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?
#26
In the wind
I just sold a Miyata 110sp, and my 1000lt frame is in the rafters with a cracked chainstay so I'm no longer riding Miyatas but they are my favourites and I'm always on the lookout for another one.
I've had a couple of nice Nishikis in the past so they would get my second choice vote.
My only Bridgestone experience was a crappy mountain bike.
I've had a couple of nice Nishikis in the past so they would get my second choice vote.
My only Bridgestone experience was a crappy mountain bike.
#29
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Trek 400, 420, 460
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#30
Senior Member
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.
Weight range? 23.5-26.1 pounds for a steel-frame 23"/57cm lugged steel frame mid-grade bike is quite acceptable. I'm not one of those that can 'feel' the subtle nuances of the differences between a mid-grade and top-shelf 'better' bike (frame and/or wheels). BUT I can detect what I would call 'mush'. If I get a 'mush' bike, the first thing I do is properly tension the wheelset (by ear) or swap a known good set of wheels onto the slug. You'd be amazed at some of the slug 'jewels-in-the-rough' responses are to a good wheelset! Case in point - my old 50k-mile Fuji S-10S. A mass-produced hi-ten frameset that was a lower 'mid-grade' offering. Longish wheelbase, long trail fork that positively sings for extended (75-mile) rides when coupled with a good set of properly tensioned wheels and light tires! That old Fuji's original wheels were -meh - okay, but when I put on a set of high-quality hand-built wheels - WOW!
#31
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Gee, shouldn't Centurion be assigned the magenta coloured bar in the graph? RT's going to be PO'd.
#32
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Univega got one vote, so I have to assume that's the ghost of Ben Lawee.
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#34
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Miyata really made it happen with making their own tubing.
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#36
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#37
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#38
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Centurion , with explication . I like the early ones like the 84'Turbo , 84' Comp TA , 85' Ironman , 86' Ironman . Also the Cinelli Equip and the early Prestige .
IMG_0192 by mark westi, on Flickr
IMG_0025 by mark westi, on Flickr
IMG_0192 by mark westi, on Flickr
IMG_0025 by mark westi, on Flickr
Last edited by markwesti; 06-10-20 at 07:23 PM.
#39
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after 29 years, did a cost benefit on fixing and did the C&V thing....cut up the frame, gave the fork to another member, and got a de rosa from a member. (followed by getting a team miyata from a neighbor, got blown away by the ride, got another team miyata facilitated by a member and then passed the de rosa on to a member)
#40
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3Rensho, in the queue (pay no attention to my dog in the red dress, she is such an attention hound).
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#41
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I like their Gran Turismo in particular. Later ones had 6mm threads in all the braze-ons, which I think all manufacturers should do, after trying them out.
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#42
Friendship is Magic
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Also a favorite (if lower on the food chain) is this Japanese made Randonneur,
I have absolutely no idea who contract built them for Bianchi, but they are fine riding bicycles.
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#44
Senior Member
I just sold a Miyata 110sp, and my 1000lt frame is in the rafters with a cracked chainstay so I'm no longer riding Miyatas but they are my favourites and I'm always on the lookout for another one.
I've had a couple of nice Nishikis in the past so they would get my second choice vote.
My only Bridgestone experience was a crappy mountain bike.
I've had a couple of nice Nishikis in the past so they would get my second choice vote.
My only Bridgestone experience was a crappy mountain bike.
#45
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I have been unable to identify the Japanese manufacturer but they put out a quality product, also building some Miele, Specialized, Shogun and Takara. I actually prefer their 1980s mid-range range Bianchi models over the ones coming out of the Italian factory, as the workmanship was more consistent.
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#46
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FYI, that Professional is not a 1985, unless the decals have been replaced with incorrect versions. The presence of the Piaggio decal indicates it's no newer than a 1984 model and the decal scheme suggests closer to 1982. The serial number will reveal the exact frame manufacturing date.
I have been unable to identify the Japanese manufacturer but they put out a quality product, also building some Miele, Specialized, Shogun and Takara. I actually prefer their 1980s mid-range range Bianchi models over the ones coming out of the Italian factory, as the workmanship was more consistent.
I have been unable to identify the Japanese manufacturer but they put out a quality product, also building some Miele, Specialized, Shogun and Takara. I actually prefer their 1980s mid-range range Bianchi models over the ones coming out of the Italian factory, as the workmanship was more consistent.
Cheers
#48
Full Member
#49
In the wind
A more remote possibility is the awesome power I put out but the evidence for that is pretty thin.
#50
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Edit: It's impossible to provide a definitive list of Japanese models, as sources could vary from year to year depending on the relative value of the $CDN versus the Japanese Yen. It was always about making a profit and Miele always seemed to be hanging on by a tenuous thread. However, I can state that I've seen models as high as the Elite S coming out of Japan.
Last edited by T-Mar; 06-11-20 at 08:01 AM.