Punchy71

Hi,
I'm thinking of buying my first bicycle in a very, very long time and could use some guidance and suggestions. I'd sort of like a Hybrid or "Urban" bicycle for everyday, general purpose, exercise and commuting riding....
Hybrid or Urban bikes have elements of both Mountain and Touring/Road models but vary greatly in spec. I'm wanting one with a very upright riding position and I don't think I want one with a traditional riding position where I'm leaning far forward almost over the handle bars (typically like road bikes make you do), as this can make my back hurt over long distance riding. I'm partial to steel frames, but aluminum or other materials are okay too. I usually ride on the street but the streets around where I live are very rough and uneven, and plan to take it off-road every once in a while, but not very often. So it's mostly going to be street riden (but not entirely). It can be vintage or new, I'm fine either way. I'm 6-foot, zero inches tall and weigh typically in the 185 pound range with tall, long legs,(if that helps out any). Any help anyone could provide would be appreciated.
Thank you

Rajflyboy

Look into Fuji bicycles. Good bicycles for the price.

Punchy71

Hmm, .... Japanese. Sounds good. What about Nishiki? How well do they compare to Fuji?

supersport73

I have a couple of Miyatas that I use to ride around town. They both have Nitto riser quill stems. The taller stems keep the handlebars at the same level as the saddle. I find the higher handlebars are more comfortable. The bike with the shorter wheelbase is more nimble. The other bike seems more laid back.

Rajflyboy

if you only have 500 ish to spend Nishiki is ok. Dicks sporting goods bikes.

Phil_gretz

Neither Fuji nor Nishiki have anything to do with Japan. Similar to how McDonald's French fries having nothing to do with France.

How much money do you intend to spend on the bike purchase, and do you have any bicycle retail stores within a reasonable distance to your home? By starting there, you can have someone to show you various styles as well as sizes to suit your needs. At 72 inches with longer legs, you'll find that a smaller frame will fit better.

What does that mean? The reach from your saddle to the handlebars should be proportionally shorter than what's needed for a long torso body type (like me).

Look for something like a Specialized Sirrus, Trek FX 7.x series, or Giant Escape for what you've described.

Tony P.

I'm not going to focus on brands as that can be dependent on what's available in your area. I suggest you make a priority of getting a bike with front (only) suspension given possible street issues and your desire for occasional off-road trips. However, suspension adds weight which will make for a tougher ride if you haven't done it in a while. So, I'd abandon steel frames and look for lighter materials. Also, I suggest looking at used bikes on Craigslist and similar sites in order to 1. save some money, 2. get a good selection and 3. not invest a lot in case you decide to take up something else or change your mind on what you like in a bike. $500 is the most you should spend on a bike considering your current needs and I suspect you'll find a nice used bike for your current need at half that or less.

BTW, invest in some padding you can wear under shorts. It will make for a better riding experience.

Punchy71

Wikipedia says: "Fuji is a bicycle manufacturer originally established in Japan in 1899." and "Nishiki was initially manufactured by Kawamura Cycle Co. in Kobe, Japan".

Phil_gretz

Really? You discovered that all on your own, too.

Of course, your thread mentioned both Fuji and Nishiki in their present production form, not in vintage. So, who owns the brands now (hints: ASI, and Acell Group), and where are they each headquartered? And, where is production done?

Elvo

Salsa Fargo

Jicafold

He says vintage or new.

Ogsarg

Don't have a bike to recommend but would like to note that being upright is not necessarily better for your back. Being very upright without suspension on a bad surface can lead to really bad back pain.

Back when I was motorcycling, I had a bike that kept me upright and it could be really hard on my back. Later I swapped the handlebars from pull backs to a flat track type, which forced me to lean over just a bit and magically the back soreness disappeared. I could be on it all day with no discomfort at all.

You'll likely be leaned over a bit with most hybrids and that is a good thing in my opinion.

Punchy71

Speaking of vintage and new. How far back in time can I pick out a vintage frame and reasonably expect it to be compatible with new or much more modern standard and standardized components?

Maelochs

Indeed .... but check your calendar. 1899 was a little while ago.

