Lanovran

The one who drove two hours was the OP of that thread, and not me (I only drove 30 minutes for mine ). I know the year of manufacture from my bike's serial number from looking at that database, but I was curious about whether there's a way to get more specific than just the year.

dcraver

Hello folks, here's my Nishiki. I know nothing about it or Nishiki history and can't seem to figure anything out, so I'm posting here hoping someone might know something about it. I've owned it for about 6-7 years and love it to death. From the looks of the decals I assume it to be roughly later 80's to early 90s? I can't for the life of me seem to find a serial number stamped anywhere (unless it's under the front deraileur routing piece on the bottom bracket). I've covered in stickers over the years as the decals are roughed up, paint's chipping and just because. Anyway here's the details:

Frame: 57cm (the only identifying labeling is "Nishiki Road Series" on either side of the down tube, and an O or 0 with two triangles on the non-drive side top tube). It is red in color and fades to black at the bottom bracket and fork and rear triangle ends. It should also be noted, the frame has a really awesome wishbone seat stay. I can not find a similar frame with the same feature besides the NFS (the seat post bolt is different) and the Cascade (which is a MTB). The lugs look very similar to a Nishiki Prestige, however that frame also does not have the wishbone seat stay. It also only has one set of water bottle braze-ons on the down tube. The rear brake cable routing is on the top of the top tube.
FD/RD/Crankset/Brakes: Shimano 600 (I believe this to be original)
Seatpost: Shimano XTR (probably not original)
Stem: Profile Design H20 (probably not original)
Bars: Ritchey road drops (can't remember the model)
Wheelset: Campagnolo Omega Strada Hardox laced to Shimano 600 (hubs original?)

I replaced the brake levers with some cheaper Shimano shift levers (can't remember the model name either), other than that, tires, tubes and stickers this is pretty much how I got the bike. Check out the photos and let me know what you guys think! Thanks for maintaining this thread, it's been great to learn some history about a bike company that's done me well for the last few years here!

Images of the bike here: Nishiki - Imgur

kc0yef 

Hummer

Hi dcraver,

it looks like a Canadian market Olympic. I have seen pictures of the Canadian Olympic and the frame colour and decal layout is a match. The Nishiki decal on the down tube is definitely Canadian market. The stem, bars, shifter/brake levers are not original.

I don't know the exact year, but early 1990s. Many of the Canadian Nishikis of this period were made in Taiwan. If from Taiwan and the 1990s, the serial numbers were usually on the seat tube or the down tube.

dcraver

Hummer, thanks for the response. That makes sense because I vaguely remember there being some kind of Canadian bike association or related sticker on the seat tube at one point in time. I am considering stripping and repainting the frame and re-doing the decals, so I am glad to have found the model. It is just strange that I can not find another Olympic frame with the same wishbone seat stay. I will check again for the serial number in those spots to get a more accurate year. I figured the stem and bars are not original, and I changed out the brake levers myself, though I believe the previous brake levers and shifters were original (I think they're in a box in my parents garage somewhere). I presumed the seat post was not original either, though perhaps it may be? Thanks for your info, and I'm looking forward to doing some deeper research into the frame. It's a fantastic frame, hoping for many more miles on it.

daf1009

TMar

Are you still collecting data?

OLDYELLR

TMar left this thread some years ago now to get on with his life. However, as you can see, there are now others carrying the torch.

redditCommand

Hello, I need some help identifying this nishiki...the serial number does not follow the standard pattern.
It's a nishiki cunningham design bike, with a red, black, and white color scheme.
Serial number is W89051030

Hummer

I think your a little too nostalgic. It has been less than a year since his last post.

Hummer

Hi ******Command,

thanks for posting the pictures and the serial number. The serial number is too recent to be a Kawamura built or Giant built frame.

This is a Cascade model. From the first numbers in the serial number: 89= 1989 and 05= May.

The frame is probably from Taiwan but I do not know which manufacturer.

Barbarian

This my Barbarian, serial number 3C A90021775. 1981 Canadian?

Doohickie

I don't think it's that old. Unicrown fork indicates something closer to 1990 or even later. If I had to guess I'd say it's Feb. '90 from the 9002.

Barbarian

I was just using the format in the first post of this thread, pulling date from letter rather than number.

Barbarian

I was just using the format in the first post of this thread, pulling date from letter rather than number. The 900... Number should be production number?

Hummer

The Barbarian is a Canadian model. The serial number is probably for a Taiwan manufactured frame, not Kawamura or Giant. Don't try to use the TMar serial number decoding for 1990s Nishikis.
@Doohickie is probably correct with 1990. This is an elevated stay style of frame, popularized by Richard Cunningham designs for Nishiki in the USA, circa 1989.

