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The Unofficial Univega Appreciation Thread!

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The Unofficial Univega Appreciation Thread!

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Old 01-13-10, 07:15 PM
  #276  
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i love univega model names
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Old 01-13-10, 08:07 PM
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I bought mine for $125, so I would have to be pushed really hard to pay more than $200. What did they cost new, less than half of his asking price?,,,,BD
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Old 01-13-10, 11:23 PM
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Originally Posted by kato7997
i love univega model names
Me too...here's 65 of them! Any I'm missing send them my way

Activa
Activa 200
Activa Action
Activa Country
Activa-ST
Activa Sport
Activa Trail
Alpina
Alpina Country
Alpina Pro
Alpina Sport
Alpina Team
Alpina Ultima
Alpina Uno
ArrowPace
Arrow Speed
Arrow Star
Boralyn
competzione
Custom Maxima
Custom Ten
gran premio
gran rally
Gran Record
gran sprint
gran sprint - S
Gran Tech
Gran Touring
gran turismo
Ground Force
Ital Sport
Land Rover 12
maxima sport
Maxima Uno
Metro Ten
metrothree
Modo Volare
MODO VIVERE
Nuovo Sport
NuovoTech 450
Nuovo Ten
Pathfinder
R7.2
Range Rover - ES
Rover
Rover - ES
rover sport
rover STI
Safari
Safari Ten
Speciallisima
Sportour
Superstrada
super special
SupraSport
Tandem Sport
Tri-Star
Ultraleggera
Via Carisma
Via De Oro
Via Montega
Viva Activa 300
Viva Sport
Viva Touring
Vivatech
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Old 01-13-10, 11:23 PM
  #279  
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[QUOTE=Whit51;10230489][QUOTE=akcapbikeforums;10230400]
Originally Posted by tradtimbo
Anyone know anything behind the name? Specialissima.


Great looking Specialissima. Let us know how you like the "1/2 step plus granny" triple crankset.
I don't like it.
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Old 01-14-10, 02:26 PM
  #280  
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Originally Posted by tradtimbo

I don't like it.
Are you finished with the clean up? Got some pictures?

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Old 01-14-10, 06:10 PM
  #281  
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Originally Posted by tradtimbo View Post

I don't like it. (the 1/2 step + granny)

Tradtimbo, I don't like the 1/2 step plus granny on my 81 specialissima either. As I understand it, this gearing was more desireablee with 5 or 6 cog freewheels. I've thought of 1) replacing the middle, 46t cog with a 40, or 2) converting to a compact double by just running the 2 smaller rings. The crankset appears to be an obsolete 86 bolt cirle diameter design ---all 3 rings have the same bcd. I'm open to suggestions. Otherwise, the Specialissima is great---I love the Tange Champ frame. I think its is closer to a sports touring than an all out tourer, at least in the 1981 configuration, with centerpull rather than cantilever brakes and a single set of bottle mount braze-ons.
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Old 01-15-10, 04:41 PM
  #282  
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I don't know what to tell you besides replacing the whole crank with a modern triple. The Specilissima is a fantastic candidate for component upgrade. Here are some photos of her with an appropriate stem and a bit of a clean up.




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Old 01-15-10, 05:29 PM
  #283  
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Originally Posted by tradtimbo
I don't know what to tell you besides replacing the whole crank with a modern triple.
No need to go modern... There is plenty of these guys around:

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Old 01-16-10, 02:14 AM
  #284  
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No doubt! Your right, no need for modern, but a definate need to replace whats on there.
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Old 01-23-10, 10:02 PM
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I just bought a 1984 (based on the M in the serial number) Gran Turismo. Originally I was just looking for a frame to play around with, but this was too nice a bike to pass up. I think it is mostly original parts, except for the rear tire, the handlebar tape, and the pedals. It is a 58cm, which is just a bit small for me, though it is nearly identical to my 67 Raleigh Superbe - the GT has a strangely high BB. I have narrowed down my bike build project to one of two possibilities, nicely illustrated by this bike and by Lamplight's Specialissima. Hopefully mine will turn out that nice :-)

I put the new pedals on (don't like the clips it came with) and I've also put in a stem extender, trying to get the handlebars up closer to saddle height. The picture shows the new pedals, but not the stem extension.

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Old 01-25-10, 10:28 PM
  #286  
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Cool thread. Stay tuned for pics of my frankenvega, currently under construction. I started with a 1980 Sportour frame, for parts, which included BB, Shimano Altus shifters & FD, headset/stem/handlebar, and Dia Compe sidepull brakeset. But I did not buy it for the frame, as it was too large and the fork was damaged. Then, coincidentally, (since I wasn't on a Univega kick particularly), I got hold of a straight 1982 Viva Touring frame and fork in my size. The paint and finish is kinda beat up, but that's OK since this is a winter beater buildup. So now I'm adding the various bits needed to make a complete bike. I guess I'll flip the Dia Compe sidepullls, since the Viva Touring takes cantis and this is a winter bike. Funny, I have a Sakae SX triple crankset like that one pictured a few posts up, but I don't know if my 52/46/36 chainrings qualify as "half-step plus granny?, but that is what works for me. Anyway, frame is rough and it's going to stay that way for the time being, but I'lm looking forward to the first ride, maybe in a week or so. And, like I said, pics pending.

Last edited by old's'cool; 01-29-10 at 11:02 PM.
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Old 01-29-10, 02:18 AM
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Here's my Gran Tech 6400 that I picked up last Saturday for $220 at S.A. Full Shimano 600, equipped tires still hold air, paint was perfect, shifting flawless without any adjustment.

