Hello Jody -
The wrap around seatstays mean Nishiki Comp. (also called the Competition). In the 73 - 78 lineup I believe (and have been told by others) that only the Comp had the wrap arounds. Half chrome fork and stays? The comp was the highest version that many shops carried, but there was the professional that came out in the mid or late 70s (I believe). I believe there also was a Superbe model above the Comp, late in the 70s. equipped with Superbe components.
However, the Comp did not have a triple, or at least not in my experience. I believe for some years it did come with Sun Tour barcons (perhaps an option?). At least my brown 73? has them. The approx. 75 yellow Comp I once had used downtube shifters. You may be right, perhaps there was a touring mate to the Comp? or someone substituted the triple when confronted with Whiskey Hill? ;-) . I spent some time staring at Nishikis in 77 and 78 and at that time they had one or two full touring version but as I recall not at the level of the Comp.
I have wished for some time that someone would volunteer to do a Nishiki site. Lots of them sold to folks who coveted Italian but couldn't afford more.
Sounds like a good find! Cheers,
Skip Echert Renton, WA
At 05:03 AM 1/18/2003 -0800, you wrote:
>Hello All...I just dragged home another jewel. Maybe someone can help me
>ID it. Here goes:
>
>Early Nishiki.
>
>Light enough to make me think it is CroMo
>
>Early style "chopstick-script" headbadge.
>
>Crude cast lugs identical to those on a "Professional" I used to have.
>
>SunTour Cyclone derailleuers with BarCon shifters, braze-on guides on the
>downtube look original.
>
>"Wrap-around " seatstays.
>
>Sugino Mighty-Comp triple crankset.
>
>Maybe this is some "higher-end" touring model?
>
>
>
>Any guesses? , Thanks
>
>
>
>Jody Fonseca,
>
>still dumpster divin' in Whiskey Hill, CA