PeissiD

Hi guys! I just obtained a 26 -year old Nishiki International from my brother, who had purchasedd it here in Finland in 1989. After trying to figure out the model and other mysterious specs of it I decided to post the serial code and the picture of the bike here. Based on what I've read the serial code (88F0 1176) doesn't indicate towards Kawamura or Giant, but what it is I don't have a clue - we figured out with my friend that 88 could mean the production year (as his Trim Master was labeled 89F). Can anyone help a bit?

Cheers!

badknees

I bought a Nishiki International this past Sunday that I thought was a Continental until some decal cleanup made International and High Tensile Tubing very apparent on one side and the seat tube. The serial number is KG10403. which makes it USA Market, Pre-1985 and the G must represent 77, as 87 would not be pre-85.

It has Japan etched on the frame, Suntour components, Sugino crankset, Dia Compe drop forged brakes, quick release front and rear wheels that have Suntour on the releases, SR Forged handle bar stem, Champion Cycle Pro handle bars, and a rear rack made in Switzerland. The only thing I see that is obviously not original is the seat; which is a Avenir Gel Comfort Plus with two springs. I can't make out the rims but the front one is light.

I paid 100 dollars for it this past Sunday; but naive me thought it was a Continental with Tange steel frame. I guess the solace I will take out of this is a new cheap aluminum or steel frame is a 100 dollars or much much more.

I will post some before pictures this weekend; and after in a couple of weeks when the tuneup is done.

Hopefully after a 125.00 tuneup and two tires, I will have a great bike.

torred

I just purchased a vintage Nishiki Olympic 12 and came here to figure out its age, based on the serial number. The serial number seems to be S1 1E123 -- which does not match up with any of the codes provided by TMar and others. I have attached a picture of the bottom bracket.

Any suggestions about the age/manufacture of this bicycle? Thanks in advance

OLDYELLR

You can often date a bike by the component date codes. See Date of Manufacture of Bicycle Components can be used to date a bike: component dating

torred

Yes, thanks -- I just tried to do that. The real derailleur is a Shimano Titleist that seems to date from the 1970s. The bicycle is set up with bar end shifters (non indexed, of course) and the front crank is, I think, a Sugino Mighty (black). So the parts seem a mix and match, and I am not sure they are original to the bike.

Hummer

Hi torred,

there have been a few other serial numbers with this format. It is not a Kawamura or Giant format serial number.

Some of the other bicycles with this format of serial numbers were also Olympic 12 models.

Do you have a picture of the headbadge?

Previous bicycles with this format of serial number had the Kawamura version of the Nishiki Eagle headbadge. This is an indication that the frame builder was sub-contracted by Kawamura.

Decoding the serial number: using the first two characters.

S - probably indicates the frame builder, but I do not know which Japanese builder used "S" prefix.
1 - indicates 1981.

The year character for the previous bicycles with this format serial number where: 9, 0, 1 (1979, 1980, 1981).

wrk101

Seat post and brake calipers are the ones I check first. Then crankset and stem.

torred

You are right -- the headbadge is a Nishiki Eagle. I will take some pictures and post them soon. The lettering on the bicycle -- "Nishiki" and "Olympic 12" -- match the lettering I have seen on pictures of 1980 and 1981 Olympic 12s found on the web. I think that few of the current components are original. The bike has Shimano Dura-ace side pull brakes, an Araya front rim and Mavic MA-2 back rim (27 x 1.25), bar end shifters, Sun Tour front derailleur and a Brooks saddle. Also, the front fork is half chromed.

torred

The brakes on the bicycle now are Shimano Dura-ace and the seat post seems pretty new. I will check them and then take a look at the crankset and stem. Thanks for the suggestions.

redbaybound

Just bought a Nishiki Custom Sport Mixte for $20. Serial number KC 20025. It needs a lot love as it looks like no maintenance was done since 1983 but I think I got a deal.


Frame: Nishiki Tange double butted chrome - moly
Fork: Tange 3.I
Handlebars: Winpista road
Brake levers: Dia compe non-aero 0983
Stem: Winpista
Shifters: Sun tour stem mounted
Brakes: Dia compe N 500 0883
Cranks: Sugino RT 165 mm 2 GC
Pedals: SR P-466
Derailleurs: Sun tour AR front: ZE rear: ZH
Freewheel: 6 speed
Wheels: Araya 27 x 1 1/4
Hubs: Sunshine 5345
Saddle: Avocet touring
Seatpost: fluted aluminum SR Laprade