T-Mar

Yes, your Nishiki is Giant of Taiwan manufacture from December 1984, which should make it a 1985 model. Pics?

Your Fuji is from August 1980. That's getting into the grey area where it could be a 1980 or 1981 model. Despite a colour discrepancy with the catalogue, it appears to be a 1980 model.

Araya models manufactured by Araya typically have a serial number format starting with ARY. Consequently, this would appear to be contract manufactured. Those particular versions of the SunTour VGT and Compe-V derailleurs suggest a relatively narrow range, circa 1974-1977. Based on that plus the serial number, my leading candidate would be a 1974 model, contract manufactured by Bridgestone. Sorry, I don't know the bicycle model name.

Albion 

Thank you so much! These bikes mean a lot to me and it's great to know more of their provenance. I had thought my Fuji was 1984 when reviewing the sadly now defunct, Fuji Catalog site. I bought the same model bike in 1980 upon arriving in the US from England, my first new bike ever and my quest was to find one just the same. Model year 1984 was going to have to be good enough for me, but now I know that I have the same machine. Wow.

Regarding the Araya, 1974 The frame doesn't use the, er, best construction technique (see the top of the seat stays in the photo below), but I don't think a bike has ever fitted me better and felt more secure to ride. And 1974? I was in Uni then . . .

Thank you again, you've been a real help.

Albion 

Piff 

The international is a nice bike, and that will definitely be quite the project.

Given that the seller is moving and can't take the bike with him, I would go and meet up and check out the bike. Feel how smooth/rough the cranks and wheel turn. I would haggle in person after looking it over with ~$60 as a first offer, stressing the rust and the likelihood of having to replace parts on the bike.
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Cycle Tourist

Just brought this home today. I thought the six speed would be 85 or 86 but the database says 89.

T-Mar

Yes it's definitely a 1989 model The down tube logo with the Performance Equipe designation was introduced for the 1989 model. Also, the components appear to be Shimano Exage Action which was 1988-1989. Shimano had 9 road groups that year and Exage Action was 8th from the top. Only the top six groups had 7 speeds in 1989.

Shimano had briefly experimented with 7 speed on Dura-Ace Ax (1981-984) but abandoned it with the relative market failure of their AX series. They reintroduced it in 1987 on New Dura-Ace and Santé, then gradually trickled in down the line over the next several years.

Cycle Tourist

T-mar, you are indeed the man. The $100 was well spent. There's a spoke pulling through the rear rim but I'm pleased with everything else. I have a rim coming from eBay. The frame and paint are outstanding and I'll mix some paint colors tomorrow for the touch up. A 7 speed freewheel fits nicely and I've got a 7 speed brifter set that has been waiting for a worthy recipient.

T-Mar

[QUOTE=Cycle Tourist;21469494...A 7 speed freewheel fits nicely and I've got a 7 speed brifter set that has been waiting for a worthy recipient.
[/QUOTE]

Be careful. Sometimes a 7 speed set-up fits but the problem doesn't become apparent until you try to shift, at which time the seat stay interferes with the derailing chain. The inside of the drives side seat stay has to be relieved quite a bit, just above the dropout, to get a 7 speed to work properly. They didn't normally go through that extra expense at this level if it was intended for 6 speed. However, it looks like there may be good relief, so perhaps this frame was designed for double duty, also being used on a higher 7 speed model. I've got my fingers crossed for you.

chip_ln

Hi T-Mar, everyone, just got a used ultra pro , SN says WN620692 - can't seem to figure out when was this made. Can you please help out? If it helps, this one is a 27 gears bike - not certain if any of the initial equipment was replaced (later after initial purchase). Most of these bikes as far i could see have 20 gears instead, so i am a bit confused about this.

also, it's got a carbon fork - perhaps this helps as well.

many thanks,
Ciprian

T-Mar

Welcome to the forums. Based on the disc brakes, this is relatively modern. Consequently, I'm not sure how to interpret the serial number. A drivetrain photo so I can identity the derailleurs should help to get a rough idea, assuming they are OEM.

chip_ln

tried to upload, need points to be allowed to do it.

it's a 105 derailleur in the rear. front is Shimano FD-R453 most likely, (tiagra i believe).

Shimano Tiagra R440 Flat Bar Shifters

brakes are BR-M575, which i saw are not very well reviewed.


i do not know how many of these elements are OEM, though.

