mtb-timeline

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<div column 50% #intro>
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===== Nishiki =====



The Nishiki brand was created for West Coast Cycle in Los Angeles by Howie Cohen.  ((The Nishiki name, which is a type of Japanese [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saga_Nishiki|brocade]], was created by Kawamura Cyle, the original manufacturer of Nishiki bikes.)) ((Much info from [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nishiki_(bicycle_company)|wikipedia]]))  Nishiki mountain bikes were all made by Kawamura from 1982 -> 1987 ((The [[https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/390318-nishiki-serial-number-database.html|Nishiki Serial Number Database]] is a good resource for dates and manufacturers.))  Nishiki also suppplied mountain bikes to Canadian firm [[norco:start|Norco]] who then resold some of the same bikes into the US via [[sekai:start|Sekai]].
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In 1982, Cohen obtained the rights from Hollywood to sell Kuwahara BMX bikes with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial name.  ((Which begs the question: Did Nishiki sell Kuwahara muntain bikes, via [[apollo:start|Apollo]] in Canada, at the same time pushing the same bikes through [[norco:start|Norco]] of Canada?  See: [[https://www.bicycleretailer.com/north-america/2013/07/12/beloved-industry-figure-howie-cohen-74-dies|bicycleretailer]])) ((Point of trivia, in 1992 Howie Cohen starting working for Gary Fisher and in 1994 brokered the acquisition of Gary Fisher Mountain Bikes by Trek Bicycle Corporation.  See: [[https://classicjapanesebicycles.com/nishiki/]]))  Up until 1986, all Nishiki branded bicycles were made by Kawamara.  Today, the Nishiki brand continues to exist to sell bikes in particular markets.  For example, in the US, Dick's Sporting Goods uses Nishiki decals on their own department store imports, sold at their [[https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/f/nishiki-bikes|lowest tier]].




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<div column 45%>
{{howie.jpg?400|Howie Cohen with Yukio Kawamura}}
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Howie Cohen with Yukio Kawamura, 1964
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[[https://classicjapanesebicycles.com/nishiki/|classicjapanesebicycles]]
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<div column 50% #s1982>
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===== 1982 Nishiki Caribou ======

This is a dual branded bike built by Kuwamara for Nishiki and then given extra [[norco:start|Norco]] decals for the Canadian market.
The same bike can be seen on the Norco [[norco:start#s1982|page]].

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{{1982.jpg?300|1982 Caribou}}
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1982 Caribou
[[https://www.mtbr.com/threads/nishiki-caribou-by-norco-1984-what-to-do-warning-canadian-content.360075/|mtbr]]

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<div column 50% #s1983>
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===== 1983 Bushwacker =====



This is a **//triple//** branded Nishiki, with Nishiki and Norco decals and whose catalog states that it is built by Kawamura.
The same bike can be seen on the Norco [[norco:start#s1983|page]].  ((Bushwacker is a misspelling of [[https://www.dictionary.com/browse/bushwhack|bushwhack]] := to make one's way through woods by cutting at undergrowth, branches, etc.))


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{{1983.jpg?300|1983 Bushwacker}}
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1983 Bushwacker
[[https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesbondsv/albums/72157613538725170/|flickr]]

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<div column 50% #s1984>
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===== 1984 Kodiak =====


This is another Norco Nishiki, as it has a sticker on the non drive side chainstay that reads "Mountain series designed by Norco."  By this time Norco had already fully branded their own Nishikis, so perhaps this is a transitional branding.  In any case, the bicycle to the right was purchased in Canada.  There are very few early US Nishikis with decent drive side pictures.

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{{1984.jpg?300|1984 Kodiak}}
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1984 Kodiak
[[https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1127647-vintage-mtb-upright-bar-urban-bike-conversions-26.html#post21819163|bikeforums]]

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<div column 50% #s1985>
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===== 1985 Barbarian =====

Nishiki had perhaps six mountain models by this point ((ten models in 1989.))  Hopefully a catalog will show up to verify this.

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{{1985.jpg?300|1985 Barbarian }}
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1985 Barbarian
[[https://www.flickr.com/photos/29916553@N02/albums/72157630245137796|flickr]]

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<div column 50% #s1986>
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===== 1986 Cascade =====

This has the very unique [[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/suntour_xc_derailleur_3_pulley_system.html|SunTour XC 3 Pulley]] (1986).

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{{1986.jpg?300|1986 Cascade }}
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1986 Cascade
[[https://bikeindex.org/bikes/400546|bikeindex]]

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<div column 50% #s1987>
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===== 1987 Pinnacle =====

Deore XT.  The last year of Kuwamara production.

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{{1987.jpg?300|1987 Pinnacle }}
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1987 Pinnacle
[[https://1987nishiki.wordpress.com/]]


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<div column 50% #s1988>
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===== 1988 Backroads =====

SunTour XC Sport 7000 (1987-88)

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{{1988.jpg?300|1988 Backroads }}
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1988 Backroads
[[https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/346364352943354/|facebook]]

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<div column 50% #s1989>
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===== 1989 Pueblo =====

Shimano Exage Motion (1989)

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{{1989.jpg?300|1989 Pueblo }}
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1989 Pueblo
[[https://www.tropicar-guadeloupe.fr/ProductDetail.aspx?iid=33630925&pr=66.88|tropicar-guadeloupe]]

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<div column 50% #s1990>
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===== 1990 Alien ACX =====

Richard Cunningham design((R.C. started [[mantis:start|Mantis]] and was the editor of Mountain Bike Action an Pinkbike.)).  Al and steel bolted together.  Tange Switchblades, Deore XT.

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{{1990.jpg?300|1990 Alien ACX }}
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1990 Alien ACX
[[https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1990-nishiki-alien-acx-1971375867||worthpoint]]

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<div column 50% #s1991>
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===== 1991 Manitoba =====

Shimano Exage 200GS (1990-91).

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{{1991.jpg?300|1991 Manitoba }}
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1991 Manitoba
[[https://www.pinterest.com/pin/331296116324149206/|pinterest]]

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