serguei.ps

Hi to everyone! One day few weeks ago I came into small bicycle workshop near my house. You know... Where 50 yo man, who was professional track racer in USSR nowadays repair bikes with his son, sell some not-so-expensive bikes and so on. Then I saw IT for the first time - it was something green, with very small frame (this frame only looked bit small), with empty winter tires, pannier rack, ugly blue
mudflaps and many lights and stuff - I thought that was something like women tourist bike and I didn't look closer at him. When I was second time at this workshop and there was few people round I looked closer i read koga miyata at the frame (at that
moment I didn't know what it is), this frame measured 54cm (not so small). Workshop owner said that one old man ride that bike and now he died, so his widow wants to sell it, because she don't need it anymore. He pumped up the tires, I took a ride and it was simply perfect... Everything worked nice and smooth, frame was in perfect shape.. So I took it, for 80$... When I was at home I took off everything that shouldn't be on that bike and I only then I realized what I got - very nice Koga Miyata Gent's Racer, now he looks like this photo picture.

It has all original Shimano 600 system with original gear and brake shifters and levers, original SR SAKAE CUSTOM bullhorn, SR SAKAE
seatpost, and KYOKUTO TOP-RUN pedals with toe-clips and straps.

What is not original as I understand is Cinelli nadlebar stem, SELLE ITALIA CRITERIUM saddle, rear wheel hub is SUZUE and rim is Mavic Module E2, front wheel is HVZ SPECZAKAZ (USSR track wheel).

Few days ago I had 300USD offer for that, but.. I don't want to sell it!

Also I started to take everything off that bike - I want to clean everything to make it shiny and looking like new, also frame needs some paintwork. And I have some questions for KM enthusiasts - I think you can help me a lot
First question from me will be - what do you think about this bike,
it's originality etc? (i'll make good photos later)

Second - frame number starts from F - as I understand this means year
of production is 1977 from miyata brochure, but this color and decals
starts from 1978.. IS that possible?

Also, I'm missing some small details, for example i don't have original screw, which comes with Cinelli stem, one little thing like in that picture (what's that thing name?)


Where can I get these small things?

And final question - I want to make it looking nice and smooth but sometimes I think about fixed gear project - is that frame good enough to make it fixed?
Thanks!

puchfinnland

that frame is too good to make a fixed, find another bike-keep it as is its lovely

very good find.

where are you located?

on your next thread you make consider this
- text on original post and pictures on a reply
why? our sponsors put advertisment next to the first post and it makes the pictures small

guzziee

Now send me all the parts you took off from it

RobbieTunes

There are K-M fans here, and they'll chime in.

The frame would be somewhat wasted, in my opinion, as a fixie, but it's your frame.
I've seen worse done to better frames, but as a fixie, you won't notice much of a difference between that frame and hundreds of others. The place for a frame to shine is full geared on a nice long ride. You'll understand it's finer/poorer characteristics in that way.

serguei.ps

puchfinnland, thanks for your comment! I'm located in Latvia - that's small country near Russia ) and thanks about tip on pictures!
guzziee, no problem, of course we can talk about the price =)))
RobbieTunes, I agree! Fixing this bike is like a crime, that was only like one of few ideas what to make with that. Right now I wank to make it look perfect first of all!
I started to clean some details, for example this front gear changer now looks like new, sweet!

And here is bigger photo of how my KM looks like

Chombi

I agree, please don't turn it into a fixie. Your Shimano 600 components should clean up and work very well as they are high quality and don't wear out easily..
The things on the brake pad holders are called "wheel guides". The help when doing fast wheel changes during a race by guiding the replacement wheel between the brake shoes when the wheel is quickly inserted on the bike by the racer's mechanic. Not sure if the Shimano 600 brakes had them standard, but many brake pad holders did come with them (like Campagnolo Nuovo and Super Record pad holders from the 80's). It shouldn't be too hard to find them for your bike at eBay.

