Identify my nenew Nishiki!
08-17-08, 10:23 PM
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Identify my nenew Nishiki!
I picked up a (looks to be) old Nishiki at a bicycle swap earlier today and am trying to figure out a bit more about it. It is a Nishiki; frame is labeled Kokusai, and it says made in Japan.
There is a sticker on the frame that says "Chrome Molybdenum" and another down near the crank that says "Produced for American Eagle in Japan." It has a Suntour GT Derailer, Compte brakes levers, Weinmann brakes and a compte front shifter. Suntour non-index shifters. It has distinctive handlebars that kind of flare out at the ends a bit. They are labeled "Japan Champion" Doesn't look like all these would be original, but maybe the Suntour?
Anyone know what year/quality I got here on my hands? Thanks for any help you can provide.
There is a sticker on the frame that says "Chrome Molybdenum" and another down near the crank that says "Produced for American Eagle in Japan." It has a Suntour GT Derailer, Compte brakes levers, Weinmann brakes and a compte front shifter. Suntour non-index shifters. It has distinctive handlebars that kind of flare out at the ends a bit. They are labeled "Japan Champion" Doesn't look like all these would be original, but maybe the Suntour?
Anyone know what year/quality I got here on my hands? Thanks for any help you can provide.
08-18-08, 03:15 AM
#3
Lanky Lass
Hi alexmr, identification is always a bit easier with photos 
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08-18-08, 04:42 AM
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It is a mid-range, transition model from late 1972 or very early 1973. At he beginning of 1972 these bicycles were being marketed under the American Eagle brand. Sometime during 1972, they appear to have adopted the Nishiki brand name but kept the America Eagle model names. Sometime in 1973, Anglicized model names were adopted with this particular model becoming the International.
The International was a touring bicycle and that handlebar style is called ranndonneur and is original. The Champion tubing is plain/straight gauge chromimium-molybdenum. In fact, all the components sound original. Some might question the Weinmann brakes, but I suspect they are original, even though Dia-Compe are spec. There was probably a shortage and Weinmann would be the logical substitute as Dia-Compe are Weinmann made under license. When Dia-Compe invented the safety lever, Weinmann gave Dia-Compe the rights to copy their caliper in lieu of paying royalties on safety lever manufacture.
In addition to pics, please submit the serial number for my database. It should be located on the underside of the bottom bracket shell and is probably of the format. KS1xxxxx.
The International was a touring bicycle and that handlebar style is called ranndonneur and is original. The Champion tubing is plain/straight gauge chromimium-molybdenum. In fact, all the components sound original. Some might question the Weinmann brakes, but I suspect they are original, even though Dia-Compe are spec. There was probably a shortage and Weinmann would be the logical substitute as Dia-Compe are Weinmann made under license. When Dia-Compe invented the safety lever, Weinmann gave Dia-Compe the rights to copy their caliper in lieu of paying royalties on safety lever manufacture.
In addition to pics, please submit the serial number for my database. It should be located on the underside of the bottom bracket shell and is probably of the format. KS1xxxxx.
