Miyata 615 from original owner
#1
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1988 Miyata 615 from original owner
Just picked up this 615 locally today from the original owner for only $150. He bought it in 1989 and according to him rode it maybe fifty miles total and then it has sat in his garage ever since. The original saddle was stolen outside of a restaurant on one of those first few rides, but the rest is all original down to the Miyata radial tires and owners manual and there’s nary a mark on the frame. Components have dulled (hard to say if his 50 mile estimate is correct but can’t be too far off) but will look good as new.
The 610s and 615s are really awesome for those who want a sportier touring bike, but why oh why did they leave out the mid fork bosses out on this model when the 615 the year prior and 610s for (I believe) two years prior to that all had them?! And then the 618gt the year after this didn't have them either but it got bar end shifters while the 1000 had downtube shifters.
Not a rare bike but a solid one and I’m a Miyata fan. And finding out you’re buying from the original owner is always fun, even if it’s not the oldest bike. This goes against recent plans for bikes I had but here I am.
The bike
Some extra goodies it came with (straps and clips are MKS).
Inspiration (minus the super long stem and seat post) from Flickr for a similar route I'll go if I keep it.
The 610s and 615s are really awesome for those who want a sportier touring bike, but why oh why did they leave out the mid fork bosses out on this model when the 615 the year prior and 610s for (I believe) two years prior to that all had them?! And then the 618gt the year after this didn't have them either but it got bar end shifters while the 1000 had downtube shifters.
Not a rare bike but a solid one and I’m a Miyata fan. And finding out you’re buying from the original owner is always fun, even if it’s not the oldest bike. This goes against recent plans for bikes I had but here I am.
The bike
Some extra goodies it came with (straps and clips are MKS).
Inspiration (minus the super long stem and seat post) from Flickr for a similar route I'll go if I keep it.
Last edited by polymorphself; 07-09-20 at 10:30 PM.
#2
Junior Member
Nice bike. I’ve got an 83 610 and I absolutely love it. The ride is just plain fun. I’ve squeezed about 700 x 36 tires( 38 paselas that measure out to about 36) and fenders into mine. If it fits I’m sure you’ll be happy.
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#3
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Dang, that’s even more than I assumed. Throw some pics in! If I keep it around it’ll mostly wear 32s with fenders.
Last edited by polymorphself; 07-09-20 at 10:28 PM.
#4
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 798
Bikes: Raleigh Classic 15, 84; Miyata 912, 85; Miyata Ridge Runner SE, 85; Miyata 610, 86; Miyata 100M, 86; Miyata Valley Runner, 88; Miyata Triple Cross, 89; GT Karakoram, 90; Miyata Elevation 300, 91; Marinoni Touring, 95; Long Haul Trucker, 2013
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I have Pasela 36s on my 86 610, but I couldn't quite fit fenders on it with them. 32s would be no problem.
#5
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#6
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 798
Bikes: Raleigh Classic 15, 84; Miyata 912, 85; Miyata Ridge Runner SE, 85; Miyata 610, 86; Miyata 100M, 86; Miyata Valley Runner, 88; Miyata Triple Cross, 89; GT Karakoram, 90; Miyata Elevation 300, 91; Marinoni Touring, 95; Long Haul Trucker, 2013
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#7
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#8
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Havent ridden this one yet and have never ridden a Bio Pace before but the reviews seem very mixed here. People seem to either love it or hate it.
Last edited by polymorphself; 07-10-20 at 11:36 AM.
#9
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Bikes: A green one, "Ragleigh," or something.
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Partially due to the different varieties of BioPace. Some are slightly not-round and not all that different from pedaling normal rings, other are a lot less round and can be pretty noticeable, which many (including me) find a bit off-putting. .
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
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#10
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What do you mean by not round?
#11
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 798
Bikes: Raleigh Classic 15, 84; Miyata 912, 85; Miyata Ridge Runner SE, 85; Miyata 610, 86; Miyata 100M, 86; Miyata Valley Runner, 88; Miyata Triple Cross, 89; GT Karakoram, 90; Miyata Elevation 300, 91; Marinoni Touring, 95; Long Haul Trucker, 2013
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I ride bikes with and without Biopace...honestly, I don't really notice unless I look at the chainrings.
#12
Senior Member
The Bio Pace rings on my 1989 Trek 950 were noticeably ovalized. I liked this because it gave more of a boost forward on the downstroke which helped me get up and over rocks and roots. With a little practice I could time my effort to make this most effective. The crank was a Shimano LX 46/36/26 Bio Pace.
I would think that the road bike Bio Pace was/is less 'ovalized' and less noticeable.
I would think that the road bike Bio Pace was/is less 'ovalized' and less noticeable.
#13
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Location: Ontario, Canada
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Some Bio-Pace chainrings were only slightly oval hence the term not-round. Other Bio-Pace chainrings were quite oval in appearance.
As usual, the Late Great and sorely missed Sheldon Brown had an interesting article about Bio-Pace chainrings.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/biopace.html
Fwiw, I love my Bio-Pace chainrings and find them most useful when going up hills.
