Miyata 912
 

I just found this Vintage Miyata 912 on CL. It looks like all original. What do you think? Seller is asking $220
https://images.craigslist.org/00909_...O_1200x900.jpg

https://images.craigslist.org/00Z0Z_...l_1200x900.jpg

https://images.craigslist.org/00Q0Q_...k_1200x900.jpg

https://images.craigslist.org/00Y0Y_...n_1200x900.jpg

Markets vary...in Tampa that's a $100 bike at best.

In Philly that's a $300 bike easy.

I thought about buying this 1981 Miyata 912 in Portland for $250, but found a Patelli Super Prestige for $175 instead.

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/5862830927.html

Yeah, my first choice is 87-89 Centurion Ironman Master Dave Scott road bike. I would consider the Miyata 912 if it were a 58 cm frame and all original. MOst of the desirable bikes are up in LA. Too far to drive from San Diego.

In a hot market, $220 is cheap for that bike. I'd be curious if those 30+ yo wheels are in good shape.

I spent $425 for my garage queen 1200.

Miyata made quality bikes, and this one's not the bottom of their product range. If it fits, it's in decent condition, and you can get it for $200-ish, well, you could do way worse.

Sheldon Brown's site has scans of an old article comparing the 912 to other "entry level racers". Skimming the article, the 912 sounds like a great all-rounder. Racy enough to be fun, but a comfy ride and eyelets for rack and fenders if you want to set it up for commuting or touring.

http://sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/...one6001985.pdf

I'm very Miyata partial - this is a terrific aggressive sports tourer or relaxed entry racer.

For comparison I sold my Miyata 912 a few days ago for $280 in Denver.

Mine had the original Miyata Turbo saddle and NOS Benotto bar tape (which was the only addition I made to the bike)

I valued it closer to $350-400 but not easy to sell a bike for that in November in Denver. It sat for about 3 weeks until a local courier noticed it and he was surprised it was still available. He bought it that night

I originally paid $160 for it after some dickering

I'd say $200 would be right on for that bike without original saddle or pedals.

That's a decent price on a fine bike.

Figure $100 for tires, cables, bar tape, and repacked bearings if you do the work.
$240 for that if you take it to a shop.

If you are good with the total cost, grab it

The paint isnt in great condition, but i bet itd clean up and be a fun ride.


ETA- looks like an '84 model

This model year, and for sure all others after, werent touring bikes and didnt have eyeletd for rack and fenders.
They were marketed as semipro race and triathlon bikes.
The geometry and build isnt good for touring and it isnt what i would consider a typical commuter bike.


I love mine, but i use it for just road riding.

Fenders.
You could probably kludge a rack to the back, but that would require pclamps to attach to the seat stays and from '84 and later, touring bikes almost always had attachment points on the seat stays for a rack.
Also, there is just 1 attachment point at the dropout and not 2. Touring bikes by '84 has 2. Heck, many mtb/atbs at that time had both.

The hest way to know a 912 was meant to be a go fast bike only, besides Miyata's literature, is the 41.5mm chainstay length and rest of the bike's geometry. Its purposefully twitchier than a touring bike and has short chainstays.

So what are the eyelets for on the OP's quarry?
Those red tires have to go, blackwalls with grey, like a Serfas Seca.
Scraped up top tube, rusty cable guides, a color scheme only a Buckeye could love, FMV of $150-$180 as shown.

My 912 is 1987, shown as purchased. I'd value it like a clean Ironman, around $350-$400.
https://dl.dropbox.com/s/vgy4lta3eon...20912.JPG?dl=0

I've had a few, and a good comparison to the geometry on these is old Cinellis with fenders. They're not as extreme as some of what was going around in the 80s, but it's not a tourer either. Compared to most bikes of the period, it's somewhere between race and sports tourer.

It was their "tri " racer at the time. I have an 85 912 and an 87 Ironman. The frame geometries are almost identical. I also have a 90/91 Team Miyata. The tubing on the two Miyatas is the same but that is about it. For the record, the 912 is an all day riding bike. Not so for the Team. The Team is a racer, pure and simple.