Anyone know about this bike? Quality or Trash?

Ken Marcet said:

I am looking to get back into riding, and have been ebay searching for a
quality ride for a cheap price. I found this on ebay this morning. Looks
like a quality frame lugged construction from what I can see. Any one that
can give some feed back on this bike any info is welcome.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7111837428&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

That's definitely a good 'un, snap it up if it's your size! I believe
it's a 1983 model, back when the dollar was buying 260 yen, and Japanese
bikes were a fabulous bargain.

The shifing and braking parts are a bit primitive in fucntion, but the
workmanship and materials are all first rate. A comparable new frame
alone would probably cost close to a thousand bucks.

Sheldon "http://sheldonbrown.com/japan" Brown
+-------------------------------------------------------+
| Military conscription is the worst form of slavery. |
| A more enlightened age will consider it a War crime. |
+-------------------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

"Ken Marcet" <[email hidden]> schreef in bericht
news:1099584768.RdjmmrRoFMp71AJUtAyYYA@teranews...

Quoted message said:

I am looking to get back into riding, and have been ebay searching for a
quality ride for a cheap price. I found this on ebay this morning. Looks
like a quality frame lugged construction from what I can see. Any one that
can give some feed back on this bike any info is welcome.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7111837428&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Quoted message said:

Ken

Old bike. Must be 20 years or more. You won't be able to obtain spare or
replacement parts. Price? 25 USD or EUR.

--
Posted by news://news.nb.nu

On Thu, 4 Nov 2004 11:00:18 -0500, "Ken Marcet" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I am looking to get back into riding, and have been ebay searching for a
quality ride for a cheap price. I found this on ebay this morning. Looks
like a quality frame lugged construction from what I can see. Any one that
can give some feed back on this bike any info is welcome.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7111837428&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

The only Nishiki I've had was a really nice unit; that one looks to be
in great shape, and though far from bleeding-edge, certainly likely to
be a good ride.

--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Ken Marcet said:

I am looking to get back into riding, and have been ebay searching
for a quality ride for a cheap price. I found this on ebay this
morning. Looks like a quality frame lugged construction from what I
can see. Any one that can give some feed back on this bike any info
is welcome.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7111837428&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

63 cm frame -- are you pretty tall???

Bill "lugged head" S.

In article <1099584768.RdjmmrRoFMp71AJUtAyYYA@teranews>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

I am looking to get back into riding, and have been ebay searching for a
quality ride for a cheap price. I found this on ebay this morning. Looks
like a quality frame lugged construction from what I can see. Any one that
can give some feed back on this bike any info is welcome.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7111837428&ssPageName=

STRK:MEWA:IT

Is it your size? 63 is for a tall person. Otherwise, it looks ok. I wouldn't
pay more than $100 for it, especially since you will also have to pay $40
to ship it.
---------------
Alex

Alex Rodriguez said:

In article <1099584768.RdjmmrRoFMp71AJUtAyYYA@teranews>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I am looking to get back into riding, and have been ebay searching
for a quality ride for a cheap price. I found this on ebay this
morning. Looks like a quality frame lugged construction from what I
can see. Any one that can give some feed back on this bike any info
is welcome.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7111837428&ssPageName=

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

STRK:MEWA:IT

Is it your size? 63 is for a tall person.

Maybe not that tall. Older bikes often had shorter top tubes, so this one may
actually fit the same size person as a contemporary 58-60cm. It would be wise
to ask about the top tube length.

Quoted message said:

Otherwise, it looks ok.
I wouldn't pay more than $100 for it, especially since you will also
have to pay $40

If you don't overpack, you can do Fedex Ground coast to coast for around $25.
I've done it a bunch of times myself, with my mountain bike (which is probably a
little heavier).

I still wouldn't pay over $100 though!

Matt O.

Ken Marcet said:

I am looking to get back into riding, and have been ebay searching for a
quality ride for a cheap price. I found this on ebay this morning. Looks
like a quality frame lugged construction from what I can see. Any one that
can give some feed back on this bike any info is welcome.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7111837428&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Nishiki made (make?) bikes in all price ranges. Some were extremely
good. That's a monster size though - are you really tall?

In article said:

Old bike. Must be 20 years or more. You won't be able to obtain spare or
replacement parts. Price? 25 USD or EUR.

If a bike is built to ISO specs why would there be a problem obtaining
parts. Bottom bracket replacement/servicing: No problem. Headset
(assuming ISO - perhaps one more knowledgeable would comment): Off to
the LBS. Even if it's spec'ed to JIS, replacements of that flavour can
easily be had. A different rear wheel may require spreading the drops a
few mm. No sweat on a steel frame.