Chombi

non-fixie 

And here is one of them. Welcome Serguei.ps! That is a very nice bike you got there! Please, do not make it a fixie . Keep the nice Simano 600 stuff. It will not disappoint you. It is most likely a late '77 model, made to '78 model year specifications. The Gent's Racer was one of KM's nicest models. I have two, but neither is as nice as yours.

cyclotoine

In my opinion it is a prime candidate for fixed conversion. I am not a big fan of 600 arabesque... everything is clamped on so it will be nice and clean. The 600 cranks will make a nice single ring crank. nice long dropouts... it's a commuter/utility fixed gear conversion dream frame (at least for my tastes). Making it a fixed gear won't damage it, keep the parts in a box.. It's not a super desirable or rare one off, hell it's not even the top model of the manufacturer. I would not hesitate to make it into a fixed gear if that is what you really want to ride.

seely

My favorite bike ever.

serguei.ps

Ok now I got my camera back and I can make some good quality photos, this is how frame looks now:

I took almost everything off except cranks and fork - they are screwed tooo hard for me, I need repairman assitance on that))


Also you can see drop outs condition - quite good.

Tube decals.

One more question - this is brake handlebar screw - how to get it out? There is so much small amout of space so I don't know which tool to use for it? Any ideas?

serguei.ps

Chombi, thanks for information! But right now I can't see these wheel guides on ebay - maybe they have some other names? =))
non-fixie, hello! Yes, I like Shimano 600 equipment a lot, and I think that this bicycle will be nice vintage wall piece of art - I shink so..
cyclotoine, thanks for your opinion too. Main reason for fixing for me right now is that rear wheel isn't in the best shape right now, I need to change hub for new next season I think, that's why I thought about buying second wheel and chain and make it fixed sometimes..will see..

non-fixie 

This should work:

non-fixie 

This is what it would have looked like when new:

serguei.ps

Yes! Exactly these photos I found in KOGA brochure for year 1978, but my frame serial number starts with F.

cyclotoine

any 8mm socket with an extension should fit for the brake lever. I also see that cranks are not 600 but miyata branded. Just as nice looking though.

serguei.ps

cyclotoine, thanks! Yes, cranks are MIYATA and chainrings are SR SAKAE - is that possible that they are original? Or only shimano 600 cranks and chainrings were original?

cyclotoine

They look original to me (same as the catalog).. I had just assumed it was all 600 without taking a closer look. It was my mistake.

sauze

It's really not tough getting cranks off , just your standard ratchet set and a crank puller available from most LBS's for pretty cheap. A great thing to learn.

non-fixie 

That is not unusual. I would expect that the production of the 1978 models would have started in the fall or even summer of 1977, in order to have the new models with the dealers by christmas.

ijsbrand

My 1979 Koga Miyata Gent's Racer-S. A bike so nice, I just had to add its picture here. Even though not everything is as original as the bike once was.

serguei.ps

cyclotoine, these cranks looks really nice, with engravings etc
sauze, I'm just bit afraid to break something..
ijsbrand, your bike is insane! This saddle is brooks? Looking nice. As I see your cranks are from racing model?

ijsbrand

The saddle is Brooks B17 narrow.

And the crank would be a SR AX-5LASL.

KonAaron Snake 

I'm another KM fan - that one is a sports tourer/all a'rounder style - I think similar in frame build to the Miyata 912s with eyelets (though they obviously weren't high tensile). I don't think there's any great tragedy making that a fixie, or up grading the parts...the value of that bike is in the frame as a rider, not in the parts and not as a super valuable collector piece requiring perfect preservation. I'd do whatever made that the most useful bike for you. I'm a fan of Miyata/Koga-Miyata because the stuff is usually smartly designed and durable - that could make a great bike in a lot of directions.

I'd probably do something like a more modern build with a rear rack and 28c tires...but there are multiple possibilities.

$80 was a screaming good deal for it.

serguei.ps

ijsbrand, as I understand this type of cranks used to be placed on Road-Racer model.
KonAaron Snake, well hello! I like it best with 23c tires, and minimum of equipment on - like in the first photo. Right now I already cleaned all small details, and I left only paint the frame, buy new cables and bar tape.

KonAaron Snake 

Whatever makes you enjoy it most!

Mine is probably the bike I ride most often and the last bike I'd ever sell: