ricksey

Road bike I've had for about 10 years sitting in the basement, (got it free way back when), too big for me but am slowly fixing it up for my son. Any idea what it might be? Here are the specs:

Serial Number-JU103482 On the bottom bracket
Elina “Super Pro” saddle
SR stem, Sr “Apex” crankset
Sakae Custom “Road Champion” drop bars
Dia-compe side pull brakes
Suzie Hubs on 27x1 1/4 rims, I think they are alloy, (sorry, pretty new to this)
Suntour “Pro Compe” 5 speed free wheel
Suntour “Vx” rear der
Suntour “NSL” front der
Suntour “Power” shifters

Based on the Vintage Trek site, most of the components with dates are from 1979 and 1980.







Thanks for any help anyone can give.

old and new

You have the bike left side facing, no good, so many posters do that.
Here's a litany of observations, the ser. # seems close but no cigar. Maybe an '80

Bars, stem, brakes can be off anything, were used by Co.s for mid-range bikes.
I've more than a few Japan built bikes/frames withwhich to compare. The following pertains to the prime suspect more than it does to a Fuji for instance.

Wide rims, Lg. Flange hubs were not used in '81 models sold in the US (canada ?)
5 speed was only on the cheapys after '80 (moreso '79); 6 prevailed by 1981
VX ders. were used for 4 or more years, power shifters too (not so specific)
SR Apex cranks were spec'd for some years; '81 & 2 had a 36t inner (not 38)
All this points to a POST 1980 and/or Canada market Miyata 310, the likes of which are not commonly found. 1981s are all over the place, as are early 1980 examples which were painted '81 colors and were spec'd the same as I've noted.
It's also not a '78 which used a different crank entirely. (again no photo)
The lugs, the look ..etc., more pics. might help; the BB juncture, you name it but it appears to be a Miyata. Even the little things; pedals, the exact model wasn't widely used and stem restrict it to an '81 at the latest, meening they're OE.

I could be totally wrong and of no help at all but it's all that I got to give.

old and new

That is to say '79 or an '80 sold as such,( not actually post '80) assuming it's not a re-paint

mkeller234

The lugs remind me of a couple Nishikis that I had. I don't really know though.

old and new

Frankly, I don't either, all was based on what I stated, more exceptions than rules.

The ser. # though isn't Nishiki like (nor exactly Mityata) and Nishikis in the very early '80s had some dif. features and parts. The lugs DO appear like others do.

ozneddy

No Nishiki cutouts in the lugs, thats all I got !

mkeller234

Yeah, looking closer at it the chrome on the fork looks different than Nishikis did too.

ricksey

sorry for facing the bike the wrong way in the photos. I'll remember that in the future. The front chain rings were 52 and 42. Not sure if that matters but you mention it above.

I was thinking it might not be complete bottom of the line only because it's pretty light, and had neither suicide breaks or a kick stand.

Maybe it's impossible to determine the make and model as it sounds like there are a few Japanese manufacturers that did a similar bike.

Either way it's a nice bike, would be nice to pin point a make and model though. Been scanning the various serial number boards and can't find anything.

Anyone know if there are Myata catalogs online anywhere?

T-Mar

I can't tell you what it is, but it's highly improbable that it is a Miyata. Miyata serial numbers of the era did not have two letters. Even if we assume the U is an incomplete number, such as a zero, there is still one too many characters. And even if we discount the extra character, the serial number would place it as a 1981 model. The 1981 models did not have chromed fork tips nor did they use cable clips, with all the models having cable tunnels. There is also no evidence to support Miyata having subcontracted models duirng this period. In fact, the opposite is true, with them manufacturing models for Specialized and Univega.

It also does not appear to be a Nishiki.

old and new

Just now spotting the chromed tips after reading T-Mar's text ..... that's the killer, grounds for imediate dismissal as a '81 Miyata or that matter any that I recall seeing.

dbakl

Looks Japanese.

ricksey

Thanks for looking everyone. Maybe it will have to stay my mystery bike for now. Are there other Japanese brands from the '79-80 era I should look into? Or were there plenty of other small players in the bike boom that maybe didn't make as many bikes as the big builders?

One other thing, the tires, and I don't know if they are original, but are certainly old, say "Made in Korea" and are a "Swallow" brand, VCS Nylon if any of that matters.

You guys are great.

Ex Pres 

The rear dropouts appear forged, and the lugs are not what you'd often see on a bottom of the line bike. But not the top, either. I think you could safely slot this in as a good mid-range model.

iamrik

The fork, color, and overal look of the frame (lacking bosses, etc), makes me think it could be an Union. I believe mine has the same bars.

I'll check out the lugs to see if they are the same when I get to it again (it's currently not built up anymore, just a frame ) in the weekend. The wheels in the pictures below are not the stock ones, I think it came with wheels with higher hubs (like yours). Derailleurs are Suntour.

Here's pictures of mine:

old and new

iamrick.. good show ! Well, nice try anyway. I'd suspected that a member such as you could pop-up at any time with a clear memory if not a living example. DO check the lugs.

It's telling just the same. Holland ought to have been a likely suspect. I didn't think of it, T-mar didn't seem to either. As we noted, the fork and # didn't figure. The Netherlands too are a nation with there own bikes. Many from Japan. As a kid, Dutch bikes were the better among store bought bikes; lower cost than Belgium or England, lighter and easier to pedal than Schwinns.
Holland has there own history with Miyata. They have there own with Nishiki too.
All without my or anyone else's approval. Interesting .... !

ricksey

Wow,

that does look very similar. It looks like your brakes were/are Shimano. Or does that not matter? Thanks for the help and I'd love to hear what your lugs look like.

Like I said before, you people are amazing!

I'll have to look and see if there is a "Union" thread here.

T-Mar

I'd be wanting to know the serial numbers on those Unions, before I started jumping to conclusions. The color is the same and the one has chrome fork tips. That could be said of a lot of bicycles. The Unions are not devoid of braze-ons like the OP's. One has cable stops for the rear brake and the other has cable tunnels. Might be the same, but also might not.

ricksey

Good call. I just like the mystery of it. But Dutch might be a good lead anyway. It does have "Swallow" tires, as I mentioned above. Another thread spoke of "Swallow" being used a lot on Dutch bikes.

I'll have to hunt this forum and the net for as many late 70's early '80's Dutch catalogs as I can to see if there is anything similar. If I can find the time. I think the wife is getting a little tired of all this bike business.

iamrik

Sorry for the bad pictures, forgot to take my camera with me so had to use my phone.

Lugs definitely not the same. The serial number on mine is MOB07974.

I guess that rules out an Union...

T-Mar

Well, Union may be Dutch but the pictured bicycle appears to have been made in Asia. There was both a Japanese and Taiwanese manufacturer thast used that serial number format. I guess a Dutch sompany could have used it too, but given that it has Tange fork dropouts, Asian is more likely. BTW, the pictured bicycle is from 1980.

ricksey

T-Mar et. al., any other ideas of where to search for answers on what brand my bike might be? Or, is this forum about the best knowledge base available?

Thanks again.