The frame on this bike is of *good* quality. Hey, even the chainrings
are drilled. I'd wager with minimal attention and some grease the
components will suffice until such time as you consider upgrades. Note:
This is a *big* frame. Are you sure about the size required?

A digression: Recently, a friend of mine was unloading a similar
Nishiki for $50 cdn that had been ridden but once. From the bike store
he made it home, parked it in the garage and there it sat for 15+
years. The evening of it's purchase an irate girlfriend snipped all the
cables and slashed the tires. He was too demoralized to resurrect the
machine... It's a shame the frame was 53cm.

luke

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7111837428

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Is it your size? 63 is for a tall person.

Maybe not that tall. Older bikes often had shorter top tubes,
so this one may actually fit the same size person as a
contemporary 58-60cm. It would be wise to ask about the
top tube length.

It's the 35-inch standover height that you gotta watch out for...

--
"Bicycling is a healthy and manly pursuit with much
to recommend it, and, unlike other foolish crazes,
it has not died out." -- The Daily Telegraph (1877)

In article <[email hidden]>,

Sheldon Brown said:

Ken Marcet said:

I am looking to get back into riding, and have been ebay searching for a
quality ride for a cheap price. I found this on ebay this morning. Looks
like a quality frame lugged construction from what I can see. Any one that
can give some feed back on this bike any info is welcome.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7111837428&ssPageNam
e=STRK:MEWA:IT

That's definitely a good 'un, snap it up if it's your size! I believe
it's a 1983 model, back when the dollar was buying 260 yen, and Japanese
bikes were a fabulous bargain.

The shifing and braking parts are a bit primitive in fucntion, but the
workmanship and materials are all first rate. A comparable new frame
alone would probably cost close to a thousand bucks.

The brakes look like the usual fairly cobby Dia-Compe single pivots
(Nashbar may still have replacement house-brand brakes for this bike for
$20/pair; they did last week), but the derailleur is a Suntour arx and
it has the nifty Symmetric shifters (as the rear shift lever is moved,
the blocky body the levers sit on moves very slightly, which auto-trims
the front derailleur in concert with rear gear changes). This is very
functional non-indexed gear, and works great. Combined with a modern
Shimano freewheel, this setup should be good for very reliable shifting.

I have found several bikes of a similar vintage either at garage sales
or other venues, and they can be had there for a song. My usual MO is to
change the front brake for a dual-pivot, change to a recent 6- or
7-speed freewheel, and ride it. Add fenders and a rack, and you have a
very nice commuter/touring/Winter machine.

But then again, I just found a Trail-A-Bike at the last garage sale I
hit up. For C$10. Okay, it did need $25 worth of parts to complete it.
But considering the resale value of them, I was pretty happy.

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com
Verus de parvis; verus de magnis.

Ken Marcet said:

I am looking to get back into riding, and have been ebay searching for a
quality ride for a cheap price. I found this on ebay this morning. Looks
like a quality frame lugged construction from what I can see. Any one that
can give some feed back on this bike any info is welcome.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7111837428&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Ken

Last summer there was a bike shop in PA that sold a whole buinch of tall NOS Nishiki & Unevaga & Fuji 12 speeds on ebay. The Nishiki's were all in that same size and were going for about $80-90, they sold about 15-20 of the Nishiki's. I'd 've grabbed one if they had any new Nishiki's in my size.

Its a Japenenese bike which means its pretty durable but as far as weight goes and the components. The price is right but its sure to go up I wouldn;t pay more than $70 for it.

Bert L.am said:

"Ken Marcet" <[email hidden]> schreef in bericht
news:1099584768.RdjmmrRoFMp71AJUtAyYYA@teranews...

Quoted message said:

I am looking to get back into riding, and have been ebay searching for a
quality ride for a cheap price. I found this on ebay this morning. Looks
like a quality frame lugged construction from what I can see. Any one that
can give some feed back on this bike any info is welcome.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7111837428&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Quoted message said:

Ken

Old bike. Must be 20 years or more. You won't be able to obtain spare or
replacement parts. Price? 25 USD or EUR.

--
Posted by news://news.nb.nu

What do mean you won't find parts. Everything is standard sized, with an ample supply of compatible parts. It's not like a French bike.

LioNiNoiL_a t_Y a h 0 0_d 0 t_c 0 m says...

Quoted message said:

It's the 35-inch standover height that you gotta watch out for...

And the short top tube was part of the sport-touring design to give a
more upright riding position.