Cheers
As usual, the Late Great and sorely missed Sheldon Brown had an interesting article about Bio-Pace chainrings.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/biopace.html
Fwiw, I love my Bio-Pace chainrings and find them most useful when going up hills.
Cheers
#14
Junior Member
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#15
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Wonderful! I love black wheels. Have you done any longer touring on it? Wondering about weight distribution and lack of low rider bosses on the forks. All the 61x bikes in between ours got them
#16
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https://www.ragandbone.ca/Miyata/miyata_selector.html
#17
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Thread Starter
No, I’ve never done any touring on it or otherwise. I only ride with the one pannier, so I can’t give you any insight into the weight distribution. Through researching the old catalogs online I found that the 610’s had a slightly sportier geometry then the 1000’s had. Head and seat tubes were at 73*. You should check out the old catalogs. Lots of cool info
https://www.ragandbone.ca/Miyata/miyata_selector.html
https://www.ragandbone.ca/Miyata/miyata_selector.html
#18
Junior Member
I have no idea. That’s way out of my wheelhouse. I can say I really get a kick out of mine. Even with one pannier loaded with work stuff. Biased off Miyata’s reputation with touring bikes of this age I’d guess you’ll be good whatever you strap to it. This bike led me to pick up an 82 710 that I’m currently sorting out.
#19
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Back when I first got into touring the most common set up was a regular rear rack and a regular front rack. later Jim Blackburn came out with his Low-rider rack design that was said to improve balance and steering. I had a combination of both the regular front rack and the low-rider Blackburn rack because I found the top of the regular front rack to be an excellent place to carry something lightweight.
My current dedicated road touring bike (a modified Miele Uno LS with extra braze-ons) has the same setup.
Cheers
My current dedicated road touring bike (a modified Miele Uno LS with extra braze-ons) has the same setup.
Cheers
#20
Senior Member
While that 57cm frame would be the perfect size for me, a couple of weeks ago I had picked up a slightly smaller same-year/color '88 54cm 615 from a fellow BF.net member for my shorter-of-stature 27-yr-old niece.
I'm in the process of going through it (no disrespect to the BF member) because i want it to be ride-ready for her to take back to the wilds of the PacNorWest. Brake cables/housings are being replaced with bright gold Teflon-lined housing and stainless cables, and I have slick-stainless shift cables in stock for the stock indexed SIS to work flawlessly. Bar tape wrapping will wait until she decides on brake lever placement, but she's insistent on black tape to hide dirt (the yellow bar tape on my '86 710 seems to attract grunge). Saddle? That's up to her since that is a more personal choice... The original rear rack was missing, so I'll be substituting a Blackburn from my personal stash/hoard.
I actually prefer my slightly older '84 Univega Gran Tourismo as a direct comparison to the '88 615. Front fork mid-mounts and friction-shifting (now upgraded with my preferred SunTour barcons), despite the 'handicap' of 27" tires and slightly inferior main triangle tubing...
I'm in the process of going through it (no disrespect to the BF member) because i want it to be ride-ready for her to take back to the wilds of the PacNorWest. Brake cables/housings are being replaced with bright gold Teflon-lined housing and stainless cables, and I have slick-stainless shift cables in stock for the stock indexed SIS to work flawlessly. Bar tape wrapping will wait until she decides on brake lever placement, but she's insistent on black tape to hide dirt (the yellow bar tape on my '86 710 seems to attract grunge). Saddle? That's up to her since that is a more personal choice... The original rear rack was missing, so I'll be substituting a Blackburn from my personal stash/hoard.
I actually prefer my slightly older '84 Univega Gran Tourismo as a direct comparison to the '88 615. Front fork mid-mounts and friction-shifting (now upgraded with my preferred SunTour barcons), despite the 'handicap' of 27" tires and slightly inferior main triangle tubing...
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#21
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I actually prefer my slightly older '84 Univega Gran Tourismo as a direct comparison to the '88 615. Front fork mid-mounts and friction-shifting (now upgraded with my preferred SunTour barcons), despite the 'handicap' of 27" tires and slightly inferior main triangle tubing...
#22
Senior Member
Yeah, the no fork mounts is what might keep me from holding onto it. If I want to keep a touring bike around I'd like it to be one with all of the mounting options, especially when it's from the late 80s and more or less expected at that point. Like you said, your Univega GT, the same place in the lineup, had them four years prior! But who knows, maybe it becomes the new daily rider and a light tourer.
The '88 615 seems like a solid bike - but in the 'no-shops-within 100 miles' that my niece lives, I want bulletproof or at least roadside fixable/MacGuyver-able. That early indexed shifting worries me if it goes FUBAR in the middle of nowhere. ...or am I borrowing trouble?
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#23
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#24
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Wow, what a great find! And I dig that foam handlebar padding, I bought some of that stuff New Old Stock A while back made by grab on, still get it on eBay once in awhile if you're going to replace yours
#25
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You might be the first person I've seen say they love that stuff! But hey somebody has to. I'll replace it with cloth wrap. Either dark brown or black, possibly a shade of gold.