mercator

I just sold a Miyata 110sp, and my 1000lt frame is in the rafters with a cracked chainstay so I'm no longer riding Miyatas but they are my favourites and I'm always on the lookout for another one.
I've had a couple of nice Nishikis in the past so they would get my second choice vote.
My only Bridgestone experience was a crappy mountain bike.

Pemetic2006

I went with Panasonic because it’s the only one on the list I’ve owned, besides a Taiwan-made Miyata a few years back.

martl

Tied for first place: Nakamura and Kalavinka. 3rd place tied Zunow ans 3Rensho.

Rocket-Sauce 

Trek 400, 420, 460

Cougrrcj

I must bow to the Wisdom of T-Mar! He hit the nail on the head! The ONLY road-ridden bikes I have are of Japanese origin. My 9/74-build ('75 model year) Fuji S-10S, two '84 (Miyata frame) Univegas, and the actual '86 Miyata 710.

Weight range? 23.5-26.1 pounds for a steel-frame 23"/57cm lugged steel frame mid-grade bike is quite acceptable. I'm not one of those that can 'feel' the subtle nuances of the differences between a mid-grade and top-shelf 'better' bike (frame and/or wheels). BUT I can detect what I would call 'mush'. If I get a 'mush' bike, the first thing I do is properly tension the wheelset (by ear) or swap a known good set of wheels onto the slug. You'd be amazed at some of the slug 'jewels-in-the-rough' responses are to a good wheelset! Case in point - my old 50k-mile Fuji S-10S. A mass-produced hi-ten frameset that was a lower 'mid-grade' offering. Longish wheelbase, long trail fork that positively sings for extended (75-mile) rides when coupled with a good set of properly tensioned wheels and light tires! That old Fuji's original wheels were -meh - okay, but when I put on a set of high-quality hand-built wheels - WOW!

T-Mar

Gee, shouldn't Centurion be assigned the magenta coloured bar in the graph? RT's going to be PO'd.

SurferRosa

Univega got one vote, so I have to assume that's the ghost of Ben Lawee.

3speedslow

3rd on T-mars list is good enough for me!

Sekine!

The Golden Boy 

Miyata really made it happen with making their own tubing.

polymorphself 

I debated replacing Shogun with Sekine, sorry it didn't make it!

T-Mar

That sounds like a Canadian market model. You wouldn't find it any of the online catalogues.

clubman 

I always hope that you'll recall it.. I've never seen another one like it.

markwesti

Centurion , with explication . I like the early ones like the 84'Turbo , 84' Comp TA , 85' Ironman , 86' Ironman . Also the Cinelli Equip and the early Prestige .

IMG_0192 by mark westi, on Flickr

IMG_0025 by mark westi, on Flickr

jethin

Thanks again SD, you’re a stand up dude.

Nemosengineer 

3Rensho, in the queue (pay no attention to my dog in the red dress, she is such an attention hound).



https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...080&fit=bounds

: Mike

scarlson 

Now two! I've had good luck with them, although I've only really dealt with the high end.

I like their Gran Turismo in particular. Later ones had 6mm threads in all the braze-ons, which I think all manufacturers should do, after trying them out.

3alarmer 

...here's one from 1985. Pretty good bike, I like it







Also a favorite (if lower on the food chain) is this Japanese made Randonneur,



I have absolutely no idea who contract built them for Bianchi, but they are fine riding bicycles.

polymorphself 

I like that!

BikeWonder

What do you think led to the chainstay cracking? I'd like to prevent that type of damage on mine if I'm able to. My frame is longer overdue for an overhaul and internal spray of anti-rust compound.

T-Mar

FYI, that Professional is not a 1985, unless the decals have been replaced with incorrect versions. The presence of the Piaggio decal indicates it's no newer than a 1984 model and the decal scheme suggests closer to 1982. The serial number will reveal the exact frame manufacturing date.

I have been unable to identify the Japanese manufacturer but they put out a quality product, also building some Miele, Specialized, Shogun and Takara. I actually prefer their 1980s mid-range range Bianchi models over the ones coming out of the Italian factory, as the workmanship was more consistent.

Miele Man

When were Miele bicycles made in Japan? I thought they were made in Mississauga Ontario, Canada. What models were made in Japan?

Cheers

Wileyone 

Not sure about Japan but some were made in Italy.

microcord

I'm always on the lookout for a Reminton, but I've only ever seen a single frame (in a shop window in Maebashi). Here's another.

mercator

I suspect the most likely cause is internal rust, although the crack is right where the tube is crimped so that may also be a factor.
A more remote possibility is the awesome power I put out but the evidence for that is pretty thin.

T-Mar

You can find Miele bicycles from Canada, Italy, Japanese and Taiwan. Miele didn't open the Missisauga factory until the late 1980s, Even after that, some of the lower models would come out of Japan because it was more cost effective. Jim Miele actually spec'd the Canadian market Bianchi models, so it's no surprise that Bianchi and Miele models had a source in common.

Edit: It's impossible to provide a definitive list of Japanese models, as sources could vary from year to year depending on the relative value of the $CDN versus the Japanese Yen. It was always about making a profit and Miele always seemed to be hanging on by a tenuous thread. However, I can state that I've seen models as high as the Elite S coming out of Japan.