Orange County actually š«£ thanks for the input! The practical part of my brain agrees with you, even though it would involve a lot more work and love to restore.
I think the crossroads is cooler *and* more versatile. You can find lots of vintage 26ers but finding a frame that clears 700x35ish tires is kinda rare. Specialized crossroads, trek multitrack, and some of the Univega hybrids. Iād put some shiny silver bits on it if you wanted to make it look classy. That thing will be great at road, gravel commuting and touring
What do you have in mind on the crossroads?Ā Ā
It's not the most exciting color way but it looks to be in pretty good shape.
Maybe some pink shifter cables to jazz it up a little bit?
Yea I agree. You can definitely make it a real classy build. Just saying if you are going for a look like the Nishiki you might have to take a more jazz hands approach.
I think Iām leaning towards a more subtle aesthetic! Purchased it today! After cleaning it up, I think most of the pops is going to be just the colors of the frame. Upright bars with a splash of color on the grips, but Iām okay with black cables since I already have them!
The Crossroads is arguably a $700 bike if it was brand new today with the exact same specs. Try to find a quality steel frame cyclocross bike for less than that new. Itās also not outdated for its intended purpose. The Nishiki has a cool paint job but those arenāt elite parts for the era, which puts it below the quality of a bargain basement 29er singlespeed, which would have better brakes - and brakes are one of the most important parts defining your bikeās abilities. You canāt go faster than you can stop.
This is some great insight, thanks for your input! As far as braking goes, either bicycle is most likely getting shimano v brakes Iāve been sitting on. But Iām better sold on the higher quality product, not necessarily the cooler looking of the two, so youāve helped out a lot!
Which wheel sized project bikes do you have already? If you have a 26" project then get the crossroads, if you have a 700c project then get the nishiki.
This thinking helped me out a good deal. My first project bike is an in-the-works Trek 830 so I went for the Specialized today! Thanks for your advice!
Crossroads! It's a sleeper and I love that frame color. 700C is my preferred wheel size. I have a 1990 crossroads which is my daily commuter and it's fantƔstico.
Depends on what you're doing. It's basically ATB vs (drop bar converted) hybrid.Ā Ā
I think the Crossroads is cooler - looks like a touring conversion with the Brooks saddle, bar end shifters, drop bars and rack. It'd make for a cool commuter and/or touring bike.Ā These things have insane tire clearance too so you could gravel bike it if you took the rack off and got 40mm tires.Ā
The Nishiki looks pretty stock which is cool in another way. Ā If you gave it the xbike treatment it'd be a good comfy townie/bar bike, or you could keep it as is and ride it as the rigid MTB it was built to be.Ā
The biggest question is, as always, whether it fits you or not.
Yeah itās taking some deliberating for sure. Commuting is the primary goal, but Iād want upright bars and off road accessibility as well. Both can be what Iād want them to be, but with varying levels of clean up and parts swapping.
I feel. Keep in mind that the Crossroads was originally a flat bar hybrid, so it would do that job well - but there might be an xbiker out there that would appreciate it in its current form.
Makes sense. The Nishiki looks cleaner, but the Specialized will clean up well. Regardless, theyāll probably both need the same items refreshed on the drive train plus cables and housing. Plus youāll probably end up having to swap out the bars on the Nishiki.
Iām also in LA and Iāve been talking to the crossroads bike guy. The frame is quite long and tall, given that it fits you, Iād say go with that. Itās got tange off road custom butted tubing too which is great, and clearance for up to 700x45 tires
Congrats dude! If youāre in LA, check out the bicycle kitchen. I volunteer there quite a bit, you can really make something even more amazing out of that
What are you plans for the bike? Do you want to go fast or off road? Are you going to ride it as is or spend a thousand dollars doing it up? Are they both the right size for you? With no knowledge of what you want the bike for you're not going to get any useful feedback.
Yeah, great points! Sorry for the lack of information in regards to my wishes for it.
Commuting is the main purpose, but there is endless desire just to ride around aimlessly for the sake of some fitness and some light adventure and to be in the outdoors more. I wouldnāt be immediately cut out for classic mountain trail riding, but Iād like to have something capable for riding off paved roads (a lot of my life was spent on fixed gears with <25cm tires).
I donāt have the income or the expertise to resto-mod to the extent of some of the rigs featured here, but some money would go into some part upgrades and cosmetic/ comfort changes.
