Nishiki Trim Master from 80's ?

[Peuf]

Hi everyone,

This is my latest ebay purchase, mainly bought it because of the Shimano 600 Arabesque and the Cinelli Handlebar.

According to the seller it is believed to be a Nishiki Trim Master from early 1980's. It has been resprayed by the previous owner and owned since 1988 by the seller, but he never seen the decals. He used it for triathlons and trainning until 1991. He sais the frame is believed to be a Nishiki Trim Master circa 1984 with Tange tube Champion 2.

That's according to the seller, but looking at the frame this is definitely not a high-end one, lugs are pretty generic, and the dropouts are not forged but stamped (which for me put the frame in the lower-end category). After a quick research on Nikishi Tim Master frames they seems to be high-end with forged dropouts and fancier lugs.

So I have no idea what this bike is and why someone would put some high end Shimano 600 on a low-end frame. All I could find is a ZPO-02 number on one of the dropouts. If anyone have a clue or could help with the identification of the bike I would be very grateful !

Here are the specs
Shimano 600 Arabesque front and back derailleurs, shifters and brake levers
Shimano Tourney brakes callipers
Rims Araya 700c (according to the seller didn't checked yet)
Saddle Healing Aero (can't find anything on that)
Handlebar Cinelli Campione Del Monde
SR Stem
SR Apex crankset

 

[CTK]

Cant help with the ID but plenty of room for big tyres- so could make a comfy commuter.

 

[Peuf]

Re:

That's probably how it's gonna end up

 

[Little Al]

Some years back some of the larger Decathlon store that had more choice re bikes sold Nishiki brand for a time ISTR they moved on selling Fuji thats got to be mid /late 80's

 

[Ranchslider]

Re:

Healing was a bike manufacturer in Australia and New Zealand until the mid-late 80s. There are images of a BMX with a 'Healing Aero' branded saddle here:

http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/healing_industries/96015

Although Healing weren't known for lugged frames in NZ at least. But to keep the Kiwi possibility going, the frame does look a bit similar to a Morrison Monark, and the Z in that serial number could denote NZ manufacture:

https://hadland.wordpress.com/2012/07/0 ... -the-1980s

https://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/cyclin ... 839284.htm

There is an obvious difference with the shifter locations however the frame could have been modified when it was resprayed, or could be a later model. Pic of a sick Monark with DT shifters:

http://ultrastu.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/

The rear dropouts on the Monarks have two eyelets, but on your frame the serial number almost runs off the end - maybe the dropouts have been modded and the serial is actually incomplete?

of course why anyone would want to bring a Healing or Morrison bike to the UK is anyone's guess, especially back in the 80s.

 

[Peuf]

Re:

Thank you guys for the reply !

And special thanks to Ranchslider for your thoughts ! This is beyond what I was expecting !
The New Zealand / Australia could make sense, even the Shimano equipment which is japanese would match since Japan is very close to these countries.

I guess it's never gonna be really possible to know the identity of the frame, anyway it's been completely stripped down I am gonna keep the Shimano 600 for a better frame and this one is being resprayed and downgraded to a skylark / uniglide groupset for the moment

 

[Egocar]

Re:

The bike is the most beautiful classic I want to ride it.

 

[Peuf]

Re: Re:

The bike is the most beautiful classic I want to ride it.

The renovation is almost done it's a bit different but should ride fine !