I just picked up this custom sport. Does anyone know anything about it?

The Custom Sport was an entry level model, near the bottom of the line. It was above the Sport and, depending on the exact, my have been above another model, the Marina.

This is one of the serial number formats for which we do not have a lot of information. The bicycle has been modified with a new rear derailleur, shift levers and saddle. However, the front derailleur and crankset would appear to be OEM. The front derailleur places it 1978-1983 and the crankset is from the same period. Looking at this time frame in conjunction with the serial number, it may be from 1981. To increase your confidence level, check out the date codes on these two components. Typically, they would be from late 1980 or early 1981 on a 1981 model bicycle. Use the information on the components page from the Vintasge-Trek website to identify and decrypt the codes. I'd appreciate it if you would post what you find TIA.

Hi,
wanna buy a Trekking bike,can asume most of components are stock. Frame is low level isn't it?
Could not determine year of manufacturing(((
Here some info:
frame # WN 01355 M
made of Tangle 5 tubeset
nexus hubs (rear is Inter 4 coaster brake SG 4-C30)
mavic rims
panaracer 622*37 tire
shima altus cantiliver (front and rear)

Welcome to the forums. The serial number isn't any help in this case. However, the 700C wheels, in conjunction with cantilever brakes, indicates a hybrid model. These came out circa 1990, however Altus wasn't introduced until 1994 and had been upgraded to V-brakes by 2000. Consequently, if the brakes are OEM, it should be 1994-1999. The Shimano components should have date codes to narrow down the range. They can be decrypted using the information on the components page of the Vintage-Trek website.

As for the tubing, Tange #5 was plain gauge, chromium-molybednum tubing. By this era it had trickled down to entry level, with hi-tensile steels pretty much restricted to chain store bicycles. From a frame perspective this was probably very near the bottom of the Nishiki range.

Thanks for greetings, and for quick reply.

If assumed W means for US market, N could mean '94 year, which is quite possible( canti, welded front fork)
I will dig for more info about the bike and than report here( to put a litle brick in statistic)

The W = USA market identifier was restricted to the Japanese frames built by Kawamura. Even by the very late 1970s , the entry level models had been offloaded to Taiwan. Also, the Kawamura format only used A through J as year identifiers, which corresponded to the ten numbers. The presence of the W is probably just coincidence. I wouldn't surprised if your frame has a Made in Taiwan decal. Regardless, I'd appreciate another brick. Hopefully, it's one we can cement in place. TIA.

I have this frame on hold.
Badge says manufactured in Japan.
Its also says it has a front suspension fork.
I cannot decipher it using the key on page one.
Can anyone give me some information or links to find information for it please?
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I just realized that this may be a Danish Bicycle VIN number. The WN prefix indicates it was imported by Nordisk Cykelfabrik A/S while the M suffix indicates 1996. We sometimes see this on European market Centurion with a WAK importer prefix.

That may be a Danish Bicycle VIN number. The WN prefix indicates it was imported by Nordisk Cykelfabrik A/S while the N suffix indicates 1997.

Thanks.
So likely a late '90's bike then, and parts removed?
Trying to figure if its worth buying and building it up.

Greetings from Australia. I have a recently acquired Steelie. Probably a Giant manufactured Nishiki, 1982. I have spent much time, but I cannot identify the model. Serial Numbers on BB, with two cutout slots. Absolute mish mash of components. Braze on Brake cable stops only, derailleur cable stops clamp on, above BB cabling. Heart shape Braze on to prevent downtube bracket slipping. Pinstriping on all tubes and stays. No bidon bosses. Long wheelbase, around 140 cm. will fit around 700 x40 tyres.

Serial Number G0782, 2691866
Rear Dropouts, Suntour GT, with derailleur hanger.
Rear derailleur, Suntour ARX
Front derailleur, Shimano AX
Brake levers, Diacompe Regular 0382, with no suicide levers.
AKISU 72 Forks

Working on photos now: why can I only upload one photo at a time?

One more for now!

Bikes11, yes it was manufactured by Giant in July 1982. I don't know how southern hemisphere model year introductions were timed but conceivably it could even be a 1983 model. The American model namesthat most members will be familiar with do not necessarily correspond with those Australia. The distributor for the local market selected them. For instance, there were differences even between Canada and the USA.

