Japanese bike fit and finish?
 

Ok of all the major mass produced Japanese brands from the 70s and 80s, not counting custom makers , which brand had the best fit and finish?

Fuji. I worked in a shop in the '80's and we had Schwinn, Panasonic and Fuji from Japan. I can't say I know Miyata, however, the Fiji bikes always were done well and had beautiful paint jobs.

The LBS where I worked also carried Fuji but I've always considered Miyata to be the best of the 1980s' mass volume manufacturers (world-wide).

Interesting question. Am I correct to interpret finish to be decals and paint? And fit to be frame alignment, proper reaming and facing, etc?
So fit and finish ignores component specifications?

Whichever one fits you best and allows you to finish your rides.

The yellow enamel paint on my 1971 Nishiki was sloppy to the point that the factory put silver-colored decals over the chrome-to-paint junction on the fork blades. By 1973 Kawamura was turning out far better-looking frames.

IMHO, its a tie between Miyata and National (Panasonic).

The finish work on my 1987 Schwinn Prologue (made by Panasonic) is outstanding.

Panasonic and Miyata.

You need to pick up this book: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...n-japan-2.html

-Kurt

I never had one but an old team mate rode a high end Lotus that was pretty nice.

Agreed highly. Panasonic and Miyata were hard to beat as far as Japanese bikes went. I also tend to like Bridgestones in the fit and finish department a lot.

For 70s and 80s- Panasonic and Miyata.
Panasonic for much(most?) of that and Miyata for about 82 thru the end of the decade.

But all the brands had a range of quality depending on price point, so obviously all have lower level fit and finish options when compared to higher end options from other brands.

For me, Panasonic and Miyata made some iconic looking frames in the mid to late 80s. And every one ive seen or owned was finished well.



Flipside- what brands from the same period had ***mpressive fit and finish on higher level frames?
I've read many Raleigh frames were wonky and seemingly held together with paint in some places. Same for some of the Italian brands, though those were lower sales volume.
For me- Schwinn Tenax frames from the late 80s are ***mpressive for how beloved they are. I own 2 different models and both have very plain lugs and pretty hacked together rear dropouts.
But they are comfortable so I guess they got the fit- at least it's half right!



EDITED- why is u-n-i removed from my post? How is that something inappropriate?

You are correct

I have a high end Lotus. It's pretty nice.

Edit: I also have a low-mid level Lotus as well, a Unique. It's a quality, well constructed bike also. :D

I think they were all very good by the late 70s and into the 80s. The LBS where I worked had Univega (Miyata built), Bridgestone and Fuji. They all seemed about the same: nicely made with good finishes.

Some bike boom era (early 70s) Japanese bikes could be pretty iffy. That was before my time, but I worked on plenty of them a few years later on.

Panasonic’s I have had were all great.

Have had two Miyata 710’s. I think they were ‘83 and ‘87. Both rode great but the paint on the ‘83 was not good. 87 was in a completely different league in terms of finish.

My wife and I bought 2 Fuji S-10 S in 1972. The paint was great, the decals - not so much. My wife still has her bike (paint is blue over silver) and when it is out in the sun it glows.

Honorable mention for my mid 1970s Sekai Professional 4000. Incredible lug work. Wrap around stays. Chrome under paint. I believe it was made by Miki.



https://live.staticflickr.com/801/41...50a1960e_k.jpg
1976 Sekai Professional by wrk101, on Flickr


https://live.staticflickr.com/875/27...34e64f8f_k.jpg
1976 Sekai Professional by wrk101, on Flickr

I just picked up an '86-ish Maruishi Professional, and the lug-work is just gorgeous. Brand stamped into the stay caps, kangaroo stamps on the fork crown, painted gold by hand. It's finished in a slightly creamy pearl white that was apparently a Lexus exterior color. Just yummy to look at.