I'm looking to purchase a Miyata seven ten. What would be an accurate amount to spend on this bike?

Well, some folks around here will tell you "at least $3.50" but that's probably not too helpful. Have you checked the completed auctions on Ebay? It's a very nice bike - depending on condition, your location, etc. and whether you have to pay shipping, and of course assuming it fits you, up to around $200 would be money well spent in my opinion. If it's well-used, less than that. If it's been crashed, don't buy it.

Components, condition, your market, and your budget are essential to know before you could trust anyone's guess.

Neal

i'm currently trying to look for one so i wouldn't know of the specific components. i would only purchase the bike if its in good - excellent condition, so with that said is there general rule of thumb for market value?

Personally, I'd pay close to 200 if it was in good condition and had the original components, but hopefully T-Mar or Yogurt or one of the other guys here will drop in and tell you for sure. It def depends on where you live, but also how much it's worth to you. There's online miyata catalogs you can check if you want to see what the original components should be. https://www.miyatabicyclecatalogs.blogspot.com/

No information on the 710 specifically, but a comment on your hunt in general.

Since you are looking for a specific model, you must understand that cost may fluctuate wildly.

I was hunting for a Schwinn LeTour IV, a mediocre bike (Hiten steel, with steel wheels and entry level componentry) and in my hunt, everything I found in reasonable shape was selling for nearly what they cost new (in one case on Ebay, over $200).

Then in the course of a month I ran into two of them for a combined price of under $100 from two different sources, one here, and one with help of an agent here.

So, all of that to say that either money or patience may be needed to get the specific bike you want. Money can make it happen quickly, patience can help reduce the price. As I learned in project management training... fast, cheap or good, pick any two.

Good luck on your quest.

+1 to what Little Darwin said. Vintage bike prices are squirley at times, and so are some of the people you talk to. An example is : @ local Salvation Army store ,~73 Schwinn Super Sport was in fair to poor condition and they wanted $116. A mile away and one week later the Goodwill had a Miyata Six Ten, for $7.98.
The Six Ten had been up graded with a chrome CRO MO fork and has all Sun Tour Cyclone der & Bar end shifters. ( I was afraid it would get bought before I could get there so I asked a co-worker to pick it up for me - she is a senior so they sold it to her for less than $5-I offered her $20 to cover her trouble, but she would only take $10)
Why do you want a 710? Is there any other Makes/Model that would fill the nitch?

When I bought my 1986 Seven Ten, I paid $90. It was in new condition, with no discernable wear, but had scratched paint on the top tube from a bike carrier. At that time, I was paying $10-$25 at thrift stores & yard sales for bikes that I either overhauled & re-sold or rode as Winter rain bikes. How much you pay depends on what the bike is worth to you vs how motivated the seller is. Don

thanks for the info. i'll take the advice and look through thrift stores and yard sales until i come across one i like.

As others pointed out, if you are set on finding a yard sale deal on a 710 in your size in very good to excellent condition at the right price, you could be looking for a very long time. For your sake I'd hate to think that during that time you were passing on nice Univegas or Nishikis or Centurions. Japanese bikes from the boom period were kind of like Japanese cars - well engineered, well spec'd and manufactured with tight quality control. It's kind of hard to go wrong with a mid- to upper-tier 80's or 90's bike in good condition.