Bike Forums - UNIVEGA Serial Number

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UNIVEGA Serial Number - SOLVED

OK... So years ago I got this UNIVEGA frame and fork and decided to build it up from my parts box. Over the years it has been a proven bicycle but is except for the frame a total Franken-Vega. The serial number is J395394 as stamped on the bottom bracket. I could not find the "J" in any of the identification tables and just gave up and concentrated on getting the bike ridable. I recently ran accross this post at "Vintage Myata Bicycles" and now have identified the frame as a 1981 gran rally.

Quote:

UNIVEGA MIYATA BICYCLES SERIAL NUMBERS - I figured out all the serial numbers for Miyata Bicycles Made in Japan Since 1972, according with the first letter on the serial number.
A 1972 B 1973 C1974 D1975 E1076 F 1977 G 1978 H 1979 I 1980 J 1981 K 1982 L 1983 M 1984 N 1985 O 1986 P 1987 Q 1998 R 1989 S 1990 T 1991 U 1992 V 1993 W 1994 X 1995
Y 1996 Z 1997
Note: In August 25 2001 I received a Letter from Mr.Isao Kamei informing that all the Miyata Bicycles that used to be manufactured in Japan now are made in Taiwan and China.
Best regards, Hernan P.Burgos, www.miyatacatalogs.com, ¡¾ÀÏÆ·ÅÆ¡¿ÐÅÓþÆ½Ì¨

... But its still a Franken Bike and that is OK with me cause its my main ride.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8256b5e72c.jpg

UNIVEGA Serial Number - SOLVED

Obviously, you weren't aware of this: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ber-guide.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Mar (Post 22094292)

Obviously, you weren't aware of this: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ber-guide.html

The Asian Serial Number Guide has been very helpful but I simply could not identify the UNIVEGA/Myata connection for the "J" designator. Latter I stumbled on to the Vintage Myata post that listed "J" as 1981. I then matched the frame to a picture in a post of the 1981 UNIVEGA catalog.

Of note it is a Franken Bike, but people ask me its make and age. I can say now... "Its a 1981 UNIVEVA Gran Rally Frame". Ha.

My experience with Univegas was that they were exceptional quality for the money

The last Univega I saw in a shop was hanging around until ~2001 or so. A place where I worked bought a bunch of frames on clearout from the Canadian distributor (I think) in the late 90s. It was a step-thru ('women's') steel frame mountain bike, and was probably 2 lbs lighter than the lightest 'modern' mountain bike in the store.