Nishiki Bicycle Serial Number
Ode to Old Nishikis Nishiki bicycles from the late 1970 s through the early 1990 s represent some of the best of the UJBs universal Japanese bicycles sold in the.
As some you may be aware, I have been collecting Nishiki data for several years in an attempt to more accurately determine their age and create a timeline of models. I now have sufficient data sets and confidence to report the results for serial numbers from the 1970s to mid 1980s, however sufficient data is lacking for the late 1980s onward.
To this end, it would appreciated if any Nishiki owners would submit posts with pics and specs of their Nihiki. A full, drive side view is the preferred pic. Requested info is model, year if known, frame material and make, model and date codes of major components. For component date code format, location and decypher, refer to
Thank-you in advance for your contributions. Where possible, I will answer questions as they arise. General developments in the database will be reported in this post ie post 1 below:
Kawamura manufactured frames 1972-1987
Serial number format XYZZZZZ where:
X is a letter indicating the market using the following codes:
Y is a letter indicating the last digit of the manufacturing calendar year, where A 1, B 2, C 3 J 0. Exception is letter S, used on all frames prior to 1975.
ZZZZZ is a five or six digit number, apparently representing a sequential frame manufac turing number for the year or era in the case of pre 1975 frames
Example 1: KA24587 is the 24,787th frame produced in 1981 for the US market.
Example 2: CG231117 is the 23,117th frame produced in 1977 for the Canadian market.
Example 3: WE54612 is the 54,612th frame produced in 1985 for the US market.
Serial number format may extend beyond 1987, but there are no reported examples, to date.
Giant manufactured frames 1978-1986
Two part serial number, with first part designating manufacturer, month and year. The date codes data is generally stamped on the drive side dropout.
Serial number foramt Gmmyy where,
mm month where 01 Jan, 02 Feb, etc.
yy year where 80 1980, 81 1981, etc.
Example: G0384 is a frame that was manufactured by Giant in March 1984.
The serial number format changed in 1987. The format precedes 1978 though no samples have been reported on Nishiki bicycles.
Giant manufactured frames 1987-1989
Serial number formatt Gfyxxxxx where,
f letter indicating fortnight i.e A weeks 1-2, B weeks 3-3, Z weeks 51-52
y last digit of calendar year of manufacture i.e. 7 1987, 8 1988, etc.
xxxxx numbers probably indicating a sequential manufacturing number during the fortnight
Example: GD706959 was the 6,959th frame manufactured during the 4th fortnight of 1987.
The serial number format appears to started in 1987 and is known to extend beyond 1989 on Giant branded models, though no Nishiki examples have been reported, to date.
Derby Manufactured Frames 1989-1992
Circa 1989, Nishiki was acquired by Derby International, which also owned Raleigh and some manufacturing was done at their Kent, Washingtion facility.
Serial number format Rydddyxxxx where:
xxxx sequential manufacturing number
EXAMPLE: R9035167879 is the 7,879th frame built on day 35 i.e. February 04 of 1991.
The serial number format may extend beyond this range, in either direction, but to date no examples have been reported.
Katakura manufactured frames 1971-1973
Serial number format Kmyxxxx where:
m letter indicating month of manufacture i.e A January, B February, L December
y number indicating last digit of calendar year i.e 1 1971, 3 1973
xxxx four numbers probably indicating the sequential manufacturing number during the month
Example:KI20182 is 182nd frame manufactured during September 1971.
Over the years numerous other serial number formats have cropped up. Some are known manufacturers, while others are unidentified. These appear to have been smaller, subcontracted orders and constitute a a very small portion of the overall Nishiki volume. As such, they will not be covered here but will be addressed by individual forum response when they crop up.
Last edited by T-Mar; 11-27-15 at AM.
Reason: updates to Giant 1978-1986 disclaimer
I ll start it off T-Mar. This should be a cool thread. These are some pics I took of my 83 Century when I first brought it home from the thrift store. It looks alot better now. I will repost when I get the serial number and some date codes off of the components I replaced. I m not sure of the frame material there were no stickers on the seat tube when I got it. I hope someone can tell me what it is.
Originally Posted by brandenjs
I thought I had already posted on this in another thread. We determined it was a 1983 and thought it was one step above the base Sport model as it was identical with the exception of having aluminum rims.
Well, I just updated the Nishikis in my sig based on this info. I had previously made them a year newer based on component dates and a poor memory. The Claud is dated from the serial number and the Jeunet dated by the saddle for lack of any other stampings.
Edit: Interestingly, my Ultimate has a U.S. serial number, even though it was sold in Canada. These bikes were not in any catalogue and only a small handful were sold in Canada, so I don t imagine Nishiki made a special batch with Canadian serial numbers.
Last edited by OLDYELLR; 02-21-08 at PM.
Reason: additional information
1967 Jeunet Captivante track bike
1951 Claud Butler New Allrounder under construction
index shifters frets on a fiddle
Serial G1180 which I just found out thanks to you means it from November 1980. It s a solid, but kinda POS Tiawanese model that is hopefully getting sold in about 30 minutes from now
Yep, It s very close to the Sport that -holiday76 just posted. Mine had a steel wheel on the front and alloy on the back when I got it. I wish mine had the center pull calipers though.
T-Mar, you had to know that I would post on this thread, how could I resist.
I had three Nishiki road bikes. I picked up this Century about a year ago and have subsequently sold it. It s a basic, 10 speed with Suntour derailers, chrome rims, no QR s. The right dropout had a Giant date number: G0683. According to my records, the serial number is 3159531. It rode real well for an entry level bike. I noticed it s nearly identical to brandenjs s Century.
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
What is it that drives you to make these serial number database collections. Not that I don t find the threads both informative and full of nice pictures
That s not intended as a hostile question, if it reads that way. Simply curiosity.
As a complete random tangent, long before I was into cycling I knew what a Nishiki was because of a Tori Amos song. I m embarrassed to say that at this exact moment I don t remember which song.
The first Nishiki road bike I found was this Sport. I believe I found this about a year ago, just before I picked up the Century I previously posted. I believe this to be a 83 Sport. At the time, I based this on the frame number on the right drop out and the front derailer which had an October 1982, Suntour date code. I can not find the document that had the Giant date code, but I do remember it had the usual G and four digit code ending in 83. I m certain of the year because it was the same as the Century I owned. I recorded the serial number on a previous BF thread, it was 6185386.
The Sport had a QR front hub, at least a partial Chromoly frame, a crank that was a step up from the Century and this bike was a 12 speed. Since a previous owner replaced the rear DR, I m not certain if it started out as a 12 speed or was converted. I hated to sell it because I really liked that black paint, but I was given a really nice offer and sent it off to fixie land.
ok, I guess I posted the build date but not the serial number. Where do I find that. I thought I was selling the bike today, but of course the craigslist guy didnt show up..
Originally Posted by -holiday76
Try on the bottom of the bottom bracket housing. As I recall, that s where mine were.
I have 4 I think I will post when I have time to take pictures and jot down serial numbers for you. Three are mine and they re all silver. How does that happen.
I kept one of my three Nishiki road bikes, this 87 Custom Sport. As I understand the Nishiki line-up, this is considered an entry level bike. I think it s pretty nice for an entry level bike. The frame is double butted chromoly with braze-ons for bottles and shifters. The crank is a Sugino VP, the shifters are Suntour Accushift index, 12 speed with a Suntour Alpha 3000 rear dr. The rims are 27 inch by 1 inch Araya alloy and more closely resemble 700C rims of the era than the typical 27 inch rim. The brake levers are hooded, but not aero nuts. The brakes have a release and both hubs have QRs. The seat post is alloy. I ve added Continental Ultra Sport tires. IMHO, not bad for entry level.
EDIT: the serial number is GC736191.
EDIT: Date codes for the front and rear derailers, DC, DB, both Suntour
EDIT: This was the last year for the Custom Sport, the model name was dropped in 1988.
EDIT: One more edit so that a direct comparison can be made between this bike and BlankCrows 87 Sport. The brakes are DiaCompe with release, the levers are DiaCompe hooded, no safety levers. Like the Sport, the bars are Champion. The seat post is alloy.
Last edited by roccobike; 02-23-08 at AM.
