Hi, I need help ID'ing a bike. I recently inherited my dad's pre-1974 American Eagle (Nishiki), since last year he sadly passed away. It is 100% original (except for rear tire and handlebar grips), however, sometime in the last 12 months, the front wheel/tire disappeared in my relative's posession. Unfortunate. So in addition to ID'ing the bike, I am also looking for guidance as to where to get an original front wheel and quick release.

Bike Description:
Serial #: KS87779
A "W" and PDS also stamped into the bottom of the frame.
Front gears: Suntour Sugino
Pedals: Kyokuto Pro Ace
Shifters: Suntour - Mounted on the downtube
Frame: American Eagle Front logo & Japan sticker and Chrome Molybdenum sticker & WDCSC stamp by rear wheel quick release
Rear quick release - Suntour
Brakes: Suntour Diacomp
Rear Hub: Sunshine 5345 0
Rear Wheel: Araya Lightalloy 27 x 1 1/4 w/o hp
Rear derailleur: Suntour GT
Seat: Fujita
Handlebar riser: Compe
Brake levers: Diacompe
Handlebars: KB Japan Champion
Front derailleur: Suntour Sport

One additional interesting feature is a large metal disc with holes in in behind the largest gear on the rear wheel.

Thanks and any help is appreciated.

Do you have a photo of the bike?

The plate is a Spoke Protector and it is purpose it protect te spokes/wheel from damage should the rear derailleur (RD) become misaligned. the protector (aka dork disc) keeps the RD from getting jammed in the spokes.

As for the front wheel... the odds of finding an exact match are slim but I suspect that something very similar can be found rather easily at your local bikes shop (LBS) or CO-OP

Sorry yo hear of your loss

Hi, I didn't know this new thread was created for me, that's awesome! Thanks. Here's the photos from the other thread.

Thanks I really appreciate the condolences and the info. This weekend I located the Araya wheel and Sunshine hub on Craigslist and we're planning to meet up. Excited! Will still need the Suntour quick release but I have a lead on that. Last step would be to ID the bike. I've seen ads and pix of American Eagles from late 60s/early 70s, but none with the shifters on the downtube, so not sure what model this is yet.

Looks to me like you have a seventies something Nishiki "Competition". I have one tucked away in The Old Shed but I never did take any pictures of the bike. Actually, it is just a frame and fork set at this time.

I'm pretty sure Nishiki sold this bike and similar models with either DT or Stem shifters. Plus over the years a lot of the ones with stem shifters where changed to DT or the other way around. With clamp on Suntour shifters this is a pretty easy change to make.

Cool thanks, good info! So here's some more details. The bike is an American Eagle, and has a 1974 registration sticker on it, so indeed it was made by Nishiki. I also acquired a wheel/hub last night. The other question is...what model of American Eagle is it?

"American Eagle" on the head badge and wrap around seat stays: Semi-Pro model.

During this era there were banded decals on the seat tube that had the model name and for the Semi-Pro model: a cartoon cyclist.

When American Eagle brand changed to Nishiki, the Semi-Pro model became the Competition model.

I think my Schwinn Super Sport had Sunshine hubs and Araya 700C rims as original equipment. The original cassette is a 5-speed Maeda (13-28) I might also have a 6-speed cassette which I used before I upgraded the wheels (see my wheel page); (both cassettes are thread-on freewheels) but if you're only interested in the front wheel, then I'm sure we could come to an arrangement. BTW you might want to replace both wheels (I think you mentioned that your rear was a Araya 27x1¼). Drop me a note if your interested. Good Luck -
- Wil

OK - I didn't realize this thread was so old! The offer still stands if you haven't found an adequate solution, but if you're all set, then sorry I spoke!