1984 Univega Alpina Pro...it followed me home!
04-05-21, 03:33 PM
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1984 Univega Alpina Pro...it followed me home!
I found this bike in a semi-random FB marketplace search, far from my home but in Tennessee, near where we'd be passing through on a short spring vacation. It was difficult to arrange a meetup with the seller either time we were near him, and finally he just gave me his address and said to go to his house, look in his shed, and if I liked the bike, take it and leave the money. I felt it would have been bad form to have bargained! Of course I checked seatpost and stem.
The bike looks to have been rode very hard, but not put up wet, as there is extensive wear and scraping but not much rust. This may also be due to excellent paint, which I assume was done by Miyata, which apparently made these frames. Seller was the original owner and left all the original parts but saddle on, including the ultra-cool 'slingshot' stem and beartrap pedals. I'm thinking this gets touch-up on only the worst spots and then a nice coat of wax to preserve it, scars and all.
I am trying to fix up two vintage MTBs for wife and myself for trail riding, not single-track or anything strenuous, and I already had a nice Schwinn Cimarron and a mid-80s Stumpjumper Sport that I need to rebuild after powdercoating. So did I need another option? Of course not, but you know how it goes.
The bike looks to have been rode very hard, but not put up wet, as there is extensive wear and scraping but not much rust. This may also be due to excellent paint, which I assume was done by Miyata, which apparently made these frames. Seller was the original owner and left all the original parts but saddle on, including the ultra-cool 'slingshot' stem and beartrap pedals. I'm thinking this gets touch-up on only the worst spots and then a nice coat of wax to preserve it, scars and all.
I am trying to fix up two vintage MTBs for wife and myself for trail riding, not single-track or anything strenuous, and I already had a nice Schwinn Cimarron and a mid-80s Stumpjumper Sport that I need to rebuild after powdercoating. So did I need another option? Of course not, but you know how it goes.
Last edited by Chicago Al; 04-07-21 at 07:43 AM.
04-05-21, 05:51 PM
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I bought a white one in 1986 or so. Mine had a slightly different stem. Very nice bike, put in lots of trail miles but had to carry it around some sections. Easily kept up with the Stumpjumpers and Bianchi Grizzlies that my friends rode. I liked the bar-mounted friction shifters.
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04-05-21, 06:11 PM
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Very neat MTB. Ready to hit the hilly bike trails with has new cables and paint protecting donuts.
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04-05-21, 06:18 PM
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Nice find!
04-05-21, 10:03 PM
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Nice! I have(had) basically the same bike - and the same size. too small or me so I gave it to my brother, who gave it to our childhood friend's wife. As far as I know she still rides it-
hard to go wrong except that rear mech- mountech, has a tendency to explode. keep it clean and service it - not problem, but use it in mud and grime.. like MTB will. better to slap a cheap 90s deore on there and live happily every after.
hard to go wrong except that rear mech- mountech, has a tendency to explode. keep it clean and service it - not problem, but use it in mud and grime.. like MTB will. better to slap a cheap 90s deore on there and live happily every after.
05-04-21, 12:34 AM
#8
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I bought a white one in 1986 or so. Mine had a slightly different stem. Very nice bike, put in lots of trail miles but had to carry it around some sections. Easily kept up with the Stumpjumpers and Bianchi Grizzlies that my friends rode. I liked the bar-mounted friction shifters.
05-04-21, 09:02 AM
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Nice! Here's my 1983 (I think) Alpina Uno. Mine was stock when I bought it a couple of years ago, it even had the original foam grips. I added the Brooks C17 saddle, new grips, pump, VO Mojave bottle cage for my 40 oz. Klean Kanteen, Suntour VX GT rear derailleur, and some Rene Herse Rat Trap Pass tires.
Enjoy, these make great riders!
Enjoy, these make great riders!
Last edited by johnnyace; 05-04-21 at 10:53 AM. Reason: spelling
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05-04-21, 09:32 AM
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I had a circa '83 in dark blue with a Cyclone derailleur and double (road crank) that I loved, and never should have sold, but technology was moving rapidly. Been looking to replace it some day.
05-04-21, 10:10 AM
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Nice! Here's my 1983 (I think) Alpina Uno. Mine was stock when I bought it a couple of years ago, it even have the original foam grips. I added the Brooks C17 saddle, new grips, pump, VO Mojave bottle cage for my 40 oz. Klean Kanteen, Suntour VX GT rear derailleur, and some Rene Herse Rat Trap Pass tires.
Enjoy, these make great riders!
