Miyata Liberty
 

Hi--
I need help learning more about a Miyata Liberty. The serial number on the bike is G597437. I have read the Miyata Hierarchy thread on this site, I have searched the web, and I have looked through all of the catalogs (1981-1994) on miyatacatalogs.com. There is very little out there about this model. I am thinking it is a 78 or 79…and I am basing this of the thread I found here about someone’s 1978 Miyata Liberty. I’d like to know what year it is and whether it is a good frame. If I get it, I want to convert to a fixed gear, so I an not overly concerned about all of the components. Any thoughts or guidance is appreciated. Oh, it is for sale for ~$80.

Thanks.

Sorry for the late reply. As a 70s bike that one is technologically way behind Miyata models from the 80s. The main functional difference is weight. That Liberty model will have high-tensile steel for its frame, fork and stays. By the mid 80s all but the very cheapest models from companies like Miyata were made from alloys that combined strength with lower weight. Also that bike will likely have steel wheels; again during the 80s alloy rims became mandatory on all but the cheapest road bikes. Components, too, would be better on an 80s bike, but that probably doesn't matter to you.

You are right about the bike being from (probably) 1978, according to C&Ver T-Mar's detective work on Miyata serial numbers. They apparently began dating frames with a letter prefix with 1972 as 'A.' So G=1978.

As a frame for a fixed gear conversion that bike is probably very solid, but heavy. Be sure and check for rust, especially in the seat tube and headtube. (ie pull the seatpost and stem to check before buying)

$80 sounds a bit high for it, but that's probably what I would ask if I were selling, too. :innocent:

With the brake hoods and the Suntour Barcon shifters, it's probably a much nicer bike than one would think. A picture from the other side would really help, if it's not too late...

This bike is on ebay with a BIN if you want some more pics (at the bottom). I stumbled accross it while looking for something else http://cgi.ebay.ca/Vintage-MIYATA-Li...ht_7878wt_1139