Just to add to what Ed has said, I have a c.1981 Nishiki Ultimate. The frame construction and lugs are similar to Bob's ONP and the Superbe, except that the dropouts and braze-ons are Campagnolo and the components are NR. Mine doesn't have the "N" BB shell. My fork crown is semi-sloping with the blades brazed in, not integrated like the Superbe and ONP. As far as I know, the Ultimate was not listed in any catalogue. The Superbe was the top of the line catalogue Nishiki when I bought my bike.
John Betmanis Woodstock, ON Canada
At 07:56 AM 06/05/2007 -0400, Ed Braley wrote:
>Hi Bob,
>
>As I understand it, the "Order Nishiki Pro", or O.N.P., was the Pro shop
>frame from this company. Perhaps someone has more details in that regard.
>But I can say that they offered at least one complete-bike based on that
>frameset.
>
>I have a Nishiki Superbe from the early eighties that has many of the same
>frame details as your ONP, including the fastback seat stays, and the
>stylistic "N" cutout in the bottom bracket. My frame has a chrome plated
>sloping fork crown, chrome SunTour vertical dropouts and chrome Tange fork
>ends. There's a set of derailleur cable guides brazed on the top of the
>bottom bracket shell. The head lugs are similar to those on your bike. My
>bike is pearl white with gold lettering, a red head tube and red seat tube
>bands/panel. Looks pretty sharp. There's a "designed by Norco" decal on the
>left chainstay. So I believe that it's an ONP with a Norco component spec. I
>bought it from a Canadian on eBay a couple of years ago, it was all
>original. I've overhauled it and swapped a few parts to make it fit me
>better, but it still looks essentially stock.
>
>The seat tube measures 52cm c-c, top tube is 54.5cm c-c, chainstays are
>40.5cm, front center is 59cm. Somewhat relaxed head and seat angles.
>
>The bike came with SunTour Superbe derailleurs, Royal Gran Compe 57mm reach
>sidepull calipers with recessed mounting, Sugino Super Mighty Crank with
>drilled chainrings, KKT Pro-Vic pedals, a fluted Sugino Mighty two-bolt seat
>post, Winpista bar and stem, Sunshine Pro Am low flange hubs with silver
>anodized Araya 700C rims and double butted spokes. The rear hub has an '80
>date code. And the flutes on the seat post and the recesses in the crank
>arms are painted red to match the frame panels and headtube.
>
>It probably represents some of Japan's finest work from the period, and may
>have been the top of the line bike sold by Nishiki through Norco in Canada.
>
>Ed Braley
>Falmouth, ME
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Bob Freitas" <freitas1@pacbell.net>
>To: "CLASSIC RENDEZVOUS" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
>Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2007 1:40 AM
>Subject: [CR]Nishiki Pro O.N.P.
>
>
>> I have posted some photos of a Nishiki Pro ONP that I picked up
>> recently.Anyone know what the story on the ONP was? I have had 2 earlier
>> ones that were built very much the same but with slotted BBs.
>> BOB FREITAS
>> PM in MILL VALLEY, CA USA
>>
>>
>> http://www.wooljersey.com/