Great Lakes - searching! miyata 6xx

so i never biked until last fall - due primarily to the fear of cars, busses, and death. but i picked up a lunker last year and loved it -

after a few late nights of scouring, i think i'm dead set on finding a miyata. anybody have any leads, or comparable recommendations?
also, how much should i be looking to spend? i've seen anything from 300 - 1500 on craigslist/ebay.

thanks!

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/bik/2990242344.html

Found a 610 for ya on chicago's craigslist!

There is a Miyata 912 currently posted on the Milwaukee craigslist up in West Bend. He finally put his asking price in the posting. Some of his assumptions are slightly off (model name meaning) but otherwise it might be a nice bike if it fits you.

You can see from my signature I've found a few. In addition I've built up a few 710s for family.

The late 80s 310s / 312s (700c wheelset and not 27") are quite the value, just slightly longer than 710s / 912s and more stable riding than the pro series. You get a better fork and components in the 6xx series and above. You used to be able to find 312s for $200 or so.

I have a '90 japanese Schwinn Voyaguer, very comparable to a Miyata tourers. The lightweight imported japanese Schwinns of '85-90s may be under-valued compared to Miyatas, but they are getting "discovered" too.

thanks for the good looks guys-

@whiskeredrider i inquired regarding size and if he's willing to ship - we'll see!
@treebound that bike sounds a big big for me, at 5'8" i'm assuming i should be looking for something a bit smaller?

i put the bike search on pause for a potential lead on a 73 px-10, but based on the advice of someone close to me and a lot smarter in terms of bikes, i think that might be a no go - alas the search continues.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/bik/2992457177.html

in addition to the miyatas, i've had my eyes open for a handful of 85-90ish japanese bikes, including higher end nishikis and schwinn tempo/voyaguers as french fit mentioned. if memory serves, i believe i read somewhere that mid-80s and later letours were also decent buys, though i have yet to find any in my area.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/bik/2995955500.html

i found these miyatas with limited information and terrible photo sets - i'm assuming at the price points they won't be much, but i haven't yet contacted the sellers to be sure:

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/bik/2990930444.html

any advice is much appreciated - i am truly a n00b and am basing all of these ideas on what i've been able to gather off of forum sites [primarily this one] in the last week. suggestions beyond these are also welcome - i'm hoping to spend ~300, willing to spend ~500 on something if it's perfect.

cheers
-s

also just spotted:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Schwinn-Tempo-Classic-Road-Bike-/300706756187?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item460384f65b#ht_500wt_966

sray I just purchased a Px10 frame off of ebay and am about to build it up. I just sold my second Miyata. If I hadn't spaced on this post. I would have contacted you about it. Kirill (craigslist i sent you) is a little hard to get ahold of sometimes. He goes out of the country now and then. If my memory serves when I looked at it, it was a 58cm frame.

As a 618GT owner, I couldn't be happier and definitely recommend that model, though I'm sure the others are great too. Super sturdy, smooth, great riding bike. Usually ride at least 10 miles every day to/from work. Was super lucky and paid the best price, free. A neighbor happened to be putting her out by the dumpster right as I came home. Can't think how much would be different without that moment, as that bike is what got me into riding! That said, I've probably put about $500 in upgrades into the bike since then. Mine's a 57cm and I'm 5'10", if that gives you and ideas on size.

also just spotted:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Schwinn-Tempo-Classic-Road-Bike-/300706756187?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item460384f65b#ht_500wt_966

That's a sweet looking ride, and 22lbs.!. And I've rebuilt those wheelsets too; it would feel right at home in my garage. Alas, wrong size.

I noticed today Nashbar has threaded carbon road bike forks on sale, which I've used to replace magnalite forks. Geometry is perfect for '80s japanese imports. They really smooth out a bike with a cheap fork, though the bike above might be a fine ride as is.

so i found a 73 world traveler in my size, good condition, all original components.
he's asking 425 - what would be a respectful counter offer where i'm not getting super ripped off?