Some folks will do ANYTHING to add "value" to a bike for sale (e-stay content)

[incorrigible]

View attachment 744188 View attachment 744190

 

[Miggy]

Lol I wish they were everywhere, congrats on such a rare find.
Folks here did believe it was a fake bike.
All the information I found on the Raleigh alien is on this thread and on mtbr.com site under the same name... Miggy Mann.
Not a whole lot of info out there.

 

[BiketoBasics]

No I think this guy has a little more info than what I found on Wikipedia.​

Copied from site.

Derby[edit]​

From 1989 through 2001, Derby International marketed bikes in the United States under the Nishiki as well as Univega and Raleigh brand names. Some of the all terain bikes and mountain bike models were designed in partnership with famed mountain bike designer and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame member R. Cunningham and have his name on the frames. These Nishiki models, though manufactured outside Japan (e.g., in Taiwan, by Giant Bicycles and possibly in Italy by Colnago, Olmo or Viner) often carried the name Nashiki and some of the same model names as had been used on the Kuwahara-built bicycles.[7]The brand name Nishiki was retired by Derby in 2001 in North America.[8] As of 2010, Nishiki-branded bicycles, manufactured by Accell Group were available for sale again in the U.S. at Dick's Sporting Goods. Dick's had obtained licensing rights to the Nishiki Bike brand in the U.S.

Currently (2013), Nishiki Europe, an unrelated group of European distributors markets bicycle models in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. Nishiki bikes had previously been also marketed in Norway, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Estonia.

MODELS[EDIT]​

• Apache
• Aero, Aero II
• Alamosa
• Alouette
• Alien
• Anasazi
• Ariel
• Arrow Speed
• Arroyo
• Barbarian
• Backroads
• Blazer
• Bombardier
• Bushwhaker
• Carrera
• Cascade
• Century
• Cervino (possibly uncataloged)
• Citi Sport
• Colorado
• Comp, Comp II and Comp III
• Competition
• Continental
• Custom Sport
• Cresta
• Crossroads
• Expedition (made in Taiwan)
• Gran Sport
• Gran Tour 15 (probable precursor to Ultra Tour 1
• International (earlier named Kokusai)
• Katmandu
• Kodiak
• Kokushi (later renamed International)
• Landau
• Linear
• Maricopa
• Manitoba
• Marina
• Maxima (possibly uncataloged, frame only)
• Medalist
• Meridian
• Modulus
• Mountain
• NFS Alpha
• NFS Beta
• NFS Altron
• Odyssey
• Olympiad (American Eagle)
• Olympic, Olympic Royal
• Prestige
• Professional
• Pueblo
• Race Master
• Rally
• Regal
• Riviera
• Road Compe
• Road Master
• Rockhound
• Royale
• Safari
• Saga (Cunningham Design drop bar ATB)
• Sebring
• Seral
• Semi-Pro (American Eagle)
• Sport, Custom Sport
• sTORM
• Stony Point (mountain bike)
• Super-five
• Superbe
• Team Issue
• Timbuk
• Tri-A
• Triathlon
• Trim Master
• Ultimate
• Ultima (possibly uncatalogued)
• Ultra Tour (uncatalogued, possibly specified by one store in Southern California, USA)
• Ultra Tour 18 (probable successor to Gran Tour 15)
• Westwood

SERIAL NUMBERS[EDIT]​

Serial Numbers for Nishiki 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 XYZZZZZformat 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 marketExample 2: CG23117 is the 23,117th frame produced in 1977 for the Canadian marketExample 3: WE54612 is the 54,612th frame produced in 1985 for the US market

Slightly old thread, but I was researching Nishiki here on this site and noticed they made a Manitoba model?! Definetely never heard of that one before.

 

[Jesper]

While researching my Nishiki this thread was in the list so I looked.

I have no idea as to value of these "Alien" bikes; but considering they are mass produced frames from larhe manufacturers i would have a problem calling it "very rare" based only on visual experience only ans not having done searches for them continuously for 25 yrs noting frame numbers to account for any repaints, multiple owners, etc.

Terms like common, uncommon, fairly rare, rare, very rare, one of a kind get used all too often in an incorrect mannner due to their ambiguity and an owner's perception. Without provenance/evidence I find that most claims of rarity are quite skewed and are often downright misrepresentations of the true nature of an item's classification. I own unique/bespoke/custom bikes that are truly one of a kind; as well as bikes that, although they are not often seen in the wild or online, were still made in large quantities based on their production and marketing. I'm not a mtb guy so that bike has no interest or value to me other than as a rider; and I already found one for sale. Truly rare or very rare? I think not. Uncommon, yes; regardless of badging.

I found a nice example of the skewing of rarity based only on a bike being 50 years old, and nothing else. Mid '70s mass produced Raleigh entry level sport "racer"/"touring" bike in an unserviced (not even wiped down!) condition with tore up bar wrap/electrical tape, rust, scratches all over, etc. for a mere $1700 in the US. Thankfully the shipping was free! The same model bike can be found on CL for $100 -$200 in as good or better condition.