snowbird

I picked this up in a yard sale and later realized that I am too short to feel comfortable on this bike so now I'm wondering what it's value may be. It appears to me to be in collectible appearance and condition with just a couple if small nicks in the like new Mountain Blue (I think) finish. There are no dents, rust, paint bubbles, pitting, corrosion or structural damage. All components (except for the pedals and saddle) look brand new. All labels, logos, etc. are intact. It really looks great. Serial number is M221107.

I don't know much about bikes so I did some research online, (didn't fine much on this model), so that I I would hopefully know how to describe it so you could get a good picture in your mind of what this bike really looks like. To start of with, everything appears to be original except for the tires which are in excellent condition and still have the nubs on the riding surface.

I think I measured correctly and these are the measurements I came up with:
Seat post tube top to crank is c.60 cm (23 5/8").
Top of cross bar to crank is c.57 1/2 cm (22 5/8").
Top of cross bar to ground is c.85 1/2 cm (35 5/8").
Wheel base is c.105 cm (41 3/8").
Chain stays are c.45 cm (17 3/4").

The components are as follows:
Chromoly double butted frame tubes with the diamond cutouts.
Chromoly fork and stays.
Brakes and levers are Dia Compe.
Headset is Tange Levin MTB-225.
Bar/stem is Grand Raundoneur 135 / Technomic.
Suntour ratcheting barend shifters.
Derailleurs are Suntour Superbe Tech.
Freewheel is Suntour 5 speed.
Crankset is Sugino AT 52x47x34.
Pedals are CRMO could not find model name - they do show wear.
Tires are Kenda 27 x 1 1/4 70 psi max.
Rims are Ayara with 36 holes front and 40 holes rear.
Spokes are 14 ga stainless.
Hubs are Suntour Sprint.
Saddle is Italia with Univega logos - has some fading from use but no cracks or tears.
Seat pillar is Sakae SR B-90 with max ht 26.8.
3 bottle braze ons.
Rear alloy rack.
Braze ons for fenders.
Low rider braze ons for front rack (mid fork).

I'd appreciate anything you can tell me about this bike including what it's value might be and how it should be dis-assembled and packed for shipment. I've included a couple of overall pictures and can supply more detailed ones if you would like. Thanks for taking the time to read this post.

T-Mar

Definitely a 1984, Miyata manufactured frame. Original price $555 US. Market price will vary depending on local conditions.

snowbird

Thanks for the quick reply T-Mar. I had seen Miyata mentioned on the web but I thought that was a separate brand of bike. Also thanks for confirming the date.

wrk101

Miyata is a separate brand.

Univega was a marketing company. To my knowledge they did not make any of their bikes. But they had some good companies build bikes for them.

There is some debate as to whether some of the Univegas are identical to Miyata models. I would think Miyata would have kept some of their best models/designs/technology to themselves. I don't know.

I have a Lotus, another good Japanese made bike. Lotus was a marketing company as well and did not build the bike.

snowbird

Thanks for the info. It really is a great looking bike and I wish I could ride it but I am only 5-10 and I think the bike is better suited for a 6 footer. Also, I am 67 and don't want to take a spill so I'll stick with my Schwinn World Sport and Trek 720 Multi Track with which I am comfortable.

Like I said, I got the Univega in a yard sale last summer for a steal thinking I could use it. It has since been just sitting in my basement taking up space so I will probably end up placing it on Craig's List (Boston) and then Ebay if it does not sell (though I don't look forward to packing and shipping it).

T-Mar

+1. Most of the Japanese brands from the 1970s and 1980s were actually marketing brands that were contract manufactured. I'm not aware of any Univega that were identical to Miyata models. I suspect that Lawee (the company that owned Univega) and Miyata would have been very careful to ensure that the bicycles had enough variances so that there were more differences than just paint and decals. For instance in the case of their top 1984 Grand Touring models, Miyata spec'd Shimano and 700C wheels while Univega spec'd SunTour and 27" wheels. Of course, the differences were not always this obvious, but enough so that it was not evident to the consumer that they were from the same manufacturer.

I don't have a clue what the market is like in your area. I suggest you check Craigslist for other comparable touring models of the vintage to see what they are listed for. Comparable models from the era included the Cannodale ST-500, Centurion Pro Tour 15, Fuji Series V, Lotus Odyssey, Miyata 1000, Raleigh Portage, Schwinn Voyageur SP and Trek 620. You can also look up "sold" prices on Ebay. Don't forget to look at the condition of the bicycles and compensate appropriately. Good luck.

snowbird

Thank you T-Mar. This forum and especially you have been more helpful and knowledgeable than I ever anticipated. I really hate to sell this bike but at least someone else will hopefully get to enjoy it.

In the meantime, this forum has further peaked my interest in bikes and I will continue to monitor posts that I find interesting.

Thanks again.