels and tires are still available, though the selection is nowhere near as great as for 700C. You may want to check if the brake pads can be dropped an additional 4mm to accommodate 700C wheels. Exage Motion used a 6 speed (i.e, 126mm) freehub, though you may have a standard hub with freewheel. The latter are still readily available.

Pictures will be appreciated by the forum members.

T-Mar
My neighbor works at a local dump and sometimes brings me a bike. He always seems to find the very large frames and I ride a 56-58 size. This one fooled me when I looked at it thinking it was a 1987-1990 Nishiki International. I used your databass of numbers and found out it is a 1981 with lots of updates,KA02976. The Super Maxie and the brakes seem original but the Tubular Matrix IRO rims with Campy Hubs and Skewers, Aero break leavers and Superbe Pro derailleur all speak to someone who was in to riding big time quite some time ago. Frame is nice with rust on some parts from two weeks outside before I saw it. He just leaves them for me to pick up and thought I would see it sooner. I like the Hinault saddle if I can restore it. I have added quite a few bikes to your Centurion thread but didn't notice this one untill I did a search.Thanks for your hard work. This frame is going to the exchange " trade " your frame thread. Almost forgot it is a 64x60CM
Ed

I purchased a Nishiki Backroads series 500 "4130" mountain bike earlier today. No pictures yet, but it looks exactly like this:

https://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...ckroads001.jpg

which, incidentally, is roccobike's posting earlier in this thread (Reply #143 ). My serial number is R930910094. Could someone explain the SN convention for this era?

Rocco's post was a '92 nishiki with a SN of R909720548.

Edit: post number 149 gives dating information for this bike. My bike was 94th frame manufactured on November 5th, 1991.

Hey guys,
Great thread with a ton of amazing information.

I recently acquired an older Norco and I'm trying to determine the year.

Heres what I know so far.
Its a Norco Magnum SE with Shimano 600 Arabesque components. Stem has "Custom" stamped into it
Seat and rear derailler are not original.

I will post the serial number when I return home. ***EDITGot it.....Y1C3377

Photos below are just as I picked it up with the exception of the wheels. I swapped those on as I have a few sets of them.
Funny story in acquiring this bike (my first road bike)

I have a large number of road wheelsets and mtb wheelsets I recently got in an insurance auction. Im an adjuster and we hold auctions on occassion.

Anyways, I was cleaning the wheels to sell the mtb set and a guy on my street traded me this bike for a set of mavic mtb wheels with maxxis tires (they didnt fit my bike anyways as theyre older and mine has thru axles so it was a good deal to me)

So, everything works perfectly and is incredibly smooth so Im keeping it as original as possible (minus the wheels, but I still have the original wheels)

Finding information on the Magnum SE seems impossible.



Urban Norco by The McCusker, on Flickr



Domestic Norco by The McCusker, on Flickr

Hello all, first post here. Thanks to [MENTION=20650]T-Mar[/MENTION] and others for a fantastic reference for Nishiki bikes.

I recently inherited an "American Eagle" brand Nishiki bicycle. Overall, it's in very good condition for being almost 40 years old.. it's been untouched in storage for many years and, to my knowledge, has not been altered from its factory condition (except maybe the seat). My goal is to restore it to as comfortable and safe of a ride as possible without unnecessarily replacing any parts. To that end, I'd like anyone's opinion on what model and/or year this bike could be. As I understand it, there were only two models for American Eagle: The Olympiad and Semi-Pro?

Specs:
I believe the serial number is JY002/77 (or maybe JY002777??), see below for yourself. Either way, this doesn't conform to T-Mar's database for Kawamura-manufactured frames, since 'J' is not listed in the list of markets, and 'Y' is not in the set of letters {A-J, S** for calendar year.
Both derailleurs are made by Falcon, which I'm not familiar with.
I removed both wheels, but they are 26 x 1 3/8 if that helps.

