red house

Hi, I may be in the position to pick up a Miyata 914 (1991 model I believe), and I was just curious what the equivalent grade of Reynolds, True Temper, Columbus . . -etc, would be comparable to the spline triple butted tubing that Miyata used. Thanku much

T-Mar

By virtue of the spline construction, Columbus SLX would be the closest of the vintage tubesets. However, Miyata STB used triple butting to further tailor the tubes and had slightly thinner walls.

Elev12k

Some pics:

1988 Koga Miyata roadbike toptube:



1989 Koga Miyata frame:

red house

Wow, thanks for the great info. T-Mar & Elev12k . .How do you think their STB tube sets compare with modern grades and varieties of cro-mo tube sets in terms of their strength to weight ratio?

Elev12k

Specs of some 90s tubing:



Whole MBUK article:
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Unfortunately I do not have details on Hardtlite FM-1.

What I can tell is that from own experience the complete Miyata frames can be considered durable.

red house

thanks

well biked

That's some cool info on different frame materials, Elev12k......I've got a friend who used to ride a Team Miyata road bike, with the Miyata triple butted splined tubing, and he says the ride was incredibly stiff, even more so than his much newer aluminum Cannondale. He's a big guy, and he loved to sprint with the Miyata because it was so stiff-

Elev12k

Cool.

I do not have a Team Miyata roadbike, but I do have a Team Miyata MTB. Unlike your friends bike it is alloy. It is like this:

well biked

Yeah, I love the classic mtbs. I actually never rode with the friend I mentioned who had the Team Miyata, I'm just going by what he told me. I've seen the bike, though. I remember it's white and has lots of decals, with a big "Shimano" decal on it, among other things. I thought it was funny when he told me he likes his Cannondale road bike because it has a softer ride. Not many people like Cannondales for THAT reason! Thanks again for sharing the cool literature. I don't think I've ever seen a Team Miyata mtb in person-

Elev12k

Maybe it was already developing some cracks

well biked

Nah, the Cannondale's a nice bike, too. But I hope you don't think I was being critical of the Miyata for its stiffness. This was a race bike, and stiffness is a good thing on such bikes. And like I said, he loved the Miyata for sprints.

Elev12k

Yes, I understand what you are saying. 'Dales can be be nice too indeed. My faves are the Killer series and the Beast of East. As a kid I behaved like @sshole to every bike, I wrecked everything. Friends' 'Dales seldomly lasted longer than half a year. But as said we behaved like @ssholes and everything can break.

red house

Anyone know if the 914 (circa 1990 or '91) is made entirely from the STB tubing? -or, is it only the front triangle?

T-Mar

In the case of the 1990 and 1991 model 914, the 3 main tubes and fork blades were splined. The seat and stays were plain CrMo.