Miyata 1000?
 

Found one of these all original for five hundred bucks. Are these good for touring and is that a fair price?

You really have to want it for what it is: a classic 80s lugged touring bike. If everything is close to flawless and it is in pristine condition, that could be a fair price. Things can really start adding up once you start overhauling it and hope the races are OK and there isn't a lot of rust in the tubes and I am guessing there is. If you really want a touring bike from that era, you couldn't do much better. If you want a touring bike for about $500-700 and don't care about lugs or it being a classic, you would do better getting something like the Motobecane Gran Tourismo or used LHT, 520 etc.... IMHO.

I misread, it is 300 and it doesn't appear to have any rust at all. Although there is a couple of scratches.

If it was the 1000, $500 would be a great price. If I could find a 1000 for $500 I would buy it in a heartbeat. I have never heard of a Miyata 300, so I am guessing it is a 310 or a 315 and I would say it is a very nice bike (depending on the model year), but can be had for less. I wouldn't pay $500 for a 310.

As for touring, you can tour on any type of bike. So, it would depend on what you want. The 310 has side pull brakes, so you will be limited on tire width and fenders. Also, depending on the year, it could come with 27" tires. The 310s had nice relaxed geometries, similar to modern touring bikes. I would use a 310 for more like randoneuring type rides, since I don't think the 310 has brazeons for front racks. Also, I don't recall the 310's rims. I can't remember if they were single or double walled.

No. it is a 1000 for three hundred dollars.

Thanks for the information. I bought the bike, although I know nearly nothing about bikes.. I just liked the way it felt. It is a 1983 miyata 1000. The racks are gone off of it, it had a different front wheel and aftermarket cantilever brakes. Other than that it is all original. Heck, I may put the thing on ebay or something if I decide not to ride it.

Oh, I misunderstood.

1983 was before the 1000 used the splined triple butted tubing, but it is still a fully double butted Cro-moly tubing bike. Still a very nice bike especially for $300. It also has a very relaxed geometry, I think you will find the ride is very nice. Every Miyata I have ever ridden was just so smooth and nice. I even had a low end Miyata that I used to walk the dog, short trips around the neighborhood. It was a very nice riding bike. I eventually gave that bike to a neighbor, she need a bike.

Anyone else want to see a photo of the bike?

I do, I do!

OP: A 1983 Miyata 1000 for $300? Even with the mismatched wheel and the aftermarket cantis, I'd say you did well. This is a classic lugged steel Japanese tourer. Much in demand these days, and for good reason. According to Sheldon Brown, "The mid-80s Miyata 1000 was possibly the finest off-the-shelf touring bike available at the time." As SweetLou notes, 1983 was before the splined, triple-butted tubing was introduced, but the double-butted is nothing to sneeze at. Should ride very, very nicely. You might want to post photos on the C&V forum. I suspect folks there would be interested.

Here's one!

It's not Bronsonb's but it is RFC's in 2008. Very nice!

I would post a picture but I have no idea how it is done. I use an android so I may have to get on a laptop to do it.

I got a steal on a mid 80's miyata 1000 for a very small friend. We got it for $120 at Auction in 1993. It went so low because the frame was about a 48. Too small for all but the shortest cyclists. He retired it last year after going through 2 drivetrains and goodness knows how many tires. A truly excellent bike.

I hope you have similar good luck. The key will be bike fit. The best bike is the bike that fits.

Onward!

If the 1983 model is anything like the 1985 (which is what I have) I can assure you it is very nice touring bike! It rides like a dream, loaded or unloaded.

But be forewarned: finding replacement parts (of comparable quality) is not easy or cheap. A few years ago, I overhauled the Miyata. The bill came to about the same of what I paid for the entire bicycle 23 years earlier.