KendallF

I picked this up today from a CL ad, and I'm very happy with the purchase. I got it from the original owner, who had plans to tour. I think he had more fun outfitting the bike than actually riding it, as he thinks it probably doesn't even have 20 miles on it, and it's pristine under 20+ years of dust.

It came with a bunch of cool vintage stuff, like a Blackburn rack, Bluemels fenders, the panniers, a front bag, a very neat little quick release-actuated generator under the chain stays..the lights work, the tires are like new, etc... the bell dings satisfactorily also.

The groupset is a Suntour triple, and it shifts well, just a bit stiff from years of disuse. I plan to make it my new commuter with a minor cleaning and wider bars. I may use ergo bend bars on it; the classic bend bars would look better but I have a nice set of 3TTT bars sitting here, and they're more comfortable.

Here's one pic; more pics here:

cyclotoine

make sure that seatpost isn't extended above it's minimum insertion point. If it is and that is your seat height, get a longer post first!

Very VERY nice score, BTW.

Soma Roark

Major drool

KendallF

The seatpost is indeed past its' minimum insertion mark, and I need it even higher..I hate to replace it but I'm going to have to order another post. It takes a 26.6 post and I have just about every other size imaginable in my parts stash...but no 26.6.

I think this is the nicest condition "vintage" bike I've ever bought. I usually take rusted heaps and strip, powdercoat, modify, etc., knowing that I'm not screwing up anything pristine. I paid $120 for it; probably less than the panniers would cost new.

auchencrow

Wow - looks like you have everything you need to go on an expedition with that!
Univega sure made a terrific touring bike.

PS The black and blue colors really work well together!

mkeller234

Geez, that looks nice. The black Bluemel fenders are way cool and so is that generator. Nice find.

noglider 

How does it ride?

nickkoto

Sounds like the bike is way too small. That stem doesn't inspire much confidence either.


Nice score though.

KendallF

Very cushy! I rode it about 10 miles last night, just enough for me to remember why I hate platform pedals and large saddles. It tracks straight and my big feet clear the panniers.

If Grant Petersen was fitting me, I'd probably be on a 58. He's not, and I'm not. This is a 54, which is my size. I typically ride with a bunch of drop and more than a "fistful" of saddle showing. The stem is typical for the vintage (Sakae? didn't look) but it'll be swapped for a longer stem as well.

mainstreetexile 

In case you were wondering, I'm pretty sure this is a 1980. I have the exact same bike, same color, no bottle braze-ons, but in a 58cm frame. This is an awesome score, especially with all those extras!

Interestingly, it looks like this has the exact same stem as mine, a very short-reach (60 - 70mm) high-rise SR stem. I assumed someone swapped it out later but it looks like they may have came stock? I was thinking of swapping it for a longer reach stem but the minimum-insertion point is way longer than any other stems I've found, so I'll probably just keep it since I like to keep my bars above my saddle for these touring style bikes.

Based on you needing a longer seatpost, my assumption would also be that the frame is too small for you too, but if you can find a longer seatpost (riding with that post that high up will wreck your seat tube) and it's comfortable for you, ride it and enjoy it! Congrats, I love these old univegas!

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Nice Bike, I was just bidding on a Gran Turismo on ebay Yesterday (didn't get it)

Its essentially a Miyata 210 from what I gathered in researching the model.

cycle_maven

I looked at the specs on a Miyata 610 from 1985, and my 1985 Gran Turismo is *exactly* the same. Same tubing, same brakes, same crank, headset, freewheel, pedals, derailleurs, everything. I think the models varied a bit over the years, though.

Good find!

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I think you are right about the models varying over the years. The GranTurismo i was looking at had Magnalite Forks and Hi-Ten Stays, same as the 1985ish 210....in other years I beleive there were other construction materials.

KendallF

Thanks for the info, people. I didn't know about the Miyata/Univega tie-in. Inexpensive longer seatposts are readily available in the QBP catalog for virtually every diameter from 26.0 up, in .2 increments anyway.

It's interesting to me to hear all of the "too small" comments. I often think that the bikes I see pictured here in C&V are too large for their riders, based on very low seat heights...if your seat is 3" above the top tube, either you're unable to stand over the bike or your seat is too low and your knee angle at the bottom of the pedal stroke is much greater than it should be. This is of course tied in with the bar height and saddle/bar drop issue. The critical measurement for most riders should be the top tube length, and then picking the requisite stem for the correct reach. With a quill stem, the drop is fairly adjustable.

I am 5'9", and here's a look at my race bike's setup. It's effectively a 54cm frame also. I rode 9,500 miles last year on this and similar setups. I'm very comfortable on it.

rat fink

Nice find! Love your race bike too! You and I would probably be in the minority in C&V, seeing a bike like that and thinking (knowing) that it's a comfortable setup. It's funny, when I saw the Univega, my first thought was, "the saddle height looks alright, but that stem is way too high". Different strokes I guess.

mkeller234

Your own comfort on any particular bike is something that only you can determine. While I may feel similar to the others I can't fault you for your preferences. I don't see any reason, given a longer seat post and appropriate stem that you couldn't get comfortable on that bike. That is a goofy short little stem on there anyway, something similar to a Nitto Technomic would probably work for you.

DiegoFrogs

It's rather funny, I'm also 5'-9" tall with a 32" pants inseam. I ride a 58 cm bike but my knees were hurting me a bit too much. I measured my PBH and calculated my seath height by Peterson's methods, and after I adjusted my saddle height down (about 1"), my knee pain was gone and I have never felt so comfortable on a bicycle.

It really depends on the person, and how you're riding. I'd never go fast enough to take advantage of the features of your Element, although I think it looks amazing! I have a shoulder problem and some anxiety issues from a crash about 5 years ago. Upright posture with a "large" knee angle is about right for me.

edited to add: after adjusting my seat height, as calculated, I now have exactly a fistful of seatpost!

Tom Pedale

Nice Bike...I worked for Univega at this time and was employed by Ben Lawee in sales and marketing. He also asked me my opinion of different frame colors and decal combos (Ben alwayshad the last word!). The bikes were made by Miyata and I remember picking up Mr. Miyata at the Long Beach airport once. He was of course, an important Japanese executive, but you would never know this since he was ever so polite and kind to everyone he dealt with.

FlatTop

Fine looking Gran Turismo. I like the blue a little better than the graphite color of my GT.

KendallF

Neat! Hearing the history behind objects ties them to people and gives them personality.