Nishiki Seral touring bike. serial KC 23779. That would indicate a US model made in 1983. I checked the dates on the crank, stem, and front derailleur which I believe to be original and they all indicate 1983 as well. Specs are: Tange double butted Chrome moly with Suntour dropouts, Tange fork, Sugino AT triple crank, Dia Compe cantis and non-aero brake levers, and Suntour shifters and derailleurs front is Cyclone Mk.II, rear was not original. The wheelset was Suntour sealed bearing hubs laced to 27 aluminum rims.
Last edited by redxj; 02-22-08 at PM.
T-Mar, here s a later 1980 s one for you which I found yesterday. A mixte Sport model with a red and white fade paint job.
Tubing Sticker: Nishiki 4130 Chromoly Main Tubes
Over Nishiki name on DT it says Sport Series
RD -- Shimano Light Action RD-L532 with a LA date code January 1987
Shifters -- black plastic Shimano Light Action SIS
Dia-Compe brake levers with safety levers
Dia-Compe sidepull calipers with a M 0187 code on them January 1987
Saddle: white Vetta with bag loops
Pedals: not too fancy rat traps -- didn t note the brand but they say Taiwan on them. The toe clips are Christophe.
I didn t note the headset. The cogset still needs to be cleaned so I don t know what it is. Seat post is a straight post type and I didn t note what kind of stem it has. Cable routing is under the BB. Braze-ons: 1 set of water bottle mounts, cable guides on DT and on chainstay for RD cable. Front and rear dropouts have 1 set of eyelets each.
Other than the stem and seatpost being up in the stratosphere it is in nice shape.
Let me know if you need any other info, including other date codes and/or other photos you need.
P.S. -- I have a Maruishi Catalog that I can get you a copy of if you want. It s a 1984 version and it reveals that a good portion of the generic labeled tubing on them is actually Tange or Ishiwata, with lots of detailed specifications for most models.
Well, I guess the thing that really drives it is my frustration with the wild/uneducated cases that some not all people offer to well intentioned requests. While component codes get you into the ballpark, there are pitfalls such as replacement parts, poor stock rotation practices at the factory and the fact that most owners will stop at the first date code they find, which is usually the rear derailleur and one of the most commonly replaced components. The frame serial is the only truly reliable indicator of the manufacture date, though you do have compensate for late calendar year manufacturing when determining model years.
Beyond that, it exercises the skills I developed during my previous, 22 year career as a Quality Engineer. Part of that job was to make order out of what appear to be random occurences. Serial numbers are a prime example of this. And of course, I m a bicycle fanatic.
It all started out with the perception that I was some kind of Miyata guru. Miyata had always been my favourite Japanese brand and I had most of their catalogs. As the age requests popped up on the forums, my Quality Engineer s eye was able to pick out the subtle differences between model years and I applied the model years to the supplied serial numbers and quickly decoded the format. This seemed to be a big hit with the members and the process was repeated, solving the serial number codes for Bianchi Italian manufactue, CCM, Centurion, Fuji, Nishiki and Raleigh Asian manufacture.
A lot of people have requested that I create a website for the various makes that I have knowledge of. Frankly, I don t have the skills or time to do this. A thread like this is the next best thing.
Originally Posted by roccobike
I kept one of my three Nishiki road bikes, this 87 Custom Sport.the serial number is GC736191.
Originally Posted by BlankCrows
T-Mar, here s a later 1980 s one for you which I found yesterday. A mixte Sport model with a red and white fade paint job.Serial Number -- GC735889
As you probably already realize, these fit neither of the two identified serial number formats. I do have a handful of late 1980s and early 1990 s codes for which I do not have sufficient samples to solve. However, an educated guess is that by this time the remaining Kawamura manufacturing had shifted to several non-Japanese manufacturers as a result of the yen revaluation that started in late 1985. By 1987, the yen had doubled in value agasinst the US dollar, making Japanese manufactured bicycle much more expensive.
There are also a couple examples of a unique, unsolved Kawamura format. It appears to be for a department dedicated to high end models such as the ONP. It may have been short lived, as some other high end models such as the Ultimate use the standard format.
Interestingly, my Ultimate has a U.S. serial number, even though it was sold in Canada. These bikes were not in any catalogue and only a small handful were sold in Canada, so I don t imagine Nishiki made a special batch with Canadian serial numbers.
Yes, I suspect that is the case. The Canadian distributor would probably not have even imported any, instead obtaining them from the US distributor, as required. The other thing is that not all models sold in Canada may have had the different format. It may have been used only if the Canadian model was distinct from the US model.
Last edited by T-Mar; 02-22-08 at AM.
Here s mine. The left chain stay is labeled Handcrafted by kawamura 100 ChromeMoly, size 64.5 cm. CrMo decals on the fork and seat tube. Shimano SIS decal on the right chain stay. Made in Japan on the seat tube. Modulus on the top tube. Serial WG10773 on the bottom bracket. I acquired the bike from the original owner who used it as a triathlon bike. Per him he rebuilt the bike twice. When I acquired the bike it had :
Shimano Exage Sport components.
Aero Brake levers with LI code
Front hub Sansin code DH, rim Araya 700c alloy
Rear hub Malliard 21st week of 89, rim malliard 700c alloy
Shifters downtube indexed or friction code A450
Shimano 6 speed freewheel MF Z012
Dropouts: update next time I remove a wheel.
After I updated to Ultegra 6500 and Mavic Aksium wheels the bikes weight is now 20.3 lbs. I have considered dumping the old seatpost and B17 to decrease the weight even more but for now it is what it is. Lp
Last edited by Spinz; 03-14-08 at AM.
Here s mine. The left chain stay is labeled Handcrafted by kawamura, size 64.5 cm. CrMo decals on the fork and seat tube. Shimano SIS decal on the right chain stay. Made in Japan on the seat tube. Serial WG10773 on the bottom bracket. I acquired the bike from the original owner who used it as a triathlon bike. Per him he rebuilt the bike twice. When I acquired the bike it had :
Than-you for posting. The original componets are so late in the 1987 year that it is almost certainly a 1988 model. Do you know the model name. I m thinking an Olympic.
S/N KF05756 on the BB. There was also a W stamped below the S/N
Datecodes on the components indicated it was assembled in 1976 which is confirmed by your serial number scheme.
Pictures here: www.salt2salt.com/scans/SD/SD.html
Here s mine. The left chain stay is labeled Handcrafted by kawamura, size 64.5 cm. CrMo decals on the fork and seat tube. Shimano SIS decal on the right chain stay. Made in Japan on the seat tube. Modulus on the top tube. Serial WG10773 on the bottom bracket. I acquired the bike from the original owner who used it as a triathlon bike. Rd code L J
HOW did you ever find that beautiful bike in our neck of the woods. IMHO, Your bike has one of the nicest paint schemes Nishiki used. I ve searched CL, yard sales and thrift shops for three years. The best I could do is the 87 Custom Sport I posted earlier. You must live right.
Please do me one favor, check your Tange seat tube decal and confirm that it says Tange 900. Thanks.
There s not enough info and the pic is too small to tell much. If you are serious you need to contact the seller and ask for the model name, tubeset and make and models of the major components such as crankset, derailleurs and brakes. The rims do appear to be aluminum but you should verify that and the size. It appears to be mid-1980s based on the graphics and two sets of bosses.
Here is my information again, all in one place:
American Eagle Semi-Pro, S/N KS78091 78,091th frame ever made for U.S. export..
