The Unofficial Univega Appreciation Thread!
#726
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Just got this bike 2 days ago. the guy wanted $300 talked him down to $220.Its very clean and no (major) rust. Then saw the sticker that says its from Olympic cycles in diamond bar California. don't know any back story on it guy said he was selling it for his friend and didn't know any thing about the bike, the derailers,brake levers, hubs are all shimano rx100. the brakes are shimano 105s and will be changed back to cantilevers a.s.a.p
#727
Senior Member
Just got this bike 2 days ago. the guy wanted $300 talked him down to $220.Its very clean and no (major) rust. Then saw the sticker that says its from Olympic cycles in diamond bar California. don't know any back story on it guy said he was selling it for his friend and didn't know any thing about the bike, the derailers,brake levers, hubs are all shimano rx100. the brakes are shimano 105s and will be changed back to cantilevers a.s.a.p
Someone obviously replace the original cantilever brakes for the 105 side-pulls. I say that because in the one pic I can see the rear brake cable stop, and it looks like there might be cantilever bosses on the seat stays and front of the fork tubes...
Wheels look like replacements as well, since early 80s would probably have used 27" wheels.
#728
The Drive Side is Within
#731
Senior Member
Just saw an oddity, that I didn't know existed. I was at a bike shop out in the country yesterday, and there hanging on the repair rack, was a aluminum lugged carbon fiber Univega road bike! It looked like the same carbon tubing as on the Giant Cadex bikes, so it may have been made by Giant.,,,,BD
Looked a little like this, but had last gen neon-esque Univega graphics...
https://i768.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps208e8625.jpg
Looked a little like this, but had last gen neon-esque Univega graphics...
https://i768.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps208e8625.jpg
Last edited by Bikedued; 02-02-14 at 01:16 PM.
#735
Senior Member
#736
Senior Member
I'm getting really into this bike, I put it together in this form a couple weeks ago. This picture was taken last week when the snow was melting and everything was a muddy mess. Since this pic. it's been washed and the knobby tires have been replaced with 1.5" semi slicks. For some reason putting the drop bars on this bike made it feel much faster than with the flat bars. This thing is turning out to be a perfect commuter and all around bike, a total rocket ship on the dirt/gravel MUP's and paved roads alike.
Last edited by turky lurkey; 02-17-14 at 10:53 PM.
#737
keep it simple.
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Univega Superstrada (1992?) Frame & Fork!
Just joined the Univega Appreciation Club with my recent acquisition of a "Superstrada" frame & fork. TIG-welded, OS tubes.
Background:
After some sleuthing, I actually have not been able to find ANY photos online of this specific model/year! Another BF thread references a bike that sounds like the same model/year/color in a different size, but no photos-- though T-Mar mentions that this is a 1992 model. Adding to the intrigue, I found photos of a Univega "Ultraleggera" that appears to be an identical frameset, aside from the model name decal and paint color. The Ultraleggera appears to have been equipped with Dura-Ace 7410. If original, then this seems to be the case of two different 'models' only separated by component options, since my Superstrada frame arrived with what must be the original Shimano 600 (6400 "Tri-color" Series) bottom bracket.
Anyhow, enough talk-- on to the bike!
Dressed it up with 10spd Veloce, Sugino compact square taper crank, 36h wheelset, various other bits-n-bobs that I like.
SUPERSTRADA! Note that "Prestige" is written in yellow script in front of the "UNIVEGA" decal, with "Tubing" in smaller lettering below it.
OS .8-.5-.8 -- beefy! Never seen a frame that advertised the tube butting profile so proudly
Tange Prestige MTB OS tubing decal in excellent shape for being laid over paint, without any clear coat on top. Proudly made in ... [Taiwan?].
Ride is fantastic so far! Excited to take it out for longer distance this weekend with a thaw finally coming to the East Coast . Geometry feels pretty traditional road race (short wheelbase & chainstays, mid/high-trail), perfect size for me at 56cm top tube and 55cm seattube. Feels most similar to the Centurion Ironman I used to have (which is to say, fantastic), though noticeably-stiffer out of the saddle, no doubt the larger diameter tubes talking.
Background:
After some sleuthing, I actually have not been able to find ANY photos online of this specific model/year! Another BF thread references a bike that sounds like the same model/year/color in a different size, but no photos-- though T-Mar mentions that this is a 1992 model. Adding to the intrigue, I found photos of a Univega "Ultraleggera" that appears to be an identical frameset, aside from the model name decal and paint color. The Ultraleggera appears to have been equipped with Dura-Ace 7410. If original, then this seems to be the case of two different 'models' only separated by component options, since my Superstrada frame arrived with what must be the original Shimano 600 (6400 "Tri-color" Series) bottom bracket.
Anyhow, enough talk-- on to the bike!
Dressed it up with 10spd Veloce, Sugino compact square taper crank, 36h wheelset, various other bits-n-bobs that I like.
SUPERSTRADA! Note that "Prestige" is written in yellow script in front of the "UNIVEGA" decal, with "Tubing" in smaller lettering below it.
OS .8-.5-.8 -- beefy! Never seen a frame that advertised the tube butting profile so proudly
Tange Prestige MTB OS tubing decal in excellent shape for being laid over paint, without any clear coat on top. Proudly made in ... [Taiwan?].
