I am getting confused of all the vintage Miyata models.
Which one was the best (highest quality) touring or randonneur bike with the lightest tube set and cantilever brakes?

Miyata 1000 is top of the line.

To keep things simple and short:

1. Miyata 1000

2. Miyata 610/615/618

3. Miyata 210

Thanks!

Is 1000 LT a refined version of 1000?
Does Miyata measure their bikes in the modern way with seat tube C-C?

My mid-eighties Miyata 610 is 21" and measured center to top. As are my various 70's and 80's Trek, Schwinn, and Centurion road bikes.

Yes. The LT started around the late 80s until the early 90s. The desgination "Grand Touring" was given before that, but the bikes were only labeled "One Thousand"

Not sure about the seat tube question.

Hi.

not an expert, but the 61X are fine touring bikes. But even they are becoming a little rare these days. If you find a good one don't be afraid of it vs a 1000.

Miyata seat tubes are measured C-T.

Miyata 1000 Toruing, from early to mid eighties. What a great bike! Wish I had kept it...


But, in all honesty, this early eighties Bianchi Touring is pretty hard to beat, also and I still have this one and ride it a lot, elsewhere on the planet...

The Miyata 1000 is still to this day regarded as the best production touring bike ever made ....

there are 2 other bikes that come close (Specialized Expedition and the Trek 720), but many say that the Miyata is still the one to beat

I searched for 4 years to find a Miyata 1000 in my size, and I eventually got one in mint condition off Ebay Germany .... I am well pleased and am spending big money on this bike as I will be using it for touring/wild camping/fishing (including sea drone fishing)

If you can find one in your size, buy it .... you won't be dissapointed

ps: I normally ride a 52cm bike but I needed a 50cm Miyata as the top tube is a bit longer than some other bikes

The 1000 is the best that they made and the best all around tourer ever made.
When I was 14, I couldn't afford the 1000 so I got a 1990 100th anniversary 721a. It was a truly special bike and we had many adventures together, including a cross country trip (USA). Unfortunately I outgrew it and and reluctantly sold it with the brooks saddle.

In general the higher the number, the better the bike, assuming Miyata and same type of bike, same year.
The touring ones though won't come with the lightest tube set, as they are meant for loaded touring, but in my limited experience ride nicely.
The 91x, 71x, 31x would be lighter but won't have cantilevers and will have thinner tires.
And then you have the racy pro ones that don't have numbers (team, pro).

I'm trying to decide myself if I should try a long ride on my 1000LT or my 710 and I'm leaning a bit towards the 710 on account of it's a few pounds lighter.

For the Canadian prospective buyers of these bikes, it seems that there is a lot of availability with the 6xx models and some 1000s. I've been seeing them at a good price across the country and it seems like the market for them has cooled down a lot. Good time to buy them now if there is interest.

The Miyata 1000 has proprietry tubing made by Miyata and is Triple butted ....

if you were to have a custom frame build with similar specced tubing, expect to pay well over $3000 USD for just the frame

if I compare it to my previous touring bike (a Surly LHT), the Miyata is a much faster bike and even with heavy loaded panniers, it handles superbly and you always feel that you are riding a race bike

It can fit 38mm tyres with mudguards, has 3 waterbottles, and you can fit front and rear racks etc .... it has 7 layers of paint etc etc

Don’t forget about the mid-80’s Univega Specialissima, which was produced by Miyata and more or less matched the 1000 in terms of components. Like the 1000, it’s not easy to find, but is just another to watch for.

Thanks! Great info. I am searching the marked for high quality mass produced touring bikes.

Thanks. Yes, that is my experience as well. Modern touring frames in classic design and in "an affordable price range" are often much heavier than the vintage frames. Especially if you can find a vintage cyclocross or randonneur frame. This is one of the reasons I am investigating vintage touring bikes.

What about Raleigh Randonneur?
Yes, I made the same conclusion about sizes after reading Miyatas chart. I am looking for a 60 cm frame (with a top tube 58 cm), my vintage road bikes are ~ 61 C-C, with a top tube of 58 cm.

Yes most touring frames have different geometry compared to classic road design. Are touring bikes designed for a more upright position?

Are there any racy light models with cantis?

Yes. According to the catalog 610 are quicker with a more road like geometry.

Thanks. Maybe. The sizes are metric according to this (year?) catalog. But off course all sizes can be measured with any unit, and they will always match at whole numbers somewhere. Hasn't Japan been a metric country for a long time?

I use a 610 as a road bike, no racks, no fenders, and road tires. I think the only thing making it a tourer is the tripe crank. Just comparing it to that 1000 pic the tires are a lot closer to the tubes.

As mentioned, don't forget the Univega Specialissima. It is the exact same frame as the Miyata 1000 but with different decals, at least up till 1985 or so. Might be easier to find, depending on your area. Stock components on the Univega were actually slightly better spec. The frame is most important though. Don't worry too much about the original parts, as many will need replacement by now.

The 80s Miyata 1000 was racy and light for a touring bike. They were noticeably more zippy to ride compared to say a Trek 720, which most would have considered the top production touring bike of the era. I had the Univega version, and did a couple cyclocross races on it BITD. I got it partly because it was zippier than a Trek, but to be honest mostly because it was cheap for me to buy a bare frame. When built up with some nice parts from my junk bin, it was maybe 8 oz heavier than my road racing bike.


Kind of funny how the 1000 is now the greatest touring bike ever made. Nice bike yeah, but BITD Miyata was more of a bang for the buck thing. I would have preferred an Alex Singer...

Thanks. I've added Univega Specialissima to my list of prospects. I am basically after a not so well kept light tourer and convert it to a stealth city commuter with wide tires and a front rack.

Hi.

I am not going to try to argue the merits of one bike (model and brand) vs. another. I know that the Miyatas, even if called a touring bike were more "sporting" compared to others from some other brands. And they represent great value as a used bike.