since6

T-Mar and others any help on this serial number would be welcome.
The serial number is "S 179897" stamped on the bottom bracket of a Nishiki Competition (Ladies Looped Frame).

This bike appears to be identical to the Loop Frame Nishiki Competition found in a Jan. 1, 1974 Nishiki sales brochure I found online. It's going to take a weekend before I can clean it up and then post pictures, so if you can provide any background from the serial number it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

since6

since6

Here's the teaser alert. It has it's original pre-1975 Nishiki, that's the symbol on the reflector, rear brake bridge reflector....what are the odds 43+ years later....wait for the pictures I'll try to post this weekend after clean up, there's more.

John E

For what it's worth, my Nishiki Competition, purchased around the Ides of March in 1971, had S/N KS78091. The women's frame version came out around 1973, when I was working at a Peugeot-Nishiki dealership.

since6

Thanks John E this does help. This bike bears many things similar to an early 70s Katakura-Silk/Nishiki Professional I have including the lovely Sunshine large flange hubs and funky skewers and Dia Compe brakes/stem, etc. I did get it sort of cleaned up and will post pictures later tonight. I will look again, but did not see any letter other than the "S" you see on the down tube followed by the numbering. 1973 would fit with the 1974 sales brochure which lists the fame/fork specifications for the Competition (Ladies & Men) and will compare them to what's on this bike. Interesting the fork appears to be chromed even under the paint, although the frame does not appear to be similarly chromed. Also, it has what is obviously the Suntour Barcon shifters, but these are marked "Schwinn". Thanks

wrk101

More than likely, serial number is just missing the leading "K". I have a 1972 and its still an American Eagle Semi-Pro, while the 1973 I have is a Nishiki Competition. Look up component codes if you desire.

Personally, I treat catalog information skeptically as the specs back then were sent out to printers months ahead of actual production. And with a bike that is around 45 years old, who knows if all the parts are original anyway. I have had several bikes that were not in the catalog for a particular year, and others where the colors were wrong. Parts discrepancies can be as simple as using up old inventory, or getting a better deal between the catalog specs and production.

since6

Here's what I've gleaned from T-Mar's Nishiki Serial Number post. Normally the first letter denotes the market the bike was sold in, however T-Mar notes that in the case of the letter "S" there is an exception: "Exception is letter S, used on all frames prior to 1975" After this initial letter there is a second letter which indicates the calendar year of manufacture "where A=1, B-2C-3...J=0."

After the "S" in the serial number for this bike there is either a 1 or and I, assuming it is an I, then it would correspond to 9 as part of its calendar year of manufacture, but with it being an S bike frame made prior to 1975, then would this be a 1969 frame?

If I am missing something please do let me know, for the moment I assume that at least this is a bike made prior to 1975 due to the S serial number, similarity to the 1974 sales brochure, information provided by fellow posters and my other Nishiki Professional made in the very early 70s. So at least 43 years of age is my guess.

T-Mar

I can seen what appears to be a faint 'K' impression preceding the 'S', so this is a Kawamura manufactured product and not Katakura. This is corroborated by other members reporting Competition of this era with Kawamura format serial numbers. The S/N is KS179897. It is no older than 1972, as that was the first year for the Nishiki brand. Based on the data I've collected, the frame was manufactured in 1972 but it's in the grey area area where it could be either a 1972-1973 model. I'd appreciate the OP posting or PMing me component date codes to add to the database. This may increase confidence in a particular year.

John E

Another possibility is that the first digit of the S/N is the last digit of the year, as was common practice among other manufacturers.

KS78091 == my 1971 model, frame probably made in 1970; KS[0]78091???

Yours: KS179897 = 1972 model, frame made in late 1971

Just a wild guess ...