My grandfather left me his bicycle but has no other info. The serial starts with K and I think S, which indicates an early model (it might say KJ). Based on other forums I think this could be a 1975 model, the first production year of Shimano. Can anyone please help me ID this bicycle model, year, and value?
by coopenator
5 Comments
I’m gonna guess it’s a Custom Sport, mixte frame.
It’s a double bar bike. Some of my favorite bikes . They didn’t make to many of these men
The Shimano 600 EX derailleur was produced from 1978 to 1981.
https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/shimano_600_ex_gs_arabesque_derailleur_6210.htm
Given the [serial number code](https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/390318-nishiki-serial-number-database.html#post6205880), KJ may be a 1980
Lower end Japanese bikes from the bike boom don’t have much value unless its a very lightweight model. This one has steel
rims (a sign of a cheaper bike) amd a dry rotted tire.
If you live near a big city where a hip young person might want a pretty vintage bike, maybe you could get over $100
Look on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace to see what people are asking for a vintage road bike with a “mixte” frame.
It’s not a 1975. Here is a 1975 ad for the Custom Sport listed on eBay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/265994681178
The women’s frame is not the twin tube mixte design.
On the other hand the 1981 catalog shows a women’s Custom Sport that is almost identical to your bicycle.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesbondsv/6145997892/in/album-72157627665924840/
I find this shape of bike interesting as there is a bike builder called ‘English cycles’. He does frames similar to this which I thought were very original but they don’t seem to be!