A Couple Vintage Miyata's

[Cheesy]

I have a soft spot for Miyata's. I've had five, now down to two.
This is my 1981 710 that I bought new.

I lusted after the 912 but the 710 is what my wallet agreed to. I did my first century, double, triple and 24 hr TT on this rig. It's about 75% stock. I should bring it up from the basement and breathe new life into it.

1990 600GT I bought as possibly the last frame set in Illannoy before Miyata turned out the lights in the US.

This has the 27" Araya rims that were on the 710 when I switched that to 700s. I laced the Arayas to SA ST and VT drum brake hubs I bought at one of Lon Haldeman's garage sales. The saddle is a Wrights W3N that resided on my 1970 Robin Hood. It was also micro-drive before Microdrive was a thing.
I did a lot of 24 hr TT's and 200, 300, 400, and 600 km Brevets on this, culminating in Paris Brest-Paris in 1991. You haven't lived until you are under the lone streetlight in a small French town at 3am, tightening a loose BB locking with a screwdriver and a rock. I finished 5th from last, but I finished. (Dang kids moving road signs. My story and I'm sticking to it.) I did peg the Vetta cyclometer at 100 KPH downhill. Those were the days. If I start to approach 30 MPH downhill now, I'm grabbing two handfuls of brake.
I still ride it though not as far nor as fast as I used to. Age does that to you. Or, Good judgement comes from wisdom. Wisdom comes from bad judgement.

 

[Iverider]

Miyatas are underrated for sure! I bought a six ten years ago for $40. It had a little rust around the cable guides but I rode it for quite a few years with the paint half stripped off.

The frame and fork are the only stock parts on it at this point.

It is my most ridden bicycle of a fair number of bikes.

I added a screw on badge. And put new cable guides on, but at about 10 o’clock instead of the original 12 o’clock position. I figured it would clean up the side view a little bit. I also put brazed on cable stops on the down tube, but one of them pulled off so I went back to the clamp on unit till I can fix it. I painted it with normal spray paint so I could touch it up whenever I wanted to. So far it’s held up pretty well.

 

[Fritz Katzenjammer]

Beautiful bikes, I’ve always been a fan of Japanese road bikes. I hope to luck out and find a nice Miyata one day, til then my old H.Tano (Panasonic) built Centurion will have to do.

 

[bulldog1935]

My buddy kicks himself for selling his Vista Silver Shadow from college, when he "went Trek"