Classic & Vintage - What year was this Univega Viva Sport made?

planning on buying the same kind of univega shown below. does anyone know what year this bike was made? thanks, Joel

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a398/Jocache83/ImageFetchashx.jpg

I had one very similar that was a 1984. The under the toptube cable guides make me think newer than that though.

Get the seller to provide you with the serial number and we'll tell you the exact year with no educated guessing required.

Definetly an early 80's bike if you could provide the serial number and/or date code off the crank someone here should be able to give you an exact date.

Cannot give you an exact year, but I would say 1982 to 1986 range, based on the equipment.

I had a 86 pass through my hands. 86 had cable on top, 6000 cyclones and REALLY nice Ukai wheels. If the above is all original then the component level came up quite a bit over the years. From the crank, seat clamp, Suntour Power shifts and Turkey legs Id say 80-82 maybe

Where are you? Is that bike supposedly in CA near where your location says?
Recycle in Minneapolis has that exact bike with the same picture you posted listed as for sale. If your local CL is showing that bike there be careful about getting scamed.

The ad states the the date codes on most of the components is late 79 most likely making that a 1980 model bike.

http://www.re-cycle.com/bikeimages.aspx?pic=495

Where are you? Is that bike supposedly in CA near where your location says?
Recycle in Minneapolis has that exact bike with the same picture you posted listed as for sale. If your local CL is showing that bike there be careful about getting scamed.

The ad states the the date codes on most of the components is late 79 most likely making that a 1980 model bike.

http://www.re-cycle.com/bikeimages.aspx?pic=495


I got this photo from google images. I was able to see it in person before i look at other bikes.

Good deal, worried you had somebody just randomly post that picture in a scam.

Price is not out of line for a shop like that if has had a recent service. Have you researched Univega and know the story of how Ben Lawee ran it?

The "Uni" part of was because it was Universal and would source from whomever was provide the best service and price. He would then order at frame of the materiel appropriate to the components he wanted.

Most of the Univega bikes were built by Miyata. That bike is a very early Univega and I dont think its a Miyata built bike. The 81 Miyata catalogs show the rear brake cable guides on the top of the tube and the seat stay flute being a little nicer. Not sure how you can tell who built that one. There was a lot of builders doing spec orders back then. Could be any of the larger builders like Giant, Pannasonic, Tsunoda or a smaller shop. Honestly it looks more like the Japanese built Raleigh's but I dont know what company built those.

...Most of the Univega bikes were built by Miyata. That bike is a very early Univega and I dont think its a Miyata built bike. The 81 Miyata catalogs show the rear brake cable guides on the top of the tube and the seat stay flute being a little nicer. Not sure how you can tell who built that one...

Based on the serial number, the frame was built by Miyata in 1979. The serial number is fairly high for the era and this, in conjunction with hte component date codes, almost certainly indicates a 1980 model. It was not uncommon for designers like Lawee to spec different frame details, so that customers would not readily identify the bicycle with the manufacturer.

thanks for your help. but the lady sold it before i was able to get the cash =/ ...

did uni change colors with each model year?
a habitat for humanity re-store got one as a donation and it was a little darker than bianchi's
mint green. no damage, just dusty and flat tires.
an employee bought it for $45 w/discount.
i gassed (air is a gas, right?) it up for him and oiled all the necessaries.
he is really tall and longer legs than me, but it sho' nuff fit him. did have to raise the bar a bit.
was most happy.

sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I thought I'd ask in here since it was relevant...

My Viva Sport is stamped "Sakae Custom" and "SR Road Champion" on the handlebars, and the seat has the word "Italia" at the back and a Univega logo on the side of the seat. SunTour components... It is a very tall bike, probably around a 37" standover height.

I'm curious what year it is? here is a rough pic, I can take better ones if necessary

http://i.imgur.com/EAUqB.jpg

I found the serial number stamped on the frame under the crank, and it starts with L11----

is it possible to date a univega viva sport online from the serial number?

The easiest thing to do to get close would be date the components. Parts dated after September may indicate the bike to be the next model year. Bikes are like cars and typically the new models start hitting the market around October.

This link has a pretty good listing of various manufactures and how to decipher their date codes.

http://vintage-trek.com/component_dates.htm

Another good site to get a rough idea is www.velobase.com You can get a range of build dates on components and specs if you are trying to figure out a year from a picture.

The easiest thing to do to get close would be date the components. Parts dated after September may indicate the bike to be the next model year. Bikes are like cars and typically the new models start hitting the market around October.

This link has a pretty good listing of various manufactures and how to decipher their date codes.
http://vintage-trek.com/component_dates.htm

Another good site to get a rough idea is www.velobase.com You can get a range of build dates on components and specs if you are trying to figure out a year from a picture.

+1 Japanese made bikes from this era have a half dozen or more date codes on them. Even from the rough pics this bike is later than 79 and not newer than 84. My best guess would be 81.

Decoding the Miyata-made Univega serial numbers is easy- the first letter indicates the year the frame was manufactured. My Univega starts with M and it's a 1984. L would indicate a frame made in 1983.

Decoding the Miyata-made Univega serial numbers is easy- the first letter indicates the year the frame was manufactured. My Univega starts with M and it's a 1984. L would indicate a frame made in 1983.


thanks! this bike is huge and rides beautiful, fast and smooth, cool that it is near 30 years old
:)