Another Nice Touring Bike I don't Need-- Nishiki Riviera GT
01-17-10, 10:47 PM
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Another Nice Touring Bike I don't Need-- Nishiki Riviera GT
I picked up another nice touring bike. This one is a Nishiki Riviera GT. I got it from the original owner here in Arizona. It is in great condition. It might be in better condition than my ProTour.
There are some interesting things with this bike. First, it really has odd gearing. I don't understand why you would have a second front chainring so close in size to the large chainring.
Second, it has a SunTour LePree RD, and it has three sprockets on the RD. I don't understand why it would be like that. It seems like three sprockets would just add weight and friction.
Third, even though this is also a 58cm bike, like the ProTour, it has a longer top tube and a shorter head tube. I wonder why that is?
Jared
There are some interesting things with this bike. First, it really has odd gearing. I don't understand why you would have a second front chainring so close in size to the large chainring.
Second, it has a SunTour LePree RD, and it has three sprockets on the RD. I don't understand why it would be like that. It seems like three sprockets would just add weight and friction.
Third, even though this is also a 58cm bike, like the ProTour, it has a longer top tube and a shorter head tube. I wonder why that is?
Jared
01-17-10, 11:00 PM
#2
Dropped
Half step gearing: https://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ha-i.html#halfstep
Nice find. You sure turn up some nicely preserved fossils out there in the desert.
Nice find. You sure turn up some nicely preserved fossils out there in the desert.
01-17-10, 11:20 PM
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A touring bike you don't need, you say?
How could you survive in the desert without those two yellow water bottle cages ?
Nice snag there, sjpitts!
How could you survive in the desert without those two yellow water bottle cages ?
Nice snag there, sjpitts!
01-18-10, 05:51 AM
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Wow! For some reason that one speaks to me. To rub it in further, it's even my size. Nice find!
Wish I could stumble across something like that around these parts, but while you live in an actual desert, I live in a bicycle desert.
Seriously, that is beautiful. What year is it?
Wish I could stumble across something like that around these parts, but while you live in an actual desert, I live in a bicycle desert.
Seriously, that is beautiful. What year is it?
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01-18-10, 06:12 AM
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If you don't like it, it will not be difficult to sell...especially if you are willing to ship it. There's a good market for quality touring bikes in pristine condition like yours. New ones are $1,000 +++
01-18-10, 06:17 AM
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By the way, check out this website...look around the "how-to department...buyer's guide", etc.
https://www.adventurecycling.org/
https://www.adventurecycling.org/
01-18-10, 07:01 AM
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looks like another beautiful japanese touring rig with all the fixin's. looks to be early to mid 80s? pristine shape! great find.
01-18-10, 08:02 AM
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I'd appreciate the serial number for my database.
I'm a bit surprised at the gearing too. The LePree derailleurs suggest a 1985-1986 vintage. By this time Nishiki appears to have abandoned half-step gearing on their other grand touring models.
Though geometry will vary depending the year, most grand touring bicycles favour slack angles, usually near parallel. This Nishiki has a very steep head tube relative to the seat tube. This will both lengthen the top tube and shorten the head tube, all other dimensions being equal. Additionally, in my experience, Nishiki also favours slightly longer wheelbases, with some of it coming from an increased front-centre dimension. This will also contribute to a longer top tube. There are lots of other factors that could contribute, but these are the most likely.
I'm a bit surprised at the gearing too. The LePree derailleurs suggest a 1985-1986 vintage. By this time Nishiki appears to have abandoned half-step gearing on their other grand touring models.
Though geometry will vary depending the year, most grand touring bicycles favour slack angles, usually near parallel. This Nishiki has a very steep head tube relative to the seat tube. This will both lengthen the top tube and shorten the head tube, all other dimensions being equal. Additionally, in my experience, Nishiki also favours slightly longer wheelbases, with some of it coming from an increased front-centre dimension. This will also contribute to a longer top tube. There are lots of other factors that could contribute, but these are the most likely.
01-18-10, 11:49 AM
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For some reason I thought it was an 85. Maybe that is what the seller said. TMar--when I get home I will get the serial number for you. The seller was the original owner, and he said it was original other than tires/pedals and bar tape.
One other thing I note-- the stem is considerably shorter than the ProTour's. I find it interesting that Nishiki would put a longer top tube on the bike, but then use a shorter stem.
Jared
One other thing I note-- the stem is considerably shorter than the ProTour's. I find it interesting that Nishiki would put a longer top tube on the bike, but then use a shorter stem.
Jared
01-18-10, 07:56 PM
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Just to let you know, after I posted this morning I thought about your bike all day. Had to post again and just let you know that's the sharpest ride I've seen in a while!
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01-18-10, 09:35 PM
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I was wondering! That makes sense.
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01-19-10, 11:20 AM
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I checked for the serial number today. It is on the bottom bracket-- WE 18045.
Jared
Jared
01-19-10, 12:56 PM
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01-19-10, 10:35 PM
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Put some lights on!
Nice bike! What's the tubing for the frame/ fork?
01-19-10, 11:23 PM
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The frame sticker says Tange Infinity. The fork says Tange Mangaloy 2000.
Jared
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02-11-10, 01:07 AM
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Hey Jared,
I have a Nishiki Riviera GT almost identical to yours but it's a tiny little frame, 48 or 49cm. Also has Shimano 105 Group. It's in beautiful shape, very close to yours. I bought it for my son, but he grew out of it. I'm selling it this weekend though. I love the frame on this bike.
I have a Nishiki Riviera GT almost identical to yours but it's a tiny little frame, 48 or 49cm. Also has Shimano 105 Group. It's in beautiful shape, very close to yours. I bought it for my son, but he grew out of it. I'm selling it this weekend though. I love the frame on this bike.
02-11-10, 03:06 AM
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I wouldn't think there is anything more to it than trigonometry - the longer top tube of the main triangle takes you closer to what would have been the apex of the angle between the top tube and the down tube, hence a shorter head tube is needed.
02-11-10, 04:53 AM
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Another view on the head tube is: If the seat tube angle is slack and the BB height is low (both common for touring bikes), the horizontal distance between the BB and the seat lug will be longer than on a sport or racy bike, by a few cm. Similarly the vertical distance between the BB and the top tube is less than for a 58 cm sporty bike, by perhaps a cm. And finally, a lower BB (touring bikes can be lower by up to 2 cm) shortens the head tube.
So the laid back seat tube and the low BB height (larger BB drop or frame drop) both tend to move the top tube closer to the ground and to shorten the top tube. The laid back seat tube and the need to keep the handlebar forward result in a top tube that is longer by a few cm than for a sporty bike.
I think a frame like this should be sized based on TT vertical height above teh BB, standover height, and the horizontal distance between teh head tube and the BB. Mike is right, it takes a lot of basic trigonometry.
That's a 58 cm frame that might fit a rider who takes a 55 or 56!
So the laid back seat tube and the low BB height (larger BB drop or frame drop) both tend to move the top tube closer to the ground and to shorten the top tube. The laid back seat tube and the need to keep the handlebar forward result in a top tube that is longer by a few cm than for a sporty bike.
I think a frame like this should be sized based on TT vertical height above teh BB, standover height, and the horizontal distance between teh head tube and the BB. Mike is right, it takes a lot of basic trigonometry.
That's a 58 cm frame that might fit a rider who takes a 55 or 56!
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