Purchased on 1971.03.19 at Rancho Park Cycles, West Los Angeles, 149.95
Color: yellow enamel, close match to Schwinn Kool Lemon; other options were coffee and dark green
Crankset: Sugino Mighty Compe 171mm, 54-47 rings
Freewheel: brown Maeda SunTour 888 14-18-22-27-34
Hubset: Sunshine 36-hole high-flange
Rims: Araya with angled/offset holes
Tires: IRC 27 x 1-1/4 later models had 27 x 1-1/8 skinwalls
Derailleurs: SunTour VGT rear, Compe V front, downtube shift levers with white rubber caps
Seatpost: aluminum with mount akin to that of a steel seatpost
Saddle: cheapo padded vinyl the first thing I removed
Bling: suicide brake handles the second and third things I removed, spoke protector fourth thing removed
Frame: Ishiwata double-butted CrMo main triangle, Raleigh-style wraparound stays
DiaCompe centerpull brakes Weinmann 999 copies -- 610 front, 750 rear
Braze-ons: rear brake cable guides and rear brake cable bridge
Chrome: bottom halves of forks only
Separate bolt-on claw derailleur hanger
Pedals: Kuokoto Pro Ace road quills
Toeclips: leather shoe protector covers on ends
Size: 23 58.5cm with a rather short top tube
Early to bed, early to rise. Work like hell, and advertise. -- George Stahlman
Capo dschaw -poe : 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger, S/N 42624
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1981 Campione d Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
1973 Nishiki Competition, serial number KS175545
SunTour Compe V front derailleur
Original, some components changed out to better suit me such as pedals and seat.
1973 Paramount P-15 Opaque Blue
Custom Sport, 83 I believe, serial KC34265.
nishiki team issue, serial WE22269
Just picked up a 78 Pro Comp II this weekend. I ll get you pics and info ASAP.
How about something like this.
04 Giant OCR2 87 Schwinn World Sport F/G conversion 6,129 92 Trek 820 MTB 85 Schwinn Super LeTour
People who spend most of their natural lives riding iron bicycles over the rocky roadsteads of this parish get their personalities mixed up with the personalities of their bicycle as a result of the interchanging of the atoms of each of them and you would be surprised at the number of people in these parts who are nearly half people and half bicycles. - Flann O Brien, The Third Policeman
Toshiba high carbon tubing, designed by Norco, made in Japan, Sunshine steel hubs with steel Ukai 27 rims.
Cranks sugino No. 6, date code 2 GC on the international with GT cranks it is GC 1
Brakes, Dia-Compe 500 01 84, Levers 12 83
Not a lot of info on this bike component wise. i received it with only the cranks and forks/headset.I did have it set up once as a SS/ Fixed but am now rebuilding it to a touring bike.
Cranks, Sugino GT triple drilled, code GC 1
Here it is as the SS/Fixed incarnation:
Last edited by terrors; 03-02-08 at PM.
1993 Bridgestone X0-3, 1980 apollo gran sport fixed/SS, , 1987 . colnago spiral conic slx, 1988 Bianchi campione d italia, 1985 . Giubilato FS, 1987 Marinoni Corsa track,, Cinelli Sentiero MTB., Miyata 1000 LT, Miyata sport 10 now 12 mixte. 1987 Marinoni Special yellow, 1987 Marinoni Special blue and silver c-record, 2006 DE ROSA Merak. 1977 Raleigh Super Course in rebuild, 1982 Cinelli SC., 1998 Cannondale R600 Cad 3, 1977 Holdsworth Pro, 1976 Holdsworth Sprint track
1983 Sebring, Giant built. I ve posted it before but
bump. Lp ---- shameless of course.
bcoppola, would you give us a run down on the components on your Sebring. I m trying to compare it to the Sport I posted earlier. As near as I can tell, its the next model up from the Sport. The alloy rims are a nice step up. Is it a 10 or 12 speed. Does it have an alloy seat post.
Here s mine I m the original owner purchased in Houston, Texas on April 17, 1985. Serial number the on bottom bracket is KD 10019 which indicates it was the 10,019 frame built for the US market in 1984. I ve changed a few components over the years but these are the original specs: Frame: Tange 1, Fork: Tange 1 w/investment cast crown, Headset: Shimano New 600EX, Stem: SR alloy, Handlebar: SR alloy engraved, Brakes: Shimano New 600EX, Front Derailleur: Shimano New 600EX, Rear Derailleur: Shimano New 600EX, Shift Levers: Shimano New 600EX friction only, Freewheel: Shimano New 600EX six, Chain: Izumi 1/2 x 3/32 beveled silver, Crankset: Shimano New 600EX Biopace 42 x 52T, Pedals: Shimano New 600EX w/clips straps, Rims: Araya 700 x 25C hard anodized, Hub: Sanshin sealed mechanism, Spokes: Stainless 080 Guage, Tires Cyclepro Tri-sport 700 x 25 w/kevlar, Saddle: Selle Italia Super Turbo the 1985 catalog specs gold plated rails but mine are silver, Seat Post: SR alloy CTP-5, Handlebar Tape: Astral Italian padded. Sizes offered were 19, 21, 23, 25. The 1985 catalog shows colors offered were black/yellow, solid red, and a solid lavender or purple. However I remember a pink/yellow combination was also offered.
By the way, it s a Nishiki Tri-A model
Mr. K, Do you have the 1985 catalog, or a link to it. If you have it, is a team issue nishiki in it. I have one and would love to see any catalog specs, pics, info. about it. Thanks.
I ve got a Nishiki Ultra Tour. I don t really know much else about it. I bought it as a frameset so I don t know anything about any of the original components. The serial number doesn t make much sense to me but it is ED102795
Can someone tell me what that indicates. Year made. Anything.
Late 80s Sport just like BlankCrows. Serial number GD706959
Early . 70s Custom Sport with some sort of 80s mtb stem and bars. Serial number KS282494
Mid 70s Competition. Serial number KS346873
1985 Prestige. Serial number WE 03492
Originally Posted by Butterthebean
This one is perplexing. I know the two 1984 Seral and Cresta touring models did not have lo-rider mounts on the forks, so presumibly it is more modern. The decal scheme also does not match 1985. What is the tubing Can you post a pic of the Nishiki emblem on the head tube. That may help.
Originally Posted by Lamplight
I believe we discussed all these bikes previously, with the exception of the Sport. It is indeed a good match for BlankCrow s and appears to be almost exactly one calendar year more modern, if we assume the C D are the year indicators. The interersting thing is that he has two components dated to January 1987, yet the only years that I can find that used the series bar decals on the downtube logos were 1989 and 1990. Even if one of his was produced in late 1988 for a 1989 model year, the early 1987 components are a bit of a stretch. However, pending further info, my best guess is that Blank Crow has a 1989 model and you have a 1990 model.
here s a shot of the head tube decal
and here s one of the seat tube sticker showing the tubing
T-Mar, you can t see it on my 87 Custom Sport pics because there is not enough pixel information, but my 87 Custom Sport has the same downtube decal that says Sport Series. My derailers are 1987 as well.
The 1988 Nishikis did not have the series decals.
Here ya go T: 1978 Comp II that I just acquired. There s no tubing decal but it s pretty lightweight. Tange.
Last edited by jebensch; 03-02-08 at PM.
www.jessebenjamin.blogspot.com
here s a shot of the head tube decal.and here s one of the seat tube sticker showing the tubing
That head tube decal is circa 1980-1984. Based on the serial number and the other known formats, my guess would be 1984, but it s just a guess. If so, the features indicate the frame is higher than the known Seral and Cresta grand touring models. Nishiki did offer some uncataloged, high end racing models during this period, so perhaps this equivalent touring model. BTW, is there a Kawamura decal on the chainstays.
Yes, I know they didn t have it in 1988 or 1991, but I didn t think of of checking 1987 on the premise that they might have skipped a year. Thxs for pointing that out.
Originally Posted by jebennsch
I believe you have a 1979 or 1980 model, as the serial number indicates 1979 manufacture. Also, my 1978 catalog has that model listed as justed the Comp no II and it uses clips for fastening the rear brake cable housing to the top tube. The brand of tubing for the 1978 is not listed, but Tange would be my guess as Nishiki had a long history with them. If you remove the fork, there may be an identifying stamp on the steerer.
Last edited by T-Mar; 03-03-08 at PM.
That Comp II is a really beautiful bike. Nice acquisition. Looks like a big frame 60 plus cm. Lp
Thanks. I m very happy with it. I think it s a 62 though I haven t gotten out the tape.
Okay, I will try to do my part: I am the original owner of this poor neglected 1982 custom sport:
Diacompe Brakes: rear say 750 on one piece, 5583 on another; front type LC or O, it s scratched 23
Suntour Derailleurs have no marks that I could see; Suntour shifters
QUOTE T-Mar;6272596 BTW, is there a Kawamura decal on the chainstays.
