Finally found something, 1984 Miyata 610
10-08-11, 06:51 PM
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Finally found something, 1984 Miyata 610
Hi all,
I had been searching for a while, heavily for 6 months, to find my first road bike for leisurely long rides, exploring, and eventually commuting. Thanks to this forum, and all the beautiful Miyata’s posted by members, it become my first choice. A couple weeks ago, thanks to the magic of Craigslist, I found this –
I’ve taken some pictures and added them here - https://flic.kr/s/aHsjwiLYFK
Apparently only a single owner and indeed, the stickers/badges from the bike shop where he bought it are still in good condition. Claimed that everything is original but I haven’t checked yet.
I am a newbie when it comes to biking. Last bike I owned was my old middle school mountain bike which I took to (and left at) college. I’ve ridden a couple times and I’m guessing I need to see a shop because anything with the left shifter causes the chain to come off every other time. Feels like the right size though honestly I would prefer to be more upright. A few more annoyances, the metal cages are too small if I wear wider shoes and always hang upside down making it difficult to get in after stopping. The caps came out of the handlebar ends and since there is only cloth wrap on the bar, it is quite hard after a long time. The other thing that attracted me to these types of bikes was the steel frame though so far my rides have been a bit bumpy. Hoping the change to 700cc eventually helps that.
The seller even gave me some fenders he wasn’t using but I’m not sure if they will work with the 27” original tires or with 700cc. He did give me a new 700cc tire with 6speed hub he had lying around. Trying to familiarize myself with bicycle repair to see how much I can do on my own and researching friendly places where I could get some help and an intro to the bike.
Anyway, I’m super excited to just have something to ride around on and to learn my way around it and turn it into the right bike for me. Slowly, on a student budget.
I’ll probably just update this thread with questions and updates as I make repairs or small changes here and there but wanted to share my sweet vintage find that appears to be in really great condition!
Thanks for all the help and inspiration thus far!
- J
I had been searching for a while, heavily for 6 months, to find my first road bike for leisurely long rides, exploring, and eventually commuting. Thanks to this forum, and all the beautiful Miyata’s posted by members, it become my first choice. A couple weeks ago, thanks to the magic of Craigslist, I found this –
I’ve taken some pictures and added them here - https://flic.kr/s/aHsjwiLYFK
Apparently only a single owner and indeed, the stickers/badges from the bike shop where he bought it are still in good condition. Claimed that everything is original but I haven’t checked yet.
I am a newbie when it comes to biking. Last bike I owned was my old middle school mountain bike which I took to (and left at) college. I’ve ridden a couple times and I’m guessing I need to see a shop because anything with the left shifter causes the chain to come off every other time. Feels like the right size though honestly I would prefer to be more upright. A few more annoyances, the metal cages are too small if I wear wider shoes and always hang upside down making it difficult to get in after stopping. The caps came out of the handlebar ends and since there is only cloth wrap on the bar, it is quite hard after a long time. The other thing that attracted me to these types of bikes was the steel frame though so far my rides have been a bit bumpy. Hoping the change to 700cc eventually helps that.
The seller even gave me some fenders he wasn’t using but I’m not sure if they will work with the 27” original tires or with 700cc. He did give me a new 700cc tire with 6speed hub he had lying around. Trying to familiarize myself with bicycle repair to see how much I can do on my own and researching friendly places where I could get some help and an intro to the bike.
Anyway, I’m super excited to just have something to ride around on and to learn my way around it and turn it into the right bike for me. Slowly, on a student budget.
I’ll probably just update this thread with questions and updates as I make repairs or small changes here and there but wanted to share my sweet vintage find that appears to be in really great condition!
Thanks for all the help and inspiration thus far!
- J
10-08-11, 07:32 PM
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Very nice find. I have a couple of Miyatas and they are among my favorites.
Looking at the catalog scans online it looks like the rear derailleur is not original. The catalog shows a Suntour Mountech GTL.
And one picky point. Most people place the hub skewer levers on the left side of the bike.
Looking at the catalog scans online it looks like the rear derailleur is not original. The catalog shows a Suntour Mountech GTL.
And one picky point. Most people place the hub skewer levers on the left side of the bike.