I can post more detailed pictures if needed/requested.







Any thoughts?

I thought Falcon derailers came years after the demise of American Eagle branding.

Somehow I'm suspecting this bike might be made in Taiwan, but the 26" wheels suggest the possibility of a 3rd AE model having been made back in the early 70's.

Your Magnum SE is a 1981 model manufactured by Yamaguchi. While, I don't have the 1981 literature, I do have the 1982 brochure and it was 3rd in a line of seven adult, lightweight models. It missing the OEM brake lever hoods and the bar tape would appear to be a replacement. Supringsingly the OEM saddle and tape were not black (at least in 1982) but a light-medium blue. It's one of the stranger combinations that I've seen.

This one is much more modern that the American Eagle models that preceded Nishiki. Notably it has water bottle bosses. The graphics and head decal are also notably different. The American Eagle of the late 1960s and very early 1970s used actual head badges. I'd say that this one is no later than early 1980s which, in conjunction with the 26"wheelset and abundance of basic, steel components, typically points towards a department store bicycle. The only thing that is a bit puzzling is the lack of brake safety levers.

Given the apparent era, it's quite possible that the brand had been sold and there may be no connection to the early American Eagle bicycles, though I can't say that with any certainty. I have no clue regarding the model.

Regardless, there were definitely more that a couple of models of the original American Eagle brand. The Kokousai which became the International, turn up fairly regulary, as do Road Compes.

Good Morning all!

Ok So I got a weird serial number for a Nishiki that was given to me. This thing was a real mess and had to be repainted. The serial number is G6036792. I assume Giant frame but what year? It has a Suntour 6 speed freewheel, rear front/ derailleur and Shimano indexed shifters.

Any help?

Hey,

First post. Please excuse any naivete i may exhibit. I would love to find out about my Nishiki mountain bike. I have torn off gears and turned it into a single speed cruiser. Frame Stickers say: Nishiki, Colorado, Cunningham Design. Seat tube sticker says: Tange, MTB, Double Butted, CR-MO, Throughout. Fork sticker says: 4130, Cro Mo Fork. Serial number on down tube: W88112466. Please advise.

Hmm. Interesting. You probably have a 1989 Colorado there. I have a 91 model year with a 90 date stamp. Yours is probably the first year that design model was made. Post a pic so we can compare. I'm going to post a pic of mine right now, even though it's mostly stripped down…due to circumstances beyond my control ; so this isn't in it's original configuration any longer thanks to…well, just don't leave your old bike by accident at a community bike shop you volunteer at unless you tag it! At least it still has the diacompe ss-5s and I was able to get back my Deore SIS thumbshifters. The guy who was working on it also reversed the brakes… This is actually my project for this afternoon (if I can get off the computer! ). Sigh, he also removed the biopace that I was jonsing to try out—I'd gotten that pretty much working flawlessly after a rear derailleur overhaul.




See page 41 in this thread for the complete stats on for parts originally on this 1990 Colorado. Will post another pic when I've got it setup the way I'd like. Again.

(note that mine is the year they had straight forks! can't wait to try that out for realz…)

Hey folks,

I have a Nishiki that I purchased through a classified ad in Hamilton, ON (Canada) a few years ago. I'm not sure what model it is (no decals), but I think the previous owner thought it was an International. I don't think he was the original owner. It looks like it could be a Continental, after comparing with another post on this thread. I'm interested to hear any opinions on the model.

I think it must be early 80s and built in Canada, based on info I've found here, but I would be interested to hear opinions on that, as well.

Not all the components are original. I've replaced the rear derailleur, as the original one got damaged. It was a Suntour.

The handlebars were replaced at some point, by a previous owner.

The rims are original Araya 700c.

The crankset is pictured--Sugino.

The front derailleur and shifters are original Suntour, I believe (see photos).

Serial CB 02724.

It's my only bike, and I use it mostly for commuting. I enjoy it, and it seems not to attract much attention, which is nice for locking it up in the city.

