Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Japanese bike fit and finish?

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Japanese bike fit and finish?

Old 06-19-19, 01:27 PM
  #1  
robertj298 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
robertj298's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 1,139

Bikes: 1983 Univega Super Strada, 1986 Panasonic DX5000, 1984 Fuji Team 85 Univega Gran Turismo, 1984 Lotus Unique, 1987 Centurion Expert, 1987 Centurion Ironman Master,

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 676 Post(s)
Liked 450 Times in 181 Posts
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?
robertj298 is offline  
Old 06-19-19, 01:35 PM
  #2  
Velo Mule
Senior Member
 
Velo Mule's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 2,097

Bikes: Trek 800 x 2, Schwinn Heavy Duti, Schwinn Traveler, Schwinn Le Tour Luxe, Schwinn Continental, Cannondale M400 and Lambert, Schwinn Super Sport

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 801 Post(s)
Liked 1,000 Times in 654 Posts
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.
Velo Mule is offline  
Old 06-19-19, 02:15 PM
  #3  
T-Mar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,233
Mentioned: 652 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4719 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,034 Times in 1,874 Posts
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).
T-Mar is offline  
Old 06-19-19, 04:57 PM
  #4  
Classtime 
Senior Member
 
Classtime's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,674

Bikes: 82 Medici, 2011 Richard Sachs, 2011 Milwaukee Road

Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1924 Post(s)
Liked 1,954 Times in 1,086 Posts
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?
Classtime is offline  
Old 06-19-19, 05:20 PM
  #5  
seypat
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,758
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3192 Post(s)
Liked 2,461 Times in 1,490 Posts
Whichever one fits you best and allows you to finish your rides.
seypat is offline  
Old 06-19-19, 05:20 PM
  #6  
John E
feros ferio
 
John E's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,765

Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;

Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1384 Post(s)
Liked 1,294 Times in 819 Posts
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.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
John E is offline  
Old 06-19-19, 05:27 PM
  #7  
wrk101
Thrifty Bill
 
wrk101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,572

Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more

Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 957 Times in 624 Posts
IMHO, its a tie between Miyata and National (Panasonic).

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

Last edited by wrk101; 06-20-19 at 02:53 PM.
wrk101 is offline  
Likes For wrk101:
Old 06-19-19, 07:06 PM
  #8  
cudak888 
www.theheadbadge.com
 
cudak888's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,496

Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com

Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2401 Post(s)
Liked 4,350 Times in 2,075 Posts
Panasonic and Miyata.

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

-Kurt
__________________












cudak888 is offline  
Likes For cudak888:
Old 06-19-19, 07:19 PM
  #9  
nomadmax 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 2,409
Mentioned: 93 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1103 Post(s)
Liked 1,824 Times in 878 Posts
I never had one but an old team mate rode a high end Lotus that was pretty nice.
nomadmax is offline  
Old 06-19-19, 07:28 PM
  #10  
Kent T
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 251

Bikes: 2002 Trek 800 Singletrack, 1982 Bridgestone Spica

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 57 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times in 32 Posts
Originally Posted by cudak888
Panasonic and Miyata.

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

-Kurt
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.
Kent T is offline  
Old 06-19-19, 07:48 PM
  #11  
mstateglfr 
Sunshine
 
mstateglfr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,538

Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo

Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10902 Post(s)
Liked 7,393 Times in 4,148 Posts
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?

Last edited by mstateglfr; 06-24-19 at 01:37 PM.
mstateglfr is offline  
Old 06-19-19, 08:10 PM
  #12  
robertj298 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
robertj298's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 1,139

Bikes: 1983 Univega Super Strada, 1986 Panasonic DX5000, 1984 Fuji Team 85 Univega Gran Turismo, 1984 Lotus Unique, 1987 Centurion Expert, 1987 Centurion Ironman Master,

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 676 Post(s)
Liked 450 Times in 181 Posts
Originally Posted by Classtime
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?
You are correct
robertj298 is offline  
Likes For robertj298:
Old 06-19-19, 10:07 PM
  #13  
seypat
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,758
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3192 Post(s)
Liked 2,461 Times in 1,490 Posts
Originally Posted by nomadmax
I never had one but an old team mate rode a high end Lotus that was pretty nice.
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.

Last edited by seypat; 06-20-19 at 08:18 AM.
seypat is offline  
Likes For seypat:
Old 06-20-19, 09:36 AM
  #14  
Salamandrine 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,287

Bikes: 78 Masi Criterium, 68 PX10, 2016 Mercian King of Mercia, Rivendell Clem Smith Jr

Mentioned: 120 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2317 Post(s)
Liked 597 Times in 430 Posts
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.
Salamandrine is offline  
Likes For Salamandrine:
Old 06-20-19, 12:03 PM
  #15  
due ruote 
Senior Member
 
due ruote's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,707
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 903 Post(s)
Liked 524 Times in 318 Posts
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.
due ruote is offline  
Old 06-20-19, 12:43 PM
  #16  
dweenk
Senior Member
 
dweenk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,980

Bikes: Lots of English 3-speeds, a couple of old road bikes, 3 mountain bikes, 1 hybrid, and a couple of mash-ups

Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 335 Times in 225 Posts
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.
dweenk is offline  
Old 06-20-19, 03:01 PM
  #17  
wrk101
Thrifty Bill
 
wrk101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,572

Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more

Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 957 Times in 624 Posts
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.




1976 Sekai Professional by wrk101, on Flickr



1976 Sekai Professional by wrk101, on Flickr

Last edited by wrk101; 06-20-19 at 03:04 PM.
wrk101 is offline  
Old 06-20-19, 03:10 PM
  #18  
madpogue 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Madison, WI USA
Posts: 6,876
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2350 Post(s)
Liked 1,728 Times in 1,180 Posts
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.
madpogue is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TiHabanero
Classic & Vintage
13
05-10-15 05:26 PM
mstateglfr
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
3
09-11-14 03:51 PM
OldsCOOL
Classic & Vintage
22
07-22-14 10:45 AM
DigitalDwarf
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
12
08-20-12 11:45 AM
DaveloMA
Classic & Vintage
7
06-16-10 07:46 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.