10-08-11, 09:18 PM
#5
Senior Member
Pretty bike. Japanese steel is good stuff. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. As for some of your issues:
Maybe try putting the stem up a bit higher if you want to play with your riding position, and want to be "more upright". I myself prefer a fit whereby the bars are set just a bit lower than the saddle, so I'd likely take this one up a bit. Some folks like a big drop there (so that they're really leaning forwards like a for-real racer), but especially for a casual rider it might suit you better minimizing the drop (or not). Play around with the actual and relative heights of the seat and stem, and the bar position - as long as the bike is within a good range size-wise, you'll find the sweet spot.
And take off the toe cages if they annoy you. I sympathize completely. I know some people here swear by them, but I get out my screwdriver and take 'em off when I see them. Takes 5 minutes, pretty easy to see how it's done. You might need a screwdriver and a smallish wrench...
New cork tape will come with bar ends to replace the missing ones, and make for a more comfy grip for about $10. Cloth wrap looks cool, but it's doesn't afford much cushioning, even when new (though it does get worse). It's worth figuring out how to wrap it yourself if you're not already used to this kind of thing - a lot of shops will charge you for the service, and anyone can get the hang of it pretty quickly. Might look a little haphazard on your first try, but it's one of those things...
Going from 27" to 700c won't do much to make things anything less bumpy in itself - except that those fat tires you've got on that one 700c wheel would take the oomph out of a lot of those bumps. You've got the space for bigger tires, which many bikes don't (you could probably get fatter tires for those 27" rims for $10 apiece). I dunno about the fenders - have to just try it out, eh? And be aware that the brake position required is going to be different if you do change the wheel size...
Bottle cage on the underside of the downtube is an interesting touch. Happy tweaking, and happy riding!
Maybe try putting the stem up a bit higher if you want to play with your riding position, and want to be "more upright". I myself prefer a fit whereby the bars are set just a bit lower than the saddle, so I'd likely take this one up a bit. Some folks like a big drop there (so that they're really leaning forwards like a for-real racer), but especially for a casual rider it might suit you better minimizing the drop (or not). Play around with the actual and relative heights of the seat and stem, and the bar position - as long as the bike is within a good range size-wise, you'll find the sweet spot.
And take off the toe cages if they annoy you. I sympathize completely. I know some people here swear by them, but I get out my screwdriver and take 'em off when I see them. Takes 5 minutes, pretty easy to see how it's done. You might need a screwdriver and a smallish wrench...
New cork tape will come with bar ends to replace the missing ones, and make for a more comfy grip for about $10. Cloth wrap looks cool, but it's doesn't afford much cushioning, even when new (though it does get worse). It's worth figuring out how to wrap it yourself if you're not already used to this kind of thing - a lot of shops will charge you for the service, and anyone can get the hang of it pretty quickly. Might look a little haphazard on your first try, but it's one of those things...
Going from 27" to 700c won't do much to make things anything less bumpy in itself - except that those fat tires you've got on that one 700c wheel would take the oomph out of a lot of those bumps. You've got the space for bigger tires, which many bikes don't (you could probably get fatter tires for those 27" rims for $10 apiece). I dunno about the fenders - have to just try it out, eh? And be aware that the brake position required is going to be different if you do change the wheel size...
Bottle cage on the underside of the downtube is an interesting touch. Happy tweaking, and happy riding!
Last edited by mikemowbz; 10-08-11 at 09:28 PM. Reason: grammar!
10-08-11, 09:41 PM
#7
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I have the '83 610, which I love. No longer constrained by a student budget, I made a few changes---but it was a great bike as-is. Agree with a previous poster, take the toe clips off if you are not used to them. I found the original MKS pedals to be too tiny for my size 11 feet, and swapped those out. I also found the original Sakae handlebar to be too narrow. The bumpy feel you are experiencing may be due to your riding position. Agree with a previous poster that you should try raising the stem to take pressure off your hands/arms. Just make sure you dont pull the stem out past the minimum insertion mark. If your stem is too short, try to find a used Nitto Technomic stem on EBay (make sure it matches the clamp size of your h-bar). They are extra tall, and match the look of your bike. You have a great bike that will last a lifetime. Check out this link for more info on old Miyatas. https://www.miyatacatalogs.com/
10-08-11, 10:27 PM
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I’ve stopped refurbing old bikes, but if there was one frame geometry that would rekindle and inspire my passion to try and build a special bike if ever I came across one, it would be the Miyata 610.
