roccobike

Nice find playera. International was typically one of Nishiki's higher end models. Certainly a Japanese chromoly frame is worth keeping. Hope it works out for you.

gerald_g 

Here's one for the database.

Nishiki Rally
CB12052

playera

Thanks. It will work out if it can go to a good home. It's too small for me. I might pull the derailleurs and convert it to a single speed. If anyone wants it, write me. I'll sell it reasonable.

chewybrian 

I have a Nishiki Maxima. The derailer says '80, which might tag the bike as '80 or '81. The frame says "Made in Italy". It is Columbus tubing, I think SL or SP (?) Serial number is 555. That's it; I assume this reflects a limited production, and is in a different format due to being made by some other frame builder.

The bike has a Record drivetrain and hubs, Araya rims, Superbe brakes, Shimano 600 headset, Cinelli bars. I added only a Brooks saddle and clipless pedals.

I would post a pic if I could figure out how. (I bought a used camera and a card reader, what else do I need to load the photos?)

roccobike

This is a 1983 Nishiki Sebring. The Sebring fit in the Nishiki line-up between the Sport and the Custom Sport. It had three improvements compared to the Sport. The main tubes on the frame are all chromoly, the Sport only has a chromoly seat tube. The rims on the Sebring are alloy, the Sport has steel rims. The Sebring also has a slightly nicer crank set.
I don't know what the cost difference was, but if I were purchasing new, I would want the upgrades this model offers.

This frame was manufactured by Giant in May of 83. The bottom bracket housing has the tell-tale numbers "G0583" and the serial number 3612330. Notice the early cyclocomputer. It still works! The Beige/Maroon paint scheme on this bike is identical to the much higher priced Nishiki International of the same year. You might have noticed the seat tube lug is painted green as is the top head tube lug. The original owner added the ugly green paint because he read this was a theft deterent. It did not work as his other bike with the same green paint on the lugs was stolen. This bike was going to replace my 87 Raleigh Record as a gofer bike, but a Trek 400 will now assume that role.

riva

Roccobike requested thread brumple for my newly acquired Nishiki.. pics in the silly 'speed holes' thread.

https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...6&d=1230765756

International.
Chrome Molybdendiums.
Fabrique a Japon.
KJ 279O6 stamped in the BB.
Strange "W" stamped there too?
Araya 27x1 rimses.
Factory drilled levers and chainwheel.
1980??

Much too big for me.
I will ride it anyway.
You cannot stop me.

raverson

Here's an Azuki Gran Sport 12 I just finished putting together. It is a close cousin to Nishiki and as such I assume the serial # KJ00287 reliably dates it as 1980. I picked it up in a trade with fellow BF member kpug505 as just a frame and fork, so the components are not original to the bike. However, back in the day I did have a '79 Azuki Gran Sport and it came spec'd with Shimano 600 FD/RD, a Sugino Idol crank, and DiaCompe centerpulls.

danbennett2u

I have a Nishiki Colorado. I believe it is a 1988 or 1989. S/N is GZ897538. Rear derailleur has been replaced (original broke). Shimano EXAGE brakes and front derailleur. SIS shifters, 18 gears. U Brake with rear under chainstay. Frame is CroMo throughout. Joytech hubs on the original rims (I think Araya but not sure)
Color is kind of a metalic pearl aqua with the stem to the handlebars cream.

I assume this is a mid-level bike, does anyone have any other info or a MSRP?

EDIT: Also has Biopace chainrings

gibj

I have been bitten by the nishiki bug. This week in north carolina i purchased this bike and just beginning to decode the serials. Go181 is stamped on the drop out and the bike actually has a "made in tawain" sticker on the base of the seat tube. It is equipped with a
"suntour 7" front and rear derailers. If i did my homework correctly it is circa 1981. Could could someone please confirm this. Also i dont find any references to the "marina" model.
Was it that rare or what?

Doohickie

I'm pretty sure Suntour 7 is not the best of derailleurs. Don't get me wrong, I have Suntour 7 on my Raleigh Marathon, but the Marathon was not the best in Raleigh's mid-80s lineup. A very good bike, and runs great, but not exactly "high end".

I've never heard of a Nishiki Marina.... any pics?

kbpfister

Just bought this last week:

Model: Riviera GT (previous owner said it was an 85)
S#: WE05831

Frame: Tange Infinity tapered double butted tubing
Fork: Tange Mangaloy 2001

the frame says Japan , and handcrafted by Kawamura, and there is a sticker near the BB that says gran touring frame geometry

front hub: Sachs mallard-France, sansin close QR skewer
front rim: Rigida-USA

rear hub: Sansin-Japan, sansin QR skewer
rear rim: Araya

bars: Winpista-Japan
Dia Comp non aero levers, Dia Comp cantilever brakes

front derailer: Shiman Deore
rear derailer: Suntour Lapree 3 pulley system

crank: Sugino
It's a triple chainring with a 50 and a 40, but I'm not sure what the inner ring is, the two inner rings are not circular but ovoid.

I couldn't find date codes for any of the componets, but when I start working on the bike I'll look for them.

sfCyclotourist

Great thread!

I've owned a 1986 Nishiki Prestige, unfortunately I don't have the S/N handy:



It was originally equipped with Suntour Cyclone friction shifters and Sugino crank. The wheels are original with Sansin hubs and 700C Araya rims. This bike had "Handcrafted by Kawamura" on the left chainstay.

