VintageAl

Thanks.

No problem.

mturunov

Hi there! Recently bought a road bike Nishiki Arrow Speed. Serial number is 86F00965. Any thoughts when and to which market it was made?​​​​

Hummer

This is consistent with Nishikis for Finland. Raul Hellberg Ltd imported those to Finland.

zukahn1 

The Arrow Speed was an international model from 85-87.

Sergio Amezcua

[QUOTE=brandenjs;6206144]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.

Que tal amigos, los saludo con gusto desde Nayarit México, hace unos 5 años que tengo mi bicicleta, el anterior dueño la trajo de Phoenix Arizona, la compre por $75 dólares y en verdad que no la pensé dos veces, ya que su estado es de lujo,Había encontrado poca información hacer a de su año, hasta hoy que ingrese a este foro me he familiarizado con diferentes modelos. Les dejo el numero de serie, espero me puedan ayudar, se los agradecería mucho, CP715586

l8r_g8r

Howdy all,

I love this Nishiki thread and got an interesting OfferUp find to share. Here is a Nishiki Saga with serial number reading DS80 901737. Couldn't grab a clear pic of it as the numbers are barely visible. When I got it, the tires, brakes, seat and seatpost were all definitely swapped. I've further frankenstein'd it by swapping out the bars + levers, stem + converter, and chainrings (Sakae Ovaltech) which were worn. Still some work left to do (evening out those fenders), but rolls around like a truck for now. Oops, will get images up once I get my post count going!

T-Mar

Your Saga is a 1989 model manufactured by Dodsun of Taiwan in September 1988.

T-Mar

Bienvenido a los foros. Creo que su número de serie puede ser GP715587. Eso indicaría que fue fabricado durante las semanas 31-32 de 1987 por Giant de Taiwán, un conocido fabricante de bicicletas Nishiki durante esta época. La foto indica que es un Nishiki Colorado de 1987.

tonyhyunjinkim

Just picked up a bike. Serial number says WE15
221

its a nishiki international
anything special?
if it’s 15 doesn’t that mean it’s the 15th bike made? Not too far from first haha

T-Mar

Welcome to the forums. What you have should be a 1985 Nishiki International. It's a decent lower mid-range model but nothing special.

tonyhyunjinkim

thank you!ah my first road bike. Just road around the city. My thighs are on fire but so fun!

RetroBikeMaiden

Having trouble posting photos, maybe because I am a new user? My bike looks like a Nashiki Professional O.N.P. in champagne color.

There is a cutout on bottom bracket that looks like four flower petals and serial number is in three parts around it:

NP7X4 W 0162

Any ideas?

Eric F 

The cutouts, the color, and the "NP" indicate that you have an ONP. Very nice! I love mine.

This might interest you...
https://i.imgur.com/CfSfa6o.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yS9Arkg.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FfVVM8a.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8onQeXc.jpg

It seems that the earlier ONP models were all the champagne color. Some of the later ones have been seen in a few different colors, and some have an N-shaped BB cutout.

Here's a couple of examples of ONP serial numbers...




This is my recent rebuild project...https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...d-project.html

RetroBikeMaiden

Eric, thank you so much for all that info!! Do you have any idea about year? I am thinking circa 1980.

Since I am a new member forum won’t let me post pictures or open private messages.

Eric F 

1977, I believe, but I'm probably wrong. Every ONP serial number I've seen starts with a 7, but I don't think they were all built in '77, so something else is the year indicator, probably. It doesn't follow the standard Kawamura format. @T-Mar might be able to tell us more. By 1980, the ONP project had faded, but these frames (or ones very, very similar) were being used for Nishiki's top-level complete bike offerings.

rickpaulos

For all you Nishiki fans, just a heads up, there are a couple of never assembled Nishiki Olympic 12 bikes on ebay. A 23" and a 25" Located in Chicago. Not mine. Seller also has a couple of Miyatas. Pulled from the original boxes for photos. All for premium prices although probably less than a showroom resto of the one you have now.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1980s-N...X/164168023405

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1980s-N...X/164168018092

curbtender

I don't know, you buy it, assemble, go for a ride and now you are back to having a used bike.

