Vintagebiklovr

Hey everyone,

I recently purchased this Nishiki on Craigslist but I'm completely clueless when it comes to bike components. Does anyone have a good suggestion for a new chain for this Nishiki?

Many thanks

Hondo6

Knowing the number of speeds (rear) would help answer that question.

Vintagebiklovr

I believe it's a 12-speed

davester

A 1983 12-speed actually has 6 speeds on the rear. This means that you can use any 8-speed chain on the market, and there are many. A good, inexpensive relatively available example would be a SRAM PC-830. Note that you will need to shorten a new chain to match your old one. Do this using a chain tool. Then, attach the ends of the shortened chain with the included master link.

WARNING: Do not attempt to attach the two ends using the chain tool. This technique worked in the olden days but newer chains use peened pins which become damaged when removed and will likely fail (i.e. chain will snap under load causing injury or worse) if you reuse one.

Vintagebiklovr

Thanks for the suggestion, it's greatly appreciated!

RCMoeur 

Or you can use a 7.8 mm width 5-6 speed chain, with are designed with enough link thickness to allow pin driving to install & remove the chain. Many 7.3 mm width 7 speed chains such as the KMC Z50, Z51, or Z7 don't use mushroomed pins and are amenable to pin driving, and work fine with 5 or 6 cog drivetrains. Chains where the pins appear to be flush against the sides of the link, such as seen with 9 speed and narrower chains, can typically only be shortened and not spliced and must use a special mating link for installation.