Originally Posted by tacomee
$225 is way too much money for an old 10 speed bike. Go to Goodwill and buy one for $25.
New Jamis, Fuji or Novara steel framed bikes can be bought for $700-900, and even when it was new, the Miyata 610 was crap compared to these new bikes.
As a guy who likes to fix and ride old bikes-- let this one go. I've spend hunderds of dollars on old road bikes (one was a Miyata 310) and loved every minute of it. The trick is that you need a damn-near free bike to start with, or you'll end up spending $$$$.
If you're in the NW USA, PM me and I'll try to help you find an old beater bike.
The 610 was a 15 speed originally, using MTB stype Suntour Mountech derailleurs. This was high quality stuff. Changing to modern 700c wheels and 9 or 10 speed cassette is easy and cheap.
Jamis, Fuji and Novara make nasty ugly welded stuff, that doesn't compare to a quality lugged frame like the 610. You could look at Rivendell for somthing similar in quality to the 610.... but be shocked by the price.
The Miyata 310 was a low end entry level road/commuter bike in the Miyata range, it doesn't compare to the quality Miyata bikes like the 610 and 1000 Grand Tourers, or the 710 roadie.
Btw, I don't think the OP is looking for "an old beater bike", if he is considering a Miyata 610 then he is probably looking for a high quality touring bike that will last a lifetime.