It's on my local CL. The font is not the newer Picadilly font of most of the Univegas I've seen. Also no brazed on cable guides, yet has a derailleur hanger. I'm guessing 1975 or '76.

Other thoughts? I've been searching for a decent, properly fitted diamond frame and search Miyata, Panasonic, and Univega daily on CL.


https://portland.craigslist.org/yam/bik/5345577346.html

Mid to late 70's would be right.

Looks in great shape.

Best guess?? 1977. I think before that they were Italvega.

Nice looking bike. Good price

I'm very surprised this bike is still on CL, unless the seller just failed to remove the ad. If I were still living in McMinnville I'd be all over it.

He's expecting me this week. Retired guy who likes to fix up older bikes & sell for a little extra income. I can always tell his bikes because of the background. I even had him measure the top tube for me!

I'll go out later this week. We had the wettest one day EVER today. It wouldn't have been a good day for a test ride.

Nice!

Buy it or I will!

If it has that shorter top tube that you're looking, this is a great deal. I'd guess late 70's, 77-78? based on the Cyclone derailleurs.

"Also no brazed on cable guides..." well now, if one wanted to fix that... but then you would have to go visit Nina the mangy looking dog again for powder coat...

I'm seeing enough reach on those centerpulls for 700c wheels, which would give room for fatter tires and fenders...@$125, there's plenty of room for upgrades if you wanted...

If you get it, I'd be willing to trade out those first gen Cyclones for some NOS MkII's and some cash, trade, or torch work...

And I haven't seen your Raleigh 20 in person yet! You could bring it to the C&V ride this Saturday...

Looks nice! What kind of tubing?

That was my thought. I"d google Italvega and Univega and get the transition date. My '76 Fuji Pro was Cyclone, same cable routing, same brake cable clamps. Also all of the mid to higher level Fujis. Very typical for those years.

Ben

If it is as early as '77, it probably doesn't say. I don't believe my Fuji Pro had any indication.

Ben

What classic & Vintage Ride!?


After some research, I noticed that the font as well as the styling of the letter "V" is just like Italvega. So the Univega Picadilly font was not yet introduced on this bike.

If you look, you'll see it has a Rhode Gear flickstand.

Ill let you know what happens.

the full-sloping fork crown is also very "Italian" looking, more like the Italvegas from Toressini than the Univegas from Miyata...I wonder if it's a "hybrid"?

This one.

UPDATE: I bought the bike for asking price. I've weighed the bike and it's 26.2 lbs.
-Suntour GS dropouts
-Sunshine 5345-P (front hub) & 5345-M (rear hub)
-Araya Rims - never seen these. Aluminum and they curve up across the center vs flat & boxy.
-SR "Apex" cranks. Has "77" on back of arm
-Serial Number is: F520162 and there is a "Made In Japan" sticker on the seat tube. This serial number matches the Miyata format with "F" being 1977
-Suntour Cyclone RD with date code "TD" (April, 1977) & Front Derailleur code "TE" (May, 1977)
-Brake calipers & levers are Dia Compe and haven't looked for date code yet.
-Handlebar says "Sakae Randnner" on drive side front by clamp; and "Road Champion" on non drive side.

The crown fork is chromed and sloped. I haven't removed the rear wheel, but I suspect the 5 speed freewheel is Suntour. It's gold in color. Mismatched 27" tires but they seem pliable and seem to be in good shape, although the steel spokes are oxidized or coated with something light (not rust). The Dia Compe brake levers have quick release piece that rotates out of the way for a QR, similar to ones on mid '70's Schwinns.

This gentleman said he has sold over 500 bikes and said he didn't do any maintenance, just a general cleanup. So I will get to do it and will have a great time.

Please feel free to enlighten me on thoughts. I'm still researching, etc. I'm not going to change anything except cables, esp. brakes because the cables are gunky. I like it already! I need to reposition the Flickstand a little because the metal piece won't flip down - it's too close to the tire.

Photos to come.
[MENTION=73614]rhm[/MENTION] - you make tire wipers right? These are attached on the rear ward side of the brakes, but the wide wiper part faces forward. Does it matter?

A minor point, but....
Sunshine made a large variety of hubs, and they all bar that same number. So it's not a model number. Something to do with the JIS standards; it seems each of the JIS companies had its own number.

No, it's [MENTION=29368]rootboy[/MENTION] who makes the tire savers. Let's let him answer.

Apparently I guess well.

AFA the flick stand, IMO these things should be in the dust bin of history along with skid lids and grab ons, but I guess they have some utility. At this point it's part of the old vibe I guess.

[MENTION=73614]rhm[/MENTION] - thanks for that correction. Calling [MENTION=29368]rootboy[/MENTION]....I need some education on these. Yes, I've looked online and it appears they can go either way, but since you actually make them I figured you'd have input as to the subtleties, etc.

Yeah, I saw that others had mentioned that same number on Sunshine hubs. I'll be going over the entire bike and repacking bearings, etc. and will make note of other numbers. I did see somewhere where T-Mar told someone that the letter plus 6 number code was not Miyata, so perhaps mine isn't. Doesn't matter. It's an interesting bike to me and I like it.

The ad is down, so I look forward to your own pictures. It's a nice bike. You'll find it to be well made and easy to work on.

Nice buy. Should be fun

Great buy, I can hardly wait to see your typical immaculate rebuild!

Tyre wipers should always aim forward and with the direction of tyre rotation. Otherwise, the rear one will get jammed by the tyre, pulled under the brake bridge and aimed forward anyway.

That is sound reasoning, except that I haven't seen one get flipped that way. I'm not saying it never happens, but I haven't seen it.

Pictures!. We need 'em!