During this period Giant typically built the entry level models. This is supported by the presence of brake cable stops versus tunnels on the top tube and the absence of shift lever and water bottles bosses. In America, the 1983-1983 model year transition saw some entry level models switched from hi-tensile to plain gauge, chromium-molybdenum, main tubes. Yours could be either. The seat post size should tell us for sure.

It's a bit of a frankenbike. Typically, the rear derailleur is more likely to be replaced over the front derailleur, but ARx would be typical for this level and, to the best of my knowledge, no (American) model was spec'd with Shimano AX. If this was a USA model, the best candidate would be an Olympic 12.

Thank you T-mar. The bike now has a name, 'Frank'! This bike rides well, and I think deserves a new coat of paint. I have test ridden with various components, and with 700 x 40 (or 700 x 35) tyres rides very well on gravel. I have cold set the rear from 126 mm to 130 mm to take some 9 speed stuff I have in my shed. I also had to tweak the forks to centre the front wheel. With all this attention, 'Frank' may well become known as 'Frances'.

Well, a quick google search turns up another on a Danish site and its got V-brakes, which Shimano didn't introduce until 1996, so everything is pointing towards a 1997 Danish model.

As to value, there's typically not a lot in older ATBs, especially carbon hard tails. Maybe $75 - $100 CDN. At least, that's what it probably sell for in my region.

I did all sorts of searches on Bing and Google, turned up very little. I would like to see the bike you mention if you can post the search link I would appreciate it.
Why are they not popular? Is it the tech has moved on, frames deteriorate? Or something else.
Now that I have the thought to get something i have found elsewhere a 1997ish Trek Pro Issue in what appears to be solid condition and a full bike, pretty much all original. It would be a step up (I guess) from my busted Canondale because it has front suspension, but if thats original too (and I have no reason to suspect otherwise) then it might be wore out.
Thanks for taking the time to post, I appreciate it.

It must be correct.The bike was bought in Denmark(as I just figured out), so it is 99% imported to Denmark. Sure it is not built in Japan.
Despite The frameset is at a bottom of nishiki's range it is a quite nice-built, and it's worth attention.
Thanks a lot.

Found a Nishiki road frame (no fork) with very few markings on it, was wondering if anyone could deduce anything from the following:

Serial Number AC65-6 (underneath BB shell)
Shimano-stamped horizontal dropouts
Nishiki decal on each side of downtube
Shimano decals on both chainstays and both seatstays
Shimano 600 rear and front derailleurs (maybe not original to bike?)

Any information would be much appreciated. Couldn't find any Nishikis with similar serial numbers here or elsewhere. Thanks in advance.

I obtained this Medalist while T-Mar was resting:



Serial # KC 36738.

Top

Welcome to the forums. Unfortunately, I've never seen a serial number format like that. Pictures may help.

Thanks, T-Mar, for the warm welcome and the quick reply. I've attached some images of the bicycle to this post--hope they help. Appreciate the time.

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The rear derailleur is New Shimano 600EX, which dates 1984-1987. I don't know if Nishiki had a New 600EX model in 1984 but for 1985-1987, it was the Tri-A. Assuming that it an American Nishiki model, we can eliminate 1985 and 1987 based on the decal style. That would leave 1986 but the SIS version of new 600EX came out that year and normally Nishiki incorporated the latest innovations. Still, the relatively rare combination of dual water bottle bosses and cables running over the bottom bracket shell was used on the Tri-A. Please check the derailleurs for the two letter codes which can be decoded using the information on the components page of the Vintage-Trek website.

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T-mar, the seatpost is 26.2mm, also the weight of the bare frame is 2.46kg. Are you able to assess the quality of the steel from these measurements?

Listed for $20 on the local web-mart, I was initially interested in the Dura-ace crank and headset. After picking it up I am impressed by the frameset. 57 x 57, 26.8 seat tube diameter. 126mm rear spacing, Tange Infinity double butted tubes. I'm not finding much info on this, Maybe T-Mar could help?