Ride is fantastic so far! Excited to take it out for longer distance this weekend with a thaw finally coming to the East Coast . Geometry feels pretty traditional road race (short wheelbase & chainstays, mid/high-trail), perfect size for me at 56cm top tube and 55cm seattube. Feels most similar to the Centurion Ironman I used to have (which is to say, fantastic), though noticeably-stiffer out of the saddle, no doubt the larger diameter tubes talking.
#738
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That is a great looking Univega. We used to sell tons of the lowerend road bikes and hybrids but I seldom got to see the nice ones like this.
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
#741
keep it simple.
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Yeah! My working theory is that this may have been Univega's version of a Columbus 'Max'-style frameset that was in vogue during the early / mid 1990s, but without the shaped tubing-- aka an oversized, overbuilt sprinter's bike. Hence the OS MTB tubing with the .8-.5-.8mm butting profile. But that's all just speculation . All I know is it rides great and feels incredibly 'solid' when riding hard out of the saddle.
#742
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I purchased a $10 Univega this afternoon. It's quite a nice bike, although it may be the lowest cost out of Univega's lineup. It rides really well, however, it's not a high end bike to truly appreciate.
Univega Activa LS, my best guess is from the late 80s.
Univega Activa LS, my best guess is from the late 80s.
#743
Senior Member
@ usa068 - wow $10 is amazing! I don't have a Univega yet, but I'm keeping my eyes open for one my size. What components does the bike have? Would like to see some close ups. Nice work!
#744
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Finally rode my new old Univega Alpina Pro last Sunday. Did a 30 mile trip and found the bike to be very smooth and "solid". In fact, the further I rode the better I liked how it rode for me. It is Tange Prestige double butted MTB tubing with Shimano Deore LX running gear. Has Tange Falcon headset and Ritchey rims. I put Kenda Kwest 1.5" high pressure tires on and mounted a rear rack for carrying stuff. Needed a new seatpost and saddle, but my choice of saddle didn't work for me at all. I'll be looking at a Brooks I think in the near future. The Univega seatposts from that time period are 26.0mm and about all I could find for replacement was a Kalloy Uno.
The bike is red with black web "splatter" paint. I think it dates to around 1989 or close. Univega had a number of MTB's in the catalog then. There was a Alpina Team model that was above the Pro model. I have two Univega Range Rover ES' from about that same time having Shimano Exage Country running gear. Those are the cool black chrome finish bikes.
The bike is red with black web "splatter" paint. I think it dates to around 1989 or close. Univega had a number of MTB's in the catalog then. There was a Alpina Team model that was above the Pro model. I have two Univega Range Rover ES' from about that same time having Shimano Exage Country running gear. Those are the cool black chrome finish bikes.
#745
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Specialissima
I believe this is around an '81 or '82 bike, has the double-butted Tange tubing and braze-ons for racks, but only one water-bottle cage mount. Got it in nearly pristine condition off of craigslist, not super cheap and I think the guy was flipping it, but I think it was still a decent price for a good solid bike. Most components are original, but I replaced the brake pads, and added campy ergo shifters and the rear derailleur off of another bike I had laying around, along with a 7-spd shimano freewheel. Works great, just had to swap a washer from one side of the axle to the other. Plenty of clearance, no need to bend the forks or anything. Finished it up with supercork bar tape and it makes a great ride...
#746
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and amount paid should not feel like a contest. the bike in owasso, oklahoma owned by the dead guy is likely to be sold at a substantiallly lower price than the one is seattle. often, the $10 bike is not worth even that, and the $200 bike is worth double.
yeah, yours looks pristine. you might want to lengthen the rear brake cable though. and route it around the front of the stem, but behind the front cable. it will bow out a bit so the bars will be able to touch the top tube on either side.
#747
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...Here's my Uni, found at the local GoodWill for the outrageous sum of $19.99. She's a keeper...
Last edited by IdahoEd; 05-13-14 at 01:11 AM.
#748
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Just saw an oddity, that I didn't know existed. I was at a bike shop out in the country yesterday, and there hanging on the repair rack, was a aluminum lugged carbon fiber Univega road bike! It looked like the same carbon tubing as on the Giant Cadex bikes, so it may have been made by Giant.,,,,BD
Looked a little like this, but had last gen neon-esque Univega graphics...
https://i768.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps208e8625.jpg
Looked a little like this, but had last gen neon-esque Univega graphics...
https://i768.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps208e8625.jpg
For a year or two, Univega sold rebadged Giant Carbon bikes. My best guess is that it was mid 1990s. The only cool thing about them (and not surprising coming from Ben Lawee) was that some of the models had a tinted clear coat of deep red (and maybe some other colors but I forget). I had never seen this anywhere else. I assume it was a sprayed on top coat, unless they figured out how to tint the resin in the carbon tubing)
#749
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Modernized my daily commuter bike with Dura Ace 7800 and Vuelta Corsa Lite wheelset
1990 Univega Superstrada (19lbs without pedals)
1990 Univega Superstrada (19lbs without pedals)
Last edited by link0; 05-27-14 at 03:30 AM.