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Miyata?

Old 09-26-07, 08:38 PM
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Miyata?

So I jumped in earlier today and bought a Miyata Gran Touring off a friend of mine. Rides great, but I am afraid I don't know much about it. I know the rear derailleur is an LX, everything else is Suntour. The wheels are Wheel Master WM100's wrapped with like new Specialized tires. The stem and bars are Sakae Randnner (SR). It has a rack and pack over the back wheel, and a cyclometer (that seems to stay on all the time). It isn't the most beautiful, normal scratches, couple light spots of rust, but nothing major. Having said all that, I know nothing about older stuff, I paid $100 for it. Does that seem like an OK deal. I only ask because my wife thinks that $100 was a lot for an old road bike. How much of it sounds original? Thanks.

-Joseph
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Old 09-26-07, 08:59 PM
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Does it say "Six-Ten" or "Two-Ten" on the top tube?
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Old 09-26-07, 09:35 PM
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You got at least an ok deal. Possibly a great one. Tell us more about the bike, and we can give you a better answer.
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Old 09-26-07, 09:56 PM
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I think the Gran Touring preceded the numbering system that was adopted later. I think the bike is most likely from around 1980 give or take a year. T-Mar of course will tell all soon...
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Old 09-26-07, 09:58 PM
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Rule #1 Don't tell your wife how much you paid for your bikes until she starts telling you how much she spends to get her hair done.
Rule #2 When she says $100 is too much to spend on an old bike, don't respond; "$100 is too much to spend on an old ladies hair."
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Old 09-26-07, 11:39 PM
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If you're happy with the bike and not bothered by the amount of money you spent then $100 is a good deal.

There are very knowledgeable people on this forum who can give you very good information but the problem with older bike pricing is that it's very dependent on where you live. If there are a fair number of people around riding road bikes, then an old road bike in good condition and of anything better than department store quality will fetch a good price. Even at $200, an older bike is still significantly cheaper than a new, decent, entry level road bike.

Of course if you scrounge the local thrift shops and garage sales you might just find a really good bike that also happens to fit for a really cheap price. I wish I had time to do that but I don't.

So if you're wife is still questioning the cost, invite her to visit a local bike shop and have her check out the prices on a new road bike.
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Old 09-27-07, 12:00 AM
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Miyata's are so good that even their entry level bikes are better than most... they are highly sought after by many people in these parts.
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Old 09-27-07, 06:30 AM
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You got a GREAT deal. The Gran Touring was the very late 1970s predecessor to the the very highly regarded Miyata 1000. It established the standard for the Japanese, mass produced, grand touring bicycle. A very nice, comfy, handmade frame of butted, CrMo. Wide range, 15 speed gearing shifted by SunTour Cyclone GT derailleurs. 40 spoke rear wheel. Ranndonneur bars. Standard racks front and rear. About the only thing it missed on were bar end shifters and bosses for only one bottle.

I'd appreciate the serial number for my datatbase. Also, now that I've identified what it is, I'm sure the other members will be crying for pics.
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Old 09-27-07, 06:32 AM
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I told her that $100 on used was better than the alternative. I was going to go the MTB route and the cheapest decent bike I could find new was going to be a GF Wahoo at just over $400. As for used around here, I beleive there must be a pretty good market, because when I would call on ads to go look at a bike, it would be sold.

As for the model number, I couldn't find a number and I looked all over. It just say Gran Touring on the cross bar. I am 99% positive it is the same model as this one: https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=004 but has a few aftermarket components as mentioned above. I think that tjspiel said it best. I am happy with it and actually pleased I only spent $100. It just amazes me that a 25 year old, used bike, can ride so much better than anything bought at Wal-mart, (which is where I started on my journey into cycling) for the same price.

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Old 09-27-07, 06:52 AM
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Originally Posted by -Joseph
...As for the model number, I couldn't find a number and I looked all over. It just say Gran Touring on the cross bar. I am 99% positive it is the same model as this one: https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=004 but has a few aftermarket components as mentioned above. ...
And you won't find a model number, because there isn't one. As for the Ebay bicycle, it is not the same and pales in comparison to what you have.
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Old 09-27-07, 07:02 AM
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I will get pics tonight. Where would I find the serial number on it? Thanks.

-Joseph
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Old 03-13-08, 07:53 PM
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Now that I am on the verge of selling it, I thought I would post a pic before it is gone.
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