View Poll Results: Your favorite Japanese manufacturer.
Fuji
22
16.79%
Miyata
38
29.01%
Centurion
15
11.45%
Nishiki
8
6.11%
Panasonic
17
12.98%
Bridgestone
10
7.63%
Univega
7
5.34%
Sekai
2
1.53%
Lotus
10
7.63%
Shogun
2
1.53%
Voters: 131. You may not vote on this poll
Which Japanese Bicycle Manufacturer is your favorite?
06-10-20, 02:03 AM
#1
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Which Japanese Bicycle Manufacturer is your favorite?
Really just wanted to try out a poll here after seeing the brooks poll. This was the quickest question that came to mind. Stuck to what I suppose would be the big 10 Japanese C&V names, and polls cap out at 10 anyways. Have at it!
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06-10-20, 04:51 AM
#2
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What, no love for Takara?!
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06-10-20, 07:07 AM
#4
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Miyata, Bridgestone, and Fuji are at the top of my list. Fuji was one of the earliest importers into the US, Bridgestone has a cult status but it did make some really interesting bikes, and Miyata just made fine bikes. You won't go wrong if you get a top dog bike from any of these three companies.
06-10-20, 07:18 AM
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06-10-20, 08:11 AM
#7
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Definitely Miyata. I've seen too many lapses in QC from Fuji and Bridgestone. Centurion, Nishiki, Univega, Sekai, Lotus and Shogun were all marketing brands that were contract manufactured by various source over the years, so there's too much variation to rank them without further stratification or context. I'll also 2nd that Sekine should be on the list, though technically one could argue they were Canadian. I was a Sekine dealer and their QC and LBS friendly approach was excellent. However, I'd still give the edge to Miyata. They had more emphasis on the high end, took QC to the extent of building their own tubing mill and producing their own tubing (notably CrMo, splined, triple butted tubing) and were the first Japanese bicycle manufacturer to sponsor a European pro team. I'd rank Panasonic 2nd and Sekine 3rd.
06-10-20, 08:15 AM
#8
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I voted Panasonic as it's the only one I have experience with. I have two Schwinns built by Panasonic, 20 years apart.
Edit: I forgot I also have a Centurion. I still vote Panasonic
Edit: I forgot I also have a Centurion. I still vote Panasonic
06-10-20, 08:30 AM
#9
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Fuji for me, but I watch for most others too. To those complaining about their brand not being in the poll, as the OP stated, only 10 can be on the poll, so.........
06-10-20, 08:33 AM
#10
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until the later years all Centurions were made by H. Tono and they get my vote.
we were the largest Centurion dealer in San Diego County throughout the 80s
bcuz they we so easy to sell becuz they were just better. cleaner shorelines
around the lugs and fluted seatstay caps on all models.
we were the largest Centurion dealer in San Diego County throughout the 80s
bcuz they we so easy to sell becuz they were just better. cleaner shorelines
around the lugs and fluted seatstay caps on all models.
06-10-20, 08:39 AM
#11
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Bridgestone had really good quality IMO. Inspected my MB-3 thoroughly and it seemed to be constructed well. Seemingly and unfortunately done in by bad management here. Fuji bikes were super too.
06-10-20, 09:03 AM
#12
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Too hard to choose!
I have experience with Fujis, Miyatas, and Bridgestone's, in road and touring models (and MBs additionally with Bridgestone), but would still like to try a Univega Specialissima (is this Miyata)? I'd also love to try a high end Panasonic DX. I've always really liked the magenta/yellow paint on Centurion Ironmans as well.
I have experience with Fujis, Miyatas, and Bridgestone's, in road and touring models (and MBs additionally with Bridgestone), but would still like to try a Univega Specialissima (is this Miyata)? I'd also love to try a high end Panasonic DX. I've always really liked the magenta/yellow paint on Centurion Ironmans as well.
06-10-20, 09:28 AM
#13
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Miyata was the most frequent contract manufacturer of the higher end Univega from the brand's inception, through the mid-1980s. There's no guarantee it would be a Miyata but they would have the highest probability.
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06-10-20, 09:36 AM
#14
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as I have an 84 team miyata and an 85 team miyata it should be no surprise that i voted Miyata. AFAIK the only issue that miyata had was a design issue with the 1400 (which was only available in 1989) where the top tube was prone to cracking at the aero internal brake openings, (happened to me with a one I bought new and then rode for 29 years)
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06-10-20, 09:41 AM
#15
Touring Rocks
Kuwahara and Canadian spec Nishiki built by Kawamura (also some Norco were the same bike as Nishiki but wearing different decals).
I was a tech back in the 80s and every year we would look at the bike specs as far as value, consistency, QC, and component match/quality.
These brands always came out on top (at least back in the Japanese friction shift
golden days).
I still smile when I rebuild them.....
I was a tech back in the 80s and every year we would look at the bike specs as far as value, consistency, QC, and component match/quality.
These brands always came out on top (at least back in the Japanese friction shift
golden days).
I still smile when I rebuild them.....
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06-10-20, 09:48 AM
#16
Fillet-Brazed Member
I was worried about a similar sounding issue on a 914 (or 914 SE) where the cable routing goes inside the top tube. Apparently if there is a bit of reinforcement (lug like material) under the opening (as was the case for the aforementioned 914), it was not susceptible to the issue ...
06-10-20, 09:54 AM
#17
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Did it happen after 29 years or at the start? What did you do about it?
I was worried about a similar sounding issue on a 914 (or 914 SE) where the cable routing goes inside the top tube. Apparently if there is a bit of reinforcement (lug like material) under the opening (as was the case for the aforementioned 914), it was not susceptible to the issue ...
I was worried about a similar sounding issue on a 914 (or 914 SE) where the cable routing goes inside the top tube. Apparently if there is a bit of reinforcement (lug like material) under the opening (as was the case for the aforementioned 914), it was not susceptible to the issue ...
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(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
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06-10-20, 10:49 AM
#19
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What about those Japanese-built high-end Raleighs from the early 80s?
06-10-20, 11:06 AM
#20
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as I have an 84 team miyata and an 85 team miyata it should be no surprise that i voted Miyata. AFAIK the only issue that miyata had was a design issue with the 1400 (which was only available in 1989) where the top tube was prone to cracking at the aero internal brake openings, (happened to me with a one I bought new and then rode for 29 years)
06-10-20, 11:20 AM
#21
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3Rensho
Zunow
Cherubim
Zunow
Cherubim
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06-10-20, 11:22 AM
#22
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Or to be cheeky...
Raleigh
Specialized
Bianchi
Raleigh
Specialized
Bianchi
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06-10-20, 11:39 AM
#23
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I've had bikes from 5 manufactures in your poll. Miyata is still my favorite.
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06-10-20, 01:29 PM
#25
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