Miyata Three-Ten £55 BIN

Not sure if this is anything? Is it related to Koga Miyata?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Miyata-Three-Ten- ... dZViewItem

The relation Miyata - Koga Miyata is that Miyata (Jp) made the frames for Koga (NL). Miyata builds frames since 1890. Originally they were a rivelmanufacturer. They thought that with the process they use for the slot they could also make bicycle tubing. The process was drilling a hole in a long cylindrical piece of iron. Miyata sells mainly under theri own name. They were also present as Miyata US on the US market in the 70s, 80s and early 90s. They withdrew mid nineties mainly because expensive yen. Same for Panasonic for example.

Koga Miyata is etablished in 1974 by Andries Gaastra. His wifes name was Kova...blabla (a Polisch name), hence KoGa. Andries decided to go with Miyata as they were able to supply quality stuff for an at that time ('74) good price.

Miyata covered a wider part of the market than Koga Miyata, though also cheaper Miyatas offered great quality for what is possible at a certain pricepoint and in the 80s the were considered leading in each class.

Koga has always been an upmarket brand.

The 310 is of the Miyata US line up. The 3 represents the level in the hierarchy, and the 10 the number of gears. Cheapest was the 100. Above the 300 there normally was the 500, the 700, the 900 ...and models like the Pro Miyata and Team Miyata. The Pro Miyata is the equivilent of the ProRacer-S and ProRacer bicycles I posted in the forums.

The even-hundreds (200, 600) and also the 1000 represent the touring models. The 1000 is widely considered the best of the shelve touringbike of the eighties.

Miyata also made several frames for Univega.

very interesting - so is this in any way rare - and a good price?

Rare: In the UK probably?

Good price: Well, 45GBP is not much money ...but the 310 is the 2nd from the bottom of the line. Proper bike, sure, but not the most special.