10-08-11, 11:14 PM
#9
Senior Member
Hey!
I'm the guy who sold you the bicycle! I'm so glad you kept it and it sounds like you'rve very excited for it. It looks fantastic and I miss it dearly.
I'm the guy who sold you the bicycle! I'm so glad you kept it and it sounds like you'rve very excited for it. It looks fantastic and I miss it dearly.
10-11-11, 06:53 PM
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Hey all, thanks for the feedback!
I went on a late night ride last night and the bike is just so so smooth. Really enjoyed it on a nice cool night through city streets.
Hey! Cool to see you on here! Thank you so much. If for any reason I have to move or find someone to take the bike, you will definitely have first choice to take it back. It is in great condition and I plan to keep it that way.
Per the message below, do you happen to have the original derailleur? I checked in the catalog as well and the Shimano Exage is not original, it was the Suntour Mountech GTL as DrJim wrote below. Even though I would slowly like to make changes to customize the bike for me while preserving its style, I'd like to start out as original as possible. I was going to send you an email about this anyway but let me know!
Indeed, thanks for pointing that out. The hub skewer being on the right was probably me after messing around. Figured all the other important stuff was on the right side but good to learn about convention.
Thanks for addressing all of that. I plan to play around with it some. I think it is the right height, standover at least seems about perfect, any higher and it'd be a bit of an issue...but when I have my seat at what feels like the correct height at the lowest pedal position, I'm in true racer position. Def will try raising the stem however.
Good to know the bar ends can be replaced. I'm used to re-gripping my tennis rackets so hopefully that knowledge is transferable ha.
Toe cages are definitely coming off, having too hard a time getting into them with my big feet and them hanging upside down all the time.
You're right about the fenders, I'm hoping to look into the wheels/tires this weekend and see what I can do.
Yes! The handlebar is definitely more narrow than I am used to but I'm getting used to it. Appreciate the recommendation for the Nitto stem to keep the look consistent. Haven't figured out how to adjust that yet but I'm getting there. That website was part of my inspiration to find one, thank you.
I went on a late night ride last night and the bike is just so so smooth. Really enjoyed it on a nice cool night through city streets.
Per the message below, do you happen to have the original derailleur? I checked in the catalog as well and the Shimano Exage is not original, it was the Suntour Mountech GTL as DrJim wrote below. Even though I would slowly like to make changes to customize the bike for me while preserving its style, I'd like to start out as original as possible. I was going to send you an email about this anyway but let me know!
Very nice find. I have a couple of Miyatas and they are among my favorites.
Looking at the catalog scans online it looks like the rear derailleur is not original. The catalog shows a Suntour Mountech GTL.
And one picky point. Most people place the hub skewer levers on the left side of the bike.
Looking at the catalog scans online it looks like the rear derailleur is not original. The catalog shows a Suntour Mountech GTL.
And one picky point. Most people place the hub skewer levers on the left side of the bike.
Pretty bike. Japanese steel is good stuff. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. As for some of your issues:
Maybe try putting the stem up a bit higher if you want to play with your riding position, and want to be "more upright". I myself prefer a fit whereby the bars are set just a bit lower than the saddle, so I'd likely take this one up a bit. Some folks like a big drop there (so that they're really leaning forwards like a for-real racer), but especially for a casual rider it might suit you better minimizing the drop (or not). Play around with the actual and relative heights of the seat and stem, and the bar position - as long as the bike is within a good range size-wise, you'll find the sweet spot.
And take off the toe cages if they annoy you. I sympathize completely. I know some people here swear by them, but I get out my screwdriver and take 'em off when I see them. Takes 5 minutes, pretty easy to see how it's done. You might need a screwdriver and a smallish wrench...