I currently own a 1988 Nishiki Sport, S/N G6933637 (on ST)/C68K (on BB). I bought this as a frame/fork and don't know what the original parts were, but I suspect it used Suntour V-GT derailleurs and stem shifters:



Both frames are 58cm (c-t).

I have collected many random Nishiki photos, some with year info, at https://yojimg.net/bike/nishiki/.

Cheers,
-Jim G

roccobike

Jim G, One minor correction. Your Sport frame is a 1987 Sport. The Pinkish colored insert on the downtube decal says "Sport Series". I can't read it in the pic, but I know that's what it says. Nishiki used the insert in 1987 and 1989. For some reason, they skipped 1988. The five stripes at the back of the top tube and on the seat tube also say, earlier than 1988. Additionally, the 1988 Sport was not offered in blue. The main tubes on your bike are chromoly. Yes it was a stem shifter bike, but the Sport was not the bottom entry level bike. There was at least one model, maybe two below the Sport so it had some upgrades over the base model. I'm not sure if the 87 model had index shifting, I think it did. The Sport was the highest model offering stem shifters as the Custom Sport that year had downtube, index shifters.

23skidoo

If I read and the SN decoding correctly, here is a photo of KC05220, my nearly-mint 83 Nishiki Olympic 12.



Album link with a few more photos:

https://s270.photobucket.com/albums/j...0Olympic%2012/

Doohickie

YOU.

ARE.

MY.

HERO.

That looks just like the red Oly 12 I wrecked last year. And it was nearly mint at the time too. I was the original owner. (Page back in this thread to see pics.)

Ganzen

1985 Nishiki Prestige
WE08201

Picked this up last week on goodwill auction site for $50.

Frame: Tange 2 (Man's, 56 cm)
Fork: Tange

Labels:
Tange (top of each fork)
Japan (near BB)
Handcrafted by Kawamura (Right dropout)
Frame geometry "Race/Sport" (near BB)

Bar: Uill, Winpista-Japan
Brake levers: Hooded, Dia Comp AC 250G
Stem: Uill, 22.2mm

Seat: Vetta
Post: Sugino SP-K

Brakes: Side pull, Dia Comp "G" (date codes 0885 and 1085), Bronze Anodized

Front and Rear derailers: Suntour Cyclone
Chainring: Double, Sugino 52/42, Bronze Anodized
Cranks: Sugino VP, 170mm
Pedals: Sugino SP-1000 with Sugino straps
Freewheel: 6 speed, Suntour Winner

Front hub: Sansin SE - Japan, sealed, Sansin QR skewer
Front rim: Araya 700c, SS Spokes, Bronze Anodized

Rear hub: Sansin SE -Japan, sealed, Sansin QR skewer
Rear rim: Araya 700C, SS Spokes, Bronze Anodized

Tires: Matrix CD4

Pics are after a complete disassembly and rebuild with fresh brake pads and bartape.

Ganzen

Doohickie

Nice bike.

Boardtrackfan

I've owned this since new. Bought it through the bike shop I worked at. I think it was around 1987-88?
Grips, seat, pedals and tires are not original. Everything else is the way it came from the factory. The handlebar tape is also from the late 80s and was made by Vetta.

riva

Nice. Wheres that # for our database yo?

Pornored

Hey everyone, figured id procrastinated long enough with adding my old girl onto the list so here it goes:

1981 Nishiski Marina
Serial number G0581
Suntour 7 derailleurs & drivetrain
All original aside from Schwinn approved brake leavers. Long story short the original suicide leavers snapped off both sides and took the rivets that held them in place along for the ride, after only 10 miles of riding! Luckily the LBS mechanic felt my pain and compensated me, ive been riding it in this condition for over 500 miles. Great bike, never left me stranded without it being my fault (tubes heh), a little on the heavy side but for a first ride shes treated me well, especially well considering she only cost 100 dollars. Anyways on with the pictures
Condition i found it in

All tuned/dressed up fancy the night i got it home

After miles upon miles of enjoyment

roccobike

Pornored, the serial number you provided is actually the Giant date code. Your frame was manufactured by Giant before the marketed their own brand in the states. Giant made solid bikes so it's not a problem that they made the frame. Please check your seat tube or bottom bracket housing for the serial number. Thanks.

roccobike

Boardtrackfan. That's either an 87 or an 89. In 88 Nishiki did not have an insert in the downtube decal. If I had to gues I'd say 89, but that's a guess.
BTW, Super bike, I love those Internationals.

Boardtrackfan

I got the serial number. It was located on the down-tube near the bottom bracket. sn# s88100056
1989 would make more sense. I graduated high school in 86 and I doubt I had the money for it in 87! It has Tange no.1 tubes. and Suntour components. Modolo bend bars and I think it had a Vetta gel seat originally. The seat was the first thing to wear out. The pedals were black nylon with toe clips. I think I still have those in a box somewhere.

sfCyclotourist

Jeez, save for the frame-size difference (mine was a 58cm c-t), that looks EXACTLY like my old Prestige, which I always thought was an '86. Maybe it was an '85 after all? I sold that bike a few years back; I need to see if I still have the S/N somewhere.

-Jim G

Doohickie

It's a Kent, Washington, built Nishiki built on January 23, 1993. See Post 149 in this thread for more info. This link explains the difference between Kawamura-built Japanese Nishikis and Derby-built American Nishikis.

I think yours predates the Shimano Crank Recall, but you might want to check it and make sure. I understand they're still replacing defective cranks from that recall for free (including paying bike shops for labor).

And... props for even checking Nishiki.com. I never thought of that when I got my Nishiki last year.