No, but there is a decal saying Nishiki No. 1 and proud of it
I have a Nishiki Tri-A that I think is an 85. It has Shimano 600 components and came with the original pedals, which I have but replaced with platforms. I checked for the serial number and it looks as though the derailleur cable guide covers up part of it, unless I m look in the wrong place. I got 02.02. The. is the number that s covered, I can barely catch the edge of it. Here are some pics.
Here s one I got for 15 at a community rummage sale. Serial WG00603, so it s an 87.
Infinity Tange Tapered double butted Chrom Moly frame made by Kawamura.
Maillard front and rear hubs, front hub being high flanged. Stamped with 37 86, and 41 86. not original.
Maillard skewer on front wheel, unknown skewer on rear. not original.
Shimano SLR side pull caliper brakes with Shimano SLR hooded brake levers.
Shimano SIS Light Action shifters, indexed rear, friction front. Mounted on downtube.
Shimano Light Action rear derailleur, Shimano front derailleur.
Shimano 6 cog freewheel, twisted tooth.
Sugino VP 175mm crankset with 52/42 gearing.
MKS pedals, missing one plastic foot cage.
Mistral M13L front rim, 36 hole, hard anodized gray. not original.
MAVIC MA2 alloy rear rim, 36 spoke. not original.
Flipping bikes sure beats flipping burgers.
I ve got a hybride Nishiki, I changed alot of parts though because the ones on this where damaged, not sure whats origanal on it but I bought it used for 50 nice bike to ride anyway, I found no info on this whatsoeer, it s like it was never made. lol
1978 Superbe. Serial KH05848. All date codes 1977 or 1978. Tubing sticker for double butted.
Last edited by ga_mueller; 05-08-08 at PM.
As posted in it s own thread I have what I believe to be a Giant manufactured Nishiki Century, model year 1984
The serial on the drop-out is G0184. I believe everything on this bike is stock except the seat obviously.
Giant OCR3 w/ Ultegra, D/A, Chris King- Commuter/Road bike
03 Marin Mount Vision- Full Squish MTB
94 Bontrager Racelite- Fully Rigid MTB
My Nishiki International, purchased off CL a couple of months ago. It was advertised as a 1978, but according to the serial number KG 52378 it s a 1977.
The previous owner upgraded/changed a number of components, so I don t know what is original. The current configuration is:
Derailleurs: SunTour Cyclone, the front has a TD date stamp, the rear has a TH.
Rims: Araya F, Super Champion Competition Gentleman R
wf06192 could any one tell me anything about it.
Woodrow ---- free find. I d have to say you did mighty fine. Those Kawamura frames are really sweet and have a nice smooth responsive ride. Your International looks to be in fine shape too. Lp
I ve read this thread over and over and can t sort out serial
CG02664 C-canada got thatG-7 got that02664 is the th frame produced that year. But how do you know 90 s 80 s 70 s etcjust by components and styling I guess.
This bike is hanging in a pawnshop right now they want 100 CAD for it. Perfect conditionthe crank still has a big sticker on it.
I tried to take a couple sneaky photos with my camera but got busted and asked go leave. I did get one of the serial though
suntour index/friction shifters suntour derailuers
I want to buy it.. I love the paintit s Aqua and Pearl.
EDIT: I found this pic of the very same model on CL Montreal.
the one I am looking at though I would almost call mint.
Last edited by maddox1; 06-02-08 at PM.
I ve had this Nishiki Rally for a couple of years now, and I really enjoy the ride that may be because I have nothing to compare against, other than a couple of cheap department store MTBs.
Going by the serial number, CB 07104, this should be the 7104th frame in 1982. It s got Suntour stem shifters which I would love to change to brifters, if even possible. The derailleurs are Suntour Sprit in front and Honor in the rear. The brakes are all Diacompe. I have no info on what categories everything fits into The bike is good enough for me and hopefully my morning commute. I still would love to do indexed shifters though
Yes, to determine the decade, you go by components and livery. Not too many components have a 10 year life span. In this case, it is obviously 1987, on the basis of the paint scheme and decals. That plus, my wife has the the Canadian version of the 1977 International and it looks nothing like those pics.
wow you answered all my questions. my nishiki marina has G0181 stamped on the drop out. i really appreciate all of your research.
The frame to my Nishiki Prestige starts with KE, which would seem to indicate that it s an 85 E 5, yes., although if it s an 85 the K should be a W. Maybe this is one of those cases where the exception proves the rule--whatever the hell that means. Sigh. From the original components and tubing Tange 2 I d think 1985 should be right--certainly not 1975. It s a nice rider.
woodrow361, I believe your bike is a 1987 based on the serial number and the graphics.
The database has 6 samples of confirmed 1985/1986 models, all with a WExxxxx serial format. A Prestige would definitely be from that period.
There are a number of explanations as to why it starts with a KE, but they are all speculation. First there may have been a transition period, early in the year. Knowing your complete serial number would help. Secondly, Kawamura may have pre-stamped the W or K on the bottom brackets. Yours may have started in 1984, but got finished in 1985 or maybe a batch of older, pre-stamped bottom bracket turned up in 1985. We could work our way down to less probable situations like an employee being on sick leave or vacation, then coming back and not realizing the serial number format had changed.
The bottom line is that there could be numerous explanations and we ll probably never know which is the case. It seems you always find a couple of anomalies in every serial number format.
The complete serial number is WE07436--a fairly low number for the year apparently, so maybe T-Mar s transition-period-early-in-the-year theory is correct.
Speaking of the bottom line, my SN isn t all on one line as in all the photos on this thread that I ve seen. The WE07 is on a line above, with the 436 on a second line beneath it, thusly:
The complete serial number is WE07436--a fairly low number for the year apparently, so maybe T-Mar s transition-period-early-in-the-year theory is correct
Umm, maybe not. I have WE serial numbers lower than yours. BTW, I m assuming you meant KE07436.
The fact that it is written on two lines almost makes one think that the two numbers on the top line may be a further stratifier, possibly a month, fortnight or week indicator. However, I have W-serial numbers with the first two numbers higher than 12, so that would appear to rule out a month indicator. I also have cases with it above 26, so that rules out fortnight. However, I have nothing above 52, so the a week indicator is a possibility.
However, the assumption that the first two numbers are a week indicator would mean that there were further changes when when adopting the W-format, as I have several examples of C and K-format serial numbers with the first two numbers exceeding 52.
T-Mar, I d like to add the seventh example. I picked up a 1986 Prestige. Dating is based on the date codes on both Suntour derailers BK CB. The serial number is WE16 259. WE16 is on top over 259 in the center of the BB casing. It s a little rough looking. I d like to clean it up a bit, then I ll take pics and post.
The serial number seems a little strange, the 16,259th frame from 85 produced with a late 85 derailer and a early 86 derailer.
Last edited by roccobike; 06-18-08 at PM.
T-Mar, I m sorry, I ve made this confusing. The initial letter IS a W, not a K. I had it backwards in my initial post, where I said it was a K. The problem was a touch of dyslexia combined with my trying to carry the serial number from the bike shed to the keyboard in my leaky head instead of writing it down. To clarify once and for all: the SN is WE07436. Problem solved--the W indicates 85 or later, and the E indicates 85. Sorry to have muddied the waters unnecessarily.
Incidentally, thanks for your willingness to share all that you know about Japanese bikes of that era. My Nishiki and my Miyata Nine Twelve are my two favorite bikes, I think.
Well, at least it s another sample that contradicts the possibility of it being a month indicator. Even a week indicator would make it too early in 1985 to be a 1986. A fortnight indicator would put it into August, which makes a 1986 model possible, but still the frame would have to have hung around the factory for 1/2 year waiting for that derailleur.
The other consideration is that the serial number evidence indicates that some low end production had been moved to Giant, in Taiwan, as far back as 1980. We know this continued through 1985 and it would make sense that, over the intervening years, more models and volumes were sent to the more cost effective operations at Giant. It quite possbile that management forsaw the yen-shock of 1985 and had already offloaded much of the Nishiki production, leaving only the lower volume, high end and some mid-range models at Kawamura.
Or maybe my assumptions on the format is wrong. After all, it is only reverse engineering based on observation and analysis. It s meant to be a dynamic and is not cast in stone, though many members take it that way.
