kerouac

Hey all,

After my debacle yesterday, I have taken back to scouring Denver's CL. I just found a nicely priced Univega in my size. Surely needs some work, but would love to get people's insight on this bike, it seems like a good pickup. I have seen some Univega love going around the forums but I now virtually nothing about them.

https://denver.craigslist.org/bik/4054548066.html

Also, after having my favorite bike stolen last summer, I want to make sure I am buying legit. Does this raise any red flags?

Thanks!!!

wrk101

Univega made nothing, but sold a complete line of bikes from basic to great, and everything in between. This is a basic one, which is typically what I see at this price point (the higher level ones get scooped up fast).

oddjob2

At $130, that's pretty good value, but it will likely require maintenance of the main bearing groups as most vintage bikes have not been serviced since the day they left the LBS.

Cougrrcj

Stem-mounted shifters and 'turkey' or safety brake levers usually indicate a lower-range bike. Most Univegas of the mid-80s time period (several date clues are visible in the pics) were manufactured by Miyata, and therefore have a rough comparison model to go by. By rough I mean that Uni and Miyata frames were very similar, but the components varied. If you can supply us with the serial number stamped on the bottom bracket and a list of components, we can nail the date of manufacture and its value down pretty well...

I have a mid-80s Univega - and it based on the components, mine falls somewhere between the Miyata 310 and 710, and originally sold for less than either... gotta love those off-brand 'spec' bikes...

Flying Merkel

Get it. Univegas were not the best bike, they were not the cheapest, but usually the best for the buck I have two and love them both. If stem shifters bother you, convert to down tube, if turkey wings bother, pull them off. That's what I did to my 1979 Univega Viva Sport.