1981 Miyata 210 Restoration

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle After

Just the way these last builds have been going timing wise and parts arriving wise I have a few restorations going at once.  I have also been trying to combine work of a couple restoration at a time to see if I can be more efficient.  I am not sure if it will work yet but seems to be a few improvements here and there.

So at this time I have the Ben's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 going, but that is in a long wait period trying to soak the seat post loose, Shelly's Schwinn Voyageur 11.8 which is so close to being done if components would come in the mail, Jose's Raleigh 3 speed which we found some replacement parts we need but I now need to rebuild the 3 speed hub for a third time and now this Miyata 210.  One day this week or next all of a sudden all bikes will be done in the same day.

I started work on this 1981 Miyata 210 recently, it is the same year as the 1981 Miyata 610 I completed about a week ago, it is very interesting the differences in the 210 and 610.  The 1981 Miyata 610 can be seen by clicking here.

The two major differences I see right off the bat is the 210 has steel handlebars and steel rims while the 610 has alloy.  This 210 is in pretty good starting shape, the frame is dull and dirty and has a few chips and scuffs but overall I think will polish extremely nice!  The alloy is in good restoration starting shape, the chrome rims are a little rough with some small amount of pitting but should come back pretty nice.

The Miyata 210 will receive a total restoration with new cables, cable housings, tire, tire tubes and handlebar tape.  As readers know Miyatas are one of my favorite all time bicycles especially he 210, 610 and 1000 series touring models, the are such versatile bicycles.  I think this 210 will restore beautifully, I can't wait to ride it and add it to my restoration of Miyata's portfolio.

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Handlebars

1981 Miyata  210 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Stem

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Shift Levers

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Front Brake

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Front Wheel Hub

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Front Wheel Rim

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Cable Stop

1981 Miyata  210 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Cable Hanger

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Crank

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Front Derailleur

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Rear Brake

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Rear Derailleur

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Rear Wheel

Again, the frame is in good starting shape, dirty dull and a few scuffs and chips but not to bad of a starting condition.  I cleaned the frame and then got to polishing, I started with a course polish to remove the scuffs and then worked my way down to a fine polish.

The frame turned out fantastic!!  The blue color came back to like new with the slight pearl effect in it.  I have said a hundred times but I love blue like this for a bicycle.  I am super happy with the results off the frame.

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Before
Head tube

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Before - Head Tube

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Before - Down Tube

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Before -Down Tube

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Before - Seat Lug

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Before - Bottom Bracket

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Before -Chain Stay

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Before - Brake Bridge

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Before
Fork

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Before -Fork Crown

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Polished

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Polished
Head Tube

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Polished - Down Tube

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Polished
Seat Lug

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Polished
Miyata Decal

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Polished - Bottom Bracket

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Polished - Brake Bridge

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Polished - Chain Stay

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Polished
Drop Outs

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork Crown

The headset and bottom bracket went into the crock pot on low.  The headset has some tarnish and slight rust the bottom bracket was very sticky.  The headset polished pretty nice with only slight pitting the bottom bracket polished beautifully, it will look great next to the blue paint.

I packed the bearings in new grease and installed the components, both function super smooth and look good.

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Polished

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Pressing Bearing
Cups

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration
Cups Pressed

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bearings Packed

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Headset
Compelete

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bearings Packed

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration
Bottom Bracket - Complete

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Headset & Bearings - Compelte

The stem and handlebars are next.  the stem polished pretty nice, the stem actually slightly disappointed me, there was still some forging marks on the under side that I do not have the equipment to polish away.  The rest of the stem polished very nice though.  The handlebars are steel chrome, the chrome was in really good shape and polished very nice and I really like the logos stamped in it, very cool for a graphic artists nerd.

You can also see in the wide photo below of the handlebars installed how it is definitely a touring set up with a higher riding position, I like it!!

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Stem & Handlebars - Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Stem - Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Stem & Handlebars - Polished

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Stem
Installed

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Stem & Handlebars - Installed

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Stem & Handlebars - Installed

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Stem & Handlebars - Installed

The brake levers came next, I do not think these are original to the 210, It think they had Die-Comp 00's with the drilled holes and lever hoods but I see why these where installed, the would add that extra braking position for touring and being on the bike for long periods of time.  I forgot to take a photo of the levers installed, I will take one soon.

