Miyata Century Redux (picture heavy gold bling)

ragnar1984 · Last edited by ragnar1984 on Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:58 pm; edited 10 times in total

This bike has been posted before, but then in the configuration I have ridden it in for the last 17 years, i.e. non-standard fork, pedals and brakes. Since I have got myself a brand-spanking new off-road toy, I have decided to retire it completely. From now on it will only serve duty as a Garage Queen and the occasional stroll along the canal in nice weather. As I have kept all the original parts, it was time to restore the bike to how it was when I bought it new in 1990.

So, ladies and gentlemen, here it is for your perusal and (hopefully) enjoyment: my 100% original 1990 Miyata Century.

The Trimble Roo handlebar and stem is a one-piece carbon fiber combo.
Even the computer - a Cateye Cordless 1 - is period correct. It is the world's first wireless cyclecomputer, ~1988.

Gold plated seat lug. Carbon fiber main tubes.

Gold plated bottom bracket shell. Note the square chainstay studs.

Shimano Deore XT II chainset (M730) and front derailleur (M735). SG chainrings.

Shimano Deore XT II brakes (M732). Ritchey MegaBite tyre on Ritchey Vantage rim.

Shimano Deore XT II rear derailleur (M735). Gold plated rear dropout.

Shimano HG70 cassette. Gold plated rear dropout.

Shimano Deore XT II rear hub (M732). Gold plated rear dropouts. The glue used for the bonding is clearly visible in the joints between the dropouts and seatstays.

Shimano HG90 chain.

Shimano Deore XT II pedal (M735)

Gold plated headtube, bearing the "100 years" commemorative head badge.
Old-style, 2mm thick brake cable.

Selle Italia Turbo special edition saddle with gold bling.

Chainstay protector is still in good nick. It has always had a sharkfin on top of it.

The Century was issued in 1990 by Miyata to commemorate 100 years of bicycle manufacturing. Only a limited number were built and they were not sold to the general public, but rather presented as gifts to leading bike importers and distributors around the world.

The front triangle of the frame is made of carbon fibre tubes, which are bonded to the alloy head tube, bottom bracket housing and seat cluster. Rear triangle of aluminium tubes with alloy rear dropouts. All alloy parts are gold plated. Yes, it is real gold!

1990 Miyata catalogue

And finally, the specifications, also from the 1990 catalogue:

Thats all, folks! Hope you like it Smile

longun · Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:19 pm Post subject:

that is lovely my friend,speechless Shocked

love it

Iwasgoodonce · Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:19 pm Post subject:

Stunning. With an all time great groupset too.

dyna-ti · Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:01 pm Post subject:

ferrus · Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:44 pm Post subject:

Fook me, that's extraordinary! Shocked

After a couple of bottles of red, I wasn't expecting this... -how does/did it ride??

Prometheus · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:10 am Post subject:

RockiMtn · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:07 am Post subject:

oh my f'n ... that's a stunning bike. definitely a garage queen! how did you ever get yourself to actually use that off-roading???

may i ask how much one of these cost back in 1990?

hoegaardenadds1 · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:47 am Post subject:

wow. that is tunning. you can tell its perfect when the only thing i spotted was wrong was the perished o ring on the qr nut! Very Happy

lovely just lovely

clockworkgazz · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 9:38 am Post subject:

wow- I should hate that bike- Gold FFS but it really works- you my friend are a very lucky man, never say this but I would not ride it, it's part of history and deserves to be kept nice- thanks for sharing Cool

Elev12k · Moderator Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 4965

Great project, Ragnar. Looks very tidy now. I retired mine too, after I had fallen with it a couple years ago. Bike had nothing, I still suffer.

Before that I used it intensively both onroad and offroad. I liked the ride of this Century a lot. Mine is identical to yours, except for the slightly shorter Switchblades fork.

doctor-bond · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:14 pm Post subject:

Blingtastic! Love it.

Cool

Tomac · Newbie Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 7

Great bike, one of the best vintage bike that I've ever seen. Congratulations

WD Pro · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:43 pm Post subject:

Very, very nice Cool

drystonepaul · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:45 pm Post subject:

Great looking bike with a nice bit of personal history. Excellent attention to detail too.
Well done that man!

ragnar1984 · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject: Thank you!

Thank you all, for your kind words! It has really been a labour of love to bring this bike back to almost factory fresh.