Alexandre

I found a nishiki landau T series at my local bike shop. He is willing to sell it to me but has to find the fork first. Have you ever heard of that bike? seems to be from the late 80s or early 90s. The tubing sticker says as I remember ''Chro-moly 3 tubes". I found this picture in a 1989 nishiki catalogue and the back side of the frame looks like this. Then I found the landau tri-a specs in the same 1989 catalogue on the web. Do you have any other informations about the frame. Looking forward to spend alot of time to build a nice road bike (got a 1990 campagnolo athena groupset waiting for a frame) for the next season.
thank you,
Alexandre

Duane Behrens

Black Nishiki Sport

Markings under Bottom Bracket:
WTA
5737594
G1185

Sugino VP Crankset, drive side is 1-piece with large cog.
Suntour SVX front and rear derailleurs
Dia Compe Brakes
Handlebars are shiny metal, marked "Champion."
A sticker under the seat reads "4130 chrome moly main tube."

Torquemada

This is my recently acquired Nishiki Olympic 12 which, as far as I can tell, is all original. The serial number on the bottom of the frame is GE 05562. Based on other photo sets I've found on the net for Olympic 12 models, it looks very similar to models from 1983 to 1985, but the best available data (specifically, component dates) leads me to believe it is a 1985 model. Nonetheless, I wanted to submit it here for other opinions/input and so that it can be added to the database. I am particularly interested in any information about the apparently uncommon serial number format. Here are the date codes from the major components:

FD - Suntour ARX FD-2600 code "AE" (May 1984)
RD - Suntour ARX RD-4300 code "BD" (April 1985)
Cranks - Sugino RT code "GC"
Brakes - DiaCompe N500 code "0485M" (April 1985)
Brake Levers - DiaCompe code "0185" (Jan 1985)
Frame - Tange 5 Cro-Mo Seamless SN GE 05562
Hubs - Sansin code "BD" (April 1985)
Rims - Araya 27x1 1/8 alloy

Some photos below, with several others available at this link. There is no "Kawamura" sticker on the chainstay, but I have included photos of all other stickers. I am happy to provide additional photos or info as needed.




I'm looking forward to getting it cleaned, lubed, and otherwise tuned up and ready for the road!

JCal760

Hello All! I am new to the forums. This is my (I believe) 73' Nishiki Pro. Double Butted Chrome Moly.
Components:
Campagnolo Record Hubs
Super Champion Gentleman Rims
Weinmann Carrera Brakes
Sugino Super Mighty Crankset
SR Sakae Quill Pedals
Suntour Cyclone Front & Rear Derailleur
Suntour Downtube Shifters
Suntour 5spd Freewheel
Nitto Stem
SR Sakae World Custom Drop Bars
Dia Compe Brake Levers
Fizik Pave MG saddle

Serial #: KH20187

Hummer

International from 1982 or 83 for the Canadian market.

Check the 1983 Canadain Nishiki catalog.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesbo...725170/detail/

I have seen other photos of Internationals from this period. Your frame has the lugs and fork crown for an international. Your cranks, shifters, and FD (Suntour ARX) are components for the International.

The Canadian Continental had Cyclone II derailleurs.

Hummer

TMar, see post #520 . Also a 1987 Prestige.

Hummer

The headbadge is for the USA market 1979 model year. There at least two minor variations of this headbadge,

The date stamp is for Giant, who manufactured that bike frame and many others for West Coast Cycle Nishikis.

I am guessing, but it looks like a Sport mixte.

Hummer

Hi Torquemada, interesting serial number.

The format looks like that of a Kawamura built frame. If so, the "E" would normally indicate the frame was built in 1985. So a 1985 or 1986 model year, but for which market?

Your bike does not have the paint and decal schemes for a 1985 or 1986 USA market Nishiki. There were no Olympic 12 models in the USA in 1985 or 1986.

The OLYMPIC 12 label is the same as the 1984 model.

The Tange label is the same type used in 1985 and 1986 on many Kuwamara built models.

The headbadge is for 1983 USA market Kawamura built Nishikis (not 1983 Giant built). The headbadge is also the same as far Canadian market Nishikis of the mid 1980s.

As you noted there is no Kawamura label on the bike, which there normally would be for a USA market Nishiki from 1983 and on.
There is no stylized "W" on the bottom bracket indicating West Coast Cycle Supply Company.

I do not think that this Nishiki was made for the USA market.


