My uncle gave me one of the bikes he had as a kid a couple weeks ago. It's a Vista, I believe early-70s? I know the company stopped existing in '73, and they were originally around to compete with Schwinn. Has anyone had one of these? Or know if it would be worth fixing up to ride? I'm contemplating making my first fixie out of this. The bike looks pretty solid, and all the parts appear to work except the brakes.

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated.

I don't know if this is a different company or not, but there was a Vista company in the late 1970s that survived well into the 1980s. I know they produced entry and mid range bicycles. It would not surprise me if they also had a high end model or two, though I have yet to see one. The answer to your question would depend on which model you have. Post the model, tubing info and component list so the forum members can get a better appreciation of the bicycle.

Hmmm, perhaps it's the same company. I remember reading somewhere that they were bought out by a Japanese maker in 1973 or thereabouts, though. Next time I'm in the area, I'll jot down what information I can get; he's keeping it there until I can find a way to lug it back to my place.

I have just acquired a "Vista Torino 500" and it is in good condition. With a little TLC, the bike could be a very nice little toy, but I cannot seem to find "Vista" on any web pages about classic or even just any bicycles!! Does anyone know of any web pages or of any other info that could help me? I would love to know...

So would we! Please post the brand and models of the compoents. Any tubing decals on the frame? Pics would help. Components are most likely Shimano or SunTour and if so should have two letter date codes on the back. Component date codes, provided the parts are original, are usually the same year or one year older than the frame. This will give you a good idea of the vintage. The keys for the codes can be found at https://www.vintage-trek.com/component_dates.htm .

I think Vista was a trademark of Columbia. About the time frame you mention one of the kids on the block had a brand new Vista 10 speed. Very similar to the Schwinn Varsity in features. Cast iron crankset, lead pipe frame, steel wheels. I think it had Shimano Eagle derailers. Definitely had stem shifters and extensions on the brake levers. Components may have been "Vista Approved". Definitely a low ender.

I recently found something like takara14 described. I thought it to be worse in quality than the Varsities. The varsities seem solid and heavy, the vista just looked heavy. The ends of the stays were just crimped onto the ends of the dropout plates, no brazing or welding was visible. I was looking for a real heavy-duty rider when i found that in the trash and still decided to pass on it due to some flaky looking details. I actually took one of the wheels a week before the frame was put out in the trash at the same house and ride it occasionally with no issues, except poor braking

my vista elite has date codes like ec (1980 march) with some from 1979... nice shimano 600 parts mostly.

the cranks have only a date code and no part number like the later 6200 etc.. the wheels are dated EC and the rear has one of those early 6 speed cassettes with the wrench of bottom cog. The hubs also have little holes in the center (grease ports) but the cover clips are long gone??

States made in Japan with a serial number stamped on the side of the down tube.

any info about this vista?

I've seen a couple of Vistas. One I saw someone riding just yesterday. They looked Schwinn-ish (they even had headbadges with a similar oval shape and color) but not quite, as they appeared heavier and had lesser components on them.

Megasloth, that Vista looks a lot different from the ones I've seen. The lugs look like those on a lower to mid-range Japanese bike I sold a while back. What does the sticker on the downtube say?

My Ted Williams Free Spirit has that same crankset.

THe vista I've dealt with most recently was a decent low end mid eighties japanese mixte frame made from some type of cro-mo tubing. Decent bike, but nothing spectacular.

it also has a silver "MADE IN JAPAN EXCLUSIVELY FOR NIDA" sticker on the lower downtube.

I bought a Vista Elite around 1982 with a very nice Shimano 600EX Arabesque group with cassette hub, black frame with red head tube, and double butted spokes. I used to ride it to the airport, rearrange the pedals, seat and handlebars using only a hex wrench, and hand it to the ticket counter lady to put on the plane, unboxed.

This from Lou Deeter's Used Bike Buying Guide:
"VISTA: Service Cycle Supply Co, 75 Modular Avenue, Commack NY 11725. Mad by Columbia in U.S. and Japan.
Model:
Elite 82 Araya steel
Carrera 7 84 Chromoly"

NIDA is another name for Columbia, a bicycle company dating back to the origins of bicycle.