The entire human race came from a small region in Africa, apparently. Therefore we are all African?

Maelochs

If you are a new rider, unless you have a couple good friends who know a lot about bikes and are generous with their time, I'd recommend avoiding used bikes. Easy to find a hidden gem, easy to buy a lemon. Guess which happens more?

Best thing to do is to go to local bike shops and see what's available. take some test rides, visit as many shops and ride as many bikes as you can. Do Not get talked into buying the first bike that feels good for fifteen minutes.

Once you have a list of bikes you've tested, pick the ones you liked best, and go online and check out the parts spec---or come here with brands, models, and if possible, links, and people here will help.

Thomas15

FYI Nishiki never actually built their frames, the company was an importer to the US from Japan prolly in the 1960s. They started buying their frames mainly from Giant in Taiwan for their low/mid price bikes back in the mid 80s. I think around 2000 the brand was sold to Dick Sporting Goods. Phil_Gretz is correct they have nothing to do with Japan. Even so I have two Giant built Nishiki frames from the mid 80s, well built. Nishiki of today is not the same animal. Still, they might be an acceptable choice for your needs if your needs will allow a department store bike.


There is a lot of uncertainty these days about the Fuji brand. I think the company was at least partly owned by Performance Bicycle which went ch. 11 last year.

Jicafold

You are contradicting yourself. Even if they didn't build their own frames, they were still made in Japan at some point. Both my Nishiki Prestige and Nishiki Tri-A from the 80's both say "Japan". I'll go out on a limb and say that being made in Japan would have something to do with Japan.

For the OP, most likely and decent cro-moly steel frame from the '80's could be updated and used with modern parts if desired.

livedarklions

Fuji is currently owned by Advanced Holdings,Co., Ltd., which is Hong Kong or Singapore based, depending on the reporting source.

https://www.bicycleretailer.com/indu...d#.XhTHIEdKhpg

Thomas15

Not that I really care but if you read what I wrote then you will see that I spoke the truth.

I think it was around 1985 that Nishiki started buying their low to mid range frames from Giant. Probably it was later that the higher level frames left Japan. It was a phased in thing. The frame in the picture is either pre- mid 80s but it looks like it is tange and has better quality rear drop outs meaning it was probably not a mid to low level frame. My Nishiki Olympic 1986 (DB CroMo) was when I purchased it the most expensive model they offered that year that was not made in Japan. A few years later all of the frames were from outside Japan.

My brother has a mid 70s Nishiki, an entry level frame that was made in Japan. Back then all of the frames were made in Japan. But none of that matters now because the frames today come from China. Another point is that Nishiki was always an importer (West Coast Cycles) not really a manufacturer. Even in the Japan days they just put together bikes from parts and frames purchased from wherever.

Jicafold

A contradiction.

An importer....from Japan.

CrankyOne

Some useful info here:

City Bikes | LocalMile

You're on the right track thinking upright. There are a lot of good reasons that the vast majority of people outside of the U.S. ride them.

flyjimmy

”Obnoxious” is the only polite response I can think of for this post.

Paul Barnard

Let me steer us back toward your concerns. I am of the belief that at a given price point, brand does not matter. At $500 all the bikes will have the same or similar parts hanging on them. If you want to get the most bang for your buck, you can find a good used bike or a closeout new bike and get more out of your $500. If you have basic set-up knowledge, every now and then some surprisingly good online deals will surface. Is mail order an option for you?

Phil_gretz

You're right. Not my finest moment. Sorry to all for that attitude...PG

freeranger

Do you have some good bike shops in your area? First thing you want to do is decide what type of bike works best for you. And if riding rough pavement or off road, do you need a suspension front fork (they will not be great on lower priced bikes, but may take the "edge" off of a rough ride), or will wider tires be sufficient. Lots of things to consider and a good shop can help. Fit will be very important-you might find a bike with good standover, but stretches you out too far to the handlebar. If not too bad, that may be easily fixed with a shorter stem or seat adjustment. LOTS of things to consider for someone who hasn't ridden for a while and wants to get back into it. You may end up spending more than $500, but you might find it was worth it in the long run (or ride). Lots of good bikes out there, happy hunting!