Ken Marcet said:

I am looking to get back into riding, and have been ebay searching for a
quality ride for a cheap price. I found this on ebay this morning. Looks
like a quality frame lugged construction from what I can see. Any one that
can give some feed back on this bike any info is welcome.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7111837428&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

That's a big bike. Unless you're 6' 1" or more it's probably too big. The
seat is too low as pictured, so it was probably too big for the previous
owner.

Also take note of the $40 shipping charge.

I'd get rid of the generator that rubs against the tire, and get a battery
powered light. Otherwise, it seems to be a good deal.

Art Harris

Ken Marcet said:

I am looking to get back into riding, and have been ebay searching for a
quality ride for a cheap price. I found this on ebay this morning. Looks
like a quality frame lugged construction from what I can see. Any one that
can give some feed back on this bike any info is welcome.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7111837428&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Quoted message said:

Ken

Actually, all the parts for a 1980's ten-speed are still being made :

5, 6, 7-speed freewheels sunrace, nashbar, and 1 more taiwan maker
freewheel hubs sunrace (many sellers)
rims mavic, araya
derailleurs any modern one will work
chain sram PC-48, 58, 68, shimano
bottom brackets UN-53, UN-73 (shimano), sugino, tange
stems 3T, nitto, nashbar house-brand
handlebars 3T, nitto, nashbar house-brand
27" tires nashbar, performance, harris(avocet)
(panaracer pasela 27", nashbar GT/2)
pedals mks sylvan
toe straps christophe nylon
toe clips ? mks still making them ?
handlebar tape cinelli (cork), tressoplast (cloth)
27" rims alex, maybe sun-ringle'
brakes many
downtube friction shifters ? rivendell ?
barcons shimano, rivendell/dia-compe "silver" shifters

so you see, dorothy, if you're not snotty about brands, spare parts
are still widely available for even a 40 year-old 10-speed bike.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Donald Gillies) said:

Ken Marcet said:

I am looking to get back into riding, and have been ebay searching for a
quality ride for a cheap price. I found this on ebay this morning. Looks
like a quality frame lugged construction from what I can see. Any one that
can give some feed back on this bike any info is welcome.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7111837428&ssPageName
=STRK:MEWA:IT

Quoted message said:

Ken

Actually, all the parts for a 1980's ten-speed are still being made :

5, 6, 7-speed freewheels sunrace, nashbar, and 1 more taiwan maker
freewheel hubs sunrace (many sellers)
rims mavic, araya
derailleurs any modern one will work
chain sram PC-48, 58, 68, shimano
bottom brackets UN-53, UN-73 (shimano), sugino, tange
stems 3T, nitto, nashbar house-brand
handlebars 3T, nitto, nashbar house-brand
27" tires nashbar, performance, harris(avocet)
(panaracer pasela 27", nashbar GT/2)
pedals mks sylvan
toe straps christophe nylon
toe clips ? mks still making them ?
handlebar tape cinelli (cork), tressoplast (cloth)
27" rims alex, maybe sun-ringle'
brakes many
downtube friction shifters ? rivendell ?
barcons shimano, rivendell/dia-compe "silver" shifters

so you see, dorothy, if you're not snotty about brands, spare parts
are still widely available for even a 40 year-old 10-speed bike.

Not only that, most of the replacement parts incorporate improvements
from the last 25 years. The freewheels have Hyperglide shaped teeth, the
brakes can be nice dual-pivots (like the Tektros Nashbar sells as its
house-brand long-reach), you can go clipless as cheaply as a new
clip-and-strap setup, and so forth.

This vintage of bike is a gold mine for finding durable, lightweight
bikes that are rideable as is, but can be upgraded to any level of
modernity you desire.

Even 27" (ISO 630) setups are quite usable, and the determined cyclist
can often change to their favourite 700C (sorry, ISO 622) wheelset with
a judicious choice of brakes. Indeed, one of the odder mods to my
current garage-sale 80s Bianchi was putting a fork from a short-reach
27" frame onto this bike, so that the short-reach RSX brake I wanted to
add to the bike would juuust reach the rim with some slight tinkering.

Fix old bikes,

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com
Verus de parvis; verus de magnis.

Arthur Harris said:

I'd get rid of the generator that rubs against the tire, and get a battery
powered light.

That's fighting talk, boy ;-)

"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:418d45f7.0@entanet...

Quoted message said:

Arthur Harris said:

I'd get rid of the generator that rubs against the tire, and get a

battery

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

powered light.

That's fighting talk, boy ;-)

Yeah I saw that generator, and thought I was stuck in a time warp! I haven't
seen anything like that in a LONG time, probably since I was a young lad!