Hi I'm new to Bike Forums so I hope this is where I can get some insights from the experts. I'm still new to the bike field but hope to grow in my knowledge to build my own bike one day!

I have three bikes that are on the web that I'm interested in:

Miyata One Ten ($200)

• Made in Japan
• Cro-mo steel lugged frame & forks
• 12 speeds
• Down tube shifters ( rear is indexed )
• Suntour Trimec components
• Velo saddle
• Quick release alloy wheels
• Brand new tires

Diamond Back Centurion Expert TG ($205)

• Tange cro-mo tubing
• 14 speeds
• Down tube shifters ( rear is indexed )
• Shimano RX100 components
• Pedals w/clips & straps
• 700c. quick release alloy wheels
• Vittoria Rubino 700 x 23c. tires

Schwinn Road Bike ($200)
I don't know the model of the bike -- it looked decent so I thought I'd check it here. Owner said it has 10-12 speeds.


Please let me know what you think is the one that I should get! Thanks in advance

Moved from Road.

Get the bike that seems to have the best fit for your body.

They all look pretty equivalent to me.

The Diamondback appears to be a little newer than the other bikes. So, it has tig welded tubes (functional, but not as pretty as lugged tubes). 700c wheels are somewhat more universal today than the older 27" wheels, but either is functional.

The Diamondback appears to be slightly smaller than the Miyata, but both bikes should be fine for someone around 5'10 to 6' or so.

A few Questions:

• What is your intended use? Commuting? Tours? Racing?
• How tall are you?
• Location?

They're all in the range of 55-57cm which will fit my body but since I wasn't sure if the value that I will be getting with these bike was going to be good.

It would mainly be for commuting and at times cycling with a couple friends.
I'm about 5'9 1/2.
And I live in Austin, TX.

More information would be helpful, but with what you've provided, I'd pursue the D-back, Centurion Expert. Check the frame on that bike. I believe it's Tange 1 or Tange Prestige. If it is either of those two, that's the frame you want. That bike is a continuation of the Centurion Ironman series which is very popular making any resale easy. More information about the Schwinn is needed to discuss it.

Austin has Hills..So get the bike with the most gears.

He said he'd contact me fairly soon regarding the model and the year for the Schwinn. Are there other information that I should be looking into for that bike?

Yeah, Austin is pretty hill-y. I'll try to look into the other bikes to see how many gears they have and update them if I find out!

All of these bikes are vintage so the components would not be my main focus. I'd want to know about the frame, more than just double butted chromoly steel. I'd want to know if it's Tange, what level Prestige, Tange 1, Tange 2, Tange 900? It makes a difference. If it's another brand such as Columbus or Reynolds, again what level of quality. Then I'd pursue the components next. You might want to ask what size wheels are on these bikes. Are any of them 27 inch or are all three 700C. 27 inch is the sign of a lower end bike. I know for a fact the D-back is 700C, not sure about the others. Size is critical. It may be an optical illusion or frame design, but the D-back looks smaller than the other two. The wrong size frame is never a bargain, be sure the frame you choose fits you the best. Hope this helps.
EDIT: The guys that could really help answer your questions are over on the Classic & Vintage forum.

At 5'-9½" the 55-57cm frame might be too big for you. I'm 5'-11" and my bikes are 54cm and 56cm.

This is what the seller of the Schwinn told me:
"Wheels are Shimano Acera FH-M290, pedals are Forte, breaks are Shimano 105/diacompe, bike is Schwinn Chicago."
And he lowered the price to $180. And also specified that he is 5'9, which is near my height, and it fits him well (I was going to try it myself anyways).

Your choices are the Centurion and the Schwinn. I'm not sure but I think the Schwinn is a Prelude, not Chicago, from around '86 with a mix of later parts (105 and Acera). The Miyata is fine, but unless you are really looking for more C&V (Suntour) and less of a daily rider I would pass on it. I'll probably take some flack for that.

Since the cost is just about the same, the Centurion is probably your best bet, but condition is key.

John

If you're 5'9", then the smallest of the 3. I think 57 will just be too big.

I didn't think Schwinn produced any brazed frame bikes at their Chicago factory other than the really high end Paramount model. It may be one of the Japanese produced Panasonic models that Schwinn stamped "Schwinn approved" all over components on the bike to distinguish it from those made by Chicago workers. The Le Tour models were light years away from those produced in Chicago.
See here:
You may be surprised to learn that Schwinn, Raleigh, Royce Union, Suteki, Centurion and other labels all at one time or another had Panasonic built bicycles wearing their badges. Schwinn’s very first outsourced bikes back in the early 70s were built by Panasonic. These were the “World” bikes such as the World Traveller and World Voyager. Later on in the 70s, Schwinn made a deal with Panasonic to build the LeTour model which would become the second most popular model for Schwinn in the 1970s.

If it is one of these 3 models, it is worth buying.

You'd definitely find a lot of good advice over on the C&V forum, I'd ask there as well.

The Schwinn definitely looks like it is the 1986 Prelude. Here's a link to the catalogue if you're interested : Schwinn 1986 Lightweight Bicycles -- Prelude. If that's the case, the frame is made of Columbus Tenax tubing and it'd be equipped with Suntour Cyclone derailleurs. It's a pretty nice bike in my opinion and I've heard a lot of good things about the late 80's Japanese made Schwinns from various forum members.

That being said, I don't think you could go wrong with the Diamondback either as per the reasons above.

It's not the number of gears, but the range.

Commuting - also look for eyelets braze ons for mounting a rack etc