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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle After Restoration |
This is going to be an interesting build because none of the components are necessarily original to the Miyata, the frame is the starting point. The customer has a collection of very cool Shimano 600 components from the era that will make an awesome build for the the Miyata. To go with the Shimano 600 components are Dura Ace hubs, top of the line in my book but then my book has Dura Ace above Campagnolo and that's me and what makes vintage bicycles so cool, you can like anything in you want in an order.
The frame is in good starting shape, a few scuffs and chips here with a few very minor spots around a lug line, the frame should really polish nice. The crank is going to come off an old Cannondale Aluminum bicycle from the late 1980's that the rear derailleur hanger is broken off.
Te frame and components will receive a restoration along with new cables, cable housings, saddle, seat post and handlebar tape. The tires will be kept as the Miyata will be a display bike and light rider and the tires are in good shape and just look cool. It would take along time to get the tires to look like that again.
I can't wait to see the Miyata 912 finished and hopefully be able to get a good test ride in. Like I said the Miyata is right in my wheel house for favorites.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Handlebars |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before Stem & Handlebars |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before Head Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Front Brake |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before Dura Ace Front Wheel hub |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Wolber Front Wheel Rim |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before Stem |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before Front Brake |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Top Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Down Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before Seat Lug |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before Seat Tube Decal |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before Seat Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before Bottom Bracket |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before Bottom Bracket |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before Bottom Bracket |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before Seat Lug |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Shimano 600 Rear Brake |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before Chain Stay Decal |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before Shimano 600 Rear Derailleur |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before - Dura Ace Rear Wheel Hub |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Before Rear Wheel Rim |
Below is the Cannondale frame that the crank and bottom bracket will be taken from. Its to bad the cable hanger is broken because the frame otherwise is in great shape.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Cannondale Donor |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Cannondale Donor - Broken Cable Hanger |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Cannondale Donor - Shimano 600 Crank |
With the frame stripped of the few components that where on it I can see that it will take some elbow grease to get looking good but should really pop after the Miyata is polished. I also somehow lost the before profile photo of the Miyata 912.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Before Head Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Before Head Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Before - Top Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Before - Down Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Before - Down Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Before Down Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Before Seat Lug |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Before Seat Post |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Before - Bottom Bracket |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Before - Bottom Bracket |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Before - Bottom Bracket |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Before Seat Lug |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Before Rear Brake Bridge |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Before - Chain Stay Decal |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Before Drop Outs |
The frame really cleaned nicely and after working through the grits is quit stunning! The polished white and black does not show up well in photos but really just pops! I love the white, silver black fade!
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Polished Head Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Polished Head Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Polished - Down Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Polished - Down Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Polished Seat Lug |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Polished Bottom Bracket |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Polished - Bottom Bracket |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Polished - Bottom Bracket |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Polished Seat Lug |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Polished Rear Brake Bridge |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Polished - Chain Stay |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Frame Polished Drop Outs |
The all black fork goes very well with the frame colors. The fork was quite dirty and dull but cleaned and polished beautifully! I am very happy with the fork.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Fork Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Fork Before - Fork Crown |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Fork Before - Fork Crown |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Fork Before Fork Blade |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Fork Before - Fork Drop Outs |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Fork Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Fork Polished - Head Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Fork Polished Fork Blades |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Fork Polished - Drop Outs |
The headset is a very nice Shimano 600 headset with cartridge bearings. The headset has alloy cups with a brushed finish and the Shimano 600 decals. I wanted to keep the brushed finish and decals so that meant hand polishing. The headset polished nice and looks great installed and is very light.
The bottom bracket is pretty nice bottom bracket, this had the same brushed finish and I wanted to keep it to match the headset so I hand polished the bottom bracket. I did polish the bottom bracket lock ring on the power polisher. With the bearings packed in new grease the bottom bracket spins extremely smooth and looks great.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Headset - Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bottom Bracket - Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Headset Cups Pressed |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Headset Cups - Pressed |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Headset - Compelte |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bottom Bracket Bearings Packed |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bottom Bracket Complete |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket Complete |
I don't know why but I installed the brake calipers next, I normally install the stem and handlebars first. The calipers are extremely nice Shimano 600 calipers. It took a combination of power polishing and hand polishing. I wanted to keep the brushed finish of the caliper arms and then power polished all the small pieces. The calipers turned out fantastic, I love the looks of these calipers.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Brakes - Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Brakes - Exploded |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Brakes - Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Brakes - Compelte |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Front Brake - Installed |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Brake - Installed |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Rear Brake - Installed |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Rear Brake - Installed |
The handlebars are very nice later model Road Champion bars. The customer had the stem around and will be perfect for the Miyata 912. I polished both the handlebars and stem by hand. The handlebars where and great shape and have a lacquer finish that I wanted to keep. The stem also has a beautiful finish that took a lot of hand polishing but turned out amazing. I could not be happier with the handlebars and stem.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Handlebars & Stem - Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Stem - Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Stem - Exploded |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Handlebars & Stem - Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Stem - Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Handlebars - Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Stem - Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Handlebars & Stem Installed |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Handlebars & Stem - Installed |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Handlebars & Stem Installed |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Handlebars & Stem - Complete |
The brake levers are nice Shimano 600 Tri-Color levers. Being the gray color I can not power polish them. I did a deep cleaning, hand polished the levers and treated the hoods. I think the Tri-Color brake levers are going to be a very nice touch to the Miyata 912.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Tri-Color Brake Levers - Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Tri-Color Brake Levers - After |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Tri-Color Brake Levers - Installed |
The Shimano 600 crank came off the Cannondale donor frame. I was debating back and fourth on how to handle the crank. The crank has a brushed finish covered with a lacquer. There are a few minor scratches but not bad at all and I think it would look better keeping the brushed finish instead of polishing it all off. After a whole lot of hand polishing I think I made the correct choice keeping the original finish.
