Jer0560

So I'm looking to buy a bike to commute to work. I stopped at a used bike shop, and the guy recommended a Miyata 310. Now here comes my ignorance, I admit I know nothing of bikes. I believe it was an 85/86. It has 12 speeds I believe. 2 large gears near the pedals and 6 back at the rim. It does have Shimano parts. He was asking $250, and I was just wondering if this was worth my time to invest in. It road really nice. I'm just really hesitant to drop 250 on a bike that is as old as I am. Does this seem like a good deal/worth it for me a beginning bike rider? Should I take the plunge?

wrk101

Without pictures, no idea really. Its all about condition.

But the key sentence above: "I know nothing of bikes." Many of us started there. I overpaid for the bikes I bought at that point. As I got educated, I made better decisions. So if you want to get a good deal, educate yourself first, then start shopping. The quality of the 310 really varied by year. Early years were nothing special. By 1985, they were pretty decent. Rarely do sellers get the year right, even shops. But if it is a 1985 or 1986, it should be a good bike.

Also, in general, a used bike shop is going to need to charge more, they have all the overhead of a shop: employees, taxes, utilities, etc. And they usually know bike values well, know what they can get and charge accordingly. I routinely sell bikes through a local used bike shop on consignment, even with their fees, I do a lot better. Example, they have a bike of mine right now priced at $399, I would have sold it for $225. Buyers around here will gladly pay a shop 50% more or higher, thinking they are getting a bike that has been more thoroughly serviced, have someone to stand behind it, etc. In reality, they are often buying one of my bikes, that the shop did zero preparation on, and just put it on the floor. Its all about perception.

auchencrow

+1 to Bill's remarks: Buying privately is generally cheaper (if you know what you're doing).

I noted that the reference to 12-speed appears for the first time in the '84 catalog, so I'd guess the subject bike would be one of the later dbl butted variants. They are nice riders.
- Still, it's a bike shop price, and just a tad high, assuming it's in good shape.

PS - DO NOT be hesitant to drop $ on a bike just because it is old. (Properly maintained, they will last longer than you will.)

GentlemanGeorge

I have an 85 310 and have nothing but positive things to say about it. It has a solid mid range Golden Arrow/105 drivetrain, chromoly frame, alloy 27in wheels, and to be honest, I would much rather ride it than a current entry level bike in the 700 to 800 dollar range.

250.00 is a little high, but still a bargain compared to buying new.

Jer0560

Thanks for the insight. You all have helped educate me, I'm definitely glad to have posted here. I figured it'd be a bit higher coming from a used bike shop. How much up-sell I have no idea, but he does check the bikes, an ensure they're up to snuff. Something that I couldn't tell if I were to go look at an individual seller off like craigslist. My biggest fear is the whole 25 year old thing. Which apparently doesn't mean much with bikes; good to know.

When I am looking at used bikes, what kinds of things should I be looking for? How do I know if I'm getting a quality bike? and is a Road Bike the wisest decision for me to be getting to and from work? Work is approx 3 miles. Any other help you could give me would be great!

auchencrow

DON'T be concerned that it is older. C&V Bikes are still incredible values and are better quality than new bikes costing 4x as much. My Ten Speeds has a lot of tips on what to look for when purchasing

njdanny85

I am also a newbie looking to get into biking (avid runner and fitness enthusiast here). I am looking for some thoughts on this Miyata 310 that I am considering that is for sale on craigslist for $165. Here is the link:

https://southjersey.craigslist.org/bik/2397834392.html

It looks to be in good shape to me but I am definitely no expert on bikes. I'd love to get some feedback from some of you who are a lot more knowledgeable than myself on this subject.

I am looking to start getting into riding a few days a week to see how it goes. If all goes well, I might look to enter a running/biking road race or two. Since I'm new, I figured a used bike would be the best way to go assuming it's in good enough shape. Looking forward to reading any of your thoughts on this bike.

wrk101

Older model, not very desirable, 1024 frame tubing = bottom end. Also a small size.

What is your budget? Decent bikes market price at $200 plus.

Looks dirty to me, probably needs a little TLC and some $$. Hard to tell from the pictures. I would pass.

+1 To below, although market value of decent road bikes starts at about $200, if you are knowledgeable, you can find bikes well under market. I never pay market, but I spend a lot of time looking, and I jump on deals (like in the car immediately).

The bicycle market is very inefficient. Whoever has the most knowledge, wins. Bikes often sell at below market prices (but they go fast, really fast), sometimes they sell at market, and occasionally over market. The more you know, the more often you will be buying below market.

auchencrow

Absolutely I would pass. That looks like a "project" bike to me too.
But you are correct that a used bike is the best way to go if you want to get back into cycling. The prerequisite though, is to educate yourself on what to look for in a used bike - if you are diligent and quick, you can score an incredibly nice bike for much much less than $200. - But those deals go fast and you will miss them all if you need to vet it here first.

- I would suggest that you peruse MyTenSpeeds for starters - There is a lot of useful information for you there.

njdanny85

Thanks a lot for the feedback guys. Looks like I should keep looking. I'll check out that link and I plan to go to a bike shop to look around a bit and take a look at some bikes to get an idea of what to look for. I'd like to find something decent for under $200 if possible. Not really looking to go out and buy a new road bike right now for $800+. I may do that down the road if I really do get into cycling a lot, but a used bike is my preference now. Sounds like I need to try to get smarter on bikes in general. I've been browsing Craigslist the past couple of weeks, but just starting to get more serious about finding a bike in the past few days. Thanks again for the advice on the bike I was considering.

DavidW56

For use as comparison only, I sold a 1982 Miyata 310 last month for $150 -- but it was a cromoly frame, and it was in very good, road-ready condition. And the buyer knew his Miyatas; he had been riding a 110 for years, liked it, and wanted to upgrade.

zmensing

One thing I think it's important to keep in mind sometimes is the value of your time. You can find great deals if you're willing to spend a lot of time looking, racing others in the know to get them, etc. Or, you can spend that time on a site like this, researching and getting opinions on exactly what you want and be willing to potentially pay a premium for it. Of course, be on the lookout for deals on what you want as well, but why not get the bike you want and use it instead of sitting around waiting to get a great deal on it. Just my two cents; if you know what you want, get it, and unless you GROSSLY overpay, you're unlikely to be too upset about it because you'll be too busy loving the bike and searching for parts to upgrade it