Do you know the back spacing measurement? My guess is-made in the 70's-only on lack of shift bosses. Setup nicely for commuting.

Classic Nishiki Custom Sport Steel 10 Speed. Made in Japan in 1973 or 1974 and distributed by West Coast Cycle in the United States, Serial # KS341241. Mostly complete and original. Needs Restoration work.



https://flagstaff.craigslist.org/bik/3995969319.html

Is my Nishiki an Olympic 12? I bought my bike so many years ago, I cannot recal much about it. It was in an accident once and had to be re-painted, so some of the details are lost. However, it's serial number is KJ29780, it has side-pull brakes that say "DIA Compe", handlebar that says" WIN PISTA" , Sun Tour VX Derailleur, Sugino gears, and Shimano gear shifters. (excuse my lack of correct terminology... I am not really a bike fanatic (and I mean that in a good way!), just a casual rider). I am trying to determine: 1) What year it was made 2) What model it is (Olympic 12 sounds vaguely familiar, but I am not sure) 3) Where it falls on a spectrum from cheap and useless to prime and valuable 4) What it might be worth.

The bike is a darkish maroon red.

1. It was made in 1980 but could be either a 1980 or 1981 model.

2. Based on the era and components it should be an Olympic 12.

3. It was 6th in a line of 9 lightweight models. It was considered an upper entry evel model and one of the most popular. It is therefore quite common and not very valuable. However it is a good basic bicycle.

4. Exact price is highly dependent on the condition and local market. We'd need a good overall photo and several detail photos of the major components to judge the condition. We'd also need to know where you live. Value of one in good rideable condition in an average market is probably around $175.

Hello everyone! I just moved to Chicago, and I want to understand what model my bike is.
I bought it off craiglist recently, an old bike that was described as "off-brand" but I noticed the "nishiki" logo on the front, and ended up on this forum. I found the serial number KS263004, which, I think, means it's a pre 1975 model produced for USA market. What I want to know though it its model name, and what type of bike it is!



The handle bar and the seat is changed with planet bike parts, but i think the gear system and the break system are original (they are very rusted and almost dead)

Thank in advance!

Its an International.

got an Ariel today for 50 bucks. the raised chainstay splatter paint steel version. it's kewl. it's got deore dx components, shimano triple crank, and it has a 5 speed freewheel but not sure if the wheels are original, as they are total garbage.
i'll post pics later. I bought it to run in some local cyclocross races. I didn't want to mess up my other bike.

the serial is W89090813
doesn't seem to match the pattern. is it an 89?

I just have to say, that is one beautiful bike!

Hi,
i'm new to the forum and have just acquired what i think is a 1984 year Nishiki unfortunately i cannot find a frame number stamped under the bottom bracket even tho grinding the paint off.
To help identification the details are as follows:
Columbus stickers with symbol on top of forks and cut out lugs
suntour chromed dropouts
Sugino chainset shimano crank
suntour cyclone M11 durallier stamped ah
suntour cyclone front stamped ai
suntour superbe brakes

I've also posted some pics
Appreciate any feedback
Steve

Deore DX did not come out until 1990. The Ariel featured it in 1990 and 1991, then got downgraded to Deore LX in 1993. If you can post a picture, I should be able to tell you the exact model year. It would orignally have been equipped with 7 speed, almost certainly a freehub. Yours is non-Giant, Taiwanese manufactured model. It is beyond the range of the currently documented formats which are specified in post #1 .

What makes you think it is a Nishiki? While there were some Columbus tubed models the samples we've seen typically have the Nishiki name or logo embossed on them. I certainly wouldn't expect a fork crown with an embossed Columbus logo.

T-Mar
only two things nishiki logo on the chainwheel and the chrome chain guard on the lower rear stay?
otherwise havnt a clue.by the way i should mention i'm in australia in case that makes any difference.
regards
steve