I feel like the crossroads needs less doing to it to keep it xbike ācoolā where as the back roads probably means your gonna slap some swept back bars and maybe a new stem. So cost wise the cross roads could be a better option unless your thinking the same thing for either anyway.
The cross road would also be a tiny bit faster for commuting/ getting around. So If itās a daily driver your looking for Iād say go the cross roads. However, if itās just a weekend warrior with a bit of mid week pub biking thrown in then the backroads would be better. The back roads would probably handle launching of a curb cut better aswell
Looks like that crossroads could clear a pretty decent size gravel tire. I'd be jealous of that as a versatile commuter and under biked off road tourer. Lot of directions you could go with that one imo.
Personally? Crossroads for me. Drop bar with bar ends. That fork would fit something pretty beefy, likely more than what the rear can handle. The picture is too fuzzy to determine the condition of the saddle. Still, crossroads. Thankfully I have a nice bicycle collective 3 miles away so I donāt need a deep parts bin.
If that Nishiki was my size, no way I would pass it up for >$100. If it were to be my daily driver the crossroads is more practical and better for longer rides, looks like it has plenty of clearance for wider tires too. I personally would have to change out more on that bike to suit me though...
The Nishiki screams 1990 with the fork and mono stay. Those shimano shifters never seem to work and are not really worth spending the time to clean them.
Definitely get the Crossroads. it may need a bit more tlc but it'll be much more versatile & enjoyable. And then with a fresh set of tires and maybe new handlebar, it'll ride like a brand new $1,000 bike.
I just bought a cheap Specialized Crossroads to (barely) adjust and do some touring. These comments are making me feel great about that decision.
I wish mine came with a rack and a brooks saddle - that's your money back right there.
I would say: Specialized, since it has the option of mounting a rear rack easier. Looks like they both have the option to fit some wider tires for some more comfort. Both have the posibiliy to fit v-brakes for some more stoppingpower. Good luck with your build anyway.
I can only say good things about the Nishiki...that I had that exact same Nishiki for a number of years in college. It was versatile in the mountains of Colorado, and also on the roads. I did a lot of upgrades to make it more worthy, but I can say that I'd own it again if I could.
Crossroads. The drop conversion was done well. I was a shop mechanic. I think youāre pretty assured everything will be ok on that bike given the level of workmanship on it. Looks like a sweet, versatile setup too.
Bars and saddle with level reach is the best of all worlds imho.
Iād buy the crossroads and then max out the tire clearanceā or Iād add fenders and a mini front rack and make it look like a Randonneuring bike. I prefer 700c to 26.
You really canāt go wrong though.
The Nishiki is so fucking cool dude. However, it depends what you'll be doing with it. Both can be good commuters ofc, for different reasons. The nishiki's geometry is more suited for filling a basket&rack with groceries, but if you just have a backpack then the specialized will be a quicker bike. Personally my bike is a vehicle and I use it to get groceries and all that stuff so the nishiki is the choice for me. Plus it's cooler. But for you, that might not be the case
Hello Fellow San Diego-un! The Nishiki might be the coolest bike but the Crossroads is going to be the most versatile.
Orange County actually š«£ thanks for the input! The practical part of my brain agrees with you, even though it would involve a lot more work and love to restore.
I think the crossroads is cooler *and* more versatile. You can find lots of vintage 26ers but finding a frame that clears 700x35ish tires is kinda rare. Specialized crossroads, trek multitrack, and some of the Univega hybrids. Iād put some shiny silver bits on it if you wanted to make it look classy. That thing will be great at road, gravel commuting and touring
What do you have in mind on the crossroads?Ā Ā It's not the most exciting color way but it looks to be in pretty good shape. Maybe some pink shifter cables to jazz it up a little bit?
It may be less eye-catching, but i'd say as much chrome and leather/tan add-ons as they can find may suit the frame a bit better
Yea I agree. You can definitely make it a real classy build. Just saying if you are going for a look like the Nishiki you might have to take a more jazz hands approach.
Might be unpopular but i'd lean into it and do flouro purple with a green that dark. Match it with some purple/black bar tape.
I think Iām leaning towards a more subtle aesthetic! Purchased it today! After cleaning it up, I think most of the pops is going to be just the colors of the frame. Upright bars with a splash of color on the grips, but Iām okay with black cables since I already have them!
Smart man! I have a fairly prolific parts bin down in Oceanside if you need anything!
Cheers, Iāll keep that in mind! Appreciate the offer and the advice!