New cork tape will come with bar ends to replace the missing ones, and make for a more comfy grip for about $10. Cloth wrap looks cool, but it's doesn't afford much cushioning, even when new (though it does get worse). It's worth figuring out how to wrap it yourself if you're not already used to this kind of thing - a lot of shops will charge you for the service, and anyone can get the hang of it pretty quickly. Might look a little haphazard on your first try, but it's one of those things...
Going from 27" to 700c won't do much to make things anything less bumpy in itself - except that those fat tires you've got on that one 700c wheel would take the oomph out of a lot of those bumps. You've got the space for bigger tires, which many bikes don't (you could probably get fatter tires for those 27" rims for $10 apiece). I dunno about the fenders - have to just try it out, eh? And be aware that the brake position required is going to be different if you do change the wheel size...
Bottle cage on the underside of the downtube is an interesting touch. Happy tweaking, and happy riding!
Maybe try putting the stem up a bit higher if you want to play with your riding position, and want to be "more upright". I myself prefer a fit whereby the bars are set just a bit lower than the saddle, so I'd likely take this one up a bit. Some folks like a big drop there (so that they're really leaning forwards like a for-real racer), but especially for a casual rider it might suit you better minimizing the drop (or not). Play around with the actual and relative heights of the seat and stem, and the bar position - as long as the bike is within a good range size-wise, you'll find the sweet spot.
And take off the toe cages if they annoy you. I sympathize completely. I know some people here swear by them, but I get out my screwdriver and take 'em off when I see them. Takes 5 minutes, pretty easy to see how it's done. You might need a screwdriver and a smallish wrench...
New cork tape will come with bar ends to replace the missing ones, and make for a more comfy grip for about $10. Cloth wrap looks cool, but it's doesn't afford much cushioning, even when new (though it does get worse). It's worth figuring out how to wrap it yourself if you're not already used to this kind of thing - a lot of shops will charge you for the service, and anyone can get the hang of it pretty quickly. Might look a little haphazard on your first try, but it's one of those things...
Going from 27" to 700c won't do much to make things anything less bumpy in itself - except that those fat tires you've got on that one 700c wheel would take the oomph out of a lot of those bumps. You've got the space for bigger tires, which many bikes don't (you could probably get fatter tires for those 27" rims for $10 apiece). I dunno about the fenders - have to just try it out, eh? And be aware that the brake position required is going to be different if you do change the wheel size...
Bottle cage on the underside of the downtube is an interesting touch. Happy tweaking, and happy riding!
Good to know the bar ends can be replaced. I'm used to re-gripping my tennis rackets so hopefully that knowledge is transferable ha.
Toe cages are definitely coming off, having too hard a time getting into them with my big feet and them hanging upside down all the time.
You're right about the fenders, I'm hoping to look into the wheels/tires this weekend and see what I can do.
I have the '83 610, which I love. No longer constrained by a student budget, I made a few changes---but it was a great bike as-is. Agree with a previous poster, take the toe clips off if you are not used to them. I found the original MKS pedals to be too tiny for my size 11 feet, and swapped those out. I also found the original Sakae handlebar to be too narrow. The bumpy feel you are experiencing may be due to your riding position. Agree with a previous poster that you should try raising the stem to take pressure off your hands/arms. Just make sure you dont pull the stem out past the minimum insertion mark. If your stem is too short, try to find a used Nitto Technomic stem on EBay (make sure it matches the clamp size of your h-bar). They are extra tall, and match the look of your bike. You have a great bike that will last a lifetime. Check out this link for more info on old Miyatas. https://www.miyatacatalogs.com/
Last edited by jatree; 10-11-11 at 07:05 PM.
10-11-11, 11:33 PM
#11
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Was doing some reading and turns out this might actually be a 1983! Ahh that messes with my mind.
Seems that a serial number starting with "L" means 1983. Anyone confirm? Both 83 and 84 came in the same colors.
Seems that a serial number starting with "L" means 1983. Anyone confirm? Both 83 and 84 came in the same colors.
10-11-11, 11:58 PM
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You can probably fix your issue with throwing the chain if you look up some instructions on how to adjust derailleurs. It's not difficult, especially with these old friction bikes, all you need is a screwdriver to adjust the high and low limit screws.
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