Just picked up this Maxima Custom. It was abandoned and about to be tossed in the dumpster, so I saved it! I had been planning on converting it to a single speed to putz around on, as most of the components are rusted in place and generally toast, but after spending several hours reading through this thread, I am debating reviving it and retiring my current Franken-bike road bike. Thoughts? I know that it isn't a terribly rare model, and it already has some non-original components.
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/150...922/nty6Zg.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/150...923/VtBm8s.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/150...923/yKOTAz.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/150...923/pveES8.jpg

The serial number begins with a "G" sticker, so I am not certain to what year that translates? The wheels are 700c, so I am guessing that those are not original (certain not the rear), and the saddle is a Bontrager.

Welcome @Preacher377! What a good looking Univega. Nice job saving that bike, as it will easily clean up into a nice rider. Definitely needs a new chain, and I have great luck using Naval Jelly (by Loctite) on smaller parts that are rusty. I use a small cheap paint brush to brush it on, let set for 15 min. or so, then wipe. Aluminum foil & a little water & rubbing works too on chrome items.

Are you you able to do work yourself on your bike? If so, I'd clean, remove surface rust (doesn't have to be perfect), regrease with new ball bearings the headset, bottom bracket and wheel hubs, new brake & shift cable and housings, along with brake pads. If all the bearing work sounds like too much, just do cables, housings and brake pads. Pull out the seatpost, clean & lightly grease, as well as the stem too.

Thanks, @Velocivixen! Always nice when you can save a classic, even if there isn't really room in the stable.

Yep, I do all of my own work, other than wheel building... That's a sorcery I've not yet mastered! I'm actually a bike cop, and I do most of the maintenance for my department's fleet of bikes.

My debate with this thing is whether it is worth my time, effort, and money to rehab it or just rip everything off and go single speed.

Gotcha. Whether it's "worth it" is one of those things.....I'm fairly certain that model isn't a rare find - more of a daily rider type bike. Hope you post some more photos with whatever you decide.

As an aside my city (Beaverton, OR) has a great Bicycle Patrol dept. as part of the Police Department. During National Night Out the BPD has their bike patrol vehicle that carries many of their bikes, there with some of the bikes up on work stands. It gets the kid's attention as they want to see the "police lights" on the bike. Great way to engage the community. I volunteer for the BPD, and National Night Out is my favorite event.

Ignore the strickers, they are not part of the serial number. Just post the stamped number. It appears to be early to mid-1980s. The pads are at the bottom of the adjustment range in the calipers, so it was originally designed for 27" wheels.

Personally, I'd probably use it as a multi-speed. The shift system components don't appear to be in non-functioning condition and the majority of the heavily rusted parts are generic and would have to be cleaned/replaced for a single speed too. Plus, for most mechanically inclined cyclists, there's nothing as satisfying as your first restoration, especially if it was on the brink of oblivion.

Ignore the stickers, they are not part of the serial number. Just post the stamped number. It appears to be early to mid-1980s. The pads are at the bottom of the adjustment range in the calipers, so it was originally designed for 27" wheels.

Personally, I'd probably use it as a multi-speed. The shift system components don't appear to be in non-functioning condition and the majority of the heavily rusted parts are generic and would have to be cleaned/replaced for a single speed too. Plus, for most mechanically inclined cyclists, there's nothing as satisfying as your first restoration, especially if it was on the brink of oblivion.

Thanks; the stamped serial number is, "K588006". So that makes it an '82 model?

I've rebuilt a bunch of bikes, and yes it is always gratifying to bring one back from the abyss, but I kind of feel like doing something a little different with this one. Undecided. How are the riding characteristics? I still haven't found a way to get comfortable in drop bars. I WANT to like road bikes... But 25 years of mountain biking leaves it's mark on a person. 😉

Yes, it's a 1982 model manufactured by Miyata.

Regarding the position, I would start by setting up my saddle in your normal way. Most road cyclists prefer riding with their hands on the top of the brake lever body so try to set these the same vertical and horizontal distance from the saddle as on your grips on your ATB set-up. This will probably require a stem with a different length and possibly one with a longer quill. You may even want to consider an adjustable stem that is easier to experiment with, until you find a comfortable position. Removing the safety levers and installing rubber hoods will make a big difference in hand comfort.

Univega
 

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=512379

I know it's on the cheap side but I picked this Univega Activa for $35.00. All original Suntour components. I had it tuned up with a new seat and a few other accessories and it has been a great commuter for me.