I picked up a Nishiki Regal last week and I can t find any info on these things.
full Dia-Compe side pull brakes
Has Norco scribbled on the chainstay.
Is it weird to see Suntour and Shimano on the same bike..
That should be a 1984 Canadian market model, designed by Norco. The Exage rear derailleur is too modern for it and it is an obvious replacement.
I friend of mine found this early Nishiki Rally at a yard sale. I tooks some pics and wrote down the derailer letter codes and the serial number. From the research I ve done, the Rally is usually the bare bones, initial entry level bike for Nishiki when that model was available as a road bike. So finding the cottered, steel crank on this bike was not a surprise. However the date codes on the Suntour Honor and Spirit sp derailers is a puzzle. The Suntour date codes are ZE rear and ZH front indicating this is a 1984 bike. I m really surprised to find a 1984 LBS brand with cottered cranks at that late date.
I can only come up with a few senerios, 1 this is a special model made for department stores 2 the derailers were replaced in 1984 but why both. 3 This is a Canadian model I doubt it 4 I m reading the date code chart incorrectly 5 Nishiki really did turn out this low end bike in 1984.
The serial number is located at the bottom of the seat tube, not the BB, it is ARYH 332012.
So now I ll be the grasshopper and wait for the T-Mar to educate me. As always very much appreciated. If someone else has any clues about this bike please let me know. Thanks for the info.
Well, the frame was made by Araya, not Giant or Kawamura. This is the first sample of an Araya made Nishiki that I ve seen. My 1981. 1982 and 1983 Canadian catalogs all show the Rally as the bottom end model but equipped with cotterless cranksets. You ve read the codes correctly, so it should be a 1983 or 1984 model, assuming the derailleurss are original. Beside the crankset the other other interesting thing are the brakes, which appear to be center-pull. The Rally had side ull as early as 1981, according to my literature. The 1983 model also went to cable tunnels on the top of the top tube, but this one still has the old stops under the tube. FWIW, my analyisis is a the bottom of the line Canadian model, but with extensive rebuilding. We haven t cracked the Araya codes yet, so the year is unknown. Which headbadge/decal does it have.
Last edited by T-Mar; 06-23-08 at AM.
I started a thread yesterday asking for any information about a Nishiki Katmandu, a hybrid/commuter style model with Exage LX/CX components. here. It was manufactured in Taiwan, and apparently originally sold or maybe later serviced from a bike shop in Whippany, NJ.
I found a serial number on the bottom bracket running around the bracket, not across it like the others I ve seen in this thread : M2D0002445
Just uploaded pictures to the other thread.
Last edited by paulbonner; 07-05-08 at PM.
We haven t cracked the Araya codes yet, so the year is unknown. Which headbadge/decal does it have.
Sorry T-Mar, my freind sold the bike right after I took these pics. It had a head badge, not a decal and it had a red background. Other than that, it s difficult for me to remember.
Here are some pics of my Nishiki Sport serial GE707062. Any info on my bike is greatly appreciated. The frame is 4130 CroMo, Araya rims with Joytec hubs, Shimano Light action deraillers with SIS shifters, Diacompe brakes and levers, Sugino VP crankset, Vetta seat. Thanks.
From T-Mar s original post, the CD11660 serial equates to a 1984 built for the Canadian market. T-Mar, where does this model reign in the NISHIKI hierarchy for that time period. Some specs that may help with a determination:
TANGE 900 CR-MO Double Butted Frame
DIA-COMPE G500 side pull brakes
Suntour Cyclone front deraileur
SUGINO RT 170mm cranks with 53/42 drillium chain wheels
I also have another exact bike in well used/worn shape with a serial number CD11727.
Does anyone have sales brochures of these from that time frame. Thanks.
Based on when I bought my Landau, I would put it a bit above the middle of the range. I posted a 1983 Nishiki catalogue in this thread.
I have a Nishiki backroad GZ799032 it has a megarange 34t rear set up don t know the year so if you can tell me thanks
sorry I did not have the picture there
My daughter has a Nishiki Century like the first two posted in this thread.
The BB has this stamped which I am not sure what it means:
Drive side drop out is stamped:
G 04 83 Giant made in April of 1983.
Last edited by beakgeek; 08-02-08 at PM.
i have a nishiki sebring that i bought from a garage sale for 15 dollars.
its a large bike, probably about 61 or 62 cm a guess
shimano front derailler this must have been replacement
if you can tell me anything about this i would greatly appreciate it from your info i suppose its an early 83 model built by giant i have this and an 82 centurion lemans 12 and im trying to decide which one to sell and which to keep.
You did real well on the price of the Nishiki. I paid way more than that for mine, same year same model. Mine is a soft beige metallic color. I assume yours is the same. As for which bike to keep, thats easy, which bike fits you better. Unless they are the same frame size, the same angles in each frame, the same top tube size, i.e. unless they are identical, one will fit you better and that s the one to keep.
I m not sure about the level of the LeMans that year, but I do know the Nishiki Sebring is an entry level model with a plain guage, Chromoly frame. I believe the Sebring falls between the Nishiki Sport and the Custom Sport in 1983. That makes it a nice entry level bike, but nothing special. If the LeMans is a butted or double butted chromoly frame, then it would be a better frame.
here is a link to some pics of the bike, sorry i have to link it but they are too big for bikeforums and i dont feel like parring them down.
Nishiki Olympic 10-speed - green w/ chrome fork bottoms - Serial KS234638 - looks like this mighta been one of their earlier bikes this thing a heavy steel tank.
Here s some shots and info on a Riviera I just bought today 9/2/08 for 140.
Set it up to ride and it felt great, comfortable over bumps, good speeds 12 speeds, about 22lbs. Just says Rivera no GT and has power shifters. Will go nice with my other bike and old Bottechia campy.
Oh Hi, new to this forum but ride every day. I m known as guitarman on video electronics forums like avscience.
Glad to join in here and thanks for all the info.
It s all relative. If you consider about 28lbs depending on actual frame size to be a tank, then it s a tank. However, this was typical of most Japanese, upper entry level models during the boom, FYI, it should be circa 1974. The link has expired. Do you have any other pics you could post.
Originally Posted by cigartrader
Set it up to ride and it felt great, comfortable over bumps, good speeds 12 speeds, about 22lbs. Just says Rivera no GT and has power shifters. Will go nice with my other bike and old Bottechia campy
Welcome aboard Tom. The bicycle is actualy a 1985 model manufactured in late 1984. Much like car manufacturers offering their new models in advance of the calendar year, bicycle manufacturers like to ensure the new models are the floor well before Christmas.
My bad I should have attached the image from the ad.
1985 matched the code on the suntour which is BB. Very good looks to be a good year for the tourer now to find some high presure high quality 27 tires. You think it s an ok fit to use 27 1 1/8 instead of 1 1/4 s.
No problem. However, if I was doing long distnce touring, with heavy loads, I would fit as wide a tire as possible.
i just bought a used nashiki. serial is KA04297. read your post in Nishiki Serial Number Database so i know it should be the 4,297th frame made in the u.s. but what s the A for in the KA. hope you can help. i just got it a couple of days ago. going to work on cleanup tomorrow. some of the decals are bad. but the crest on the front of the bike says NISHIKI and it s it s red and some other colors. it s out in the shed now and it s getting dark. tomorrow i ll take before and after pictures. it i actually get to the after. it might take a while to clean well, although it looks pretty good. i even rode it half a block today. was afraid to go farther because it only has one brake cable. on the front.
ok just re-read the post. apparently A in KA04297 means 1 so i m guessing 1981 USA frame number 04297. can i go to the head of the class.
Originally Posted by revelstone
i know it should be the 4,297th frame made in the u.s.. ok just re-read the post. apparently A in KA04297 means 1 so i m guessing 1981 USA frame number 04297. can i go to the head of the class.
Yes, it was made in 1981 but not made in the USA. The K indicates your fras me was intended for the US market, as opposed to the Canadian market, which got frames with serial numbers that started with a C. New evidence suggests that European market models may haveserial numbers that begin with E. All Nishiki models in my data base have been made in Asia, either Japan or Taiwan.
The serial on my Continental is CC 11466.
