I've got a Nishiki Sport here with a serial number that reads 677962, Made in Taiwan.
The bike is burgundy in color with gold leaf, oriental looking lettering. Its got the old metal crown headbadge.
It came new with Suntour Honor derailleurs, steel cottered cranks, steel Araya rims with 27x1-1/4" tires.
The brakes were Dia Compe center pull with matching dual levers on a steel handle bar and Jun stem. the frame has no braze ons at all, all cables have chrome Suntour cable stop clamps. The seat post is knurled chrome steel.
I've owned the bike since at least the latter part of the 80's and I thought it was an older bike back then.


Also, I've got an International Ser. KS324156
This came with Araya narrow alloy rims, LF shimano hubs, Suntour VX RD, alloy Champion bars, SR stem, Dia Compe center pull brakes and dual levers, Cycle Pro 27x1-1/4" tires, alloy rat trap style pedals with toe clips, and a hard leather saddle marked Made in Japan on an SR aluminum seat post.


and a Sport, Ser. 1125310 on the left drop out and G0581 on the right drop out.
This Sport came with Femco steel wheels, Sanshin LF hubs, Suntour Honor RD, Steel bars, SR stem, and Silstar cranks, and Dia Compe center pull brakes with dual levers, Cycle Pro 27x1-1/4" tires and counter balance type pedals. The saddle was a padded, quilted pattern vinyl model with two chrome springs. It had a chrome steel seat post.

I have a Nishiki Tri-A with a broken Nishiki/KMF rear dropout. Anyone know where I can get a replacement dropout?
Serial number K9 05387. Suntour Superbe Pro rear derailleur, Suntour cyclone front derailleur, Shimano 600 sidepull brakes, Suntour Superbe crankset. Hot pink. "Handcrafted by Kawamura". i bought it used in 1985. it was probably made around 1980 in the US.

Nishiki Competition I snagged a couple of weeks ago. Loving the orange.

Serial # KS171036

https://i.imgur.com/Py4Kjhp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ewhUpBm.jpg

Awesome orange! Components look top notch as well.

Nishiki 24" wheels Mixte frame
serial KG39828 Katakura, Japan July 1983?

It's getting a single speed flat bar rebuild. Coaster brake, aluminum rims. Change from 24x1 3/8" steel (540mm) to 24 x 1.75 aluminum rims (507mm). Should be much lighter and easy to handle when done. Good for tween.

the model name decal is mostly gone. Might start with a C or O. Any hints? Steel rims, Positron rear der, steel Cycle Pro bars,



IMG_8040 by rickpaulos, on Flickr

It's a 1977 or 1978 model and appears to be frankenbiked Nishiki FFS Tourist.

I picked this up yesterday. The serial # is on the bottom bracket like this:
C68M
G0486
6136426

I am thinking Canadian market, Giant built, and frame number?

It's definitely a Giant manufactured model from April 1986 but I'm not sure what the C68M designation means. If it was Canadian market, I'd expect a "designed by Norco", "manufactured for Norco" or similar decal. Pictures? Model?

I'd imagine the C68M designation is the bottom bracket width, 68mm.

It is a Sport. The only decals are "4130 Cro-Mo" on the seat tube and a frame geometry decal at the base of the down tube. BTW: I edited post #1848 to include a photo.

I'm pretty sure it's not a Canadian market model, as the Canadian equivalent of the Sport was typically the Rally. Maybe C68M is some sport of Giant frame style code? Given that Giant contracted for a number of different companies it could be code for info like the customer/brand, model, tubing and/or frame style. It might even be a product number for the bottom bracket supplier.

The serial number is K=Kawamura, G=1977 year of manufacture.

The model is probably a Custom Sport.

The Olympic model had chromed fork blades.

Edit: Looks like there is an oval decal for the tubing. Is it "Special 150 Tubing"? That is the tubing for Custom Sport model.

I agree, it is information about the BB shell. I have seen this stamped on several BB shells of frames made by Giant.

