Skip Magnuson

Last weekend at a rummage sale I bought a Univega almost at a give-away price ($5). I'm fond of Italvega bikes (have two) and the Univega is a close related cousin so I bought it. It's a Nuovo Sport, 56 cm, and a light lavender color. After wiping the dust off, except for a couple of scratches, it appears to be all original and like new - no dings, rust, etc. The serial number is NU23119 - is there anyone knowledgable with Univegas that could help with the year of mfg?
Skip Magnuson
Spokane, WA

T-Mar

Should be a 1986 model, manufactured by Miyata.

raverson

Wow, that sounds like a nice catch. How about some pictures.

Skip Magnuson

I'd do pictures but the last time I tried the complications involved wore me out. Has it gotten easier to post pictures?
Skip

old and new

Hey mister, what's a Miyata ?

T-Mar

A double entendre!

vpiuva

Pics are easy, but step 1 is they need to be hosted on a web site. It can even be a personal webpage provided with your internet service, or flickr, gallery. etc.

GCRyder

Posting pictures as "attachments" is really easy, because they dont' have to be hosted anywhere off your own hard drive or other media, as long as the photo is less than 100kb. If you use the "low quality" compression setting in most photo editors, that's still sufficient quality for forum use, and will usually produce a photo big enough to be recognizable. Once you have the photo on your own drive, just click the paper-clip icon above the text entry box, then use the resulting pop-up to navigate to the image and click the "upload" button. Here is an example attached - a Univega to stay somewhat true to topic. The photo is 750 px by 600, and is below the limit for attachment size when saved at the lowest "quality" setting. If this photo didn't have so much fine detail in it, it could even be larger.

Skip Magnuson

Ok GCRyder - Here is my attempt to attach a picture per your instructions.
Skip

Skip Magnuson

Well they attached but are small. When I went to the next size up they overflowed the 100K limit.

spry

I have a 1986 Univega Maximasport,12 speed Shimano.Very comfortable ride,with a large ring on the cog for hills.I still run the original 1986 11/8"Univega tires that came on the bike.
The stock Avocet seat is a Butt-Buster,pitch it.
You will enjoy that classic from the 80,s

ericclem

Here's a similar question. I just bought a lovely red Univega Custom Maxima with the serial number M240276. Anyone tell me anything. Also, how is it that you can figure this out? Just curious.

T-Mar

It's a 1984 entry level, recreational touring model, original cost $175 US. How does one determine this? First you collect photos and serial numbers for dozens of models. Then you compare the pics to your catalogs to establish the correct year. Finally, you analyze the serial numbers to establish the format pattern. In this case, the M represents 1984. Then, if you don't have the original price list, you start looking though your collection of old magazines for a road test or ad that might state the original price. The catalog and/or magazine info on the specs and/or price will establish the style and level of the bicycle. Or, you can just ask someone on the internet and hope you find someone who is not blowing hot air.

ericclem

T-Mar, you more than answered my question. Thank you very very much. It's nice to know a bit of the history. It's also nice to know that I paid too much for it, but hey, hindsight... Either way, it'll be fun to fix it up. Thanks again.

RickB.

Hopping in on this thread if I may, I've been "hybrid-izing" a Univega Nuovo Sport I found for $12 at a thrift store. Serial # OA40097, with 6-spd. Shimano down tube index shifting I'm guessing late '80s? Nice Araya 1 1/8 rims with Sansin hubs, cool light blue color with all the decals still on. Can I fit tires up to 1 3/8 on these rims or should get wider rims?

Great Forum!! Thanks! RickB.

T-Mar

The serial number indicates a 1986 model. I don't have the 1986 specs, but the 1985 sold for $249 US, so I suspect the 1986 might be about $300 US with the addition of a Light Action SIS derialleur system and inflation.

Typically, rims will handle tires up to 2 times the width between the insides of the rim flanges. Assuming that your Nuovo Sport uses the same Araya 16A rims spec'd on the 1985 model, this dimension is 19mm, meaning they should be able to safely handle tires up to 38mm wide. This is roughly equivalent to 1-1/2" so you should be OK with 1-3/8". It's getting a bit hard to find 27" tires wider than 1-1/4" but they are available. The other concern may be clearance between the chainstays but you should be able to judge that from your current tires.

RickB.

Wow! Thanks for the info. Yeah I'm thinking the rear doesn't have much room for wider a tire but wanted to try a 1 3/8 up front with a more aggressive tread for hike&bike gravelly trail type surface. I don't ride up and down mountians anymore but do enjoy the occasional scenic trail.

Thanks Again! RickB.

banjo_mole 

Hey, T-Mar!

I believe I asked you a while ago about my Univega and if you could get me details on it, but then I never did get back to you on posting its serial number. If you're still willing to help me out, allow me to post my baby's serial number here:

OE24376

It's a red Univega Maxima Sport.

I love it, and I'm simply curious as to its story in the great Tale Of Univega.

Thank you so much for your time and effort in helping us!

-Banjo_mole

banjo_mole 

Props for the ride, like me!
I do slightly envy your tires, though, I've only got one original and its wearing out...

T-Mar

It's a 1986 model. I don't have any literature for the 1986 version, but the 1985 was an entry level, sport touring model costing $184 US. I'd expect the 1986 version to be similar but slightly more expensive.

andrewmac316

I was hoping to revive this thread, because I also just purchased a 12-speed Univega Maxima Sport, and I'm looking for some information on it. The serial number is MA25052, so I'm assuming it's a 1984 model? Is there a way to tell if this was one of their bikes manufactured by Miyata? Thanks for the help.

T-Mar

This one doesn't quite fit with the Miyata serial numbers I've collected. Please check to ensure you've transcribed the serial number correctly. M would indeed reperesent a 1984 Miyata build but the samples in my database indicate that the 2nd alpha character was not used until the 1985 model year. The confirmed 1984 model Miyata builds in my database use an M followed by six numerals. If it was a 1985 model, it shouldn't start with MA, as that would represent the first two weeks of 1984.

andrewmac316

I double-checked, and the serial number is definitely MA25052. I also noticed that it has a sticker reading "Lifetime Guarantee Frame - Made in Japan." Is it more likely that this is just a 1984 Univega frame not manufactured by Miyata?

metaljim

Can I add one to the mix?

Viva Sport- G K959160 B
Suntour ARX rear d
Suntour AR front d
Suntour clamp-on dt shifters

^That's all I think is original on the bike.

CMC SanDiego

Does T-Mar get tired of looking up serial numbers and replying? I hope not because I've got a charcoal gray Custom Maxima which I'm pretty sure is low end.

Serial Number is K593927L. It also had a "G" sticker before the SN, and an "L" label afterward.

If I understood the nomenclature properly the "K" would indicate a 1982 frame?