Classic & Vintage - Help dating this Miyata

Picked it up at a garage sale for $20. Miyata Sports Series, Has Thunder Bird deraileurs, which I have never heard of. thing weights a good 30 lbs, but is in great shape, just needs a good cleaning, no rust anywhere. Front and rear taillight along with generator are mint.


http://i52.tinypic.com/2qx19x2.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/2jd01zt.jpg

more pics please?

http://i52.tinypic.com/2a77ogg.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/sdcs8z.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/nyigdy.jpg

I always go with the Shimano date code when I can. Website www.vintage-trek.com (http://www.vintage-trek.com) has a full explanation of the process.

Dating tips for the Miyata:
- Know at least a few Japanese words and phrases
- take her to a decent restaurant
- treat her with respect
- don't expect anything to progress too quickly

;)

Anyway, the Shimano date code is probably the best route to go. I'd guess early to mid 70's.

I read that the B in the BB serial means its a 73

Thunderbird derailleurs were super common on lower end bikes in the seventies, I can't see your pics as I'm at work so I can't say any more than that.

I read that the B in the BB serial means its a 73

Yea that should put it as a 73. Components can be tricky to use to determine the date sometimes because they can be replaced. but it looks like that old shimano stuff was probably stock. Looks like a lower-end high-ten bike boom bike but in really nice shape.

It's a cool looking bike but it's probably heavy as a tank, those thunderbird/eagle rear derailleurs with the bash cages are beasts! That miyata decal on the downtube looks pretty awesome, could you post a bigger picture of that and the headbadge?

Do the generator lights work? What are your plans for this, are you going to make any changes to it?

1973 Miyata MX-M. Shimano date codes probably won't be much help, as they did not consistently apply them prior to 1976. While the front derailleur is a Shimano Thunderbird, the rear derailleur is a Shimano Eagle. From the angle, I can't tell the version but I believe it's the Eagle SPO. The stem looks dangerously high, probably well above the instrertion mark.

Dating tips for the Miyata:
- Know at least a few Japanese words and phrases
- take her to a decent restaurant
- treat her with respect
- don't expect anything to progress too quickly

;)

Anyway, the Shimano date code is probably the best route to go. I'd guess early to mid 70's.

You are so ahead of me. I was going to suggest classic pick-up lines.

You are so ahead of me. I was going to suggest classic pick-up lines.

:)
The thread title just begs for it, no?

I have the sister bike, "Racer" model; Shimano 333 / Dura-ace. It's may commuter - rain bike = with hondo fenders. Excellent ride, I wouldn't sell for $300-400.

I have the sister bike, "Racer" model; Shimano 333 / Dura-ace. It's may commuter - rain bike = with hondo fenders. Excellent ride, I wouldn't sell for $300-400.

Pics?