Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - What is a mid 80's Miyata Six Ten worth?

Hi,

I was wondering what this bike is worth. It appears to be all original. It has straight rims and rides great. The gears shift poorly though (At least from I can tell) I am new to bikes. Can anyone pinpoint the year?
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1983. The fork is not original, so it's possible that the bike has been in wreck. Need to see more photos

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_whtVpXkKwlQ/R1oNwuqjMSI/AAAAAAAAAH0/0iKphCrNeYY/s1600-h/img044.jpg

Bike appears to be pretty far off from original. Fork is not original, and a replaced fork is a clue to look for crash damage (the first thing that goes in a crash is the fork). Brake calipers are not original either. Why anyone would dump cantilever brakes for side pull calipers is beyond me (cantis on a touring bike are desirable), it probably has a lot to do with that replacement fork as it is not a touring fork.

You can see the bosses on the seat stays for the rear canti brakes.

Those Suntour DT shifters are pretty decent, I use them quite a bit. I would suspect the chain and freewheel (excessive wear), probably both.


I would need to really inspect the frame closely for possible buckling before I guessed a value. Because the bike has been modified, its value as a touring bike is over, and it is now a recreational bike (recreational bikes from that era tend to sell for about half of what a touring bike will sell for).


I would pass.

Thanks for the education guys. I already bought it. Hope I didn't overpay too much at $100? I just want to ride this thing 1.5 miles twice a day to get to work. Problem is the seat hurts my ass. Literally after being on it for a minute my ass hurts and I have to stand on the pedals. Anyone can recommend a very comfortable seat to put on it?

If you aren't looking for an appraisal, so you can sell it, you might restart this thread in the main C&V forum where you'll get a lot more exposure.

But while you're still here: $100 for that a 610, assuming the frame is not bent, is fine. It's an excellent frame. We'll want to see drive side photos to see what components are on it; since the brakes and fork have been changed, there's no telling what else has been done to it.

Does your fork have cantilever mounts on it?

I sold a 610 of similar vintage --maybe it was an '84?-- for $375 a few years ago.

Doubt if the problem is the saddle. Looks pretty decent to me. Google bike adjustment, may be more about how you have the bike adjusted (saddle too low, etc.), also need to ride for a while before passing judgment on a particular saddle. At 1 1/2 miles, I can't imagine a saddle causing pain.

$100 you did fine. But with the changes, that is not a $375 bike IMHO. Cleaned up, everything lubed, new cables, tires and tubes, brake pads, and you would have a $200 bike around here.

Hey I am at a loss with this bike. It needs alot of work.

1) New tires, these are the original ones from 1983

2) Brakes work poorly

3) Gears needs major tune up.

4) Seat is original and badly weathered, needs a new one.

I don't know if I should throw all this money into a bike this old and that has a little rust. Maybe just move on to something newer. What do you think it will cost to replace all this stuff? I'll have to have somebody do. As I don't know how.

I doubt a new $500 bike would be better than the Miyata fixed up. I have some tools, spare saddles, and parts so it'd cost me less than $35 to change the tires, cables, brake pads, and tune up the bike. You might get the work done for $60 - $100 at the local bike store (LBS).

BTW I don't see anything wrong with the saddle.

I guess you're right. I really don't have money for a new bike. Plus I like this one. Rides nice. I was told the brakes are not original. I would like to go back to cantilevers. The seat looks ok in the picture but in person you can tell it's seen better days. Plus I wore light colored pants riding today and my pants got black from the seat. It has obviously been outside or something. Just because tires are "old" do they need to be replaced? If they do need replacement how do I know what size tires these are to order new ones?

It is normal to get a little back pain when riding a bike with an aggressive riding position? I rode 15 miles today and my back hurts a little? Any advice?

I guess you're right. I really don't have money for a new bike. Plus I like this one. Rides nice. I was told the brakes are not original. I would like to go back to cantilevers. The seat looks ok in the picture but in person you can tell it's seen better days. Plus I wore light colored pants riding today and my pants got black from the seat. It has obviously been outside or something. Just because tires are "old" do they need to be replaced? If they do need replacement how do I know what size tires these are to order new ones?

It is normal to get a little back pain when riding a bike with an aggressive riding position? I rode 15 miles today and my back hurts a little? Any advice?

If you like it and it fits, you did fine.

You may want to raise the bars a bit if you have back pain, maybe a shorter stem as well. The standard bar raisin' stem is the Nitto Technomic, if yours is already at full extension.

Hey I am at a loss with this bike. It needs alot of work.

1) New tires, these are the original ones from 1983

2) Brakes work poorly

3) Gears needs major tune up.

4) Seat is original and badly weathered, needs a new one.

I don't know if I should throw all this money into a bike this old and that has a little rust. Maybe just move on to something newer. What do you think it will cost to replace all this stuff? I'll have to have somebody do. As I don't know how.
New tires, $60 or so
new brake pads, no more than $20
Gears, call it another $20 for new cables and housings
Saddle, $10-300 depending on what you want to spend. Nice things cost money.

I see you're set up for half-step plus bailout. To me, that is a sign it was owned at at least one point by a pretty damn dedicated rider. The fork, while a replacement, looks to be a Tange Presige, which is no bad thing. The brakes look to be the ubiquitous Dia-Compe 500s, which work very well-- competent, nothing stunning. The shift levers look to be Suntour indexed units, so I'm guessing you have an Alpha-3000 derailleur and a Winner freewheel. Can you be more specific with WHAT, exactly, the gears are doing to make you think it needs a tuneup?

I think you got a steal. Certainly flippable for at least what you paid for it.

Captain Blight, when I try to shirt the front gears the chain falls off from the left most sprocket and floats inbetween for like 20 seconds then finally jumps onto the middle sprocket.

Plus I wore light colored pants riding today and my pants got black from the seat.

it might just be dirty and need to be cleaned off..

I see you're set up for half-step plus bailout. .

Can you tell me what that means? Anyways I fixed the bike up after my Trek 7.2fx got stolen. Got brand new tires with inner tubes, nice new gel seat (still have the old one as a spare) Also cleaned up and polished the frame and rims. Bike rides like a dream. I almost don't miss the Trek. I ride 1.5 miles to work and my BEST time on the Trek was 8 minutes. Normally 10. Well just running normally on this thing I can do it in 8 minutes no sweat. I'm sure if I push it I can do it in 7. Much easier to build speed and keep it on this ride than on the 7.2fx.