Parabolous

Having the 'Lawee Design' decal on it, I would think it to be later than '84.

lanciat

Because I am perversely attracted to hybrids, I've been looking for a Univega Via de Oro for a while (the one with the lurid purple/pink paint job). These are circa early to mid-90s. Did the Miyata connection with Univega still exist at this time?

THEJAPINO

Just added fenders last week!

Velocivixen

That ride looks solid and cushy. Why the different fork? What size tires are those?

THEJAPINO

That's the original fork! Tires are 26x2.125". I'm still playing around with the tire pressure to get that nice, cushy ride!!

T-Mar

I can corroborate that the fork is OEM. The two paint with contrasting forks and stays was used on many of Univega's Alpina ATBs. This one appears to be circa 1988/1989.

Parabolous

What brand of fenders are those? They look awesome

THEJAPINO

i believe they are Planet bike full ATB for 26". The planet bike website shows they fit up to 1.9" but the tires are sized 2.125". It's a tight fit!

Lazyass

Ended up buying this yesterday. Light Action derailleurs, Shimano BR-257 calipers, SR Signature cranks, Sansin hubs (nice), brown suede Anatomica saddle. Looks trippy in person, kind of a brown glitter color with gold lug lining. The cable guide on the bottom bracket is aluminum, never saw that before. SN# NW46322.

3speedslow

Very nice looking! Good size for you?

Saddle looks hardly used.

This is one certainly takes some sting out of the loss of the Le Tour.

I've not seen an aluminum cable guide either. Is this a Miyata made frame ?

Lazyass

It's a 57, same size as my Traveler. I can ride anything down to a 54. I think Miyata made it, from what I read at least? I threw on some bar tape I had, put on some CC brake hoods, swapped out the original tires and did some adjusting to just take it out this morning. I'm going to completely strip it tomorrow but it's in really good condition, the only rust I've found is on some of the bolt heads. The freewheel and Orgin 8 alloy bottom bracket I ordered will work on this and the bar tape will probably be black.

T-Mar

That's a Miyata serial number from late 1985, so it's almost certainly a 1986 model, which would correlate well with the Light Action derailleurs. Are you sure that's aluminum and not grey plastic?

Lazyass

Yeah, it's aluminum for sure. Looks plastic with the picture flash. You think it's splined tubing? I had a Koga-Miyata with splined triple butted tubing.

T-Mar

Even not having the 1986 specs, I'd have to say there would be zero probability of it having STB. In 1986, the lowest Miyata model with STB was the upper mid-range 912 with Shimano New 600EX. Your Nuovo Sport would be several levels below that, closer to the upper entry level Miyata 110. The 1985 Nuovo Sport was spec'd as a triple butted CrMo main triangle with Mangalight stays and forks. If you look at the fork decal. I think you'll see that it states Mangalight, which was Miyata's carbon manganese alloy below CrMo but above hi-tensile steel. Based on comparable models, the 1986 Nuovo Sport would have sold in the $250-275 US range. That's far below STB level.

Oldbikenut

Here's the bike that got me to this siteNothing fancy but looks and rides like new!

eschlwc

true, nothing fancy, but it has canti brakes and a very attractive and perfect looking original blue paint. with the solid frame, rear rack and cool high-flange hubs, that would make for a decent fully loaded tourer. i would just add a comfy drop bar cockpit and a pedal system with foot retention to complete a great looking bike.

next time the moment strikes, like when you're riding past that beautiful lake, take a drive-side pic.

Oldbikenut

Thank you, I really wasn't in the market for another bike but when I came across this bike I couldn't resist I believe it to be all original, I could not find but a few of these rover sport models on here and have questions, I may start a thread to show more pictures and details about the bike, but in the meantime here's the drive side.

Lazyass

Finalized version of my bike. Completely stripped the frame, cleaned, lubed, adjusted and polished everything. New freewheel, chain, cables, housing, hoods, bar tape, tires, saddle.

Parabolous

I got a new Turbo saddle for my Viva, too. It's not super comfy but it looks awesome!

Lazyass

Turbo saddles are all I use on my vintage bikes. The one above has a synthetic cover (made in '90), that I bought only because is was dirt cheap. I've ordered a reissued version with real leather from Wiggle for $39. They cost @$100 here in the states.

Parabolous

It took me a while just to find the one I got, I never could find a reissue unless online and for an arm and a leg! I'll have to try Wiggle next time. Luckily, I found a NOS Gel Flite from 1990 that I'm debating to put on the Viva.

Jason76

I'm having a hard time figuring out my univega frame. It's been sanded and only has the code "M8J 47839" on the crank. Any ideas?

Parabolous

Pictures of the frame, especially lug work, and components are always helpful. Surely someone can identify the frame with pictures of it.

Jason76

Touche' ..Univega - Album on Imgur

T-Mar

Based on the TIG welded construction in conjunction with vertical dropouts and serial number, I'd place it 1988-1989. The steel headset, if OEM, suggests an entry level model. Most likely, it is one of the Rover series, as opposed to an Alpina series but these used very similar frame styles and features. It's virtually impossible to tell the difference without OEM components. About the only clue would be the required seat post diameter, which would allow us to determine the level but not the actual model.