In this forum and in other places I have seen this format of serial number four other times. This is the fifth occurrence.
I used to think that the "G" in the serial number was a mistake and it should be a "C" for a Canadian market Nishiki. I do not believe that any more.

I do not think this is a Canadian market Nishiki. There were no Olympic 12 models made for Canada, (edit) after 1982. There were Olympic models.

Canadian Nishikis from 1985 would have a "designed by Norco" label, usually on the non-drive side chainstay. Is there one?

So what does the "G" prefix stand for in this Kawamura format of serial number? Of the four previous examples of this format, two of the bicycles were purchased in Japan.

IF this is a Kawamura format serial number, I think the "G" stands for the Japan market, or possibly the Asia market.

Torquemada

Thanks so much for the info, Hummer! That's fascinating stuff and I appreciate your breaking down your thought process so thoroughly.

I am 95% sure that there is no "designed by Norco" label there, but I will double-check to be sure. If I locate one I'll post it here and include a photo. I'll also get in touch with the fellow I bought it from. I know he was not the original owner but if I can get any meaningful info from him regarding the bike's history then I will add that as well.

Hummer

Alright boys and girls it is mountain bike time. I think that most of the people who follow this forum are road bike people . . . oh well.

Here is a 1983 Bushwhacker frame with a Kawamura serial number KB 14260 and a West Coast Cycle Supply Co. (WCCSC) "W" on the BB. The forks were missing and I presume damaged.

I have only seen one other model of MTB built by Kawamura for WCCSC, that is the Westwood model for 1984. The other Nishiki USA MTBs from 1984-86, Cascade, Colorado, and Pueblo, all appear to have been made by Giant.

Kawamura made several mountain bike models for other markets, most notably Canada.

Gezman

Cyclepro seat post,cyclepro champion handlebars , araya rims , shimano hubs , shimano gear levers(or whatever its called), suntour vtluxe derailleur, kyokuto top run pedals , dia compe brakes/levers, izumi chain , pro-compe freewheel?

MERK

Hi, I`m assuming you mean Kawamura Cycle in Kobe?

Hummer

Yes. They were for many years the primary supplier of frames for Nishiki brand bicycles.

jj1091

Just picked up this 1986 Nishiki Rally, date code G0386. I'd been looking for a Olympic or a Tri-A, and happened to talk to a fellow at a flea market who knew a guy that had a second-hand bike store. $60.00, not bad shape. New tires, bar tape, chain, cleanup, swapped out the original junk crankset and chainring.


Before




after

rotharpunc

As I got it:





In Progress:





Nishiki Prestige Tange 2 tubing

Serial# WE10091

looks like an 86/87 year to me(based on other pics) so I'm not quite sure what to make of the serial number. That little blob of brazing on the DT/BB junction bugs me and kind of takes away from an otherwise very nice frame.

jj1091

Nice bike rotharpunc. It's like one I was looking to buy (below) when I found my Rally. I'm with you, I'd take a dremel tool to that blob and then repaint it.

Frogdaddy

Have some interest in working on my old college bike. Single speed road conversion perhaps (keeping old parts). Not an expert in bike part terminology so correct me where required:

Make/Model/Year/Region: Nishiki/Sport Series 500/90's/Taiwan
Frame Material: 4130 Cro-Moly
Serial: M2CG36219
Color: black with lime green lettering
Brakes: Shimano 100GS
Crankset: Shimano Biopace 100GS Chainrings: 48-38-28
Shifter Set: Shimano 100GS
Rear Hub: FH-HG20 7 Speed Cassette
Gel Seat is black with Nishiki on it.





Not sure what else is needed but would be nice to know a little bit more about it if someone cares to elaborate.
How to decipher the numbers on the bottom of the frame as well.
Thanks.

jj1091

Hello Frogdaddy,

Your bike is a Nishiki hybrid, 1992 with all Shimano 100GS components being original to it. Appears that the bike is as sold new as far as the components, wheels, seat, etc, go. They sold for $319 new. It was an entry-level bike, a bit above the big-box store bikes, but low-end. They're fairly good bikes and reviews are limited, but positive for casual riders, 4130 Cromoly is a plus, and original components also a plus. Most sellers are looking for $150-$180 for them, but you won't find many selling.

Look up "Nishiki Sport Hybrid" and your model in black/green comes up first in the images. Not much data out there, since they're low-end. From what I can resolve, your serial number doesn't fit the info available, but the "M2CG36219" should be "M" for Mizuno Sporting Goods who bought Nishiki at some point and made them at the Giant factory in Taiwan, "2" for 1992, "C" is probably for March (3rd month), and "G" for Giant factory, 36219th bike.

