Cycling Equipment · Public discussion

Nishiki Bikes...

iamtim · 2005-09-07T01:21:00+00:00

Hi! So, my name is Tim. Many years ago, from my 14th year to my 17th year of life, I was a BMX racer. This was back in the days of Harry Leary, Greg Hill, and all those old-timers. I started on a Torker; HARO bikes had just hit the scene as I was getting out of racing. I was in both the NBL and the ABA; at my peak I was #50 in the state of California's NBL rankings. Many years later I picked up a *really* nice Bianchi road bike so I could keep in shape. Like an idiot I sold it dirt cheap so I could impress a girl with a trip to Disneyland. Now I'm much older, much more plump around the waist, and getting back into road biking to stay in shape. I work about 2 miles from my office, so I'm going to ditch the car as much as possible in favor of the bike. I was given an older but apparently very high quality Nishiki bike (it's got Shimano accessories including sealed-bearing hubs) the other day -- it's currently in the shop to have a general checkup done (including replacing all the cables and having the wheels respoked and trued) as well as having my 180mm Campagnolo cranks installed. I've got a line on a bigger Nishiki frame and forks as well, as the frame I've currently got in the shop is a wee bit too small for me. The frame I'm getting is a 56cm frame - I size in at 6'2". That should be big enough, yes? What about in combination with the 180mm Campy cranks? Nishiki is a brand I'm only peripherally aware of (read: I'd heard the name before). Is it a good brand? I know it's an older bike and they are no longer made, but for the price I figure it can't be beat -- hopefully I'll get enough use out of it to justify to my wife the purchase of a new Trek bike. Is it [the Nishiki bike/frame] worth the upkeep? It's only going to cost me about $250-300 for everything, which is cheaper than a new Trek, but like I said I don't know much about Nishiki. Thanks, Tim.

Started by iamtim · 7 September 2005 · Last activity 9 September 2005 · 10 posts · 1,960 views

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01 / Original postNishiki Bikes...iamtim · 7 Sep 2005 02 / This pagePosts 1–10Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #10philso · 9 Sep 2005

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Original section: Cycling Equipment
Published: 7 September 2005
Last activity: 9 September 2005
Original author: iamtim
Posts: 10
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 1,960
Views / 30 days: 0
Topics: Bianchi Bottom brackets Trek

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Original post
iamtim
Archived post

7 September 2005, 01:21 UTC #1

Hi!
So, my name is Tim. Many years ago, from my 14th year to my 17th year of life, I was a BMX racer. This was back in the days of Harry Leary, Greg Hill, and all those old-timers. I started on a Torker; HARO bikes had just hit the scene as I was getting out of racing. I was in both the NBL and the ABA; at my peak I was #50 in the state of California's NBL rankings.
Many years later I picked up a *really* nice Bianchi road bike so I could keep in shape. Like an idiot I sold it dirt cheap so I could impress a girl with a trip to Disneyland.
Now I'm much older, much more plump around the waist, and getting back into road biking to stay in shape. I work about 2 miles from my office, so I'm going to ditch the car as much as possible in favor of the bike. I was given an older but apparently very high quality Nishiki bike (it's got Shimano accessories including sealed-bearing hubs) the other day -- it's currently in the shop to have a general checkup done (including replacing all the cables and having the wheels respoked and trued) as well as having my 180mm Campagnolo cranks installed. I've got a line on a bigger Nishiki frame and forks as well, as the frame I've currently got in the shop is a wee bit too small for me. The frame I'm getting is a 56cm frame - I size in at 6'2". That should be big enough, yes? What about in combination with the 180mm Campy cranks?
Nishiki is a brand I'm only peripherally aware of (read: I'd heard the name before). Is it a good brand? I know it's an older bike and they are no longer made, but for the price I figure it can't be beat -- hopefully I'll get enough use out of it to justify to my wife the purchase of a new Trek bike. Is it [the Nishiki bike/frame] worth the upkeep? It's only going to cost me about $250-300 for everything, which is cheaper than a new Trek, but like I said I don't know much about Nishiki.
Thanks,
Tim.

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boudreaux
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7 September 2005, 03:10 UTC #2

At 6'2" a 56 would likely be way too small. Nishiki made the whole line from good to bottom of the barrel.Doubt if any are worth $200 on todays market.

