i recently picked up a miyata 615 on ebay. i've been told it may be an early 90's model, actually, so may not fit in this thread--it has a 6 speed cassette (18sp altogether), and downtube shifters. i haven't toured on it, but i commute 20 miles roundtrip to work on it, and i really enjoy the ride (much more than the trip on my previous bike, an early 80's le tour). it's triple-butted cromoly frame, the same as the 1000's, but maybe cheaper components. i was curious about it's history, tho'. i see lots of 610's and 1000's, but this is the only 615 i've come across. i've heard that bike manufacturers sometimes add a new or modified line of bikes in a production year, and so these bikes often come in under the radar, so to speak, and/or are maybe not produced in the same quantities. did miyata decide to upgrade/modify the 610 in mid-"season"? or is the 615 a branch in the evolution of miyata bikes?

I've heard that the small-framed 615's used a 24" front wheel. Otherwise, I'd been of the impression that they were a replacement in the model lineup (for the 610).

For anybody who's interested, the July 1984 issue of Bicycling had an article on loaded tourers, complete with a comparison between the Trek 720, the Specialized Expedition, and the Cannondale ST-500. What's really useful about this article, in my opinion, is that it has spec comparison sheets for every loaded touring bike made that year.

Any chance of a scan?

I can try. Failing that, I can make photocopies. I'll try a scan first.

I forgot to add the best touring bike from the old days - I mean the best mass produced. The Raleigh Kodiak. Although it was only sold for a couple of years they were by FAR the best touring bike I ever saw. Unfortunately mine was a 24" and I needed a 25" so I ended up selling it.

Have to agree with this.
But Canadians (like me) never got much of a chance to buy a Nishiki Cresta (the Continental was the top of the line rig) or a Schwinn, Univega, Panasonic or Fuji.
At the time, the Trek touring bikes were popular along with the Nishiki Continental and International and the Raleigh Alyeska.
We did have Velo Sport, Apollo and Marinoni though. I am unsure ie Maronini was building a dedicated touring bike in the 80's though.
*0's touring rigs seemd to get it all right by 84'-85'. These were the glory years of touring on factory bikes even though they were not big sellers at the time.

How about the Centurion Pro Tour. I have an 83 year model and have thought about touring on it. Seems like a solid bike.

I have a 1986 Miyata 1000, a 1980 Motobecane Super Tourer, a Mikado Cycle Toureur and a Velo Sport Appalachian and I have never toured on any of them! I always use a modified Mtb to tour with and I recently noticed that old Rocky Mountain catalogues from the 1980 and early 90’s list some of their early Mtb’s as touring bikes.
In my opinion the Miyata 1000 seems to be the best design out of all of the ones I have and I really enjoy riding it. This summer I will definitely take it on a long tour.

dont forget the gitane gran tour 1984
https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...7&d=1231162483

I used to tour with a guy who rode Fuji Gran Tourer SE, which was a fairly cheap bike but it had a light and strong frame, long wheelbase, stable enough for him to ride no-hands while fully loaded. He'd be steaming along at 15 or 20 mph, using both hands to take pictures with this big SLR camera he carried. All in all his bike seemed just as good as the one I was riding, which was a Trek 720.

I have this one.


Paint on mine is a little worse-for-wear, but, it works!

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...318&highlight=

Took me a minute to find it. That's about all the info I've found on them. I don't think they were that popular in the states.

I have one too:



I like it too. Same as you. Just short day trips for now.

Sweet Jesus that thing is yellow! I like that aero helmet.

drool...

that is gorgeous.

I was on the lookout for a second bike, so I didnt have to use my "posh" bike in the rain, however I ended up with a bargain bike, that i now love so much i havent used the posh bike, the Dawes is like the excellent all rounder, i cant say its light, as it weighs quite a bit, but its comfortable, gets up hills really easily, theres always the perfect gear, and it takes all my cycling bits, looks pretty cool with a brooks b17 saddle and carradice saddlebag, and only cost me £120 secondhand although i did pay another £40 for the saddle brand new.

For a "good touring bike," how low is a low BB? How long is longish fork rake?

I have a Woodrup Giro that has been seen as a good basis for a tourer, but its BB is nowhere near "low."

Bob Jackson has been making touring bikes for a long time, but they were never mass imported to my knowledge. I bought mine new over the winter, but their basic frame design has stayed the same over the years. You see older ones on eBay from time to time, and they usually seem to have long-reach brakes rather than cantilevers.

I am still riding my Univega Gran Tourismo...but considering retiring it this year if I can find a cannondale t1 with small frame at a reasonable price. Anyone know of one for sale?

Cannondale started selling touring models in 1984. All aluminum frame, nicely designed for touring.

I have a 1984 Specialized Sequoia, which is the light touring version of the Expedition. Same geometry but without canti studs, basically. It is great.

there were a bunch of lesser known touring rigs from the 80s as well. here is a japanese shogun tourer, freshly rebuilt:

Ok so I am unsure of the year of my new touring bike. I am sure it is a 1990 but it could very well be a 1989 so it kind of fits in this category. I just think that is is a beautiful bike and built just like all other great touring bikes I have been researching. I have always loved Fuji and I think they went over the top with this bike. I love vintage bikes that still provide a reliable if not better ride than some of the bikes being produced. It is true that they don't make them like they used to.

So here is my addition to the list... '89-'90 Fuji Saratoga



beautiful bike I must say... great steel with beautiful lugging detail, decent drivetrain, spare spoke holder on the chainstay, cantilevers, good rack mounts, good seat post and stem, good ergonomic alloy bars, bar ends, good pedals, etc.

Does anybody know about what this bike went for brand new? It is comparable to most bikes touring today and I only paid $220 so I think I win.

The 1986 Schwinn Passage, which was the touring model just below the Voyageur that year, is also pretty decent. I think 1986 was the only year it was made. It has a Columbus Tenax frame with braze-ons for 3 water bottle cages, front and rear racks, and a pump peg. Came with a 40-spoke rear wheel and Weinmann alloy rims, Dia-Compe cantilever brakes, and triple chain wheel (15-speed... 3X5). The Passage was made in the U.S.A. with imported components. It sold for about $310 in 1986 ... how quaint! My Passage was modified by a previous owner. The modifications include added Shimano safety levers (they are nice and snug, but move freely) to the brake levers, and stem shifters in place of the down tube shifters. For touring, I actually like these modifications quite a bit. I added the stainless steel fenders. They came off a very badly rusted Bridgestone Kabuki T-5 from the late '70s (?). The T-5 had 26" wheels, so I had to retrofit extenders on the rear fenders stays. I put a Brooks B-17 leather saddle on it, but kept the original Selle saddle for posterity. I have several sets of panniers for it to choose from, but like my old light blue Cannondales the most. I think the previous owner loved this bike as much as I do.

The 1985 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe is identicle to the '86 Passage (and a departure from the 1983-4 models). I have one that my son uses and it is a decent bike. I do noy have any pictures of mine, but here is the catalog shot:



I ride an '84/5 Lotus Odyssey. The earlier ones were second shelf, but by '84, they really seemed to improve.

My original as found at the Salvation Army:



As I cleaed it up, I ugraded the bars, shift levers, fenders, and such:



The only thing I might yet change is the 36/36 spoke 27" wheels for 36/40 700C, but after 1100 mile loaded late summer and the existing wheels are doing great.