1984 Miyata 912

1984 Miyata 912

1984 Miyata 912

If this Miyata were a car, it would be a 1984 Honda Accord.  If this web site was a car museum, you would probably walk right past the Accord in order to get a look at the Ferrari 308 that was used in the “Magnum, P.I.” television show.  We know.  We’d do it too.

The thing is, as you walk past that average (boring) vehicle, you’ll remember how you used to get across town in it (or on it).  You’ll recount how your college roommate had one, and how funny it was when he painted racing stripes on it or how awesome that road trip (or bike race) was with him.  Cars (and bikes) like these trigger more than just enve or art apreciatiation, they’ll give you flashbacks.

Miyata’s “Semi-Pro” collection

Aero shift levers

In 1984 I had a friend named Ward who managed the bike shop where I started, and he was going to buy one of these Miyatas.  Ward was going to do a little racing, maybe some day tours on the bike.  In the end our Gitane sales rep came up with a “great deal” that interupted his plans to buy the Miyata, and Ward ended up riding around on a pink Gitane R.S. instead.  We gave him endless grief about the color of his bike.

Wild Miyata graphics

Shimano 600, not Ultegra

Pre-indexed shifting

This 912 came from Miyata’s “Semi-Pro” collection of models.  It featured double-butted cromoly tubing, Shimano 600 components (this was before they called them “Ultegra”), a Selle Italia Turbo saddle and Araya rims.  Nothing fancy, no Japanese racing heritage to fall back on, no mythical stories about Fausto Coppi and his Miyata.  The bike may have been a bit boring, but everything worked well.  Miyata, I guess, left the storytelling and art appreciation up to us.