Hi akdave,
welcome to the forum.

You will need to talk to a frame maker about replacing dropouts. The frame maker will also be able to supply the dropouts.

About the frame. Is that the correct serial number? It is an odd format for Kawamura.

Has the frame been repainted and re-decaled? I don't recall a hot pink Tri-A.

I rechecked the serial number and it is KD 05387. The bicycle may be unique. I bought it used from a professional bicycle racer who I was told got it as a limited-production item from Nishiki. One person at the bike shop suggested in had been made in Italy, although I don't know if that is true, but the bicycle may be unusual in other ways. It does not appear to have been repainted. It seems more likely to me that the professional racer who got it in the first place may have specifically asked for hot pink.

I don't know how to even find a frame maker who works on steel bicycles any more. I knew where to find such people in 1980, but not any more.

KD means made in 1984 according to T-mars decoder in the first post of this thread. (I have a 1987 Tri-A myself.) Is there a "handmade by Kawamura" written on the left chain stay? (Edit: I now see that your first post said there was.). The serial number (and the Kawamura logo) certainly seems to follow a standard-production format for a made-in-Japan bike.... but I am no expert....they were starting to offer brighter color schemes by the mid 80's so it's quite possible it's a factory paint scheme.

Thanks for getting back with the serial number. Frame manufactured in 1984, 1985 model year, I don't think there was a Tri-A model in 1984. Made in Japan.

My mistake, yes there was Hot Pink, along with red, and black.

Nishiki Serial Number Database

Hummer, I think you got it. Now that you say "Custom Sport" I can kinda make that out.
And the decal sure looks like it reads Special 150 ___bing.

franken bike? perhaps. If I can find a 1977 catalog with specs I'll know for sure. It's getting a single speed rebuild so it's not going back to original.
Thanks.

Img_8158 by rickpaulos, on Flickr

Img_8162 by rickpaulos, on Flickr

Are you still interested in collecting Nishiki Competition Serial Numbers for your Data Base? If you are, I have had My Nishiki Comp since I bought it new during my College years. It has never left my procession in the 46 years I have had it!!! It was bought in Pennsylvania and the Serial number is: S179724 and there is a big W below and in the middle of the Serial number. Please let me know what your thoughts are about this Serial number, and, if my Nishiki Competition was built in 1972 or 1973!!! Thank You in advance!!!

^ Welcome to the forums. Based on other samples in the database, it was built in 1972 but may be late enough in the year to be a 1973 model. If the components are OEM, the date codes may increase our confidence one way or the other. Refer to the components page of the Vintage Trek website for locating and interpreting the date codes.

Date of Manufacture of Bicycle Components can be used to date a bike: component dating

Adding what may be a '79 Olympic 12. Thanks for any info on the date or J indicator, frame has Japan and Chrome Molybdenum decals. Interesting WC mark below serial (what does it mean?).

It was manufactured in 1980.so it is either a 1980 model or possibly a 1981 model, if manufactured late in the year. The 'W' is actually a stylized 'CWC', the 'C's being co-joined withe 'W" and the lead 'C' facing backwards. It's the logo for West Coast Cycle (Supply),the California based company that originally owned the Nishiki brand. The bicycles were contract manufactured for West Coast Cycle Supply by various manufacturers, with yours being produced by Kawamura of Japan.

Thanks for the info T-Mar. I started a thread here about this bike vs. an '84 or '85 Fuji Sagres, which would you choose?

I just acquired a Nishiki Ultimate. The serial number is KJ 03015. the Fork steering tube has the code OF. It is in poor shape but I will resurrect it! It has the black finish with red head tube and red panel/stripes on the seat tube. The "Ultimate" decal is still visible. It has Campagnolo dropouts. I am excited to find one of these, it will make a fine mate to my 1980 Sekai 4000...

Hello Retrofaction, Mine is S/N KA 14364, calling it 1981 from the component dates. Same colour. I bought it new.