Trying to decide: Allez SE, Miyata310, Miyata912
 

So i looked around the forum and googled what I could, but i cant really find anything difinitive on choosing between these bikes. The 310 looks to be a great commuter since it allows a rack and larger tires but depending on the rarity of the others, might not be the best choice. All 3 are close in price and condition. Any ideas?

Depends what you want to use it for. If you're looking for a commuter, 310 will be just fine. I commuted for a few years on a 912 and it was a great bike. It does have fender mounts, which you can use for a rear rack if you need one. If you want a bike to just ride around town, 912 is great and zippy. If you need to carry lots of stuff, probably not the best choice, but could be done in a pinch. Just make sure whatever you choose fits. It's the most important thing.

both the 310 and 912 seems to have been marketed in the same semi-pro series, at least for some years, but the 912 has better specs, if same year. so if about same price between those two i'd go for the 912.

don't know about the allez se.

If this were a vote (and it is), I'd go for the Specialized. Then the 912. Then the 310.
My 88 Miyata 312 has no clearance for mudguards even though it has rack brazeons. Not sure about the 310.

Whichever one makes you think " dang that's a nice ride" after you get off and look back at it.

The Allez SE is a cool bike - is it blue with Merz on the side? if so, get that! or if its red, also get it.

does it look like this?
http://ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb6411861/p4pb6411861.jpg

I totally want one of those-

Yeah, it pretty much looks like that. Has the Merz sticker on the chainstay.

get it. It may be SE/SIS with shimano 600 index shifting. if it fits its no contest. though you may have to learn to commute really really fast.

It does have the shimano 600 group. Not sure what else to look for.

mostly look at the size. how tall are you and what size are the bikes? just to get a rough picture to make sure its worth trying them out. And if the allez is a 60cm and its not your size, let me know :) i might be interested.
heh.

its probably a 1986 allez SE/SIS which is a very cool and I think, from other posts, a 1 year made bike. so yeah, its a bit rare. its not maybe a grail bike, but its grail adjacent. Id rock it.

The Allez is certainly the coolest of the crop. Assuming all things like condition and size are the same, I'd want the Allez very badly, the 912 is probably a great bike, and the 310 is a very well made bike that is probably very heavy. I had a 310 years ago that was A1+ vintage condition, very nice looking, all Shimano Golden Arrow, and very, very heavy. No other way to put it.

I renewed this one for a friend a couple of years back and it was a cut above good, it was great.
Indexed 6 speed with broken rear shifter as is often found. Replaced it.

It would be between the Allez and the 912 for me, which one fits the best and puts the biggest smile on your face when you ride it? All that being the same I would look at components, my 79 912 had Shimano 600 Arabesque, and if that were equal the condition of the paint, decals etc and if all that still lines up flip a coin, no bad choices between those two IMHO :D . Have fun and post some pics when you pull the trigger.

So I pulled the trigger on the allez! Iv wanted one for a while. The letters in the serial are LSxxxxx, so i think its an 87? But the S doesnt match up to anything. Trying to lock down a year, or just more details on it.

Looks like a full shimano600 groupset (SIS RD)
"S" etched into the fork crown
"specialized" decal on the inside of the seat tube
Jim Merz decal on the left chainstay

Congratulations on your Allez purchase. Sounds like you got a very nice one! As always, we hope that it’s a great fit for you.

Now you need to post a few replies to get your post count up so we can see pictures!

FWIW, my ‘79 Miyata 912 has room for 700x28 (actual tire width is closer to 29mm) and fenders. It certainly helps that it originally had 27” wheels, and dropout eyelets front and back. The later year 912’s lost tire and fender clearance as they went to 700C and pushed the “triathlon bike” marketing.

My daughter’s mid-80’s 310 is at least as nice as my 912 in finish (Miyata paint holds up extremely well), but with that unfortunate top-of TT shifter mount.

Good call, no way to go wrong if Jim had a hand in it. :thumb:

Ok! So its been a few weeks! Got the bike and immediately stripped it down to every nut and bolt, cleaned/polished everything, and serviced the hubs/bb/headset/freewheel. Got everything back together and it rides beautifully! I love the SIS. Iv been taking it to and from school and its really the best part of my day. Sorry the pictures could be better, but i took them quick on my way out the door this morning.


Ihttps://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ce5819aaaf.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3822d3861c.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b07de39912.jpg

Based on the graphics and New 600EX SIS this is a 1986 Specialized Allez SE/SIS. as previously noted by Jetboy. The SIS version of New 600EX wasn't available until the 1986 model year and the 1987 Allez variants had slightly different graphics. I'd need the full serial number to be sure but this appears to have been manufactured using SBI's unidentified, 3rd mass volume, Japanese source (i.e. not Miki or Miyata) in December of 1985.

Thank you for the great reply! I wasnt expecting anything so soon. The entire number is LS54297

Nicely done looks like a great bike, I found a 56cm 92 Allez Sport last year but try as I might could not make it fit quite right, still hoping to stumble across a 58cm Vintage Allez/Sirrus one of these days.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1546713a64.jpg

CL photo of the Allez I found last year

Great score, well done! :thumb:

Yes, that's what I was expecting. It's a Japanese frame from December 1985, which is late enough in the calendar to definitely be a 1986 model. While I don't know the identity of the manufacturer, they were also the prime Japanese source for Bianchi the 1980s and also manufactured, Miele, Shogun and Takara, among others. For the coding of the serial number format, please refer the Specialized listing in my https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ber-guide.html