Hi Vintage-

I was in the market to replace my 24" trek 614 (from 1983, I believe) with a smaller frame steel bike. The trek is absolutely a joy to ride, but the standover height is unreasonable. But I committed to commuting and started looking at other options. It seemed many of the 1980s/90s Japanese bikes draw raves and I saw a dust catching mislabeled one on ebay.

I had been bidding on centurions and some univegas, with thoughts of a bridgestone rb-1/rb-t when a Miyata caught my eye.

He listed the model as 'world class' and listed it as a 20" frame (nice for my 5'9). When I asked about other decals he noted the 912 on the top tube, but that info never went up on ebay. Because they did not offer any choice within a year of color schemes (thank you Mr. Burgos of https://miyatabicyclecatalogs.blogspot.com/), it was relatively easy to identify the bike as a 1985 model, with, hopefully, all original shimano 600 components.

Basically, your thoughts? I paid 160, including shipping and it's getting sent to my LBS for setting up. Anyone know if 600 EX are going to be index or friction?

Anyone in ny interested in a 531 trek?

Yes, that is a good deal. The 912 was a nice bicycle, basically the top of the mid-level models, behind the Pro and Team models. I think it's a year or so too early for the well-regarded Splined Triple Butted (STB) tubesets, but nevertheless, it should have a decent set of Miyata-drawn chromoly butted tubes. T-Mar is the man to consult on all things Miyata here.
The 600 EX group will be friction, but should perform pretty well as far as friction goes.

It's definitely triple butted tubing, not sure if it's the famed STB. I read so many bicycle catalogues when I was researching the their whole line from 83-89 is jumbled in my head. I'm slightly sad about still using friction shifters (I think I missed by one year) but at least my ego is in tact.

here's the ebay: https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...03#ht_1207wt_0

and the pics he sent me:

https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...l/100_1051.jpg
https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...l/100_1052.jpg
https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...l/100_1053.jpg
https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...l/100_1054.jpg
https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...l/100_1055.jpg
https://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...l/100_1056.jpg

catalogue page:
https://bp0.blogger.com/_whtVpXkKwlQ/...0-h/img083.jpg

If you're 5'-9, you must have seriously short legs to ride a 20" frame comfortably -- unless you like your bars incredibly lower than your saddle. Going from a 62 cm frame to a 51 is a long way downhill!

On the indexing issue, it's the freewheel and the shifters that really matter. The ones shown on the catalog page are definitely friction. The top-tube shifter mount might be hard to fit with any shifters other than Shimano 600, since they used a unique mounting boss; but you may be able to

1) adapt a set of the indexed 600 shifters (really only need the right one) that have the same lever style (6208)
2) or some of the later 6400 series that look somewhat different
3) or else get a band-clamp for whatever indexed shifters (and freewheel) you'd prefer to use
4) go with some sort of indexing bar-end mounted shifters
5) spend lots for a brifter system.

I am happy with friction shifting, myself.

Dura-Ace barends: https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...ers%20-%20Road

Nashbar brand brifters:

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...ers%20-%20Road

From the pictures, it looks a bit more like a 53 than a 51 but, regardless, you did well. I love the old 600 stuff, it is very very nice.

Yes, it's definitely a 1985. The tubing is triple butted but not splined, it's a year too early for that. The New 600EX shifting system is friction, not SIS, again one year to early. Contrary to the Ebay ad, those are not the OEM pedals, which were the Shimano New 600EX. BTW, Miyata did have color options, in this case it was a black frame with a silver head tube.

Interesting, the fact that he didn't include the model number led me to believe that he didn't know a lot about this specific bike, and possibly not a lot about bikes in general (especially for someone who specializes in sending them out on ebay).

Since he quoted the standover as 32", I think there's a chance that it's actually the 54cm frame and he's just really bad at measuring stuff.

I might have jumped the gun on this one after losing out on a centurion comp t/a but I'm still excited about a new old thing.

What does "splined" mean, btw?

Thanks all!

$160 for a 912 is pretty good, and if it's in good shape, you've got a nice commuter. I saw that Comp TA, just too small for me. The Shimano 600 friction is really smooth if you get a good chain.

If the bike ends up being too short, let me know, I've 56 and 58cm bikes to thin out of the herd, and friends who need 50-54cm bikes.

Robbie, I'll definitely let you know. Should have some pics of the cleaned up bike by early next week. I'm reasonably happy with the friction shifting on my trek 614, but I think it's just a symptom of my laziness that I want machines to do my work for me.

Splined refers to the incorporation of small ridges inside the tube. It increases the tube's stiffness with minimal weight increase. The concept was created by Columbus for their steering columns. It was then added to the bottom bracket ends of seat tubes in the early 1980s, to add a little more material for front derailleur braze-ons which were tearing off of standard tubes. In 1984 Columbus introduced their SLX and SPX tubesets which had splines at the bottom bracket end of the seat and down tubes, and chainstays, to noticeably stiffen up the bottom bracket. Miyata brought out their STB (spline triple butted) tubeset in 1986 but carried the concept further by adding splines to the top tube, and fork blades.

For pics of splined tubing, see posts #10 and 11 of this thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/461865-please-help-identify-bianchi-frame-fork.html

thanks for the pic. I know the flame session got riled up earlier, but bikes fromthe 1980s seem positively modern beneath a technological revolution.

I'm kind of in love with this bike. I put a seat on that I had laying around, changed the rear tire after coming up flat (waiting for some gatorskins to arrive, the one on is temporary). I just need a set of 1980s shimano 600 pedals and the whole component set will match. Red bar tape will come soon.

these are a whole (nicer) animal of friction shifters than the suntour ones on my trek. Thanks all for the help.