chainercygnus

When I got my Peugeot the other day, I ended up with 2 other bikes, a Schwinn Link and this Sekai.



I know nothing about the brand (never heard of it before seeing this bike), so I would love some assistance in seeing if this frame is worth putting nicer parts on.

Here's a link to a non-resized version of the image if needed. https://i.imgur.com/ra882XH.jpg

wrk101

No its not worth putting better parts on. Sekai is just another of a long list of asian brands. Like most of them, they made everything from basic to really good. This is on the basic end.

Vintage MTBs get very little respect anyway. The good news you can often find top of the line vintage models at reasonable/low costs. No need to play with the basic ones.

T-Mar

I concur. The subject bicycle is late 1980s Sekai Mountaineer. It is entry level, as evidenced by the nutted hubs, steel crankset and claw mounting for the rear derailleur. The components level and lack of tubing decal points to frame made of a hi-tensile steel.|This is supported by the fact that the equivalent Mountainneer models issued under the Norco brand, were hi-tensile steel.

Norco had purchased Sekai from the Velocipede Company in the early 1980s. Velocipede Company was a Seattlle based bicycle shop that expanded into the mail order and wholesale business. The Sekai brand had been created in 1971, with the bicycles being sourced from various Japanese contract builders via the Shin-Wa trading company.

I would appreciate the serial number for my database.TIA.

chainercygnus

I assume that means it's probably not even worth putting tubes in and trying to sell?

I will see if I can grab that for you tonight when I get home from work.

chainercygnus

T-Mar, the serial appears to be F3116268. I have a picture here as well.

T-Mar

Thxs for the S/N. It was manufactured by Fairly of Taiwan, in November of a year ending in 3. That would make it either a 1984 or 1994 model. Some of the components look 84-ish but that is quite early for a uni-crown fork. For instance, the Norco Mountaineer didn't get this fork until 1987. However, Norco discontinued the Sekai brand in 1990, so it shouldn't be a 1994 model. Despite the fact that the 3 is a relatively sharp impression, I'm wondering if it might not be an partial 8, which would make it a 1989 model. It does look very similar to the Canadian market 1989 Nishiki Carbiou, which was also designed by Norco.

chainercygnus

Thanks for the information, kinda cool to know the potential history of the bike. I don't think the 3 is a partial 8, primarily because this was a loaner bike at my work for 4 years and came from our local bike Co-Op and was made functional by an employee, so my guess is there's a lot of mismatched parts. But that doesn't discount it still being a partial 8, just my gut based on the little history of the bike itself that I do know.

zukahn1 

I would say it is a 88/89 based on the kinda swagged two part silver and black seat post which was only made for a couple of years 87-89.

wrk101

No your original question is whether it's worth putting better parts on so my answer was no.

I pick up used tubes for $1 or less, so if that's all it needs to sell, go for it.

Myself if I was given that bike I would donate it to the co op. There they have donated (free) parts to rebuild it and volunteer mechanics. They would do the very basics and sell it for $40. Myself, I do a more complete job and don't have free mechanics and free parts to put on it. So I'd probably at best break even on it. Even though I would sell it for more than the co op,I would probably put new tires, chain, freewheel, cables and housings, rebuild or replace BB, rebuild wheel hubs, etc. so I'd have a lot more time and money into it.

I've donated at least 40 bikes this year about half about this level and half one step above it.

As far as buying a group of bikes as a package deal I do that a lot. Many times the lesser bikes get donated on the way home. No need to add to my cluttered workshop.

Hummer

I would suggest that your serial number is F8116268. The "8" was not struck correctly.

Here is a 1988 Norco Mountaineer with the same misstruck serial number.



Your mountaineer is a 1989 model year based on the graphics. I have seen 1989 Norco Mountaineers and the frame looks identical. The Norco has a different stem.

Sekai

Sakai Bike serial number M5B04526

Hi I just bought an older Sakai bike. The owner thought it might be a "custom made" due to the very large size. I'm 6'4 and have trouble getting on it. I saw you have a database I included the serial number. What do you think of this Sakai? Any information would be helpful.

T-Mar

Sakai was a house brand for Bloor Cycle of Toronto, so I assume you are Canadian and probably from the GTA? There is no connection to the Sekai brand. Your bicycle was manufactured by Miki of Japan in early 1985, so it is a 1985 model. You haven't provided a photo of the entire bicycle but based on the fork crown it would appear to be an ATB. Based on the colour, fork and pedals, it would appear to be a Sakai Landmaster.

It's highly unlikely that Bloor Cycle would offer a custom version of the Landmaster or any other Sakai model. What size is the frame, measured along the seat tube from the centre of the bottom bracket shell to the top of the seat lug? Please provide a photo of the full bicycle, taken from the drive side.

Photo assist...

spudly

Hi T-Mar. I recently acquired a nice circa 1981 Sekai Professional, serial number MI-17566. Thanks for keeping records!