I just bought this Nishiki Sport. It reminded me of an International I had in the 70 s. It arrived, and it is no international, but it is fun to ride, and it fits well. It has two numbers on the BB. The first is pretty easy, based on the data here; G0685, a Giant made June, 1985. The second number 5516503, means nothing to me. It s relatively light, for a steel frame. I m gonna clean it up and enjoy it.
I am new here. I have a Nishiki Custom Sport, 12 speed, SN KB 07861 with W on bottom, Suntour AR derailleurs, Suguino cranks, side pull brakes with quick releases, says chrome moly on the down tube at the top and Japan at the bottom. I think this makes it an 82. Has quick release hub on front but not on back. Red w yellow pinstriping on the lugs that matches the manufacturer logo and model name on the frame. Does not have the Handcrafted by Kawamura on the frame. Every component on it appears to be alloy. The rims appear to be the original alloy rims. They are Araya 27 x 1 1/4 Japan. Seat post says Mory . . I put 27 x 1 1/4 tires on it and they look enormous. They are a cheap brand, I threw them on just so i could ride it. What would be a good tire for this bike. I like riding it and it seems to fit me, maybe a little small, haven t measured the frame yet. The original tires were so disintegrated I couldn t read the size on them, they might have been 1 1/8. It rides very rough on rough roads and the steering is very quick, too quick for my taste. I don t care too much about comfort I want the least amount of roling resistance from the tires. From other posts I gather this is not a butted frame. I also haven t weighed it yet. One post er thought this is a pretty nice entry level bike and i agree. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.
It was manufactured in 1982 and the serial number is very low, making a 1982 model a safe bet. Original tires would have been 27 x 1-1/4. I m wondering if the tires looked huge just because of the current trend of 700C tires in sub 1 widths. You can get 27 x 1-1/8 and 27 x 1 but they are getting harder to find, unless you live in a big city with a major LBS local bicycle shop or are willing go the mail order route. Personally, for bicycles such as this, I use the Kenda 27 x 1-1/4. They are availble in gum wall and are a pretty representaion of the orignal tires. I believe they are carried in Wal-Mart in the US. BTW. welcom to the forum. Thank-you for contributing.
thanks for the info. I guess I have only run 1 1/8 and 1 tires before so they look out sized to me. Would the smaller tires provide less rolling resistance and will they mount on these rims OK. Wal-Mart by be only has Bell tires and they are completely useless, thats whats on it now. I live in Los Angeles and also don t mind mail order as long as I have a trusted recommendation. May I also ask what seat is currently considered good as this one is fairly worked. I used to ride a 60 s vintage aluminum reynolds 531 framed Dawes on tubular tires with top of the line mid 70 s Campy all around about 20 years ago and am just getting back into riding. Thanks so much for the help.
Last edited by telekidd; 09-19-08 at AM.
I am new here. i have a nishiki custom sport SN KB 07861 with W on bottom, suntour AR derailleurs, suguino cranks, side pull brakes with quick releases, says chrome moly on the down tube at the top and japan at the bottom. I think this makes it an 82. Red w gold or yellow pinstriping. does not have the handcrafted by kawamura on it. the rims appear to be the original alloy rims. They are araya SP. 27x11/4 japan. seat tube says mory . . i put 27x1/14 tires on it and they look enormous. They are a cheap brand, i threw them on just so i could ride it. what would be an excellent tire for this bike. I like riding it and it seems to fit me, haven t measured the frame yet. the original tires were so disintegrated i couldn t read the size on them. i didn t realize this bike was as cool as it was until i researched it and found this site. seems to be a lot of knowledgable cyclists here. any help would be appreciated, thanks.
thanks T-Mar for clearing that up for me. i like knowing a little history of the bike. i am still working on cleaning in up. i still need a new front tire and new tape for the handle bars. and i have to find a tool to take apart the bottom bracket. actually one to get the cranks off so i can lube the bottom bracket. no telling when or if it s ever been lubed since leaving Asia. but i ride it almost every day. the only complaint is i m sure it s too big for me. when i stand over the top bar flat footed, well, it aint something i want to do more than 2 seconds. the seat is lowered as far as it will go. when i pedal my legs never get quite straight, and i dont think they should. and i wish i could raise the stem a bit. i m not racing it i m riding it. all that being said, i love this bike and love riding it. big change from my old mountain bike.
Yes, it sounds a bit big. Typically, you should have some clearance when straddling the crossbar. Saddle height should be adjusted so that the leg is just straight when the pedal is at the bottom it s stroke and your heel is on the pedal. That way, the proper knee bend will result when you place the ball of foot over the pedal spindle. Please note that these are basic, ballpark, set-up instructions.
You should be able to adjust the height of the stem. At the top of the stem s elbow there will be a bolt, either a nexagonal recess 6mm most common or a protruding hexagonal head 1/2 or 13mm most common. Loosen the bolt with the proper wrench. Pull up on the stem with a twisting motion, If it does not budge, loosen the bolt a bit further, so that it protrudes about 1/4 above the stem. Sharply wrap the end of the bolt with a rubber mallet. This will drive the bolt down and loosen the wedge at the end of the bolt. Now pull the stem out. About 2 from the bottom of the stem will be a set of hash lines. These are the minimum insertion marks and the stem should always be inserted far enough to hide these marks. Before you insert the stem, apply grease to prevent galvanic reaction of the aluminum with the steel dteering tube of the fork.
mine: 198. Tri A Triathlon Series, bought as a frameset, finally finished putting it together on monday. i think the sante front derailer is original to the bike, but i m not entirely sure. everything else is new or from the spare parts bin. 105 shifters are NOS. serial number WG 05531. i actually need to give it a good cleaning again.
my girlfriend s: 198. Olympic 12 single speed. don t know too much about this bike, since she bought it used and already converted, but she loves it and that s what s important. bars are getting swapped out for some mustache bars, san marco saddle going away in return for a brooks. dropouts stamped suntour. downtube, just above the bottom bracket, has a Japan decal. bottom bracket shell is a bit rusty, so i couldn t make out the first two letters in the serial number, but it looks like KG 22227. sorry for the quick and dirty pictures. i can get more detailed shots if need be.
eidt: so it looks like my nishiki is a 1987 USA model, and the lady s bike is a 1977 USA model. does 1977 sound about right for that Olympic.
Last edited by metaljim; 09-20-08 at PM.
I have a Nishiki frame that does not fit the serial number conventions.
It is an Alan Record Carbino badged as a Nishiki-Alan. The bottom bracket is an Alan casting, so I expect the serial number is an Alan number. The first line reads: 238662, and the second line reads: 3o6CX59. I believe the frame was marketed in 1986, so the 6 in the second set of numbers may be the year. The 59 is my frame size.
Do you know anything about this frame. Was it offered as a complete bike. I purchased mine as an NOS frame, from eBay, still in the original Derby shipping box. It is now built up with a mid to late 80s NOS Superbe Pro group.
I will appreciate anything you, or anyone else, can tell me about the frame.
While the Tri-A was manufactured in 1987, it is a 1988 model on the basis of the components. The 1987 model used 600EX while the 1988 used Sante. It s not unusual for manufacturers to be building the models for the new year, 3-4 months in advance. After all, they want the bicycles in the stores for the Christmas season and it can take a while to get them from Japan, through the national distribution system and into the LBS.
As for the Olympic 12, I don t think it 1977/1978. Unfortunately, it has been changed so much that we can t use components for reference, However, the 1978 Olympic 12 had chrome fork tips. It also did not have bottle bosses, which yours appears to have. And is that a integral derailleur hanger on the rear dropout. If so, the 1978 literature shows the Olympic 12 with a claw mouted rear derailleur. Finally, the 1978 would typically have badges as opposed to decals on the head tube. Overall, I d have to say that this model is more representative of the early 1980s. Might the serial number be KCxxxxxx.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally Posted by bad wrench
Well, the reason it doesn t fit any of the serial number formats is because it was made by Alan, not Kawamura or Giant. In the 1980s, there were several uncatalogued, high end models manufactured in Italy with Columbus tubing. These models were apparently developed after Nishiki failed to crack the high end market with Japanese bicycles. Your model was extension of that policy.