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philso
Archived post

7 September 2005, 03:51 UTC #3

if you're reasonably sure you can tweak the fit with your 180cranks(check for tire clearance if you'll be using clips and fenders) and maybe long reach stem, then it would mainly depend on the quality of the frame and availability of parts.
how old is "older"? are we speaking 5 speed freewheel here? at least make sure you can use readily available cassettes. does the frame still have the tubing stickers? is the entire frame double butted cro-moly, only the main triangle, or does it say something lame about hi-tensile steel. ask the folks at your lbs about the quality of the frame. also try scoping out similar nishiki's on ebay, and see what they're going for.
if all you need is a beater for commuting, under $300 maybe isn't too bad, considering that you're probably mostly paying for labor. you'll save enough money for a new bike in the future if you initially spend the bucks on the right tools for the job and learn to take care of your bike yourself. 😉

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boudreaux
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7 September 2005, 13:17 UTC #4

philso said:
how old is "older"? are we speaking 5 speed freewheel here? at least make sure you can use readily available cassettes. ...........
WHY?? Freewheels are still readily available. 🙄

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iamtim
Archived post

7 September 2005, 14:03 UTC #5

philso said:
learn to take care of your bike yourself. 😉

Oh, heh, I know how to take care of the bike myself, except for re-spoking wheels. So I figured while I had the bike in there for re-spoking, I might as well have them do the rest of it.
Quoted post said:
under $300 maybe isn't too bad

Keep in mind that's everything: respoking the wheels, adding a front derailer (sp?), installation of a new bottom bracket and the Campy cranks, new cabling, and the new frame. Of course, that doesn't cover installation of the new frame, but I can do that.
Tim.

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philso
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8 September 2005, 07:51 UTC #6

boudreaux said:
WHY?? Freewheels are still readily available. 🙄

i'd really like to know where. my road bike is a ten speed. i live in japan, but when i go back to the states, i usually go around to as many bike shops as possible to scope out parts. only places i've found freewheels are in vintage bike shops like bicycleclassics(now out of business). occasionally on ebay. they're all priced for the highest bidder. here in japan i've found 1 maker who produces a funky one, size 14-28 or something like that.
please fill me in with a homepage or email address if possible.

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kbone
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8 September 2005, 11:50 UTC #7

Nashbar has 5, 6, and 7 speed freewheels....
nashbar.comresults.cfm=

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boudreaux
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8 September 2005, 13:22 UTC #8

kbone said:
Nashbar has 5, 6, and 7 speed freewheels....
nashbar.comresults.cfm=
And the QBP catalogue at www.harriscyclery.com has a complete listing.

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JohnO
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8 September 2005, 13:54 UTC #9

www.ebay.com
They have an excellent classic cycling parts section. I have fully restored one classic 1970's racer (Falcon San Remo, all Campy NR) and am currently working on another. Bought both bikes on ebay, and bought all of the parts to restore there, too.
I have bought 5 and 6 speed freewheels, both Regina, for < $20 each. And got an assortment of freewheel removal tools for $15.
philso said:
i'd really like to know where. my road bike is a ten speed. i live in japan, but when i go back to the states, i usually go around to as many bike shops as possible to scope out parts. only places i've found freewheels are in vintage bike shops like bicycleclassics(now out of business). occasionally on ebay. they're all priced for the highest bidder. here in japan i've found 1 maker who produces a funky one, size 14-28 or something like that.
please fill me in with a homepage or email address if possible.

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philso
Archived post

9 September 2005, 00:09 UTC #10

boudreaux, kbone, & JohnO, - thanks for the leads. i've pretty much given up on ebay because, living in japan, after paying the winning bid, i have to pay through the nose for the shipping too. also have to do an international money order because paypal,etc. aren't(weren't) available options. nos freewheels here run about $50. on the freewheel made by 1 maker still producing here, the part where yuo place the freewheel remover is not flush, but juts out, making the overall width about 3mm wider than normal. just enough to rub the nut on the rack.had to add a couple of spacers, making it just too wide to pop the tires in and out without having to spread the stays. no big deal, but just iritating.
is there anything about cycling that isn't found on the harriscycling website?

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