upgrading options and needed advice
 

I have a 1989 miyata 312, chromoly frame bike with 700c rims. I would like to upgrade the brakeset with newer calipers, like tektro r312 or shimano 105 circa 2005. Can my bike be fitted with new brakd calipers?
Thanks.

The short answer is yes, shouldn't be a problem. You'll want to check whether the current brakes are nutted or recessed in front. Basically, if you can see a regular looking nut that you could wrench off with a regular wrench, on the back of the fork, it is nutted. If it looks like a piece that sits flush with the back of the fork and takes an allen/hex wrench, it is recessed. See http://sheldonbrown.com/calipers.html for the complete run-down. Make sure whatever you get is the same (most newer calipers are recessed although tektro can usually be ordered nutted). The other main thing is that the reach of the calipers fits. You can google "measure caliper reach" to figure out how to do that. My guess is that any short or medium reach caliper will work, but it is worth checking. As an aside, my experience is that brake calipers usually aren't worth upgrading unless yours are broken for some reason or, maybe, you want to go from single to dual pivot (and this is a contentious thing to say for some). If your brakes aren't working well, odds are replacing the brake pads (especially if yours are original) will markedly improve performance more than just getting new brakes (other than those having new pads). People here (and I agree) seem to like the salmon kool stop pads; they're better than OEM. You could take your bike to an LBS and tell them you want some kool stop pads and they should be able to point out the ones that fit...and they aren't hard to replace and would be cheaper than new calipers.

I'm betting nutted, which is what my 87 Miyata 312 is. I agree about the Kool Stops. Now that I have my 312 here with me in Switzerland, with all the hills here, I'm wishing I'd done the Kool Stop upgrade before sending the bike over. I guess I'll see what it costs to get them over here.

Thanks for the help. My miyata 312 is a good bike all except for the dia compe brakes and the saddle. I making minor modifications for a custom fit however it is difficult finding info and specs for my bike. I am thinking that it is a 1989 model but not 100% sure. Can you help out with some more specs. Here is my bike. http://s1313.photobucket.com/user/fa...?sort=3&page=1

Your front brake has recessed mounting bolt, so modern brake will work fine. Picture is not good enough on the rear for me to tell.

Need to get the reach right. Google brake reach, then take a ruler and measure. 5 second job. Take a close up of the rear, or google recessed mount and you will be about to tell the difference.

Even with great info on the web on your bike (Miyata has a lot more info out there than most), they are not going to list brake reach.

Myself, I like any of the Shimano dual pivot brake calipers, RX100 has a nice finish and are often pretty cheap (RSX are fine, but finish is not so hot).

Thanks wrk101.