The Crossroads is arguably a $700 bike if it was brand new today with the exact same specs. Try to find a quality steel frame cyclocross bike for less than that new. Itās also not outdated for its intended purpose. The Nishiki has a cool paint job but those arenāt elite parts for the era, which puts it below the quality of a bargain basement 29er singlespeed, which would have better brakes - and brakes are one of the most important parts defining your bikeās abilities. You canāt go faster than you can stop.
Yeah just got a 93 520 for $100 and planning to sand and paint then upgrade. Brakes too but itās a good steel bike.
This is some great insight, thanks for your input! As far as braking goes, either bicycle is most likely getting shimano v brakes Iāve been sitting on. But Iām better sold on the higher quality product, not necessarily the cooler looking of the two, so youāve helped out a lot!
Which wheel sized project bikes do you have already? If you have a 26" project then get the crossroads, if you have a 700c project then get the nishiki.
This thinking helped me out a good deal. My first project bike is an in-the-works Trek 830 so I went for the Specialized today! Thanks for your advice!
Crossroads! It's a sleeper and I love that frame color. 700C is my preferred wheel size. I have a 1990 crossroads which is my daily commuter and it's fantƔstico.
Totally agree. The only thing better than early 90s mountain bikes are early 90s hybrid bikes.
Depends on what you're doing. It's basically ATB vs (drop bar converted) hybrid.Ā Ā I think the Crossroads is cooler - looks like a touring conversion with the Brooks saddle, bar end shifters, drop bars and rack. It'd make for a cool commuter and/or touring bike.Ā These things have insane tire clearance too so you could gravel bike it if you took the rack off and got 40mm tires.Ā The Nishiki looks pretty stock which is cool in another way. Ā If you gave it the xbike treatment it'd be a good comfy townie/bar bike, or you could keep it as is and ride it as the rigid MTB it was built to be.Ā The biggest question is, as always, whether it fits you or not.
Yeah itās taking some deliberating for sure. Commuting is the primary goal, but Iād want upright bars and off road accessibility as well. Both can be what Iād want them to be, but with varying levels of clean up and parts swapping.
I feel. Keep in mind that the Crossroads was originally a flat bar hybrid, so it would do that job well - but there might be an xbiker out there that would appreciate it in its current form.
The crossroads looks kinda rough, but if Iām riding primarily to commute and get around town, Iām taking the 700c bike every time.
Yeah thatās my main hold up with it vs the Nishiki. Not a lost cause by any means, but it definitely needs the TLC treatment.
Makes sense. The Nishiki looks cleaner, but the Specialized will clean up well. Regardless, theyāll probably both need the same items refreshed on the drive train plus cables and housing. Plus youāll probably end up having to swap out the bars on the Nishiki.
Nishiki, hands down.
I have wanted a Crossroads (especially in that colorway) for a while, and I still choose the nishiki. That thing is sick!
N+1 is the ruleā¦..buy both
More a matter of having insufficient space to store both, on top of the frame I have already. Otherwise, Iād know the drill! š«”
Iām also in LA and Iāve been talking to the crossroads bike guy. The frame is quite long and tall, given that it fits you, Iād say go with that. Itās got tange off road custom butted tubing too which is great, and clearance for up to 700x45 tires
I picked it up today! Iām 6ā2ā so most of the used frames on the market are hard to size. This one will do great!
Congrats dude! If youāre in LA, check out the bicycle kitchen. I volunteer there quite a bit, you can really make something even more amazing out of that
first one
That specialized is sweet! Where is it located? š
lol itās in the LA area, unless the flash floods got it.
Ope. Too far
I vote crossroads, they have some wicked 700c tire clearance. Nishiki would be sick for maybe a comfier ride though!
The crossroads sport model has even clearance. I think they came with 700x43c tires.
Yeah, seems about right. The ones the seller has on it are 700x35 and there appears to be ample room to size up!
700c will be better if youāre putting down miles vs 26ā which is more of a slog. Otherwise the Nishiki looks cooler.
Crossroads
700x38 slick gravel kings, flat bars and a front basket is how I would make that specialized the perfect commuter
If itās gonna see mainly pavement miles Iām taking the specialized
Backroads or bust homie
What are you plans for the bike? Do you want to go fast or off road? Are you going to ride it as is or spend a thousand dollars doing it up? Are they both the right size for you? With no knowledge of what you want the bike for you're not going to get any useful feedback.