It's a good bike, you won't get much for it, it's not classic or collectible, so a fixie or conversion is up to your taste. I've got an '86 Nishiki Rally that I love. They made good bikes, a bit underrated in my opinion.

Frogdaddy

Thank you for your insight and feedback. Now that you mentioned it, a hybrid is what it was categorized as. The shifter that controls the front derailleur is skipping a click and chainring. I've cleaned it up but will need troubleshoot a little more without being connected to derailleur to see if the shifter is bad. I agree a bit underrated because I see the quality that comes out of the same regions today.
Let you know.
Thanks again.

jj1091

You're welcome. Usually the front derailleur problem is fixed by loosening the cable at the derailleur and pulling it tighter or loosening it, depending on which chainring it won't go onto. Sometimes it won't click because it's too tight. Good luck.

konginsd

Hey Guys I'm Back. I finally got around to snapping a few photos of my bike after I put a little elbow greese into it. I stripped it and painted it. I taped off the forks and drop outs to reveal some of the chrome that was under the old paint. I guess you could say I hiked up her skirt. I replaced the seat with a brooks b17 and taped off the handlebars with brooks tape. I put corks from my favorite beer in the handlebars instead of the brooks bar ends. I replaced the cables, and the brake pads, pulled everything apart, cleaned, buffed, and polished. I still have the original wheels...in my closet. I replaced the wheels with mavic cxp22's that I picked up off of CL, and the rear sprocket is an SRAM 7 cog configuration. Everything works awesome. I even pull my daughter around my hilly neighborhood with it. Check it out!

gotbikes

I have a new/old, never-been-ridden Nishiki AeroII. It is ca. 1980, definitely pre 1984. Judging by the ser. no.data provided by Tom Marshall it looks like a US model built in Nov. 1982- there is a "T" after the "WB" which I presume wouldindicate the 10th month?

I have owned it since new and it has never been ridden. I am thinking after 30years it's time to let it go. The tires/tubes and brake lever hoods areall there but perished but otherwise all in as-new condition. $1000.00 CADwould do it for me.

I could put it on eBay in a "buy it now" listing for assurance. It is currently on display at a local café "Domestique-Café CycloSportif" https://www.cafedomestique.com/for those of you who live in the Golden Horseshoe area (probably none of you).

Can’t seem to upload a photo.
Robert

Prowler 

First of all: High compliments to T-Mar and the other Nishiki Gurus on this thread. I've learned a lot about my bike. I've recently bought a 1980 International (KJ serial number) which looks just like the other 1980 examples on this thread. When I purchased this bike I knew nothing about Nishiki: I was really there to buy the Raleigh Professional but this and a Vista Duchess were a package deal. Three vintage bikes stuffed in the car along with the Trek ZX7000 I was riding that day. I've done a frame up on the International and I'm very impressed. As it's winter here I've only taken one 30 mile ride so far but I really like it. Thanks for all the Nishiki info. I'll post other info when I have time.

jj1091

Yes, there's some good folks here, with keen eyes. If you wrap your bar tape in the wrong direction, they'll spot it in an instant. They'll take note if your Shimano derailleur should really be a Simplex for that particular model. And, they'll steer you in the right direction, like today, one responder gave me a heads-up about my rims being steel instead of alloy, and I realized I had put the higher-end alloy wheels on a bike I was ready to Craigslist-out, which had been original to the bike I'd taken them off of. Saved me from making a major mistake. I've got a '86 Nishiki Rally, lower-end, but I like it well. Good luck with your builds. Post pics when you're done.

Prowler 

Another photo of my new old International. I've been trying to confirm what tubing this frame was made of. The attached photo shows the frame sticker (Double butted Cro-mo) but does not name which Tange grade it was. I've heard all sorts of opinions on what KB used in 1980.

I was able to weigh the bare frame (just with the fork/headset and the right BB cup and it weighs the same as my bare Raleigh Professional (1976 531 tubing) - well as close as the bathroom scale can tell. That implies to me my international could be Tange #1 or #2 .



Like the Raleigh Pro the frame rings like a bell when you plunk it with a screwdriver blade or a wooden dowel. They sound the same (and sound great). In fact, fully assembled, this International weigh the same as my aluminum/carbon 2000 Cannondale R600. SWEET.

Does anyone (T-Mar??) actually know what tubing was used on the USA International for 1980? Thanks.