I have been working on finding a second media blasting cabinet at a descent price to set up with glass beads or walnut shells to be able to put textured finished back on alloy components like this. Hopefully soon.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 - Crank - Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Crank - Exploded |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Crank Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Crank Complete |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Crank Installed |
The derailleurs are very nice Shimano 600 derailleurs. The rear derailleur polished just beautifully, I find it to be quite stunning and beautiful. The rear derailleur also has an upper jockey wheel with a ceramic bushing that is kind of cool.
The front derailleur also polished beautifully and looks fantastic against the crank and paint!
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Derailleurs Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Rear Derailleur Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Rear Derailleur Exploded |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Derailleur Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Derailleur Complete |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Rear Derailleur - Installed |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Front Derailleur Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Front Derailleur Exploded |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Front Derailleur Complete |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Front Derailleur - Installed |
The pedals are nice Shimano 600 Tri-Color pedals. They are in pretty good starting shape considering the beating pedals take. I did a lot of cleaning and then polished the pedals, they look pretty good installed.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Tri-Color Pedals - Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Tri-Color Pedals - Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shimano 600 Tri-Color - Pedals Installed |
That completes the main body of the Miyata 912 besides the shift elvers and seat post, they arrived late this afternoon.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle So Far |
I love the wheels that where chosen for the Miyata 912! The hubs are Dura Ace and the rims are a bronze colored Wolber that is perfect for the Miayata 912. I disassembled the hubs and got to cleaning and polishing. the hubs polished amazing and the rims cleaned up very nice. After cleaning and polishing the axle components I packed the bearings and assembled the hubs. The wheels hub spin extremely nice, sometimes it is just so nice to have the high quality of the Dura Ace line! I love the wheel choice!
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Rear Wheel Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Dura Ace Rear Wheel Hub Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim - Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Dura Ace Rear Wheel Hub Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub - Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Wheel Hub Axle Components Cleaned & Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub - Complete |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Rear Wheel - Complete |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Front Wheel Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Front Wheel Hub - Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Front Wheel Rim - Before |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Front Wheel Hub - Old Grease |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Front Wheel Hub - Old Grease |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Front Wheel Hub - Bearings Packed |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Front Wheel Hub Complete |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Front Wheel - Complete |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Wheels - Complete |
In the next few days the seat post and shift levers will be polished and the saddle will be installed. Ice gray cable housings with new cables will be installed along with the new handlebar tape. So hope the weather will be nice enough to give the Miyata 912 a good hard test ride!
The shift levers are nice Shimano 600 index shift levers. I polished the levers and they look like little jewels, I love them. Installed they look even better.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shift Levers - Exploded |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shift Levers - Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Shift Levers - Installed |
The seat post polished beautifully, it looks amazing and looks even more amazing against the polished black paint. The saddle is perfect for the Miyata 912.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Seat Post - Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Saddle - Cleaned |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Seat Post Saddle - Installed |
I started to wire the Miyata 912 when I ran into a problem, the Shimano 600 brake calipers reach was to long so the brake pads would not line up with the rim. I should ave caught this earlier but luckily the customer had a set of Shimano 600 short cage calipers. I restored the calipers and installed them. The calipers look just as great as the long reach calipers and does not hurt to have a restored set of Shimano 600 brakes around.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - New Bits & Pieces |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Calipers Not Reaching |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Short Cage Calipers - Exploded |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Short Cage Calipers - Polished |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Short Cage Calipers - Complete |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Short Cage Calipers - Installed |
The micro adjust screws for the rear drop outs where missing so new where installed, it will be a nice touch on the Miyata 912.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - New Micro Adjust Drop Out Screws |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Micro Adjust Drop Out Screws Installed |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - New Chain Installed |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - New Chain - Installed |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Cables - Complete |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Cables Complete |
Last thing is installing the handlebar tape. A black leather like tape was chosen and looks great installed.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Handlebar Tape - Installed |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Handlebar Tape - Installed |
That completes the Miyata 912.
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle - Complete |
I test rode the Miyata 912 this morning and it rode like a dream! Although it was a very short ride because the temp was -2 Fahrenheit out, Come one spring, Stop dragging your feet!! I will take 25 and some sun at this point!
The test ride went great and the Miayata shines in final photos!! I think this is about as cool as it gets!! I love the idea for the build the customer had! The pant scheme is cool, the Shimano 600 components are cool, the Dura Ace wheels are ultra cool! I love it!!
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Handlebars |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Stem & Handlebars |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete Head Tube |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Front Brake |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Dura Ace Front Wheel Hub |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Front Wheel Rim |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete Stem |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete Front Half |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Top Tube Decal |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Shift Levers |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete Saddle |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete Seat Tube Decal |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Bottom Bracket |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Drive Train |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete Shimano 600 Crank |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Front Derailleur |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete Rear Derailleur |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete Seat Lug |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Rear Brake |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Rear Wheel Hub |
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| 1980's Miyata 912 Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Rear |
John Z.
Beautiful Job! I had a late 70s Miyata 912 with Arabesque components and really like what you've done bring this bike back to show room condition.
ReplyDeleteWow just found your blog through this restoration. I just came into a similar model, I'll be following your steps in order to do a deep restoration, instead of wiping the thing off, thanks a lot
ReplyDelete