bargainguy

I found this Miyata Pro this morning. Serial # B468302, which I believe dates to 1973.

As far as I can tell: D/A crank & brakes, Crane RD, Titlist FD. Wheels are Mavic Montlery tubies on unknown hubs - Atom front skewer, Campy rear skewer.

Someone went red-tape happy. Apart from that, what is the value as is?

Thanks in advance!

TugaDude

I am a sucker for chrome lugs so it has that going for it. And it is a Miyata and that is a good thing. Overall condition seems good, but paint is in need of TLC. Components are probably original for the most part. If I had to guess, I would say North of $200.00 but beyond that, no idea.

bikemig 

Yeah north of $200. I'd value it at around $300. I've seen those hubs before. I think they're lightweight hubs that the weight weenies loved back in the day. Maybe they're weyliss?

bargainguy

Thanks, TugaDude and bikemig.

Good call on the Weyless hubs. I was originally hesitant on the bike because of the tubies, but the hubs intrigued me; unmarked but seemed high quality. I doubt anyone would want the old Montlery rims, but the Weyless hubs definitely have some value.

bikemig 

Here's some info on 70s Miyata Pros:

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...fessional.html

Looks like it was made with 4140 chrome moly steel.

bargainguy

You are correct, sir!

ramzilla

AFAIK they didn't make unicrown forks back in 1973. So, probably a replacement fork. The wheel hubs don't look 73 vintage either. Never seen anything like it. Really don't know what to make of it. Raise the seatpost about 2". Peel off some of the red tape. And, ask $500 for it. See what happens.

bargainguy

I didn't even think of that, thanks!

Come to think of it, the '74 catalog lists Shimano centerpulls. D/A sidepulls were around in '73-74, so perhaps the brakes are not original to this frame as well.

mkeller234

I don’t know that I would call that a uni-crown fork. It looks more like a sloping crown, similar to what the 70s Raleigh pros and competitions had. The fork could be original. @T-Mar would probably know.

T-Mar

+1, that is not a Unicrown fork. In a Unicrown fork, the tops of the blades are curved inwards and attach directly to the steering column, eliminating a traditional crown. The subject fork, which is a replacement, has what is called a fully sloping integral crown. What makes the crown "integral" are internal sleeves that the blades fit over, giving a seamless transition. Crowns that approach 45 degrees are called fully sloping.

The subject bicycle has been heavily modified. Beside the wheels, the crankset, brakes and bar end shifters are all modifications.

bargainguy

Thank you, T-Mar!

If the barcons on this '73 are a replacement, do you know what the original shifters were? The '74 catalog lists Shimano fingertip as standard.

T-Mar

In this case, "Finger-Tip" is the model name. They were a set of light feel levers with springs that counter-balanced the derailleur spring, similar to retro-friction levers.

cdmurphy

I had a 73 Miyata Pro a few years ago - you can see the Flickr album here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskAmgBJo

Mine was aquired as a frame set, so most of the parts are just closely period correct. Most came from a 75 Volkscycle Mk 100

I wound up selling it, as it was a bit small for me, and honestly, the fit and finish just wasn't as nice as the later 70s and 80s Miyatas.

It did ride very nicely, and was a pretty rare bike.

bargainguy

That '73 is gorgeous, cdmurphy. Thanks for sharing!

bargainguy

Couple hours removing the red tape and trying not to destroy the paint in the process. Residue removal is the next step. At least it's starting to take shape.

d_dutchison

Gorgeous! Those hubs could also be Hi-E hubs with third party skewers - no sane person rode Hi-E's with the stock skewers. If they have no axles in them, their definitely Hi-E and are just a little cooler that Wayless. They also weigh less, Hi-E's were the lightest hubs you could get at the time.

HiE, main

bargainguy

Thanks, d_dutchison!


The hubs in your link have Hi-E engraved prominently. The hubs I have don't have any text or engraving. Did they make Hi-E's that weren't marked as such, early examples maybe?