mickey85

My Activa Trail is a Lawee designed bike. Oversized Tange 4130, Araya rims, Suntour derailers and shifters. A really nice bike. I'm a fan, and would love to find a road specific Lawee.

foust

You can add Super Ten to the list as well, I have one, it's a Mixte frame 10 speed (Made in Taiwan). I also have a matching Gran Turismo (better quality, made in Japan)

custermustache

We should see if we can get a thread put together with a photo of each model

mainstreetexile 

I started developing a "Univega Appreciation Site" for that purpose and to have some extra information picked up from some of the univega threads here. Once I get my post count up to 50, I'm planning on sending some private messages to a few specific univega experts on these forums. I'll post a link to the site here or in the other big univega thread once it's ready to go (although it will still be a work in progress).

Kstrib

I know that this thread is pretty ancient, but I was wondering if anyone on here knew what year the Activa-ST came out. I have one that I gog for free at a bike shop and it is incredible. It is my first "road" bike, even though I'm not sure if it was meant for the road or meant for touring. I've put several hundred miles on it (I'm still an amateur) and it hasn't let me down yet. If you know the year of this bike let me know.

Bianchigirll 

Hi Kstrib, welcome to the forums. I believe the Activa- ST made it'sappearance in '90 but I am not certain. IIRC the Activa series was a hybrid type bike with fattish not really knobby 700c tires and upright handlebars.

they were, as most Univegas, great bikes for the money

BTW didn't "lawee design' simple mean they were designed and specced by Ben Lawee the owner of Univega?

Rabb1r

I live in Long Beach, CA and see Univegas all over the place. I had always wondered why, assumed they were kinda "cheap", and then ended up buying one when my Schwinn's bottom bracket became unrideable.

As I was researching about my new ride, it's a SupraSport - 1984 I believe, I found out that the company was headquartered in Signal Hill which is just a few miles from my house!

I really dig my new bike. 12-speed, the crankset is a Biopace, with an Exage Motion derailleur. Brakes are Shimano BL-A251. Does anyone know if these are consistent with an '84?

Also the paint isn't bad, but could definitely use being redone. Even though I've changed some of the parts, I'd like to keep the frame and bars original. Is it possible to get NOS stickers? Also, I haven't noticed any other Univegas with a two-tone Paint scheme, is that rare?



I know the light's not great, but I'll post anouther pic soon.

Thanks!

Joseph

Bianchigirll 

Univegas came in lowend models to some suprisingly highend models. your SupraSport looks more like '88ish, but the wheels look much newer.

look on here for the unofficial univega apprectiation thread and post some pics there.

woodrupjoe

I was working in Boston last year and bought a Specialissima off Craigslist for $375. I realize that's a bit high for that bike but the previous owner had done a beautiful job of maintaining/restoring it. It looked like it had never been ridden with new tires, cables, hoods... the works. I didn't have the heart to beat him down on the price. What a nice bike, I really like that one and plan using it to tour Vermont with my brother this spring. (Although, my brother on his vintage Bob Jackson and me on my vintage Woodrup would probably look a lot cooler.)
Not long after I bought the Specialissima I did the 50 mile Hub on Wheels ride around Boston and rode for a while with a young guy on a Nuovo Sport. He had gotten his bike the week before- by pulling it out of a dumpster.

Nice bikes those Univegas.
cheers, Joe

Rabb1r

wheels are def newer...took them off of my "dead" bike to save some of the expense of getting new tires worthy of 250 miles a week.

I'm beginning to think it's an '89 based on all of the components, but the serial number is throwing me off...gonna post some pics to see what I can find out.

Rabb1r

M9A 46486

Rear Derailleur
Front Derailleur
Sport LX shifters
Biopace chainrings 52-40


Velobase.com lists most of these as 1989-1990, but doesn't even have a mention of the shifters...

Anybody got some ideas?

LesterOfPuppets

Brakes are from Oct. 88. Likely a 1989 model if those brakes are orig.

Rabb1r

as far as I know the brakes are original. I'm pretty sold on it being an '89, but is there anything else on the bike I can check to help solidify that assumption?

Shadowmax

Another model for you Bogester. The Univega Conquest, I bought one new in the late 80's as a teenager, am currently restoring it. Here's a couple of pic's of one, mine was the same but green not red.

Rabb1r

I like that two-tone paint!

oldbobcat

Ben Lawee t was an importer, and he didn't so much design bikes as he spec'ed them. But he sure knew what he was after. With an appreciation for Italian design (his first brand was Italvega) and an understanding of the US market, he took his requirements to the best manufacturers in Japan and they delivered masterfully. In my opinion Univegas are among the best in class.

Collin2424

Whole-heartedly agree! I have a Super Strada (Dura-Ace), Competizione (Cyclone/Superbe) and a Super Speciale (Super Record) and would argue that these bikes are as good as any from Japan or even Italy. They don't look fancy, but they perform exceptionally well.

-Collin-

Flying Merkel

When I bought my first Univega back in 1979, I was told that Univegas weren't the best bike, or the cheapest bike, but they were the best bike for the money. I think this still holds true.

Sold the '79 Viva Sport. Dumb move. I'd still be riding it. Kept my Super Strada and finished restoring a Gran Turismo in July.

Fasteryoufool

Is this the same Flying Merkel that used to be on Gigabikes?

Flying Merkel

Fasteryoufool, recognize the name. Same ol' me. Not riding motorcycles as much, how 'bout you?

Fasteryoufool

Pretty much the same, LOL. Still on two wheels, just mostly on non-motorized these days.

rawly old

Here's a sportour mixte I found in mint condition, advertised as 'girl's bike,$60' on CL.
I was on the way home with it before the posting was an hour old. It had to have been
a custom order judging from the components & the Tange Champion Pro tubing. It's gone
thru several evolutions changed into a tourer now with 700/38 Schwalbe 'thons' instead
of 27"x 1 1/4''. I love this bike, the frame set weighs just 1600 gms.(3.5 pds.),yet it
is very strong & agile. Since my next tour involve a lot of mtn. passes, I've found a 'Vega
Range Rover for $40 I mean to pirate the triple chainring for the mixte, as well as a
Suntour Perfect 13/35 freewhl. The pics are old; it has continued to evolve. still
remarkably fast even fully loaded. It's an '83; these were very well made for mid-range
bikes. Better, I think than a lot of more costly bikes.