davei1980

BAM!


1984 Giant!


Thanks for your help!

since6

KI20151 a Katakura frame, which was the 151st made in September of 1972. Katakura-Silk/Nishiki Professional.

P1060350.JPG

tsi

Hi,

I purchased an 1992er Nishiki Kodiak, which I would like to restore.

1.JPG

The bike was originally sold in 1992 from ROSE-shop in Bocholt (Germany).


I've some questions:

1st) The serial number, I can't find the first letters in the nishiki serial number database:
The "92" shoud be the production year. Has someone further information about the rest of the digits?

7.JPG

2nd) decals
Has someone ever seen a source to purchase such decals, especially the 'handwritten' one? (VeloCals does not offer them)

3.JPG

4.JPG

5.JPG

6.JPG

3rd) How was the painting made?
Does someone know a painter in Germany who's today able to paint such a design?

2.JPG

Thanks for every answer!

Thomas

Hummer

Hello @tsi,

welcome to the forums.

The E in the serial number is for Europe.

The A is for 1, the year of frame manufacture, in this case 1991. But this could well be a 1992 model year.

The Kodiak was also a model in Canada, but I don't recall seeing an E-stay version in Canada.

The decals are typical of Canadian Nishikis of that era.

The paint layout is typical of circa 1991 mountain bikes. I don't know how it was done, but the paint is usually thicker and serial numbers are more difficult to read.

T-Mar

Agreed, it's a European market model manufactured in 1991 by Kawamura of Japan. While it could be a 1992 model manufactured in late 1991, in this case I believe the subject bicycle is actually a 1991 model, as the rear triangle has more in common with the 1991 American models. In 1992,the American models eliminated the struts connecting the stays and elevated the back end of the rear triangle, incorporating a dropout that hung down from the stays. While the difference could be market related, it seems more likely that something like the strut elimination would have been a implemented as a cost reduction across all markets.

Nishiki literature calls the paint effect "hairline marble". I don't know how it was achieved. The earliest examples I've seen of marble paint were Tommasini models, circa 1987 and it became quite popular on several brands circa 1990. I think the paint and decals look quite good and would only touch-up, as necessary. Such paint schemes tend to hide touch-up quite well. You'll know where they are, but the casual observer would be hard pressed to pick them out, without close examination.

The bicycle has obviosly had some replacements over the years,The rear v-brakes are an obvious upgrade, with the front cantilevers being OEM. The pedals and crankset also appear to be non-OEM.

tsi

Thanks @Hummer and @T-Mar!
The bicycle was bought in 11/92, but these models were sold over a period of two/three years via the ROSE-catalogue and shop.
1991 sounds plausible as manfacturing year for me.

I recap:
serial number: E = European market, A = 1991, rest serial number - the "92" is not the manufacturing year.
decals: typical of Canadian Nishikis
paint: "hairline marbie"

Did I understand it right: the frame was made in Japan by the japanese Kawamura company?


Thanks a lot!
Thomas

PS: @T-Mar: The rear brakes are cantilevers too ;-)

T-Mar

tsi, that is correct. See post #1 of this thread for interpreting the most common serial number formats seen on vintage Nishiki bicycles.

tsi

Now, you have an example for a Kawamura frame beyond 87

MCCARDCO

Serial number - CE 07852

Hi,

I picked up this Nishiki for almost nothing. Needs some loving and a couple of minor upgrades. I didn’t realize there was such a following, but I’d love to know the model/year. Most of the decals are in rough shape so I have no idea what it is.

Forum won’t let me post photos yet due to not enough posting activity.

T-Mar

It's a Canadian market model, manufactured by Kawamura in 1985. Unfortunately, the serial number doesn't include model information. Brands and models of the major components should give us a good idea of the model. Or post photos to a hosting site, other than Photobucket, and provide the link. You may have disguise the link by adding a space or two, to prevent detection by the auto-censor.

MCCARDCO

imgur.com/a/NqB2n

Hummer

@MCCARDCO,

Looked at you pictures. The frame is a 1986 Regal 15 model.

T-Mar

That frame has been bent. I can see the distortion in the down tube. Also, the top and down tubes have been sanded down to the bare metal, right behind the head lugs, where the crash had cracked and peeled the paint. It wouldn't surprise me if the fork has been bent too.

gettingold

KJ 25914. Nishiki International purchased in Kenmore, NY (near Buffalo) in late 1983 or early 1984. Beautiful lugged frame but in pretty rough shape right now.

Akkorn

Serial #GK830035.
So would that make This Modulus a Giant made 1988? As bought it fits better & rides as nice as any of my other bikes. It's due to be cleaned & lubed over the winter. Anyone have a catalog scan or original specs for this year?

T-Mar

Manufactured in 1980.

T-Mar

While it was built in 1988 the logo decal is indicative of 1989. Sorry I don't have a 1989 catalog or specs. The Shimano Exage Action components are era and level appropriate. However, I would also have expected a Shimano Exage Action rear derailleur, so it appears to be a replacement. The saddle is almost certainly a replacement and I'm suspicious about the pedals.

Paincakes

New to the boards and was doing some research on the Tri-A Equipe I just picked up today. The bike is completely original, yes even the tires, but unfortunately the look pedals were swapped out for some shimano toeclips. I verified this from an old ad that is posted on this forum for the bike. If I had to guess I'd say this bike has less than 100 miles on it. I'll edit this post and and put up some pictures when I get a chance. Totally stoked on this bike, I just hope my body finds it comfortable.

1987 Tri-A Equipe - WG 03040
Tange 1 Double Butted Lugged Chromoly
R600 Biopace Crankset Date Code - KA (January 1986) Probably got a smokin' deal on these overstock cranksets
Sante R. Der Date Code - LB (February 1987)

Wes1378

Hello,
I am interested in the value, year, and any other lore regarding this Nishiki. I guess the serial number means it is pre 1975 and if it was before 72 er something it would be called American Eagle... I think. What did these go for? What do they go for now? Thanks for the help in advance.
I still can't share images here are the "links"


www.4shared.com/photo/BQmWPivPei/nishiki.html

www.4shared.com/photo/al3Vrhvtei/ser.html

curbtender

T-Mar

The subject bicycle is a Nishiki Custom Sport, circa 1973, and was manufactured in Japan by Kawamura, for Howie Cohen's West Coast Cycle Supply Co. It was the bottom model in Nishiki's lightweight line and originally sold for $99 US, circa 1973. The bicycle has been converted to upright handlebars. Current value is highly dependent on local market conditions but is probably around original price.

Wes1378

Thanks for the information. It is a steel frame and quite heavy so I am surprised it was in Nishiki's lightweight line.

T-Mar

It's all relative. During this era, 'lightweight" was used to refer to any bicycle with narrow 27" or 700C wheels, typically with dropped racing handlebars and derailleurs. Back in the 1950s, Schwinn used "lightweight" to describe their bicycles with 26 x 1-1/4" wheels, and they typically weighed around 50 lbs in adult sizes.

Adamania

Hey, all. I'm wanting some help in determining the year of this Nishiki Custom Sport I just got, and any other info (like the color name!) that can be thrown out about it. That'd be extra helpful. I know it is a Kawamura build. I can provide more pics, if requested.

ibb.co/hD6wcG <--- serial image URL

I believe the serial is: KC 15187 (the K is really covered up!)

ibb.co/gQFYPw
ibb.co/cqonjw
ibb.co/kqVNHGg

Thanks in advance. :>

Hummer

From the serial number the frame was manufactured in 1983.

The decals are for a 1984 model year.