Originally Posted by
T-Mar
The 1982 and 1983 Miyata 710 were spec'd with BlueLine derailleurs.
+1, regarding others' comments about the 710s being very pricey for a thrift shop. The 610 has the most potential but also the most risk, Derailleur hangers are pretty tough and I would be surprised if it can be bent back without any damage other than flaking ther paint. Regardless, you should inspect the area closely for crack in ther base metal. Also, if the derailleur was bent that far, there's plenty of potential for other damage besides the derailleur, particularly the rear wheel and stays. This one would require careful and thorough inspection.
Sidepull brakes are indicative of a 1982 model 610. While it's a bit of a compromise grand touring model compared to those that followed, it is a t least the first year for the double butted main tubes, though you go get hi-tensile forks and possibly stays.
Whats odd is I could check every Miyata on the online catalog I mentioned above EXCEPT for some reason the 82 and 83 cats. I still can't get into it tonight, it just displays an error screen, but the rest I can get into. So I thought after looking at the other later years the BL wasn't mentioned in any even earlier years back to 78 when BL first came out. Regardless the Cyclone is a more desirable group then the BL which was nothing but a VX line priced just below the Cyclone. Not that the BL was a bad group, it still shifted better then all the other component manufactures, but the Cyclone gets the most attention and the more respect.
So I still disagree with the others and say the first bike is the best one. Even the OP says the first one is the best shape. Personally if I lived there in Austin I would have bought both and would not had left till I had them because those won't stay around long.
Beauty about Thrift shops is that usually you can negotiate with a manager. Maybe tell the manage you would take both for $350 or one (the first one) for $175, and see what they say.