What year is my Nishiki Continental?
08-04-22, 08:34 PM
#1
Chipper
Thread Starter
Need help identifying Nishiki Continental
I just picked up what I thought was a 70s Nishiki Continental Touring bike, but now I'm having doubts. I can't find any reference to the Continental prior to 1983, and for a tourer its a pretty bizarre setup.
Only one set of bottle bosses, one set of rack eyelets front and rear, narrowish wheelbase, 700c wheels, and its very, very light, around 22lbs with the rack. The sticker says the frame is double butted cromo, but doesn't specify beyond that. Afaik its all original aside from the extra sprocket. Was the continental originally a high-end road bike?
Only one set of bottle bosses, one set of rack eyelets front and rear, narrowish wheelbase, 700c wheels, and its very, very light, around 22lbs with the rack. The sticker says the frame is double butted cromo, but doesn't specify beyond that. Afaik its all original aside from the extra sprocket. Was the continental originally a high-end road bike?
Last edited by flipchip; 08-04-22 at 09:16 PM.
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08-04-22, 08:41 PM
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08-04-22, 09:44 PM
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Probably 82 or 83 continental. T-mar's post on the serial numbers (check under bottom bracket)
Changed over the years but I think the Continental was their top end touring variant. Didn't get cantis until 84 I think (in Canada).
erial number format XYZZZZZ where:
X is a letter indicating the market using the following codes:
A= Australia
C = Canada (pre-1987*)
E = Europe
K = USA (pre 1985) + non-ferrous frames 1986-1988*)
W = USA (1985-1987*)
Y is a letter indicating the last digit of the manufacturing calendar year, where A =1, B = 2, C = 3… J = 0. Exception is letter S, used on all frames prior to 1975.
ZZZZZ is a five or six digit number, apparently representing a sequential frame manufac turing number for the year (or era in the case of pre 1975 frames)
Example 1: KA24587 is the 24,787th frame produced in 1981 for the US market.
Example 2: CG231117 is the 23,117th frame produced in 1977 for the Canadian market.
Example 3: WE54612 is the 54,612th frame produced in 1985 for the US market.
* Serial number format may extend beyond the stated end date but there are no reported examples, to date.
Changed over the years but I think the Continental was their top end touring variant. Didn't get cantis until 84 I think (in Canada).
erial number format XYZZZZZ where:
X is a letter indicating the market using the following codes:
A= Australia
C = Canada (pre-1987*)
E = Europe
K = USA (pre 1985) + non-ferrous frames 1986-1988*)
W = USA (1985-1987*)
Y is a letter indicating the last digit of the manufacturing calendar year, where A =1, B = 2, C = 3… J = 0. Exception is letter S, used on all frames prior to 1975.
ZZZZZ is a five or six digit number, apparently representing a sequential frame manufac turing number for the year (or era in the case of pre 1975 frames)
Example 1: KA24587 is the 24,787th frame produced in 1981 for the US market.
Example 2: CG231117 is the 23,117th frame produced in 1977 for the Canadian market.
Example 3: WE54612 is the 54,612th frame produced in 1985 for the US market.
* Serial number format may extend beyond the stated end date but there are no reported examples, to date.
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08-05-22, 10:16 AM
#4
Chipper
Thread Starter
Probably 82 or 83 continental. T-mar's post on the serial numbers (check under bottom bracket)
Changed over the years but I think the Continental was their top end touring variant. Didn't get cantis until 84 I think (in Canada).
erial number format XYZZZZZ where:
X is a letter indicating the market using the following codes:
A= Australia
C = Canada (pre-1987*)
E = Europe
K = USA (pre 1985) + non-ferrous frames 1986-1988*)
W = USA (1985-1987*)
Y is a letter indicating the last digit of the manufacturing calendar year, where A =1, B = 2, C = 3… J = 0. Exception is letter S, used on all frames prior to 1975.
ZZZZZ is a five or six digit number, apparently representing a sequential frame manufac turing number for the year (or era in the case of pre 1975 frames)
Example 1: KA24587 is the 24,787th frame produced in 1981 for the US market.
Example 2: CG231117 is the 23,117th frame produced in 1977 for the Canadian market.
Example 3: WE54612 is the 54,612th frame produced in 1985 for the US market.
* Serial number format may extend beyond the stated end date but there are no reported examples, to date.
Changed over the years but I think the Continental was their top end touring variant. Didn't get cantis until 84 I think (in Canada).
erial number format XYZZZZZ where:
X is a letter indicating the market using the following codes:
A= Australia
C = Canada (pre-1987*)
E = Europe
K = USA (pre 1985) + non-ferrous frames 1986-1988*)
W = USA (1985-1987*)
Y is a letter indicating the last digit of the manufacturing calendar year, where A =1, B = 2, C = 3… J = 0. Exception is letter S, used on all frames prior to 1975.
ZZZZZ is a five or six digit number, apparently representing a sequential frame manufac turing number for the year (or era in the case of pre 1975 frames)
Example 1: KA24587 is the 24,787th frame produced in 1981 for the US market.