As you surmised. it was a 1986 model. It was available as a bare frame for 950 US, or built up with Dura-Ace 2150 or Super record 2550. The tubes were made by TVT. Weight for a 56cm frame was 3.10lbs and 1.15 lbs for the fork. It was fairly typical of era carbon frames, having a reputation for a very comfortable ride but being a bit on the flexy side. Nishiki realized this and targeted it at the smaller, lighter racer or serious endurance cyclist.
And here is its serial number:
The first picture was taken days before I wrecked it in February 08, bending the fork and buckling the down tube just behind the head tube.
But I thought I would share anyway. Using the decoder ring, I read KC21076 as the 21,076th unit built by Kawamura for the U.S. market in 1983. I think I bought it new in 1984 for about 250.
Last edited by Doohickie; 09-22-08 at PM.
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi However, it s never a good idea to overgeneralize.
paid 25 still working on it. don t know if i want to go with bull horns or put the original drops back on it. not real happy the bars from the mountain bike. actually less comfortable than the original drops. has one new rear tire and two new thorn proof inner tubes with slime. tires are 32-630. don t know what s original or an add-on after it left the factory.
Here is my later Derby-built Nishiki, from probably around 2000 or 2001 just before the brand died in the U.S. Serial number is R935040900.
If you re only looking for Kawamura-built Nishikis, my apologies.
I picked up a chain skipping problem on this bike with the smallest sprocket. Is there an adjustment on the suntour to tighten the tension. It looks like there might be, there s a cover over the spring with a screw on it. It looks like maybe you and spin it to tighten the chain up.
Chain skipping is not normally due to chain tension.
1. Ensure the derailleur s outward travel screw is properly set so that the jockey pulley is lined up with the cog.
2. Ensure it is not a stiff chain link. Mariginally stiff links will be noticeable on the smallest cog because the chain wraps tighter around it. Put the bicycle in a stand and pedal slowly. Place a mark on the skipping link. If it always skips on the same link, grab the chain on both sides of the offending link and flex the chain lateraly to loosen the link.
3. Ensure it not a damaged or worn cog. Lots of owners were intimidated by derailleurs, but wanted to own one to be in fashion. They would ride the bicycle without changing gears, usually in the small cog. Consequently this cog received all the wear. When a new chain is installed it works properly on the other, unworn cogs, but skips on the worn, small cog. If it skips on the small cog in both the large and small chainrings, it is not chain tension.
4. I haven t taken apart a SunTour derailleur of that era to determine if the cage tension can be adjusted. It can be done with their earlier derailleurs. However, it is far easier and faster to remove links from the chain than to disassemble and reassemble a derailleur.
FYI, I don t know if I mentioned this before but your Riviera is actaully a 1985 model that was built in 1984.
Looking at cog as the wheel is spinning I see it wobbling. Took the wheel off and it s a little on the loose side. Can t seem to tighten it and I m not sure if it s the inner ring that spins tight counter clock wise or this larger outer ring on the last cog that doesn t seem to budge. This bike wasn t used much the break pads are original with no wear, the cog looks new also.
Cog wobble is normally associated with loose freewheel bearings, poor threading on the hub or freewheel body or loose or damaged cogs. If all the cogs appear to wobble, it is not the source of your problem. If only the small cog wobbles, it probably is the problem. if the cog is loose it sounds like it is missing a spacer or has the incorrect spcer. What is the make and model of the freewheel.
The hub says sansai sealed system, all the sprockets did wobble together. I was able to tighten it better with the ring on the outside of the last sprocket. It s better but not perfect. I took some pictures of the suntour. Maybe if I remove the spacer that centers the Axel to the rear down tubes it might help. Not sure if it s needed anyway.
On the suntour it looks like the rounded gray colored item might be for adding tension.
Also it looks like I could ad a third sprocket to the sugino crank if there s room, it s al least drilled for it.
Yey. success. Removing the spacer item that pushes the rear wheel forward fixed the skipping. Just that small amount more tension did it. If I need to install the spacer it looks like removing just one link in the chain would do it.
Last edited by cigartrader; 10-03-08 at PM.
This came through the store for work:
You know it s going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
If it s still around, can you verify that it is GC919442 and not CG919422. The latter would be likely, based on the samples in my database.
I have a Nishiki backroads and the serial number starts with a GZ I know that it is a gaint made but I have not seen any other post with that combo on this site or any other site, I would love to date it or be close to dating it got any Ideals
Originally Posted by tommy gayle
Circa 1992-1995, upper entry level ATB. Posting pics would allow us narrow it down. Baring that, your best bet would be to verify the two letter date codes on the back of the major components against the info on the components page of the Vintage-Trek website.
I never have got the picture to go on here like I wanted to
Sorry, I goofed. When going back though my literature, I did not seethe Backroads listed in 1991, so I erronenously assumed it was no earlier than 1992. However, The ATB specs were not on the back cover with the rest, but on the inside of the back cover. Regardless, the chainstay mounted U-brake puts this very late 1980s. Based on the decals and color scheme, I would say a 1988 model. I believe that member Roccobike has a 1988 catalog, so if you PM him, he should be able to confirm.
BTW, future photos of bicycles should be taken from the drive side so that the crankset spider and derailleurs are plainly visible. This is a big aid in identifying models and years.
I have been out making pictures of the Bike and have several pictures that might help
but I don t know how to put them on here any suggestions and I can pm you if you would like
let me know or you can pm me and I will send them to you or to Roccobike
You can post pics here by clicking on Go Advanced buttom under the reply box. This will open up another screen with a Manage Attchments button. Click on that and upload or link to a URL. Note that uploaded pics must be under 100k. Or just post on your MSNusers account.
I don t know if further pics will help much more, but they can t hurt. We should be able to eliminate 1987 and 1989 on the basis of the decal style and I don t think the U-brakes went beyond that period. The only possibility would be if the rear brake was actually a SunTour Roller-Cam as opposed to a Shimano U-brake. Then it could be a 1986.
here are the img that I have again thanks for your help
Regardless, the chainstay mounted U-brake puts this very late 1980s. Based on the decals and color scheme, I would say a 1988 model. I believe that member Roccobike has a 1988 catalog, so if you PM him, he should be able to confirm.
As usual, T-Mar is right on. Tommy, from the info I have, that is a 1988 Backroads and that is the original, yellow, fork. Your bike has chromoly main tubes not butted, and fork. Stays are probably hi-ten. Original equipment was Suntour 18 speed index shifters. Also, it appears someone replaced the rims.
The Backroads was in the middle of the Nishiki line-up, 4th from the top of six. IMHO it was quite a bit nicer than the Pueblo, the next bike down which had a hi-ten frame and 15 speed. Hope that helps.
thanks for the info and the reply
that helps I have been trying to get information on the bike
Double checked last night; GC919442 it is.
Late 80s 6 speed Exage comps w/Biopace, if that helps.
Originally Posted by euronisdey
Thank you. Four F-codes from Finland then.
I also have two Nishikis in Finland, white one I got today. Both of them has F-code. Orange one is Nishiki Triathlon 86F00919 and white one is Nishiki Road Master 87F11132.
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thank-you for posting the serial numbers and pictures. This helps to confirm a unique serial number format for Nishiki s from Finland.
Do your bicycles also have Designed by Nishiki decals on the chainstay. And a Japan decal on the bottom of the seat tube.
Also do you know what company imported and distributed these bicycles in Finland.
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Yes and Yes Does those decals tell that frames are build by Kawamura or what.
I guess Raul Hellberg Ltd has imported those to Finland. Raul Hellberg imports Nishikis also nowadays in Finland, or exactly Raul Hellberg assembles finnish Nishiki cycles in Emäsalo, in south part of Finland, and so it has long tradition with Nishiki.
. . . Does those decals tell that frames are build by Kawamura or what.
Thanks for posting more pictures and the information about the importer to Finland.
Your question about Kawamura is what I am trying to find out. I assume that the frames were built by Kawamura but I do not know for sure. Some one needs to compare the Nishiki/Kawamura frames with serial numbers that start with E to the Finland frames.
The serial numbers that start with E for Europe. seem most common in the Netherlands and Sweden.
Nishiki s in Denmark have another serial number format to conform with Danish law. In Denmark the Nishiki Importers were: Taarnby A/s and Nordisk Cykelfabrik A/S.
