Are 70's era Miyata bikes desirable?
 

I'm looking at a CL post of what the seller says is a Miyata bike. The pic is so blurry I can't tell if there are 2 or 3 chain rings, but the seller says there are 2. The shifters are mounted on the handlebar stem (which is why I think it is from the 70's), and the paint color is blue. I was looking for a touring bike, but I guess this is not it. Should I go look at it anyway?

Should you go look at it? Kinda hard to know without more details (including the asking price).

If you're looking for a touring bike, this doesn't sound like one. Not as currently configured, at least. The frame geometry might be suited for it -- again, without pics or details, who knows -- but a touring bike would typically have a triple crankset and probably wouldn't be outfitted with stem shifters.

Here you go:
Men's Retro higher end road bike
Seller has it in a storage building, and it's raining so it's a hassle to go out there and look for me right now, but they say there are no head badges and a friend says it has nice components. They are asking $150, but I can't see from the out of focus pic if it has the eyelets for rack attachment. I guess that's part of the adventure of CL listings.

Too much adventure...without better pictures or more information from the CL poster, I would pass on this one...stem shifters, built in kickstand, apparently (although hard to tell) bolt on wheels...all lead one to believe that this is low end...

For sure a lower end Miyata. Looks like a 110 model maybe, but it's older than the bikes I usually go for. I think it is worth a look but $150 is too high for this more like $50 unless it is absolutely perfect! Even then maybe $100. These lower end Miyatas do have nice quality but it won't have rack eyelets or even water bottle bosses.

Thanks much for the tips. I am not hampered by budget so much as lack of knowledge of which specific models are touring rather than sport/road bikes. I did a search for touring bikes ('touring' in title) but did not find any posted for sale 11 days ago. Can you give me a bigger hint, such as a brand or model?

That guy in the NC mtns with a lot of bikes is a pretty good place to look for a touring bike in your size esp. since you don't know quite what you're looking for. The features Thrifty Bill talks about in post no. 6 is pretty much what you are looking for (triple crank, cantilever brakes, etc.) Here's the problem, touring bikes don't pop often and it has to be in your size or it's no good to you. You're best bet may be to find a vintage mtb (one with a rigid fork). Those can make darn good touring bikes with a bit of tweaking and they can be found (unlike vintage touring bikes) at a reasonable price (again unlike vintage touring bikes which tend to command a premium). Personally if I were looking for a touring bike in your area, I'd talk to that guy in the NC mtns with the vintage touring bikes.

My grail bike is a Miyata 1000 this is one great touring bike. But others like a Trek 520 Panasonic touring Lotus Odyssey would be very good keep your eyes on the lookout. They are out there

The Novara Safari is a capable touring bike. What are you looking for that that bike does not fulfill? Also you have two coveted Bridgestone speed machines!

I'd recommend going to see @wrk101 for a bike. If he's too far away, post your height here and maybe we can help scout a frame that fits, because that comes first. The Miyata above is for a rider about 5'10-6'1".

Actually, I already have a MTB type touring bike, a Novara Safari, and it works fine. However, since it is built to haul heavy loads and go on unpaved roads and partially civilized trails, it simply weighs a bit more than I would prefer for strictly paved road touring. I also have light steel sport bikes, one of which I could convert, after a fashion, either with light racks or a trailer to make a paved road tourer. So I have spent most of the day doing CL searches and googling touring bikes.

The Safari just seems a bit overbuilt if I am going to stay on paved roads. While riding the Natchez Trace in November, I could not keep up with my companion Pierre, who rode a Miyata. Whether that was because of the difference in bike + gear weight, our 31 year age difference or a combination of both and my lack of proper conditioning, who can say? Actually, the Safari is quite comfortable. I put Avid BB7's on it, Planet Bike fenders and a sturdy front rack to go with the rear rack it came with, and I have a Shimano 12-36 cassette waiting for installation to replace the 11-32, to be ready for those really steep hills. I have in mind an off pavement adventure out west for the Safari. In the meantime, I was looking for a paved road touring bike that is somewhat lighter. I have arrived at the vintage touring bike solution a bit late, and a blurry photo on CL kept me from counting the chain rings on the listing.

I am in the height range for the 25 inch frame listed, which is why I was looking at it.

And yes, I could do light/credit card touring on one of my Bridgestone bikes, even get an ExtraWheel trailer to limit the weight load added to the bike's rear wheel, but would it really be comfortable? If I could find a touring bike it would be better, I think. And some people might have bikes they don't really know about, such as the folks who listed the Miyata above. They truly don't know what model they have. Too bad it's not what I need.

Motobecane Grand Touring $200 - early 1980s editions are great with Vitus Framesets. Get some photos from seller.
Motobecane Grand Touring Road Bike

Miyata 215 ST -$160
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/bik/4757292046.html

I've been in touch with the seller of the Miyata 215 ST; it has already been sold.

Hey, Mike,

Your RB-1 is way sweet, and you will find the right touring bike! I like the mountain idea - Let's go!

I picked up a Miyata Gran Touring from a fellow Forum member on a trade. Here it is but it does not have a designated wheelset yet. Where does this lie on the desireability scale? I am unsure of the year but have read that it is the predecessor of the Miyata 1000's. I want to have it finished and rolling for an early spring ride so any wheelset suggestions are welcome also.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=422031

Nice score!

Classic, 27 or 700c
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Performance - great value for 105 hubs
Mavic CXP22 Shimano 105 Hubs All Silver Road Bike Wheels 32h [66801 & 66802 or 66803] - $139.00 Velomine.com : Worldwide Bicycle Shop, fixed gear track bike wheelsets campagnolo super record vintage bike

Thanks a lot. I haven't measured the rear spacing yet but I image it would be 126 right? If I go with the 7 speed cassette I could just cold set her a little. That would be a first time attempt but I am feeling confident. Which would you choose?

Assuming the canti brakes are set up for 700c, I'd get the Mavic CXP22/105s.

Yep the previous owner had them set up with 700c's.

I was mistaken when I said it was already sold. It might be the right size, so I'm going to check tomorrow. I also found "a guy" in Charlotte who has a garage with 12 or 20 road and touring bikes he has rehabilitated. Claims he has toured some 35,000 miles: cross country twice, New Orleans - Nashville, New Zealand. I'm gonna go see if he has something really special and listen to a story or two. And buy some bike hooks. I'm gonna need some bike hooks.

Thanks, I do appreciate that evaluation. It is way lighter than my Safari, for sure. I will visit a Charlotte ex-touring guy (with a garage full of road and touring bikes he has rehabbed) tomorrow, just to see what he has to compare. Regarding the 215 ST, assuming I get it, should I keep it all original or modify to suit, i.e., change down tube shifters to bar end or something else? I like the trekking bars on my Safari; would it be heresy to put some like it on the Miyata (obviously no bar end shifters in that case)?