Example 2: CG231117 is the 23,117th frame produced in 1977 for the Canadian market.
Example 3: WE54612 is the 54,612th frame produced in 1985 for the US market.
* Serial number format may extend beyond the stated end date but there are no reported examples, to date.
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08-05-22, 10:40 AM
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Mind you that is the frame manufacture year. I understand if it is produced late enough in the year it could be next year's model.
Features on touring bikes changed over the years, so it wouldn't have features that became more common in the years following.
But yeah, it is a nice bike. I would love to have one myself if I could find one at a reasonable price.
Features on touring bikes changed over the years, so it wouldn't have features that became more common in the years following.
But yeah, it is a nice bike. I would love to have one myself if I could find one at a reasonable price.
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08-05-22, 11:06 AM
#6
Chipper
Thread Starter
Mind you that is the frame manufacture year. I understand if it is produced late enough in the year it could be next year's model.
Features on touring bikes changed over the years, so it wouldn't have features that became more common in the years following.
But yeah, it is a nice bike. I would love to have one myself if I could find one at a reasonable price.
Features on touring bikes changed over the years, so it wouldn't have features that became more common in the years following.
But yeah, it is a nice bike. I would love to have one myself if I could find one at a reasonable price.
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08-05-22, 11:15 AM
#7
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In 1974 I set up my wife's bike with 52-42 / 16-18-21-24-32, to give her a bailout gear for our rides in the canyons and hills around west and central Los Angeles. I thought I invented "Megarange" or "Super-Low." 
Today, I would inclined to use an ultra-6 speed freewheel, to fill in the gap to the granny gear, maybe 15-17-20-23-26-32.
Today, I would inclined to use an ultra-6 speed freewheel, to fill in the gap to the granny gear, maybe 15-17-20-23-26-32.
__________________
"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
"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
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08-05-22, 11:16 AM
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You did great for $150! Very handsome and nicely equipped machine. You can always stick a second bottle in a pannier or handlebar bag if you don’t want to obstruct/damage seat tube decals.
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'72 Cilo Pacer • '72 Peugeot PX10 • '73 Speedwell Ti • '74 Nishiki Competition • '74 Peugeot UE-8 • '86 Look Equipe 753 • '86 Look KG86 • '89 Parkpre Team Road • '90 Parkpre Team MTB • '90 Merlin Ti
Avatar photo courtesy of jeffveloart.com, contact: contact: jeffnil8 (at) gmail.com.
-Randy
'72 Cilo Pacer • '72 Peugeot PX10 • '73 Speedwell Ti • '74 Nishiki Competition • '74 Peugeot UE-8 • '86 Look Equipe 753 • '86 Look KG86 • '89 Parkpre Team Road • '90 Parkpre Team MTB • '90 Merlin Ti
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08-05-22, 06:55 PM
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My Nishikis from a couple years earlier have none - in the 70s we mostly used clamps. I have several decent mid-range touring bikes from the early 80s that only have one set. I think two sets of bottle bosses is more like a 90s or even 2000s thing.
Very nice looking bike, by the way.
Very nice looking bike, by the way.
08-06-22, 10:53 AM
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Very nice looking bike, by the way.
08-06-22, 11:01 AM
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Interesting. My Claud Butler Dalesman, Trek 620, and Nishiki International (all from 1982) have one. My 60s and 70s bikes have none. I think the earliest bike I have with two is the 89 Paramount.
In the 80s it seems like it might be more of a high end thing rather than a touring thing. The Paramount is definitely not a tourer.
In the 80s it seems like it might be more of a high end thing rather than a touring thing. The Paramount is definitely not a tourer.
08-06-22, 01:14 PM
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As for the OP's bike, my absolutely untrained eye on that geometry tells me it's more of a "sport touring" frame than a full-on tourer. But the fenders may create a bit of trompe l'oeil
08-06-22, 01:16 PM
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I just picked up what I thought was a 70s Nishiki Continental Touring bike, but now I'm having doubts. I can't find any reference to the Continental prior to 1983, and for a tourer its a pretty bizarre setup.
Only one set of bottle bosses, one set of rack eyelets front and rear, narrowish wheelbase, 700c wheels, and its very, very light, around 22lbs with the rack. The sticker says the frame is double butted cromo, but doesn't specify beyond that. Afaik its all original aside from the extra sprocket. Was the continental originally a high-end road bike?
Only one set of bottle bosses, one set of rack eyelets front and rear, narrowish wheelbase, 700c wheels, and its very, very light, around 22lbs with the rack. The sticker says the frame is double butted cromo, but doesn't specify beyond that. Afaik its all original aside from the extra sprocket. Was the continental originally a high-end road bike?
Here is the solution you seek.
These have been in use for years, very well made, look great to me and match many other single stainless cages., also a bargain IMO.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/20049692764...AAAOSwtM1ZzTsW