Enjoy, these make great riders!
05-04-21, 11:49 AM
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https://www.bikeforums.net/g/album/21310574
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05-04-21, 03:09 PM
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I like that stretch on the frame and the rake on the fork.
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No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
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06-09-21, 09:59 AM
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06-09-21, 12:44 PM
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^^^^ Nice how the wide/parallel spoke gap makes a frame for the dog in the background.
Oh, and phenomenal resto.
Oh, and phenomenal resto.
06-09-21, 03:17 PM
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06-01-23, 05:37 PM
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A belated shoutout to Prostyler and that great looking bike. I wish mine was that clean, but it's pretty rough. I'm finally getting around to stripping it down. It's going to need some rust removal and a repaint, probably powdercoat. But the bones are good and I have high hopes for it. Interestingly, it has a 165mm crank, something I have been wanting to try.
I think mine is a 1984, and yours probably a 1985. Unfortunately the 1984 Univega catalog online doesn't show the MTB line, so I'm looking at the 1983 and 1985 catalogs and comparing.
The SN on mine begins with M, pointing to a 1984 Miyata-build frame.
Yours has a lugged frame, pointing to 1985 and looks like it matches the 1985 catalog; CTB on the top tube stood for 'Chromoly Triple Butted,' so you're up one butt on me!
When I got mine apart and could see where the paint spray was thin, like on the steerer tube, I realized that the color is in fact a really really dark purple, almost black. This might have been 'Deep Burgundy' as listed in the 1985 catalog.
Now if I powder coat it, where am I going to find the right decals, including that 'Off Road Use Only' one!?
I think mine is a 1984, and yours probably a 1985. Unfortunately the 1984 Univega catalog online doesn't show the MTB line, so I'm looking at the 1983 and 1985 catalogs and comparing.
The SN on mine begins with M, pointing to a 1984 Miyata-build frame.
Yours has a lugged frame, pointing to 1985 and looks like it matches the 1985 catalog; CTB on the top tube stood for 'Chromoly Triple Butted,' so you're up one butt on me!
When I got mine apart and could see where the paint spray was thin, like on the steerer tube, I realized that the color is in fact a really really dark purple, almost black. This might have been 'Deep Burgundy' as listed in the 1985 catalog.
Now if I powder coat it, where am I going to find the right decals, including that 'Off Road Use Only' one!?
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Last edited by Chicago Al; 06-01-23 at 05:45 PM.
06-03-23, 07:40 AM
#25
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A belated shoutout to Prostyler and that great looking bike. I wish mine was that clean, but it's pretty rough. I'm finally getting around to stripping it down. It's going to need some rust removal and a repaint, probably powdercoat. But the bones are good and I have high hopes for it. Interestingly, it has a 165mm crank, something I have been wanting to try.
I think mine is a 1984, and yours probably a 1985. Unfortunately the 1984 Univega catalog online doesn't show the MTB line, so I'm looking at the 1983 and 1985 catalogs and comparing.
The SN on mine begins with M, pointing to a 1984 Miyata-build frame.
Yours has a lugged frame, pointing to 1985 and looks like it matches the 1985 catalog; CTB on the top tube stood for 'Chromoly Triple Butted,' so you're up one butt on me!
When I got mine apart and could see where the paint spray was thin, like on the steerer tube, I realized that the color is in fact a really really dark purple, almost black. This might have been 'Deep Burgundy' as listed in the 1985 catalog.
Now if I powder coat it, where am I going to find the right decals, including that 'Off Road Use Only' one!?
I think mine is a 1984, and yours probably a 1985. Unfortunately the 1984 Univega catalog online doesn't show the MTB line, so I'm looking at the 1983 and 1985 catalogs and comparing.
The SN on mine begins with M, pointing to a 1984 Miyata-build frame.
Yours has a lugged frame, pointing to 1985 and looks like it matches the 1985 catalog; CTB on the top tube stood for 'Chromoly Triple Butted,' so you're up one butt on me!
When I got mine apart and could see where the paint spray was thin, like on the steerer tube, I realized that the color is in fact a really really dark purple, almost black. This might have been 'Deep Burgundy' as listed in the 1985 catalog.
Now if I powder coat it, where am I going to find the right decals, including that 'Off Road Use Only' one!?
mine wasn't an 85 though, it was an 83.
but I listed it as an 84 cuz I couldn't prove it lol.
and you're correct, those maroon ones are 84's
saw one for sale once and almost drove 2.5 hrs to get it, but it sold in 2 hrs.
Those are rare
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