T-Mar

The rear derailleur is 5600 series 105, which was 2006-2010, as are the Tiagra components. The bike is not equipped with cantilevers studs, so the disc brakes are almost certainly OEM and their timeline matches with the other components. It was fairly common practice to use a higher level rear derailleur as bait because that was often the only component the customers would examine. That 2 x10 Ultra Pro you mentioned also uses a 105/Tiagra mix, just with the newer series of those components. Consequently, I feel the components are likely original, unless they came complete from a donor bicycle. Based on their timeline, plus the serial number, it is likely 2006-2007.

chip_ln

Many thanks for your input, it is truly valuable to me. Bike's older than i thought but, nevertheless, it's a good bike..

Best regards,
Ciprian

fvernon

I'm pretty sure this Nishiki/American Eagle Semi Pro is 1972. As found, picked up yesterday--SN KS151681

Cycle Tourist

T-MAR thanks for the crossed fingers. The 7 speed freewheel fit beautifully and with the exception of getting a 36h rim instead of a 32h for the Modulus (rookie mistake) everything is going fine.
I got this '79 Olympic 12 and it came with all original stuff except the front wheel is unbranded aluminum rim with a MILREMO hub while the rear has a steel rim with a SunShine hub. I'm guessing the steel rim is the original. It's a shame they put steel rims on it. Too bad the "mistake rim" I ordered is a 700C.

T-Mar

I don;t have 1980 literature but the 1979 version used a Araya 27" steel rim. The Sunshine hub would be correct. Sunshine hubs typically have an open format date code stamped into the barrel, which should increase your confidence in originality. Aluminum rims were one of the upgrades you got when you stepped up to the Olympic Royale in the very late 1970s.

T-Mar

Yes, 1972 sounds correct based on the data that's been posted for other Nishiki around this serial number range. You can increase your confidence through component date codes. The Sunshine hubs should have an open format, numeric date code stamped into the barrels, format yy -(m)m. The SunTour derailleur should have two character alpha codes stamped on the back. The crankarms should have numeric date codes on the back, format yy-(m)m. Be aware that the crank codes use the Imperial Japanese Calendar years, so don't be shocked when you see the first character is a '4'. The crankarms aren't from the 1940s! Report back on your findings.

Londonsworld 

Plucked from certain death (recycle yard) and saved for wall art. It'll look nice next to my Super 5. Another number for T-Mar.

Old! KS46002

Custom 5

Made in Japan

Shimano 333

Going to use this stem on my Apollo SR-5.

Lark action

Kinda digging this bullet reflector. It'll look good on my Nishiki Prestige.

American Eagle (West Coast Cycle Supply Company)

rickpaulos

Here are two Nishiki mountain bikes that were donated to the local bike coop. I did not take photo of the serial numbers but I can next saturday.

Colorado, early mtb with a very long cruiser style wheel base. 6127517 G0536 The G suggests it may have been built by Giant in the 1980s.



Tamarack, post 2000 mtb. Probably 2010+. DAF14 D004877

howie2wheels

1980 Nishiki Olympic serial CI05131 all original from first owner VJ and VE codes on FDR and RDR, Sugino 165 cranks, UKAI alloy rims, Suntour 7GT RDR, Suntour stem Power Shifters

T-Mar

That '3" is a poorly stamped '8' and its actually G0586, indicating a 1986 Colorado manufactured in May by Giant of Taiwan.

Cycle Tourist

Had to send the "after" pictures. The rear rim is mismatched but otherwise the bike looks great and it's ready to join the fray.

rickpaulos

Just got my copy of Japanese Steel, Classic Bicycle Design from Japan by William Bevington and Scott Ryder.
First impression is WOW. The main emphasis is on brands sold in the USA and the high end models. Many studio quality photos and quite a bit of the history of the companies some of which started as early as 1890. There is a chapter on Nishiki. Others include Fuji, Miyata, Arraya, 3 Rensho, Bridgestone Kaubuki, Panasonic.

OLDYELLR

I bought the book. Very pretty. I wanted it because I have a couple of Nishikis. Not particularly helpful but okay.

T-Mar

I didn't buy the book. I was considering it but didn't want to spend that kind of money unless I could browse the book, to see whether I was going to get anything out of it (besides Scott's lovely photos). It's sounds like you got limited value out of it, so I doubt I'd experience very many revelations. Thank-you for putting my mind at rest.