Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Miyata experts?? Mixte.

I found this bike on Columbus craigslist. http://columbus.craigslist.org/bik/1314302595.html

Recently had my new Draft Lite stolen and been looking for a good replacement. Can anyone tell what model this bike is? I can't find anything about Miyata's mixtes. Also, is $300 a steal, like the poster suggests?

No way. Too much money. Maybe $150 if its really really nice.

I concur with miamjim.

I wouldn't pay more than $75 for that bike. Those look like steel wheels. All the other components o look like lowerto lower-mid level components

Hard to tell in the picture, but I think the wheels may be aluminum. If they are steel, then my price drops to $100, tops.

Did any Miyata mixtes come with a chrome fork?

http://images.craigslist.org/3nf3m83ob5Q35S95R59896a939301fe2a1637.jpg http://images.craigslist.org/3kd3mc3la5Qe5S85Ra98962fdd789c9021b52.jpg

When in doubt-

stem shifters + kick stand + brake lever extensions = low end

However, mixtes seem to be selling for way more than they should be so I'm not surprised by the asking price.

Well as someone who will have 4 mixte bikes for sale soon, I sure hope they get that price and that someone thinks it is a steal. Seem more than a bit too high to me, but I too concur with a $150 ballpark value.

Moved this to appraisals for you.

In this case, the seller is doing the stealing.

How about $200 for the bike, a front and back light, and a computer? Am I getting a good deal?

Don't know anything about the computer, but lights are (can be) cheap, so the bike still sounds overpriced. FWIW I recently bought a Miyata 100 mixte from 1987, great condition, for $75 in Michigan, with the help of CVer cb400Bill. And since then I've seen maybe 20 mixtes go by in the Chicago and nearby areas which were worth considering and $125 or less. Only thing that would make this bike worth more than say $100-150 tops would be if it was a Miyata 210, which was further up the Miyata hierarchy. And it doesn't look to be. Most mixtes were offered at the 'entry level' of road bikes--and below.

Find out what model this one is and (literally) what it's made of. If it's a 100 or 110 or 112 from the mid 80s it should have a chrome-moly steel frame and alloy wheels. If it's an earlier model 100, or is a lesser model ('Sport' or 90 or one with a name like 'Nimbus') it's likely to be be made of 'high ten' steel and have chromed steel wheels. This will be marked prominently on the frame and rims.

Of course you don't have to get the best-possible mixte, and a bike of high-ten steel can be perfectly fine to ride but you certainly wouldn't want to overpay for it.

It's a hike for you but on CL in Ann Arbor, Michigan there's a guy offering a Raleigh Super Course mixte, one of the rare higher-end mixtes with a Reynolds 531 frame, for $125 with what sounds like a thorough overhaul.

Check CL and use searchtempest to expand your search area if you're willing to drive a bit to get the right bike. Look for 'ladies' or 'womens' model bikes and look for brands like Panasonic, Fuji, Centurion, Lotus, Shogun, and you're likely to find a good mixte at a good price ($100 or less) fairly soon. There are also the French makes: Motobecane and Peugeot mainly. And some Raleighs, though that's a lot of bikes to look through.

Here's a Peugeot mixte for $100 for instance:

http://columbus.craigslist.org/bik/1310379410.html

At least you could use that as a negotiating lever on the Miyata if the Miyata is the one you want. There's also a 'St Tropez' on your local CL but it's the kind of low-end bike (so Sheldon Brown says) you don't want unless it's dirt cheap.

Good luck!

I think MiamiJim already answered the question. Full market is about $150 (assuming alloy rims). Higher than that and you are paying over market. Lower than that, you are getting a better deal.

As the seller thinks it is a steal at $300, I don't see him taking $150, so I would move on. At some point, seller may realize his mistake and lower price. I would spend that time looking for a better deal.

Ask T-Mar, he's the Miyata guy.

I sold this for my full $200 asking price in 1 day. Before the OP gets all excited keep in mind that this was 'mint', 100% original down to the velvet handlebar tape and it had the original tires which were still soft with NO cracking!!! (Florida humidity is good for something). All of the components are aluminum alloy including the bars, stem and seatpost. The refelctors are original.


http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/Miyata%20310/DSC02424.jpg

Haha, is that this bike?
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=494464

$10 bike + $30 of work = $300? Can't fault the guy for trying.

Haha, is that this bike?
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=494464

$10 bike + $30 of work = $300? Can't fault the guy for trying.

Nope. Different bike.