Last edited by Hummer; 03-18-15 at AM.
Importer Raul Hellberg states next in their short history here in finnish: Nishikin 45 vuotta Nishiki polkupyörät
Kawamura Cycle ryhtyi 1970-luvun puolivälissä tuomaan pyöriä Eurooppaan; ensimmäisenä Nishiki lähti Hollannin markkinoille vuonna 1975 ja sen jälkeen Saksaan. Pohjoismaista ensimmäiset pyörät tuotiin Ruotsiin vuonna 1979 Suomeen Nishikit rantautuivat vuonna 1981 Raul Hellberg Oy:n ansiosta. Viimeiset Japanissa valmistetut Nishikit tuotiin Eurooppaan 1990-luvun alkupuolella.
Which is in english: Kawamura Cycle started to import cycles to Europe in the middle of 70. At first to Netherlands in 1975 and then to Germany. Sweden in a northern Europe received first Nishikis in 1979 and Finland in 1981 thanks to Raul Hellberg. Last Japan made Nishikis imported to Europe in beginning of 90.
This is, Raul Hellberg has imported all Japan made Nishikis in Finland, I strongly trust it.
that is a great piece of historical information.
Hey guys can you help me identify this roadie if it s a Nishiki roadie. The serial number is KC101317. Thanks
P.S. There were 3 to 4 different layers of paint on it and the decals have been removed so I really can t tell
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Here is my recent thrift store find. It is a Nishiki Pro 1977. The serial number appears to be NP7230030. Any other info would be greatly appreciated. a rel nofollow href 443694 d 1428424264 title Name: nishiki serial.jpg
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Last edited by TheVintage; 04-07-15 at AM.
Originally Posted by TheVintage
Hello and welcome to the forums. Some of these guys are smart but not that smart. How about some more pics and info on the bike. What kind of components are on it, is there a tubing decal.
Bianchis 87 Sport SX, 90 Proto, 90 Campione del Fausto Giamondi Specialisma Italiano Mundo, 91 Boarala cross, 93 Project 3, 86 Volpe, 97 Ti Megatube,, 90 something Vento 603,
Others but still loved,; 80 RIGI, 80 Batavus Professional, 87 Cornelo, 09 Motobecane SOLD, . . Jane Doe still on the drawing board, 90ish Haro Escape
I want to thank the original poster of this thread for his work on this.
I have a Nishiki Custom Sport from the early 1970s.
According to the chart my father s bike, now mine, was made in USA prior to 1975 with the serial number KS274060.
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Last edited by kRaSh79; 04-07-15 at PM.
Here are more pics of what I think is a 1977 Nishiki Pro. It appears to be Italian. The serial number is NP7230030
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Last edited by TheVintage; 04-07-15 at PM.
Originally Posted by joshua4594
Hey guys can you help me identify this roadie if it s a Nishiki roadie. The serial number is KC101317.
are you sure about the serial number. I cannot match this frame to any Nishiki from 1983 or 1984.
. . . It appears to be Italian. . . .
This model of Nishiki was written about in Bicycling Magazine Aug 1976.
From what I have read this model was ordered from Nishiki as a frameset only. Wheels and components where added by the customer or the local bike shop. Nishiki began this model in 1976.
Thanks for responding. I m not sure but as far as my father remembers, it s a Nishiki. Not sure though cause by the sound of him saying that it is, is doubtful. Are there no model similar to the bike s build.
Last edited by joshua4594; 04-08-15 at AM.
. . . Are there no model similar to the bike s build.
Are you bsure about the serial number. The serial number that you gave indicates that the frame was made in 1983. The model year of nishiki would be 1983 or 1984. I could not match your frame to anything from those years.
If the serial number is wrong then the frame could be from some other year.
Last edited by Hummer; 04-08-15 at PM.
Serial number tells you the year, that s all. Bike serial numbers are not like car VIN numbers. Most bike serial numbers don t even tell you the year. The parts on the bike tells you a lot more.
I own the very same bike. have never seen another one like it pics and more info I will add soon as shogun700 prestige im new to this site so will add info tomorrow just now found time to post info. w90020676 is stamped on underside of bottom bracket and original shop sticker says metro cycle sport white planes new York. its a prestige tange 1 4130 a rel nofollow href 448989 d 1430704622 title Name: 100913_163648.jpg
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Last edited by camdogg78; 05-03-15 at PM.
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Size: 86.0 KB Serial-number.jpgI really appreciate this thread and thought I d post a few photos of my old Nishiki serial KS175349. I purchased it in the fall of 1972 and used it as a commuter bike around the U of W campus. Not ridden much since then. Suntour derailleurs -- Compe V on the front and GT 4532 on the rear. Sugino crank set. Diacompe brakes. Only thing ever replaced was the tires and brake pads. I ll see if I can post a couple of pictures of it. Didn t figure out how to post a picture. Will try later, maybe. Duh. Got it.
Last edited by OldXrider; 04-24-15 at AM.
I have a line on a red Richard Cunningham designed Nishiki cascade. It s Tange 4130 Cro-Mo, made in Taiwan. Serial number is W90023078 which doesn t seem to fit into the serial number chart on this thread. Anyone know what year this is. An indication on what I should offer the guy. It s in okay but not GREAT condition.
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This Nishiki Century was donated to our church s Bicycle Ministry. I worked on it to prepare it for a new home. It s in great shape only needing some minor adjustments, a chain lube and air in the tires. The serial number is CA80.604. There appears to be a character between 0 and 6, but it was not distinguishable and may just be a punch miss. Also on the bottom bracket housing was BK12 but this was not next to the serial number. The rims are alloy and it has index shifting. From literature and decals I was able to determine this is a 1988 model. No doubt about it, it s a perfect match. The color is called Gloss Cobalt Blue. I checked the stays and dropouts, there was no Giant number configuration visible so I m guessing this was not manufactured by Giant. Note the vintage mileage computer on the right fork.
I picked up this Nishiki Olympic 12 several years ago. It s a little too small for me so I just completed a rebuild and flipped it. It s a 1980 Olympic 12 that is almost all original. The saddle is not and the tires have been changed. Also, the original wheels were a coated steel. They were in very good condition, but they re not alloy. I had a set of alloy wheels just waiting for a home so I decided to swap them and put them on the Nishiki. The bike must have lost at least one pound due to that change.
Otherwise this is an original bike. The serial number is KI 12158
Nice bike, roccobike. I always liked the Nishikis with the faux Nervex lugs because Nervex were the top lightweight lug when I first got into cycling. Nothing wrong with upgrading to alloy rims, although I would have gone to Presta valves instead of those car-type Schraeder valves. I d also replace that mattress roadster saddle with anything more appropriate and get rid of the safety levers and pie-plate spoke guard.
i have this bike in a dark blue have you replaced the shifting cables and brake cables on it yet.
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Just received Nishiki Cresta frame off ebay, serial number reads KC21469, so it would be 83. .
other than that i have no clue
this will be my first build. any help would be great
I have just rescued a decrepit and rusty Repco/Nishiki Victory Tri-A 12-speed from a roadside garbage collection. Infinity CR-MO Tapered Double Butted Tubing Tange frame. 700c Araya rims. Under the bottom bracket is a serial number K8N5419. I still can t figure out the year. 1990. 1988. It is now a restoration project.
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Bicycle Swap Meet, Sunday 21-FEB-2016, Dudley, MA Did you know bicycles can actually be ridden in street clothes.
Centurion is a brand of bicycles created in 1969 by Mitchell Mitch M. Weiner and Junya Cozy Yamakoshi, 1 who co-founded Western States Import Co. WSI in.
- Nishiki is a brand of bicycles designed, specified, marketed and distributed by West Coast Cycle in the United States, initially manufactured by Kawamura Cycle Co. in.
- As some you may be aware, I have been collecting Nishiki data for several years in an attempt to more accurately determine their age and create a.
- WELCOME TO THE BICYCLE MUSEUM. Bicycles are wonderfully simple, eloquent and efficient machines. A few of the bikes were purchased by me, or for me, new.
- While dating some Centurion models for a forum member, I noticed what I believe to be a series sequence in the format. Based on this, I was able to.