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Brake Levers - Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Brake Levers Polished

The shift levers are nice Sun Tour Power Shift levers.  these are an early large version same as the levers on the 1981 610.  I like the big version, they work easy, smooth and are ergonomic.  The shift levers cleaned up nice and polished very nice as did all the cable brackets.  Nice looking shift levers and cable brackets really make a restoration and look fantastic against the blue.

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Shift Levers & Cable Brackets
Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Shift Levers - Polished

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Cable Brackets - Polished

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Shift Levers - Installed

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Down Tube Cable Bracket
Installed

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bottom Bracket Cable Bracket
Installed

The crank is a Custom crank, this is a hard crank to restore as its one main big piece with the chain rings screwed to the main piece.  This make it really hard to polish and a little dangerous as shapes like the main piece tend to get caught on the polishing wheel.  I polished the crank arm as best I could and then did the rest by hand.  The crank turned out fairly well and looks good installed.

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Crank - Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Crank - Exploded

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Crank - Polished

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Crank - Complete

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Crank
Installed

The brake calipers are nice and the same as the calipers on the 610.  I like the red decal Die-Comp brakes.  They polish nice and center pull brakes work well.  I cleaned and polished the pieces and installed the calipers.  the calipers look great and will work great.  I forgot to take a before photo.

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Brakes - Exploded

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Calipers - Polished

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Calipers - Complete

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Front Caliper
Installed

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Rear Caliper
Installed

The derailleurs are nice Sun Tour derailleurs that where often used for touring at the time.  The calipers where very dirty and gritty, the front derailleur had a few spots of rust.  I cleaned and flushed the derailleurs and polished the pieces.  The derailleurs look good and function just as well.  I installed the derailleurs and they look great against the blue.

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Derailleurs - Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Derailleurs - Exploded

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Derailleurs - Polished

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Front Derailleur - Installed

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Rear
Derailleur - Installed

The seat post and seat binder/cable hanger where a little rough but after a good cleaning and polishing everything turned out very nice.  I am happy with the results.  The original saddle is in very good shape and is going to be used again.  It looks great installed.

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Cable Hanger - Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Seat Post & Saddle
Installed

The pedals where rough like all pedals, pedals take a beating.  I cleaned and polished the pedals the best I could and they came back pretty nice.

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Pedals - Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Pedals - Complete

At this point the main body of the Miyata 210 is complete and waiting work on the wheels.

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Main Body - Complete

The wheels are in pretty rough starting shape, that is the steel rims are.  There are is a good deal of rust and pitting and some spokes needed replacing.

I polished the rims and they turned out pretty nice with some pitting.  I replaced 5 spokes and spoke nipples and packed the bearings in new grease.  I am surprised and happy with the results of the wheels, they spin great and look great considering there start.  

I installed the new tire tubes and the new Kenda K35 tires.  

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Front Wheel
Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Front Wheel Hub
Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Front Wheel Rim - Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Front Wheel - Old Grease

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Front Wheel Hub
Polished

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Front Wheel Rim - Polished

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Front Wheel Bearings - Packed

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - New Kenda Tires

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Rear Wheel
Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub - Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub - Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim - Before

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Rear Wheel - Old Grease

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub - Polished

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim - Polished

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Rear Wheel Bearings
Packed

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Wheels - Complete

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Front Wheel - Complete

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Rear Wheel - Complete

That leaves the wiring of the Miyata 210 and the installation of the handlebar tape.  I choose a metallic charcoal gray cable housing, I think it looks the best with the blue of the frame.

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Complete

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle
Wired

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle
Wired

I test rode the Miayat 210, it road fantastic.  The 210 is a little heavier then the 610 but that is not a worry.  The only time weight is really noticed is carrying a bicycle through a house or up some stairs or if you are racing someone on a super light bike, otherwise many studies has shown that momentum of weight balances out acceleration of lightness.  I would say weight does make a difference if you are on an 80 pound Schwinn balloon tire bike.

The ride is fantastic on the 210, Miyata makes fantastic bicycles and it shows in the ride.  Very smooth and responsive and a great touring ride.  I am very happy with it.  The looks of the 210 are fantastic also, it has a very nice classic look to it.

Final photos below.

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Complete

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Complete

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Handlebars

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Front Brake

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Front Wheel

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Shift Levers

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Half

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Drive Train

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Rear

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Rear Brake

1981 Miyata 210 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Rear Wheel

hanks for the interest,

John Z.