Which one should I keep?
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Which one should I keep?
I have a 1989 Miyata 618GT with original Suntour XCM components 3x6 speed with 11/25 cassette and bar end shifters in excellent condition and my size of 51cm. I also have a Trek 520 ( fairly new I do not know exactly what year ) at officially 53.5 cm but the seat tube is 51cm. The Trek 520 is 9 speed bar end shifters as well but has the nicer components, Deore LX derailleurs, Shimano Ultegra triple crank and Dura Ace shifters, and 11/32 cassette. The Trek is slightly heavier than the Miyata and slightly larger but fits me both well. I feel that the Miyata is faster and the size is textbook for me but theTrek is not bad and has better componenents and fits me well as well although not according to textbook. My vintage heart loves the Miyata but the Trek is the right one as far as technology and better components which will lasts longer and easily replaceable. One possibility is to swap the components and keep the Miyata. I guess I can keep both but for arguments sake, which one should I keep if I have to only have one. Thanks so much.
Last edited by gsulit@shaw.ca; 07-19-20 at 09:37 PM.
#2
Full Member
Easy answer!
Keep both of those.
Sell the *third* bike in Canada that wasn't even worth mentioning.
Sell the *third* bike in Canada that wasn't even worth mentioning.
#3
Senior Member
switch components? you'll wind up cutting
and pasting two vintage bikes into two frankenbikes.
3*6 and 3*9 will have different rear spacing.
quill vs threadless, different bar diameters.
keep the one that fits/rides the bestest.
sounds like the trek since it has the newer tech
that you can replace as needed.
and pasting two vintage bikes into two frankenbikes.
3*6 and 3*9 will have different rear spacing.
quill vs threadless, different bar diameters.
keep the one that fits/rides the bestest.
sounds like the trek since it has the newer tech
that you can replace as needed.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Indiana
Posts: 592
Bikes: 1984 Fuji Club, Suntour ARX; 2013 Lynskey Peloton, mostly 105 with Ultegra rear derailleur, Enve 2.0 fork; 2020 Masi Giramondo 700c, full Deore with TRP dual piston mech disk brakes
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 324 Post(s)
Liked 81 Times
in
71 Posts
NO NO NO, do not switch components around, keep them stock.
Man, I would hate to have that decision.
You say the Miyata fits you better? Then that's the one to keep, your comfort is more important then newer technology. Besides that older Suntour stuff was bulletproof, more so than than the newer crap they make today. I would keep the Miyata, if the Accushift thing turns out to be a hassle simply go on EBay and buy a long cage Suntour Cyclone Mark II GT, or Mountech II GTL derailleur and swap the two out but keep the Accushift. With the Mountech you do have to keep the derailleur clean and not let dirt get into the pulleys, but it will reward you with the fastest shifting derailleur in the world in it's era for mountain bikes or touring bikes.
Man, I would hate to have that decision.
You say the Miyata fits you better? Then that's the one to keep, your comfort is more important then newer technology. Besides that older Suntour stuff was bulletproof, more so than than the newer crap they make today. I would keep the Miyata, if the Accushift thing turns out to be a hassle simply go on EBay and buy a long cage Suntour Cyclone Mark II GT, or Mountech II GTL derailleur and swap the two out but keep the Accushift. With the Mountech you do have to keep the derailleur clean and not let dirt get into the pulleys, but it will reward you with the fastest shifting derailleur in the world in it's era for mountain bikes or touring bikes.
Likes For greatscott:
#5
Senior Member
I would look at the type of touring you intend. If you're doing weekend trips, the Miyata would be fine. Longer stints where you might use a front rack, the Trek would be a better choice.
But in the end: Fit and comfort. Which bike is the one you can ride all day?
But in the end: Fit and comfort. Which bike is the one you can ride all day?
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,886
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 611 Post(s)
Liked 291 Times
in
200 Posts
I agree, and yea, the Trek seems a bit large for you in that you've had to move your saddle too far forward to deal with the longer effective top tube. If you do keep the Trek, I would suggest you move your saddle back to a more appropriate position and get a shorter stem, though you might be limited as your present stem is not very long.
Last edited by robow; 07-23-20 at 12:55 AM.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Posts: 2,851
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Elite Disc, 1983 Trek 520
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 681 Post(s)
Liked 765 Times
in
437 Posts
I once made a decision to get a bike that was too small because of the better components and in retrospect that wasn't a good decision.
I remember thinking I could swap the components off it, but there were all sorts of reasons that didn't happen, as mentioned above--minor compatibility issues.
I remember thinking I could swap the components off it, but there were all sorts of reasons that didn't happen, as mentioned above--minor compatibility issues.
#8
Newbie
Thread Starter
NO NO NO, do not switch components around, keep them stock.
Man, I would hate to have that decision.
You say the Miyata fits you better? Then that's the one to keep, your comfort is more important then newer technology. Besides that older Suntour stuff was bulletproof, more so than than the newer crap they make today. I would keep the Miyata, if the Accushift thing turns out to be a hassle simply go on EBay and buy a long cage Suntour Cyclone Mark II GT, or Mountech II GTL derailleur and swap the two out but keep the Accushift. With the Mountech you do have to keep the derailleur clean and not let dirt get into the pulleys, but it will reward you with the fastest shifting derailleur in the world in it's era for mountain bikes or touring bikes.
Man, I would hate to have that decision.
You say the Miyata fits you better? Then that's the one to keep, your comfort is more important then newer technology. Besides that older Suntour stuff was bulletproof, more so than than the newer crap they make today. I would keep the Miyata, if the Accushift thing turns out to be a hassle simply go on EBay and buy a long cage Suntour Cyclone Mark II GT, or Mountech II GTL derailleur and swap the two out but keep the Accushift. With the Mountech you do have to keep the derailleur clean and not let dirt get into the pulleys, but it will reward you with the fastest shifting derailleur in the world in it's era for mountain bikes or touring bikes.
I agree, and yea, the Trek seems a bit large for you in that you've had to move your saddle too far forward to deal with the longer effective top tube. If you do keep the Trek, I would suggest you move your saddle back to a more appropriate position and get a shorter stem, though you might be limited as your present stem is not very long.
I once made a decision to get a bike that was too small because of the better components and in retrospect that wasn't a good decision.
I remember thinking I could swap the components off it, but there were all sorts of reasons that didn't happen, as mentioned above--minor compatibility issues.
I remember thinking I could swap the components off it, but there were all sorts of reasons that didn't happen, as mentioned above--minor compatibility issues.
#9
aka Timi
The Miyata frame which fits well, with the Trek shifters, derailleurs, brakes and levers, and drive train would be a great bike too.
What else than spreading the rear end to 130 mm would have to be done?
What else than spreading the rear end to 130 mm would have to be done?
Last edited by imi; 08-05-20 at 03:40 AM.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Humboldt County, CA
Posts: 836
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 409 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 432 Times
in
288 Posts
Me, I'd put whatever parts I liked best on the frame I liked best, and then sell the other bike. But, then, in over thirty years of riding, every bike I've ever owned has been a frankenbike, including the only two I ever bought new. The OEM parts spec is always a compromise. Well, actually, the bikes I build are compromises too, but they're my compromises, not ones made by somebody else with different constraints, priorities, and preferences.
--Shannon