I never really cared for Uni's before, but getting a good look at this one changed my mind. You can really see the attention to detail in these frames.

I lucked out that my wife clued me into this one that seems to have spent a lot of time in a garage. When loosened the seatpost clamp, the post slid by itself!

All I've done is adjust the roll of the bars, slide the seat forward, rear spoke adjustment, and remove the rear light bracket.

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Old 02-23-10, 07:43 PM
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I just posted this in another thread, but thought it needed to be here as well. This is my Univega Supra Sport. From what I've gathered it's either an 84 or 85. Suntour AR FD&RD, Araya 27" with new rubber, I changed out the stem for the Sakae (it used to be black, THAT was a lot of sanding). Chopped B-17 (works great, even at my 240 lbs) DiaCompe 500 brakes and I switched the levers to Tektros. Since these pics I've switched to a Shimano 105 RD and I have a front on the way. Up coming are dual pivot brakes, a switch to 700c and new shifters. Hopefully 105s, but I haven't put out the idea of going brifter... feel free to throw your opinion in on that, but I saw the new Raleigh Record Ace, and I love it (not that I can afford it). I may change the cranks, or at least the chainrings, but I'm still playing with that one. What a great bike, and an incredible find for $15 at my favorite GoodWill...

Pics time:




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Old 02-23-10, 07:49 PM
  #289  
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Is that aluminum bonded to steel?
Can't tell from the pic. I've got a Viva Tech I'm working on.

Originally Posted by TeamRoundBoys
Here's my Gran Tech 6400 that I picked up last Saturday for $220 at S.A. Full Shimano 600, equipped tires still hold air, paint was perfect, shifting flawless without any adjustment.

I never really cared for Uni's before, but getting a good look at this one changed my mind. You can really see the attention to detail in these frames.

I lucked out that my wife clued me into this one that seems to have spent a lot of time in a garage. When loosened the seatpost clamp, the post slid by itself!

All I've done is adjust the roll of the bars, slide the seat forward, rear spoke adjustment, and remove the rear light bracket.

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Old 02-23-10, 09:33 PM
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I posted this elsewhere, but forgot to include it in this thread. Is there a way to date it, because its all original...Univega Alpina Pro 7sp with Deore triple biopace:











The full set is here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/4497031...7623306180029/
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Old 02-23-10, 10:11 PM
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Recently picked up this 90's Superstrada for $100 off craigslist. It has quickly become my favorite bike and daily rider/commuter. It has "Racelite 4130-DB Double Butted Chromoly" tubes forks and stays. Anybody have any experience with this tubing? I've never heard of it but rides great.

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Old 02-24-10, 12:40 PM
  #292  
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What group does that bike have? It's equipped quite differently than my late eighties Super Strada... Is it Shimano RSX?
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Old 03-24-10, 09:14 PM
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Since my last post about my Gran Turismo, I've cleaned it up dramatically, replaced the brake shoes, the original stem with a Nitto Dirt Drop, and the original downtube shifters with Silver Shifter bar ends. I still need to replace the brake cables, since they were already a little short and raising the bars didn't help that. I'm also trying to figure out what to do abut the tires - they are 1 1/8 inches, and I had been planning on using 32mm or larger, but these rode pretty nice. Sorry for bad cell phone pic :-(

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Old 03-24-10, 10:13 PM
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[QUOTE=alexw;10443341]I posted this elsewhere, but forgot to include it in this thread. Is there a way to date it, because its all original...Univega Alpina Pro 7sp with Deore triple biopace:

AlexW, did you ever determine an age for the Alpina Pro? Looks to be a very high end Japanese MTB, prestige tubing is among the best steel ever. From the pictures, I would date your bike as around 1990-1991, any later and a bike this nice would have a front shock, rapidfire shifters and 8-speed. Graphics, frame and stem look too modern to be 1980s stuff. Enjoy it!
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Old 03-24-10, 10:38 PM
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Originally Posted by rat fink
What group does that bike have? It's equipped quite differently than my late eighties Super Strada... Is it Shimano RSX?
Sorry rat fink I never saw this post. You are correct it has RSX. I have heard that the group is low end...but it feels great to me! Does yours have the DA group?
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Old 03-24-10, 11:11 PM
  #296  
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...and in the red-headed stepchild role, here is my FrankenVega:FrankenVega R.jpg

And here is the link to the build thread https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-Touring-build
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Old 03-25-10, 12:17 AM
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This is Gertrude

Or, Gertie. Gertie's an early 80's Viva Sport that I've ridden the heck out of for 10 years or so. Found her in near-perfect condition in a thrift store for $20:

[IMG][/IMG]

Now, many thousands of miles later, she's in dire need of a teardown, repaint and rebuild. Anybody know of a place to get decals?
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Old 03-25-10, 12:19 AM
  #298  
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Oh yeah... I need to curse you all out. I've spent over an hour reading this thread... this is all YOUR fault!
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Old 03-25-10, 01:05 AM
  #299  
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Originally Posted by Fasteryoufool
Oh yeah... I need to curse you all out. I've spent over an hour reading this thread... this is all YOUR fault!
^x2 + drool.
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Old 03-28-10, 11:47 PM
  #300  
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Univega Viva Tech 1050
Aluminum main triangle bonded to steel rear triangle.

Upgraded groupset to vintage Shimano 600

For sale now on Ebay for charity.
Still wanted to post pics as these seem to be seldom seen:
Attached Images
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File Type: jpg
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