Nishiki (bicycle) - Serial Numbers

Serial Numbers

Serial Numbers for Nikishi bikes were decoded by Tom Marshall, Canadian engineer, racer and runner, using a trial and error database methodology.

Kawamura manufactured frames (1972–1987): These frames used a serial number XYZZZZZ format where:

  • X is the market (C = Canada (pre-1985) K = USA (pre 1985) W = USA (1985–1987)).
  • Y is the last digit of the manufacturing calendar year (A =1, B = 2, C = 3… J = 0. Exception is letter S, used on all frames prior to 1975).
  • ZZZZZ is a five or six digit number, possibly representing a sequential frame manufacturing number for the year (or era in the case of pre 1975 frames).
Example 1: KA24587 is the 24,587th frame produced in 1981 for the US market.
Example 2: CG23117 is the 23,117th frame produced in 1977 for the Canadian market.
Example 3: WE54612 is the 54,612th frame produced in 1985 for the US market.

Giant manufactured frames (1980-1986*): With a date code generally stamped on the dropout on the drive side of the bike, these frames used a two part serial number in a G MM YY format, where:

  • G = Giant.
  • MM = month (01 = Jan, 02 = Feb, etc.).
  • YY = year (80 = 1980, 81 = 1981, etc.).
Example: G0384 is a Giant-manufactured frame from March 1984.

Read more about this topic:  Nishiki (bicycle)

Famous quotes containing the words serial and/or numbers:

    “The serial number of a human specimen is the face, that accidental and unrepeatable combination of features. It reflects neither character nor soul, nor what we call the self. The face is only the serial number of a specimen.”
    —Milan Kundera (b. 1929)

    “The barriers of conventionality have been raised so high, and so strangely cemented by long existence, that the only hope of overthrowing them exists in the union of numbers linked together by common opinion and effort ... the united watchword of thousands would strike at the foundation of the false system and annihilate it.”
    —Mme. Ellen Louise Demorest 1824–1898, U.S. women’s magazine editor and woman’s club movement pioneer. Demorest’s Illustrated Monthly and Mirror of Fashions, p. 203 (January 1870)