The subject is my question. I see them but don'tknow anything about them.
Thanks!

Hello,
I currently own 2 Univegas - a 1980 Nuovo Sport road bike and a 1997 Activa Country hybrid bike. Both are great bikes. From the reading I have done, the frames were made by Miyata until the mid-1980's and came from China after that. Here is a link for more info: Japanese Bicycles in the U.S. Market

Erik

There is a ton of info on this forum. Google: univega site:bikeforums.net I just had a 1982 Univega Competizione go through my hands. Basically a Miyata Pro. Look for user T-Mar. THE Univega library it seems.

I don't think that Univega made any lousy bikes. I've seen several and all were decent low to mid range, and I do believe they made a very nice touring model. They were a "brand name" of a California importer (WSI?) that had bicycles made to spec in Japan and Taiwan as I recall. I have an Activa Trail hybrid that I ride and enjoy quite often.

the two early '80s uni's i had were both (made by) miyata framesets. they're basically the best chromoly bikes you'll find for two benjamins.

Specialissima. Less expensive than a Miyata 1000 but plenty nice.

I think the Specialissima was nicer than the 1000 (though I could be biased). The color/decal schemes are more attractive, and they tended to be specced a little better (barcons, triple water bottle braze one, lowrider mounts)

I had a Viva Sport and an Ital Sport. Univega was a big brand sold in lots of bike shops, not department stores.

1. They had perfect balance.



2. They were cheaper than Italian bikes of the time

I picked up a 84 Gran Rally with a full Arabesque groupset and Tange Champion tubing for pennies, just to keep it out of the hands of the fixie kids around here. After cleaning up the dust and rust, it's one of my keepers! Smooth ride, sold bike, weighs 24 pounds with a Brooks saddle and a Soma front rack.

Ben Lawee was superb at detailing bikes, perhaps the best in the US at the time for 'mass-market' bikes. When Raleigh cut him off as a distributor, he wasted no time 'stealing' market share from Raleigh. His bikes were excellent both mechanically and cosmetically, at least IMOO.

I have seen reference to Italvega or something like that as well. Any relationship to Univega?

Ben Lawee started with Italian frames built by Torpado under the Italvega name. In the mid-late '70s, he went to Japanese makers for better, more consistent quality and changed the name to Univega.

Ben

I sold Univegas and loved them. As Ed, above has stated, the cosmetics and detailing were superbe. Ben Lawee did a fantastic job in presenting the bike as extremely appealing. They just looked like dynamite. Italivega came from Lawee also. I own one, and it is an incredible bike.

Actually the Sheldon Brown article states, "Univega was later a division of Derby, along with Nishiki and Raleigh, but the Univega and Nishiki brand names were retired in 2001 so that Derby could concentrate on its Raleigh brand." When they were part of Derby they were built in Kent, Washington, for the US market. Derby acquired Univega in 1996.

Actually the top of the very same article states that "most Univega Japanese bikes were made by Miyata" mine is a 84 and has a Made in Japan decal on it. I think this applies up to the mid 80s.

'82 Competizione.

You are correct, sir.

I had a Nishiki with those shifters mounted on the top. I think there was a cam on the right one that moved the pivot of the left one a bit so that when you went from the small cog to the big cog (or vice versa) in back the front derailleur would move slightly to prevent any rubbing. Cool idea but even though I had the bike over 20 years I never got used to the location of the shifters.

fwiw the fork on my Univega Gran Primeo has Miyata drop outs.

the only bad thing about suntour symmetric shifters like this is the inability to tighten on the go without an allen key.



they're fun to overhaul.

looks like a nice bike. shimano 600 headset? one of my favorites.