possiblecrit

On local CL for 125... https://wichita.craigslist.org/bik/1559313795.html
way too small for me (i'm 6'6") but it's still tempting maybe for the gf. 125 seems high for this market, took my roommate almost a month to sell a decent centurion lemans 12 for 75. Anybody know anything about these?

illwafer

offer $75, agree on $100, and your gf will have a very nice bike that will last longer than your relationship.

akcapbikeforums

Sought after example of a sought after category of bikes: full touring. This example, made by Miyata... perhaps the most sought after of the touring bike manufacturers. Hit it, and yes, see if you can negotiate down on the price.

T-Mar

The Gran Turismo was Univega's entry level touring bicycle. This model appears to be very late 1970s, in which case it would be slightly lower level than the Le Mans 12. It's not a grand touring bicycle as we've come to accept from models like the Miyata 1000, Specialized Expedition or Centurion Pro Tour. It more of an level sports/touring model upgraded with a few grand touring components.

Given the era, the frame is most likely hi-tensile steel and at best, 3 tubes plain gauge CrMo. The crankset is most likely only a double. Brakes are plainly center-pull, as opposed to cantilever. The rims should be aluminum with quick release hubs. On the plus side it does have aluminum randonneur bars, bar end shifters and should have a wide range 32T freewheel, though being a 5 speed, it will have some pretty large jumps (~ 14/17/21/26/32T). Derailleurs are almost certainly SunTour VGT/SL.

As previously stated it is most likely manufactured by Miyata, so it should be well made. Wheel base (and top tube) will be short for a grand tourer, more sport/touring oriented. Expect a weight of about 27-28 lbs. If a LeMans 12 is only worth $75 in your region, I would not go higher than that for this bicycle, if it matches my description.

Bioflamingo

I emailed an offer of $40 for it and received no reply. I thought it'd make a good beater commuter, but it's not worth more than that to me. I'd offer $60-$75 max if you think your gf will like it. I've got a wrecked Gran Turismo. It's a decent quality bike, but it's still entry level and is going to be heavy. Steel crank, funky saddle, and steel spoke guard on the rear are all signs of entry level. But the entry level of the 70s was much, much better than the entry level of today.

The bar end shifters are kind of cool though. Those are an added bonus imo. And the tires appear to be good and holding air. I don't think you could go wrong with this bike assuming you get them to lower the price.

EDIT: I'd like to clarify that I sent the $40 offer a couple days ago. I wasn't trying to buy the bike out from under you or anything, just so you know.

cycleheimer

This link is to photos on both an '81 and an '85 Univega Gran Turismo.

1981

https://www.ibikedb.net/bikes/7096-univega-gran-turismo

1985

https://www.ibikedb.net/bikes/20957-univega-gran-turismo

Hope this helps a little.

possiblecrit

i'm thinking t-mar is right and it's a late 70s judging from the crappy double levers, lack of cantis and steel pie plate/cranks. def not worth much to me as a 30 lb hi ten frame. I will try to get a closer look. maybe after it sits for a few weeks he'll come down to a more reasonable price.

akcapbikeforums

People seem to be very fond of their Gran Turismo's. Clearly at some point, the GT's were double-butted cromoly, sometimes compared to the Specialized Expedition. As T-mar highlights, this point would be critical to the bike's value. See what you can do to get the serial number so you can verify when the bike was made -- here are a few related threads:

• My univega gran turismo
• Types of Univega gran turismo frames
• Vintage happiness at last! My Ca. 1983 Univega Gran Turismo

wrk101

If someone offered me $40 by email for a Gran Turismo, I would delete their email. The bike is a deal at $125 if it is ready to ride. And if it is a small frame bike, they are worth more. In season good steel touring bikes sell for $300 or more. This one could be worth somewhat less than that, but $125 would be a deal.

I ignore email offers. Why? Because most of the emailers are just bottom fishing, and most never show anyway. I do one of two things with an email offer: If it is relatively close to the asking price, I email back: come see the bike, see if you like it, see if it fits, then make me an offer in person. In person, if someone wants to make a low ball offer, I politely decline. Committing to an email offer only commits the seller, the buyer has absolutely no commitment to complete the deal.

Looks like a 19 inch frame, not sure. 19 inch frames sell for a healthy premium around here.

Does look like a late 1970s model, not quite as nice as the 1980s version, but still worth well over $125. Bike would sell for that much or more on ebay in a nanosecond.

EjustE

+1

just the barcons on this bike worth more than $40.

Bogester 

I've got a 79 that came to me with nearly all original components. SR triple crank, diacompe centerpulls and levers, SR bars and stem, Suntour VGT derailleurs and shifters (downtube...I think those barcons were add-ons), Suntour high flange hubs and Araya Rims. Tubing was 4140 with chromed forks and forged dropouts. Very nice bike but like others mentioned I really don't think of it as a touring bike. Cantilevers came in a year or two and it morphed into a truer tourer. Here's a nice review from early 80's Bicycling mag. that I've posted before. Not my website but a GREAT resource for CV bike fans.

https://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=15604

Oh..here's mine..posted many times but I still like it! Bars, stem, pedals, saddle, and wheels have been replaced.

akcapbikeforums

From the Bicycling, March 1980 review:

Bioflamingo

I wish my market were as nice as yours. If I had that bike in read to ride shape I'd be asking $80 obo, and I'd go down to $40 if it didn't sell within a couple weeks.

wrk101

You really need to consider ebay in that case. Getting a bike ready to ride will cost more than $40, so even if you get the bike for free, it is a loser in that example.

Bogester 

True, but I'm not sure how exactly. There are no brazeons and geometry is typical of hundreds of other 70's bikes. I guess the triple and the wide range freewheel are the "touring design". That being said, people were touring on px-10s and varsities in the 70's. Check out these "touring" beauties.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/adventu...ng/4109943981/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adventu...ng/4109943813/