Hey- cheap is good! And that's a pretty, black-chrome framed bike.

Nothing wrong with that!!!

Thanks. The person I bought it from said the bike was too small and it had been sitting for over 15 years in his garage untouched. I really like the way it rides with the steel frame.

This came across the Craigslist today... an Italian-made, Univega-branded folder.

UNIVEGA Italian-made Folding Bike

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=513686

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=513687

Thats fantastic! Much like the large pink 5 speed I posted earlier in this thread, this folder is something I would want to pick up just because its quirky and i would want to learn about the history of the model.
...and then I would wonder what the heck I would do with it.

It's just strange to see it with Univega decals. Otherwise it seems pretty typical. Here's a similar Bianchi, though without the gear hub. It's not exactly the same, it doesn't have seat stays and it appears to fold the opposite direction, but you can see the basic idea is no different.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=513688

Bianchi Folding Bike

On second look, maybe the rainbow U logo was added? The 2 bikes Ive seen with that rainbow U logo on the seat tube were 'fitted' and very clearly original to the bike. The logo on this folder looks like its a square clear plastic decal. You can see edges of the square actually.
Odd thing to claim- trying to pass a bike off as a Univega. I have a couple Univegas in my garage right now and like em a lot, but that brand simply isnt one to fake for more $.

I wasn't suggesting it was fake - why bother? - but that it's some standard brand Italian folder that Univega put their decals on to sell as their own.

Univega Rover STI
 

Hello! Picked up this (looking at Shimano dating) 1991 Univega Rover STI (SN: D10413807) the other day for $25. It has Biopace-SG chainrings, Shimano 200GS shifters, levers, Araya wheels with Exage hubs and Chromoly frame and fork. Got around to cleaning it up yesterday and put new tires and tubes on today. Seems to be mostly original except for maybe the seat. It also appears to have been ridden very little, though tossed around quite a bit. The pads are old and cracked (ordered some Kool Stop Salmons), the tires were old gumwall knobbies and the skewers and seat tube still have white grease on them! I went for a short ride with it today and it rides nice! A tad on the heavy side but surprisingly quick and nimble. Interested if anyone else knows anything about the Rover STI model (any idea where it was built?) and the Lawee Designed Univega's.


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Man in town who I know and this is pretty informal and not on Craig's List has a Univega Carisima Mountain/Hybrid type of bike he is selling, golden color. I've been indifferent. I've looked at Carisima threads on this website but this does not seem to be one of the special bikes. It's not a roadbike. The wheels look like they are 700 c or 27". I already have a utility bike that seems similar in mode to it.

Here's another folder with the same decal, this one is blue

Vintage Univega Foldable Bike 3 Speed Stow Away

I'm slowly getting the parts together for the refurbishment/modification to my preferences of my champagne gold/sand Gran Tourismo.

From a fellow BF.net member, I was able to glom onto a Fujita Belt saddle in honey/brown (somewhere between the two colors actually), but I'm having a hard time deciding on bar tape/brake cable housing color.

Originally it had (and is still wearing) black foam grab-on style stuff on the bars. I'd almost be tempted to keep it, but I'm switching the shifters from downtube to barcons, so the foam has got to go. I found some NOS bare stainless shifter housing to use with the barcons.

I was thinking of 'natural' cork-colored tape that kinda matches the color of the saddle: http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/291437...-1/s-l1000.jpg

Graphics on the bike are dark brown, and it originally had dark brown cable housing. I can't find dark brown housing anywhere, so what to use for 'plan B'? The brown housing that I've seen is more 'latte' color, almost peanutbutter tan.

This bike is also getting a set of VO 45mm Facette fenders. The bike has canti-brakes, so fit there isn't an issue.

So.... What brake housing color to use on this bike???? I'll try to take a pic of the bike with the new saddle over the weekend. The one pic I had was from the Craigslist ad and is no longer available...

TIA


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It's probably not as dark as that cork stuff but it is called saddle brown.

Lined BMX Bicycle Brake Cable Housing 5mm SADDLE BROWN | Porkchop BMX

EDIT: I realize now that this is probably similar to the peanutbutter tan you're talking about haha. I, too, have never come across dark brown housing.

Yeah, that's peanutbutter. I'm looking for cola brown housing.

Univega Gran Turismo
 

My 83 Univega Gran Turismo http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=514550

I think he wants Nutella, not peanut butter. :D