T-Mar

For those prices I can get a used, very good condition, high grade bicycle from the same era that weighs about 5-6 lbs less, performs better, has higher brand status and will retain a far higher proportion of it's price when I sell it. On top of that, even if they are NOS, they're still not ready to ride. The lubrication properties of 40 year grease are suspect, the brake pads would have hardened, tyres may be cracked and corrosion can still set in. At that price, I could even buy a fairly decent new bicycle, that would still be lighter, far better performing and have more amenities.

Albion 

Hi T-Mar, in response to your request for old bike numbers, I have just picked up a Nishiki Sport with the following numbers: BB is 4429270 (no letters) Sugino crank 170, with a 40 molded in to the crank arms, and the back of the Suntour AR rear derailleur shows AF. THis seems to indicate a 1984 machine. I hope this helps!

T-Mar

This sounds like it may be a Giant manufactured frame. Check the rear dropout for a date code, format Gyymm,where yy are numerals indicating the year and mm are numerals indicating the month. A June date on a derailleur is in the gray area where it could be for the current model year (1984) or the upcoming one (1985). Bicycle manufacturers typically start building the new models around September and the component manufacturers have to be in advance of even that.

Albion 

Thank you so much! As I thought you have been of much greater help than the other way around. I found some additional numbers on the BB (there's nothing on the dropouts). It's G1284, so would assume December, 1984. If I may, could I ask about my lovely Araya? This is the most "together" bike I have ever had, bought as a basket case, literally pulled out of solidified earth here in Arizona. I understand that Araya made only a short foray into making complete bikes. The BB shows C432754, nothing on the dropouts. My Fuji, a delightful "loper" shows FH010682. If there's anywhere you might point me regarding these bikes I would be very grateful. I am now allowed to attach images!


Araya - No model name

Fuji - Gran Tourer SE

jazzmasterj9

There's an International available on craigslist with sn# KI 15769, which, based on T-Mar's original list, would lead me to believe its from '71 built in Katakura. Any other way I could validate that?
It seems like it needs a decent amount of work and cleanup, but I need a project these days.
Seller is asking $100, but what would y'all reckon it's actually worth? Is the frame worth cleaning up?
Thanks, I just joined the forum after stalking around on this thread for a few weeks. You guys are a helpful bunch!
sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/bik/d/ben-lomond-80s-vintage-nishiki/7114534879.html

Albion 

I would get it but then I really enjoy old Japanese steel bikes and Nishiki seems to be well thought-of. Looks like a good frame size for someone taller (I would ride it and I'm 5'-10") The rust looks like just it's on the surface, use Evaporust for that (not steel wool!!!), also any alloy parts, it's "off-label" but works well. $100 is not much of an outlay and looks like a sweet bike. Enjoy!

T-Mar

Welcome to the forums. In this case it's a Kawamura serial number format, indicating 1979 manufacture, but it could be either a 1979 or 1980 model. The International frames of this era were typically plain gauge CrMo main triangle with hi-tensile stays and forks. Unfortunately, the seller doesn't include a drive side photograph but based on the cage the shape, the rear derailleur looks like a decent SunTour long cage model (Vx GT, BL GT, Cyclone GT). Lots of dirt, rust and consumables in need of replacement. I'd say the condition is fair, at best. I know it's in a higher priced region but I wouldn't pay the asking price.

Albion 

Hi T-Mar, if I may, could I ask about my lovely Araya? This is the most "together" bike I have ever had, bought as a basket case, literally pulled out of solidified earth here in Arizona. I understand that Araya made only a short foray into making complete bikes. The BB shows C432754, nothing on the dropouts. Anything you might mention or direct me to would be gratefully received. Picture above.