RH Clark

I guess seller will take down these pictures soon but I'll post some close ups tomorrow with some questions. I am beyond thrilled to get this excellent condition 610. The story goes it was never ridden for the last 37 years and hung in a barn. I am told it's all original and it looks it to my untrained eye. The original brake pads don't even show any wear. I'll post better pictures tomorrow but I was too excited after just now riding it. I'll replace the old tires and will need some advice but everything actually works and feels pretty new.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...9698875365810/

If someone could help me with this marketplace picture please do so. I wound up paying $125.

It fits me so well, I didn't even adjust the seat yet, and may not. It's much more lively than my Surly LHT.

clubman 

Ride it like you stole it. Because you did. Congrats.

RH Clark

Thanks for the picture buddy! It's freaking awesome! I've only rode it a few miles on those tires but it's super fun for this 52 year old cyclist. It has a couple scratches in the paint and one spot of light surface rust around the bottom bracket but it really does look like it has just been in storage 37 years.

davester

Great find! Probably those brake pads are as hard as rocks by now. I'd strongly advise new KoolStops in addition to tires.

52telecaster

Awesome. Those miyatas have a nice spring to them.

Cougrrcj 

Great find, and great price!!

Look at the sticky-post section at T-Mar's Asian serial number post Asian Serial Number Guide to determine the year of your new find. From there you can research the original components but yours looks to be unmolested.

I have the Miyata-built '84 Univega corresponding model (Gran Tourismo) that I love, too!

Enjoy the ride!!!

clubman 

Looks like either the SR Apex or Super Custom 110 bcd crankset. Also cool.

The Golden Boy 

That's a really excellent bike!!!

Make sure the bearings get all greased up- wheels, bottom bracket and pedals!

As mentioned- new tires would do you a world of good, and some time down the line- if that's a first generation Suntour Mountech rear derailleur- you might want to think about a different derailleur some time down the line.

RH Clark

It says Super custom on the crank. I'll post up some good close ups tomorrow. I just picked it up this afternoon. Seller and I both drove an hour and met. I had already talked her down to $125 and was willing to give that if everything looked as good in person as the pictures even if it needed adjustments and tweeeks,but it actually shifts quite well. I'll get tires and a new chain and ask advice as to anything else I need. The new pads are a good idea even though the brakes seem to work fine.

RH Clark

Do I need to take the BB appart and repack it? Hubs say sealed bearings. How do I service them? I'll learn all this. I was scheduled to take some master mechanics classes before COVID.

cycleheimer

At $125 I would have bought that in a New York nanosecond, especially since it's my size! Miyata touring bike with extras, and in nice shape, for 125? WOW! Picture assist.....

The Golden Boy 

There's a good chance that's the same grease that bike was sold with 36 years ago.

RJ The Bike Guy on the youtube is an EXCELLENT teacher.


His videos taught me a TON. The videos showed how to do it- and in the early videos (like this one) he's a regular guy in a garage with the same tools I had- not like a professional shop guy with expensive tools I'll never think of getting.

The other great site is https://www.sheldonbrown.com. Sheldon's site is a lot of reading, but he was so awesome at explaining stuff- you can also cross reference between sources. (I didn't *really* understand the difference between a cassette and a freewheel til I had them in my hands).

You can also ALWAYS ask questions here or in the Mechanics forum. Even silly questions. Everybody has them.

Lascauxcaveman 

Probably. You should at least check it; depending on how it was stored, climate etc, the grease may or may not still be greasy.

There are sealed bearings and then there are "sealed bearings" which just means there's a rubber gasket keeping dust and moisture out of the otherwise conventional bearings, at least theoretically. You probably have the second kind. Closeup pics would help identify. Again, you'll want to at least check them to make sure the grease is still greasy.

Cool bike; my guess is 1982 or 83. Serial number will tell. I had a 1981 Miyata 1000 with original everything (except that rack, which is super nice to have). Strangely enough, even the brake pads, which I expected to be rock-hard and worthless, were still usable.

Hobbiano 

They should be sealed cartridge bearing hubs. I have an '85 610 and an '84 1000 and the both have cartridge bearing hubs. If you remove the wheels and turn the axles with your fingers with a light touch you'll be able to feel if they are very smooth or a little gritty turning. If they are not smooth you can remove the axle and carefully pry the seal to remove. Then you can flush them out with WD40 and add fresh grease and finally replace the seal. The seal is fairly delicate so be careful not to damage it. I used the point of an xacto knife blade to pry it loose. The entire bearing can also be replaced when needed. They are widely available and inexpensive. Bike shops & bearing supply houses have them and so does Amazon. The nice thing about these hubs is you'll never have to worry about finding cones or cups which are often unavailable. Whereas the cartridge bearings are just a standard industrial bearing.

TiHabanero

Looks like an 82-83 model. Does not have the cartridge hubs from what I remember when we sold them.

SurferRosa

I like the way you put that. I'm going to use that. Spring. My early '80s 912 has spring. And I have 23mm tires on it.

branko_76 

Awesome find! I'm working on my second early 1980's Miyata 912, same league as the 610 only "racier". My 1983 Miyata catalog shows the 610 in "Artesian Blue" with gray cloth handlebar tape. Looks sharp (I'd ditch the foam).

The 610 is a serious touring bike, some period correct panniers (in grey) would be something to look for...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Rho...wAAOSwJPRehll9

Hobbiano 

I was thinking it was an '84. But, looking at the Miyata catalogs, I think you're right that it's an '82 or '83. The catalog indicates the '82 came with Sunshine hubs but the '83 came with Suntour RH-4600 sealed bearing hubs. If those are the ones that take the special four-pronged wrench, I think they are cartridge bearing hubs. But i'm not really an expert on this. I just know that by '84 the 1000 had them and by '85 the 610 had them, because I have those two bikes. Here's a link to the catalogs: https://www.ragandbone.ca/Miyata/miyata_selector.html

branko_76 

Thanks for posting the link Hobbiano , I forgot it existed.

clubman 

Gotta be an 83 with canti's, 82's had calipers.

mkeller234

Wow, excellent find, It's in beautiful shape. That looks like an OEM rear rack, similar to what came on my Lotus, very cool. RJ the bike guy is a fantastic suggestion, his videos are excellent. There are special tools that you may need, so sometimes it may be preferred to take it to a trusted bike shop. Nothing wrong with that.

RH Clark

I was told it 's an 83.