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A road test: Nishiki Modulus

3 things about this bike:

12/19/03 I took the Nishiki Modulus, early 1990's vintage, out for a test ride recently. Bike was all stock so far as I know except for a replaced seat.

OLD SCHOOL TOUCHES: The bike has a lugged frame. Yes, by the early 1990's lugged frames were nearly gone the way of the typewriter, but this example still has them, probably because of its lower position in the Nishiki lineup. Fans of welding will disagree, but well-finished lugs can truly make a frame, and this one is no exception. Also of import is the fork, and this one has thinner, more aerodynamic blades than its bygones did just a few years before. Downtube shifters are Shimano "index" shifter rear, but friction shift up front, with friction capability to the rear by adjusting a ring on the shifter mount. The rear derailieur hanger is built into the frame, an extension of the right rear dropout, and the sealed bearing wheels, though equipped with 700c rims, are made for use with schraeder valves.

FRAME: Double-butted Tange number 900 chromoly tubing and 4130 for the fork up front. Painted a deep glossy blue, with an almost metallic quality.

Before riding what struck me was the frame. Perhaps this sounds absurd as the frame is the backbone of any bike, but several things stood out upon this frame. First, the sizing. The height of the headtube made me think the bike would be too tall for me, but it wasn't. The bike rode just right even in the drops and took leaning corners in stride. In addition, the Nishiki's dropouts appeared to be drilled for built-in chain tensioners, and were forged, not stamped as on a "boom bike" era Nishiki Rally I have hanging in my garage... That being said, the water bottle mounts were also a nice touch. My Schwinn Le Tour from 1984-85 only has one. This bike has two, the standard still employed by bicycles manufactured today; one on the inside of the down tube the other on the front of the seat tube.

Finally, the bridge between the seatstays where the rear brake brake is mounted was well-shaped, almost delicate in appearence, and the seat-stays themselves thin and strong, with a good compromise in wheel clearence; not tight enough to compete with a wanna-be race bike but tight enough to keep the bike light on its feet, with a short wheelbase.

COMPONENTS: The Modulus was down towards the entry-level of the Nishiki line by the time this bike was new, but it still came with plenty of stuff. Shimano had beat out Suntour as the maker of choice by then, so the bike came with Shimano EXAGE EX components, including EXAGE ACTION aero brake levers and brake calipers and downtube shifters. The front shifter was friction, the back 7 gears setup as "indexed" meaning the shifter clicked into a predetermined position for each gear. Friction shifting the rear is possible by adjusting a movable ring that fit around the shift lever screw and mounting. No name stem, but the bike came with really nice drop bars, lightweight and with bigger drops and flat hand spots. Both wheels are quick release and have aluminum 700x23c rims. Nice thing about the rims is they can fit shraeder valves. Although they will fit the smaller diameter presta valves, it is nice to know they take both, just one of many old-school touches the bike has. The chain tensioners are a plus, as are the toe clips and pedals. The only component I have a beef with is the Shimano biopace chainrings.

BIOPACE: Bipace chainrings are a mid to late 1980's invention which are oval, not round -- pulling more chain on the downstroke of one's pedal. I usually don't like them. But it isn't what you think. I actually like the fact that they make it easier going up hills or pounding on flats streets. But they often feel odd as they define an oval rather than a circle, something a cyclist isn't used too. Plus, they look wierd. All in all I believe the biopace to be original equipment -- they were used around the time the bike was made and even today NOS bios still pop up at the local bike shop. Perhaps the problem with the biopace is in its history -- it is a way of cheating on bicycling, the way a hidden notecard with the answers was cheating on a test in school. Biopace, whatever its advantages and disadvantages, for better or worse, was the "safety lever" of the 1980's and 90's, with all that implies. Generally found on lower-level bikes, it was something no "real" cyclist would ride with. Yet I know a few who do. Would I ride nothing else? No, and the biopace might end up getting replaced -- but for now it stays.

CAN'T BE BEAT: One report has the original price for this early 1990 Modulus was around $300. Another says $500. I'm betting it was somewhere between the two, which was a lot of change for a basic bicycle nearly thirteen years ago. Yet, aspects of this bike cannot be found on today's "entry level" road bikes costing twice as much -- nor even mid-level bikes. The quality steel frame is light and responsive, well-made and finished, and [according to a frame sticker on the base of the downtube] made in the U.S. of A. -- something many new bicycles costing twice as much today cannot say, as even mid-level bikes by Trek and other companies are outsourcing frame production to the Taiwanese, who have picked up the lightweight frame-building for which Japan is also well known. Odd, in a Japanese company like Nishiki -- but a welcome surprise.

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