I was glad to find this key to my own search. I own a Miyata 10 speed bike that I bought in 1977. I used it regularly for commuting and recreational riding until about 1990. After that, I only rode it occasionally, and it spent much of the last 6-8 years hanging up in my garage.

Not long after I bought it, I decided there was too much writing and too many decals on the frame, so I stripped everything off except the Miyata badge on the front, the Miyata decal on the slant tube, and the 1024 stickers on the front forks. I thought that was quite an improvement--until this summer when I started riding (and really enjoying) it again and wanted to learn more about what I was riding. After all, it's been over 30 years since I bought it, and I couldn't remember what model it was. Since I'd stripped off virtually all the identifying marks, I was back to square one.

After much searching online, with no success, I came across royce 114's reference to the "Liberty." Suddenly bells went off in my head! When I read royce's mention of saving receipts, I jumped up from my desk, ran to the file cabinet, and in a file titled, "Selected Receipts," (which has sat untouched for at least 15 years), I came across my original receipt for a Miyata Liberty, serial number E866645, purchased on August 18, 1977. Original selling price was $199.00.

Mine still has all the original equipment except for seat, pedals, and cassette (and spoke-mounted reflectors, which I ditched almost immediately). It is very similar to the bike royce posted photos of. The frame and forks are 1024 hi-tensile tubing, and the stem and seatpost are SR alloy; the cranks and chainwheels are labeled SR Apex, and the handlebars are Sakae. It has bar end Shimano friction shifters; the front derailleur is a Shimano 60 and the rear is a Shimano 600. The hubs are Shimano and the rims are Ukai. Both wheels have quick release hubs. The brakes are Dia-Compe centerpulls.

And you're right, East Hill, it is a sweet ride--very smooth, quiet, and responsive. While I may ogle the latest carbon fiber rockets hanging in my local bike shops, I can't imagine being any happier than I am riding my Liberty.