Salamandrine 

Hmm, if you're doing long races like that, I'd be inclined to use it. Bikes are for riding. No point keeping it all minty fresh if it stays that way by staying in the garage. I used to ride my masi on gravel roads all the time, and it never was particularly harmed by it. Frankly, Miyata 1000 are bit over hyped these days now. It was a good top end production touring bike in its time. The paint on them was always relatively fragile and somewhat rustprone. If you do use it, consider spraying out the inside with framesaver or LPS3. For the outside, wrap the drive side chainstay entirely with cotton tape, apply some helicopter tape to the bottom of the down tube, maybe wrap the top tube also.

dddd

Yeah, I went with the Cinelli "finishing tape" on my bike's toptube, though admittedly because it was scratched up already as it came from the Goodwill thrift store for $24.95.

Lascauxcaveman 

Hey, don't knock it 'til you try it.

John Nolan 

If you're not planning on selling the 1000, you might as well ride it. Even if it's future value is diminished, you will have had present fun.

seely

I've used a 610 with an IGH and centerpull brakes. It works, but, it's not ideal IMO. My Wolverine is noticeably more stable and predictable on the loose stuff and on hairy descents, plus has the clearance for much wider tires.

himespau 

Good point. If you didn't buy it as an investment, you might as well get the enjoyment out of it that you got it for.

canuckjgc

Certainly did not buy it as an investment - even in its pristine condition I would likely get $1000 tops.

The Golden Boy 

With great bikes comes great responsibility. Big difference for a collectable bike in "staying in the garage" and 'putting the bike in a competitive situation that may be more prone to scratching and damage than throwing some bags on it and heading out for a few days or something.'

Completely the opposite of my experience with the 1990 1000LT. I'm as much of a "vintage" Trek fanboy as they come- Comparing my 85 720 and 620 as well as my Voyageur SP to the Miyata, the Miyata is a much different bike. Granted- there's another 5 years of development there- but it's more stable, both with and without loads.

I don't know the history of my bike- but the stock stem and bars are faded and the decals are faded under the paint. Generally, that's because it's left outside. However, the paint is in pretty nice shape- a few nicks here and there. It's a conundrum- because the paint is in such nice shape, but the decals under the clear are not.

I always compare old style touring bikes to the ride of a 1972 Cadillac ElDorado. It's a long wheelbase- it's cushy. It's not a sprinter- even though it has a 455. There's a market for cars like that. That is not the car, in engineering or collectibility to race in any way.

By the way, when I bought my Voyageur SP- it was pretty much pristine. It was "only" like a $400 bike- but I managed to put a dent in the TT; that dent not only kills the value of the bike- I don't ride it as much because it has that dent now.

mountaindave 

Salamandrine 

That's completely fair. I should note that I may be biased coming from a time when these bikes had fairly low status. Treks were really the 'cool' bike for touring at the time.

I should also point out that I don't necessarily consider riding gravel roads to be abuse. I guess it sort of depends on the actual terrain, but I've never really scratched up, dented, or otherwise damaged a bike from riding the gravel. Older racing bikes pre 1975 or so were actually designed for use on both pavement and dirt.

I'm not sure what you're getting at here? I don't really know Miyata 1000 circa 1990. By that time, I was working at Bridgestone/Bianchi/Centurion shop, and I would have sold the RB-T. The early 80s Miyatas had a pretty thin primer coat, and were somewhat more rustprone than average, IME. They quite possibly fixed that by 1990. I guess my point was, even if the paint gets scratched, a Miyata 1000 could be powdercoated or something at a later date, and will remain a very good bike. I don't consider the decals and paint to be any great artistic thing on those bikes, but again admit that's just my taste and probably bias.

Chr0m0ly 

63rickert

If you hadn't said pristine I would have encouraged you to give it a try. Looking at new gravel bikes for sale it's more about piloting a stack of marketing notions than riding a bike. If you don't like stiff forks you aren't going to get along with the current offerings. Myself I won't ride a stiff fork around the block. Big tires will blur the issue a lot. Something extravagant like the Lauf forks have about same travel as a nice lightweight steel fork.

Take a look at this one. https://www.ebay.fr/itm/Cadre-de-velo-porteur-ancien-stock-des-annees-50-Taille-55-56/382544541462?hash=item59116e7716:g:kmEAAOSw5ZtajA4~ . Lots of clearance. Braze on some canti studs, spread the rear drops and go. Same seller has two more that look interesting. There are lots of these available and they are unlikely to sell. Most will be landfilled or melted. If gravel racers started to buy them the French would drag them out of storage and list them. Hardly worth the trouble of listing as it stands.

Take a quick look at the Fitz Cycles site. He works quick and lets the final perfection of visual detail go. Which makes a lot of sense for bikes that will be beat up.

mountaindave 

63rickert

Mountaindave

I want one too. If I were younger or lived less urban I'd have pulled the trigger.

As time goes by less interested in bikes that see too much time with jeweler's files.

mountaindave 

clasher

I have a 1000 too and might try it in a gravel race sometime but mine was found covered in appliance paint and was the victim of a flat bar conversion. If it was pristine I might just sell it, I've seen a few for sale around Ontario so they aren't unobtainable yet.

My 1000 came alive with some newer wheels, the stock ones are really strong but kinda heavy. I also used it for brevets and it really does well in that capacity.

belacqua

This is an interesting conversation because the ride vs. preserve factions are almost always represented on this forum, almost always incompatible, and almost always respect each other.

What I want to know is, do you folks consider the 1000 more desirable than the 720 and Voyageur?

Dougie D

billnuke1 

These bikes have a magical ride!
I have a new 1987 that I acquired a bunch of years ago.
I ride it in sun, rain, snow, and ice. No nicks or scratches yet in its job as a fast touring bicycle.
I have other rough, comparable bikes that I would have no problem putting in the compromising situation you are contemplating for this grail bicycle.
Do a long hard ride together on the Miyata, it will change your mind...I hope!