mhoule1

Hi. I'm the original owner of a 1981 Miyata 912 road bike. 12 speed, double-butted cr-mo frame and Shimano 600 components. Frame size 25" and color black. Very good condition (some minor wear on paint and small paint chips on one seat stay and one chain stay) - it's been pretty much sitting in garage unused since 1984. All original except for seat, pedals and brake handles (which are Shimano 105). Also have original Miyata water bottle. I have absolutely no idea what it's worth but I'm just looking for a reasonable price to put it on Craigslist. I would appreciate if anyone with expertise can share their thoughts.
Thanks,
Mark

fraba

Hi,
I am not your guy for this but if you want a good appraisal, you need to show pictures of the bike.
Cheers!

Edits: I see you are new (welcome to BF!). You should participate to several threads, say hello, and after 10 posts (and a couple of days) you will be able to post pictures.

tmh657

Yep. Need detailed photos and your location. 25" frame on CL, very big size is a hard sell. In case you haven't heard the market is really soft. If it's been sitting since 1984 it will need a complete overhaul, most likely all new consumables. You do the work and make it great again or let the buyer do it and sell for less $$. Get your post count up and post the photos. And welcome to the forum.

cb400bill

Pic Assist

mhoule1

Sorry, looks like I may have to make 10 posts. I'm sure they'll be interesting. But it appears one picture did post. is that thanks to CB400bill the moderator? If so thank you. In response to tmh657 the bike has been periodically maintained over the years (new handlebar tape, etc., as needed), just not ridden. It could use a light cleaning and air in the tires, but that's about it.

ramzilla

I like the fact the bike has all original parts including the little wheel reflectors. Very nice. If that bike was a 54cm or 56cm frame it would sell very fast. The only problem will be waiting for somebody that's 6'-2" or bigger that wants it. That's a pretty bike. You should be able to get at least $350 for it. Maybe more.

rjhammett

I had a Miyata 912 that I believe was an '82 in near perfect shape. It was a 57cm frame. I sold it last fall for $275.

branko_76 

That was a very reasonable price for the sweet looking 912 rjhammett . I had a black 1983 912 that was was stolen....hey, wait a minute....

madpogue 

To the OP - photograph the bike from the drive side, both for folks to see here, and especially for your ad.

Aero brake levers are a replacement, quite possibly a mod done early in the bike's life. Likewise the early "Look-compatible" pedals; they appear to be the ones Shimano sold on license. Those would both have been common mid-late-'80s in-service mods.

Surprising that Miyata, who made their own frame tubing, would spec a hi-ten fork on such an otherwise well-appointed bike.

branko_76 

He would have to open the garage door...

mhoule1

Thanks ramzilla, that's very helpful.

tmh657

OP, still need to know your location as it makes a BIG difference. See rjhammett's bike that sold for $275. Hate to be a naysayer but the OP's bike would do well at $200- $225 unless he is VERY patient and lives in a hot market. IMO. YMMV.

mhoule1

Sorry about that. I am in Orange County California. Don’t know if SoCal is a hot market or not.

rjhammett

I purchased it earlier in the summer for $75 and had maybe a couple bucks into it so I did ok. I just want to see these bikes back on the road and offer those bikes that don't fit at a reasonable price or I donate them.

tmh657

I live in OC and the market was hot enough when I was flipping starting about 2008 for 6 or 7 years. Not SF or Portland hot but people spent $$ on vintage steel bikes. Buy the bike for $100, put a few $ in consumables on it, tune up, sell for $250. I sold a few hundred bikes to fund the habit. I don't know know what the virus has done to the vintage bike market but it was soft before it hit. From what I hear people are buying new bikes to get out and exercise but mostly the $4-$500 hybrid junk.

I see your ad with the one photo. You MUST take drive side photos and details of the bike. Regular civilians may not care but people like us have to see the details. I want to know if the crank is covered in grease or if it looks pristine. There are probably a hundred threads here on how to do that. You may have to adjust your expectations on what $$ amount it will sell for. The number of humans tall enough to ride it and want that particular bike are just not that many. Best of luck.

madpogue 

^^^^^ +1 on the ad photos, and this doesn't just apply to enthusiasts. Even "civilian" or casual buyers will spend more time on, and are more likely to respond to, and ad with good quality photos, starting with a full-on LEVEL (not looking down from eye level) shot of the drive side. Follow with detail shots of the components, esp to highlight the condition and cleanliness. Get in tight on the components and get good bokeh when you can. The average buyer may not even know why he's more drawn to your ad than one with a single photo, but he is.

Link to the catalog page is a good idea.

StarBiker

I can't get the deals on bikes I used to for realistic flips, but I did just flip a Trek Lugged Carbon 2500 for $320. If I can get that the Miyata should be worth close to it.
Took months to flip the Trek.
And I always use lots of quality pics. The OP has to take a dozen clear pics!