mkeller234

I have been searching most of the Nishiki threads to gather information about this bike and still have some questions. It appears that this may be a mid to late 80's International... the thing that I am stumped by is the Hi-Ten steel tubing sticker. From what I have read, the International was not high end but still decent with chromoly tubing. It also seems odd to have a Hi-Ten frame with forged sun-tour dropouts.

The other components seem to match up, suntour Vx rear derailleur, Sugino Maxy crank, shimano hubs Suntour bar end shifters etc.

So this is my question, is this an early or later built international? I think the fork looks like it may be bent, is this bike worth saving (for my use)? I payed so little for it so there isn't any worry if it is junk, bar ends alone are worth it to me.

The one bonus is the front wheel, it has a flat blade Campy record skewer (maybe gran sport) with a Miallard hub and Wolber 58 rim....go figure.

The serial number is KG18635

Here are some pics, it's pretty beat up:

mkeller234

Some more pics:

Tigerprawn

Did a little digging and found this...

From this thread ... https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/329326-76-nishiki-international-f-f-tubing-id.html

*Waits for T-Mar to hop in with his godly Nishiki knowledge.

mkeller234

Ok, according to T-Mar's serial data base my frame was the 18,635th frame produced for the USA in 1977. (KG18635)

So maybe in 77 they took the international back to hi-ten....which seems really cheap. Also, why would they put a giant sticker on there announcing that they downgraded? Well, maybe the hi-ten fork will bend back in shape... we shall see.

Thanks for the info, was Nishiki considered a lower brand than Miyata? I had a bottom end Miyata 210 that was equipped better that this Nishiki?

-Matt

Rabid Koala

It is later than the 73 I had, but not that much newer. My 73 was tough, I rode it for a year and a half starting at age 15 and abused it a lot more than I care to admit now. Mine had the "Chrome Molybdenum" decal on it.

unworthy1

IIRC this was originally called the Kokusai and then they changed the name to "international" around '74, parts were updated as the model progressed, but the Kokusai definitely had plain-gauge chrome-moly tubing (maybe Tange, maybe Ishiwata) so I'm surprised they down-graded to Hi-Ten steel in '77...but it was an importer's brand that was very much pegged to his profit margin, and in that way they differed a bit from Miyata which seemed to be driven just a bit more by "pride of ownership", or something like it. At least that's how I thought about it back then. Doesn't mean Nishikis were a bad bike (I happily owned 2 myself) just describes the "perceived value for $ spent" ratio.

cudak888 

Fork is bent. Top tube looks as if may be slightly bent, but I can't tell if that's a result of the camera fisheye.

-Kurt

mkeller234

Yeah, I did catch the fork bend. I looked at the top tube earlier and it may be very slightly tweaked. Either way it was worth the 10 bucks in parts at that and is not a rare or sacred frame. I will have to post pics of the campy skewer to see what it is, it looks fairly old... I was guessing early record or gran sport.

T-Mar

It's definitely a 1977. Besides the serial number, the livery is indicative of that era. Spec differences indicate it is a not a 1978 model from late 1977.

As previously pointed out, the frame materials for the Interantionals were all over the map: hi-tensile, plain gauge CrMo, seamless butted CrMo, seamed butted CrMo, oversize butted CrMo and butted CMn. Furthermore, there could be differences between markets, for a specific model and year. During this era, Kawamura were using both Tange and Toshiba for their tube stock, so it could be either.

I suspect the tubing downgrade was requested by Weat Coast Cycle Supply in order for them to maintain the under $200 US pricepoint.

Nishiki was a well regarded brand but based on my personal experience, Fuji and Miyata were more highly regarded at the time.

j. hughes

I like the Budweiser H20 bottle.

mkeller234

Classy, isn't it?

Edit: You should see the bottle cage now! I am soaking it in vinegar and the difference is amazing!

mkeller234

Thanks T-Mar, that is insanity! It sounds like there really is no such thing as a correct spec Nishiki then, at least the international.

I'm going to do a search, but has anyone had luck straightening hi-ten forks (at home to keep it cheap)?

Again, it's not a big deal. This might become a beater bad weather bike.... or a pile of spare parts.

-Matt