OldSchoolBMXer

Hello everyone, I'm new to these forums and I was wondering if someone could tell me how rare this bike is, if there is a way to determine a year (by serial or otherwise) and how much I should sell it for. (so I can add more bikes to my bmx collection ) I love all bikes, but I am normally not into buying road bikes. I've been BMXing almost 30 years and happened to recognize and know the name ARAYA. I never knew they made actual bikes. I am normally posting on the forums at the BMX museum, but those guys aren't to knowledgeable when it comes to old school/vintage road bikes. Figured I join here and see if you nice folks could help me out. I learned a little by searching Google and these here forums, but not much on year and value. Its fully loaded with Suntour and Dia-compe parts with Sunshine hubs. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Can upload more pics if need be. Thanks in advance for your time.

oldskoolwrench

Welcome to the C & V Forum!

What you have is a 10 speed from the 70's bike boom, when many bike companies flooded the US market in response to the gasoline shortage. Many companies who made components, such as Araya and Sakae Ringyo (SR) had someone else manufacture complete bikes for them, then put their brand name on the bike.

Your bike has solid, durable components on it, but at the end of the day it's just a recreational 10 speed. I would put it on the used market for around $125.00, and see what response you get from the ad.

Good Luck!

auchencrow

Welcome to C&V!

I don't know how "rare" your bike is, but it's an uncommon marque.
It looks to be from around '74 but you can date it pretty accurately using the hub and derailleur date codes detailed here on the Trek website.

bikemig 

Nothing fancy but a solid bike that looks to be in remarkable shape for its age. I'd lose that saddle and ride that bike.

OldSchoolBMXer

Cool, Well worth the $10 I paid for it then. I initially grabbed it for the brake parts, but I wanted to be sure it wasn't something valuable before I took it all apart. Thanks for the quick replies, the link and the new knowledge Much appreciated!

Miele Man

That bike looks to be in remarkable shape! Great find especially for $10.00 as it looks to have been stored indooors and ridden very little.

BTW, i noticed that the quick-rease for the front brake is in the open position. Just thouight I'd point that out to you.

Also, if you remove those false security/suicide brake levers from the main levers and readjust your brake cables you'll get much better braking from the main brake levers. Thosw were the names given to those auxillary brake levers because you usually could not do a "panic stop" with them and by the time you realized that, it was too late to move your hands to the main brake lever. Plus, that part of the auxillary lever that sits between the main brake lever and body drastically cutsdown on the amount of brake lever travel available. You can always put the auxillary levers back on if you decide to sell it complete.

Cheers from Miele Man