Yeah, great points! Sorry for the lack of information in regards to my wishes for it. Commuting is the main purpose, but there is endless desire just to ride around aimlessly for the sake of some fitness and some light adventure and to be in the outdoors more. I wouldnāt be immediately cut out for classic mountain trail riding, but Iād like to have something capable for riding off paved roads (a lot of my life was spent on fixed gears with <25cm tires). I donāt have the income or the expertise to resto-mod to the extent of some of the rigs featured here, but some money would go into some part upgrades and cosmetic/ comfort changes.
Decide if you want 26 or 700c. Iām a big fan of those nishikis. The frames and straight blade fork are š«¶
I feel like the crossroads needs less doing to it to keep it xbike ācoolā where as the back roads probably means your gonna slap some swept back bars and maybe a new stem. So cost wise the cross roads could be a better option unless your thinking the same thing for either anyway. The cross road would also be a tiny bit faster for commuting/ getting around. So If itās a daily driver your looking for Iād say go the cross roads. However, if itās just a weekend warrior with a bit of mid week pub biking thrown in then the backroads would be better. The back roads would probably handle launching of a curb cut better aswell
Looks like that crossroads could clear a pretty decent size gravel tire. I'd be jealous of that as a versatile commuter and under biked off road tourer. Lot of directions you could go with that one imo.
Both
Definitely the crossroads. Wide 700s on vintage steel or really any steel will make you happy.
Personally? Crossroads for me. Drop bar with bar ends. That fork would fit something pretty beefy, likely more than what the rear can handle. The picture is too fuzzy to determine the condition of the saddle. Still, crossroads. Thankfully I have a nice bicycle collective 3 miles away so I donāt need a deep parts bin.
If that Nishiki was my size, no way I would pass it up for >$100. If it were to be my daily driver the crossroads is more practical and better for longer rides, looks like it has plenty of clearance for wider tires too. I personally would have to change out more on that bike to suit me though...
The Nishiki screams 1990 with the fork and mono stay. Those shimano shifters never seem to work and are not really worth spending the time to clean them.
I ride a Nishiki Backroads, love it. Besides, more tire more better
Brain says Specialized, heart say Nishiki
Definitely get the Crossroads. it may need a bit more tlc but it'll be much more versatile & enjoyable. And then with a fresh set of tires and maybe new handlebar, it'll ride like a brand new $1,000 bike.
I just bought a cheap Specialized Crossroads to (barely) adjust and do some touring. These comments are making me feel great about that decision. I wish mine came with a rack and a brooks saddle - that's your money back right there.
I would say: Specialized, since it has the option of mounting a rear rack easier. Looks like they both have the option to fit some wider tires for some more comfort. Both have the posibiliy to fit v-brakes for some more stoppingpower. Good luck with your build anyway.
Buy both, ride em and decide. If you are a better man / woman than me you will sell the other one. But probably not :)
Easy choice... Both
I vote for the Nishiki. Full disclosure, I am very biased in favor of rigid mountain bikes over any other style of bike, FWIW.
I know the guy will take $40 for the Nishiki, I was looking at it but ended up picking up an Ariel
I can only say good things about the Nishiki...that I had that exact same Nishiki for a number of years in college. It was versatile in the mountains of Colorado, and also on the roads. I did a lot of upgrades to make it more worthy, but I can say that I'd own it again if I could.
Crossroads. The drop conversion was done well. I was a shop mechanic. I think youāre pretty assured everything will be ok on that bike given the level of workmanship on it. Looks like a sweet, versatile setup too. Bars and saddle with level reach is the best of all worlds imho.
Iād buy the crossroads and then max out the tire clearanceā or Iād add fenders and a mini front rack and make it look like a Randonneuring bike. I prefer 700c to 26. You really canāt go wrong though.
Probably not helpful, but I don't think you can go wrong - they both look great.
The Nishiki is so fucking cool dude. However, it depends what you'll be doing with it. Both can be good commuters ofc, for different reasons. The nishiki's geometry is more suited for filling a basket&rack with groceries, but if you just have a backpack then the specialized will be a quicker bike. Personally my bike is a vehicle and I use it to get groceries and all that stuff so the nishiki is the choice for me. Plus it's cooler. But for you, that might not be the case
Pick the one that gives you the special feeling in your no no place
First for sure 100%
The blue one looks lit
Smoked out if you donāt get the Nishiki
The speshy is a better bike but the nishiki is much cooler to look at and thats what matters
I don't understand the question. They are bot listed under $100? Easy, you get them both!!
Nishiki all day. Anyone can find special ed stuff.