OK, here's one I never heard of!

I bought this because it was only 6 blocks from my house and it was still with its original owner since 1982! Bike was given to her (yes her) as a Graduation gift from college, and she used it to tour Italy and England that summer. Considering the miles its seen, pretty nice shape. Its been sitting for years, she told me, so it was time to let it go.

Components are pretty cool...Suntour...Dia-Compe...Araya (considering they made the frame and 700c rims)...631 frame tubing...???. I haven't even gone over it thoroughly yet, but the story behind it was cool as was the final price...$40...

In anyone has any insight into the bike, PLEASE let me know. Not much on the interweb about it!

Upper entry level bike with some rust issues. $40 is a good deal but there is a huge amount of work to be done. The rust may have also migrated to bearing surfaces.

You're stating the painfully obvious, lol.

I just want to know a little about this brand of bike. Short lived company? How many frames did Araya make for other Japanese companies with derailleur hangers? What the heck is 631 tubing...cromoly or high end water pipe (though the bike isn't that heavy)? Was this priced the same as comparable Panasonic, Centurion, etc. bikes of the same time period, etc.?

As far as working on it, no big deal. I've cleaned up worse to make them look very good. You just need to know what you're doing.

Araya 631 tubing?

I recently came across a Vista branded Suntour derailleur on ebay, so I guess that happened with this company, too. Looks like a fun project!

I have had this for a number of years.
This is the only bike that I immediately did not care for the fit. The top tube is way too long. (maybe it fits you )
I've been thinking of breaking it for parts, (Arabesque)

That looks familiar. Mine's bigger, though



Here's another thread with some info: Vista bicycles

Actually, yours is the size frame that I ride. I purchased this one as a project to flip. Being retired, things like this keep me busy and I have fun doing it. All good!

I did notice that yours has the "lazy levers", while mine has the drilled Dia-Compe. And apparently yours came with fenders when new, but she didn't mention anything about them. Also, the script name on yours is different, maybe yours being newer? She did say she got hers in 1982 when it was new.

Based on the serial number the OP's frame was manufactured in December 1980, which makes it a 1981 model. Members have reported 26.2mm posts on frames with Araya 631 tubing decals. This is in the range of a lightweight hi-tensile steel. The closest Centurion model would have been the Super LeMans but at the time it was spec'd with a butted hi-tensile frame. It would also be close to a Nishiki Olympic 12 but again the Nishiki had a slightly better frame with a plain gauge CrMo main triangle. Probably the closest model was the Peugeot U010.

Mine is my size as well, which was an added bonus, as I bought the bike just as a parts donor for another project. The fenders were Bluemels "Popular", and could well have been a later addition. As to its age, mine is actually one month older:

Love the Japanese steel...