I obtained a Vista bike last week from a local thrift store. It is Red and marked as a Summit model. Considering in was made 30-40 years ago, It is in very good condition. (some scrapes and scratches in the paint) Comparing it with my Schwinn World, I see very little difference in quality. They look like they could have been made in the same factory. The Vista has the following decals: Seat tube- 4031 chrom moly steel; VISTA Made of Excellence, by, H.J.C., Dallas; Made in Taiwan. Top Tube-Vista Summit. Head Tube: Emblem showing a Crown over Vista. Down Tube: SUMMIT. Rims are aluminum and marked ARAYA, 27X1 1/4, W/O Japan. Shifters are Suntour Power. Brakes are Dia-Compe. Derailours are Suntour ak. Crank is Sakae CR. Pedals marked as HTI-A1. Handle Bar is aluminum and marked on one side with a crown over HSINLUNG. It is fun to ride.

Note: e-bay has one listed untill June 8, 2008, that is Black in color, and marked as a Vista Espodo. It shows clear photos detailing components and decals. The only difference I can see is the Espodo has Shimano brakes, derailours, and shifters; crank is alero. I also could find no other information on Vista. Hope this helps.

I have a Vista Cavalier mens 3-speed that used to be my grandfathers bike. I rember riding this bike as a kid in the 70's. I just went out and looked at it closer, it's got a sturmey archer(sp?) shifter and weinmann(sp?) brakes, there is a decal that states Vista by NIDA and a BMA/6 Certified sticker on the seat tube. It was and still is a solid bicycle, but I have no idea if it's an alloy frame or the composition. I suppose the good shape it's in is because it's always lived indoors and was well cared for.

I have to take back part of what I said, I was out looking at the bike today and noticed that the rear drops are a weak point.

This is a Vista i just picked up. It has to be an 81-82 model based on the components. This is a mid level bike. Vista also made a Dura-Ace equipped model.

I picked up a Vista "Workhorse" at an estate sale two years ago for $3. It's a single-speed coaster-brake bike...I've been slowly working at making it a beach cruiser.


Looked like this when I bought it.


Looks like this right now...

I searched around and found that Vista was a sub-brand of Columbia in the 70's, and actually found another "Workhorse" for sale on eBay:

This is a better .jpg of my Vista aero course.

I found a Vista "Sophisticate" lady's three speed in the trash a couple years ago. It was a nice bike, very much like a Schwinn Breeze. The frame was made in Japan, but looked just like a Schwinn electro-forged one. The rims were Rigida 26 x 1 3/8 with a Union front hub and a 1972 Sturmey AW rear; Union pedals on Ashtabula style crank. All in all I thought it was a pretty odd mix of parts for a Japanese bike.

Recently I saw an older Vista Sophisticate. It was locked up, six feet off the ground, in a tree next to the North Ferry on Shelter Island; couldn't tell if it was abandoned.... But anyway, it was a lot like theone I found, except that this one was a Raleigh! The only brand name on it was Vista, but fine print on the head badge said "Nottingham," and there was a "Made in England" decal in cursive on the top tube, Sturmey Archer hubs and rims, non-heron Raleigh crank, and so on. I couldn't get close enough to read the date code on the hub, but I'm guessing mid-to-late 60's.

I pulled this out of the weeds in my Dad's fenceline. I've had my eye on it for a while. I just started riding again (after 20 years!). I bought a Huffy cruiser at a garage sale, it works fine, but I like the looks of this bike.

Needs tires and tubes, I think I can get them for $25, probably more than it's worth. It's a Vista Carerra 7, code from the gears is JE - 1985. It has Shimano brakes and shifters. Seat needs to be replaced (rusted), some spots of rust on rims, little bend in the back fender, lettering if about 40%.

I would like to get it going, but I'm hesitant to spend the money because I'm unsure of the shifter location. I've only used shifters that are up on the hadlebar....these seem like they're in an inconvenient location. Also, I don't know how to use the two seperate shifters to add up to the gear I want.

Advice?

For contrast, one of the cheap-o Columbia-built Vista frames with Ashtabula fork. The "Esquire":



Huffy crankset.

-Kurt

P.S.: The thread that won't give up, eh?

I just picked up a Vista Carrera 7 from craigslist. Long story short I paid 5$ for it.
The frame seems pretty decent, the components are a mix of okay and crap. The derailluers are suntour and decent, as is the freewheel and sprockets. The wheels are ok. The handlebars are okay.

I broke it down, wire wheeled anything without paint on it, degreased the whole thing, greased all bearings, and now I'm putting it back together.

I only needed to buy tubes, tires, cables and bar tape which is going to cost me 81$ total, so I should have a serviceable bike for 86$. This is where it's at now, I'm still waiting on stuff in the mail.