Table of Contents
Miyata
Miyata started making bicycles in 1890 in Tokyo, Japan. By 1982 it started making mountain bikes for partner Univega and branded its own mountain bikes the next year, presumably after seeing how wildly successful Univega was at moving mountain bikes 1) The Miyata brand continues to exist today. 2)
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Bijin on a Miyata, 1920
oldtokyo
1983 Ridge Runner
The first Miyata not to have a number or “Miyata” in the model name.
Almost fully Suntour: hubs, pedals, derailleurs, shifters, freewheel, and chain.
31 pounds. Mountain blue only.
3)
The Miyata Ridge Runner exists today as an e-mt-bike only.
Miyata also made a semi-offroad Terra-Runner in 1983, costing $395, weighing 32 pounds, with SunTour AG Tech front and rear, with 26×1.75 tires. Nov 1983 Bicycling mag.
1983 Ridge Runner
ragandbone
1984 Ridge Runner
Specs unchanged, with slightly better gearing yet somehow adding an extra three pounds. The only way to spot a 1984 from a 1983 would be extra decorative seat tube stickers on the 1984, lower cased “miyata” decal, and the words “Ridge Runner” on the top tube, all of which the 1983 model lacked. Miyata also added two near mountain bikes with tall gearing and cruising tires: Terra Runner and Street Runner. 34 pounds. Mountain blue only. 4)
1984 Ridge Runner
flickr
1985 Terra Runner OR
The 1984 Terra Runner street cruiser gets transformed into a budget “Off Road” bike with the addition of fat tires. The OR was only available in 1985. Meanwhile, the Ridge Runner loses two pounds and maintains a slightly higher spec. 32 pounds. Black only. In 1985, the top tube title lettering change to all caps the seat tube stripes became diagonal. Standard Ridge Runners only came in Rocky Blue at this point. 5)
1985 Terra Runner OR
ratrodbikes
1986 Trail Runner
Shimano Light Action RD-L-522-SGS (1986 only), lugged frame, biopace rings
1986 Trail Runner
ryansrebuilds
1987 Sky Runner
1987 Sky Runner Aluminum frame, Deore derailleurs (1987-88). 26.75 pounds.
1987 Sky Runner
varagesale
1988 Ridge Runner Team
Shimano Deore XT (v2) group, 28.5 pounds.
1988 Ridge Runner Team
retrobike
1989 Country Runner
Marketed as a city bike - but it has decent MTB components, just not the right tires. “Kissin' cousin to our sophisticated competition machines that's right at home in the city” - 1989 Miyata Catalog.
Shimano Exage Trail, 30 pounds.
1989 Country Runner
usedvictoria
1990 Mt. Century
100th Miyata commemorative mtb with 14k gold plated aluminum lugs and carbon fiber tubing. Combined carbon stem & bar. XT gruppo.
Only 100 made.
Century frame detail.
thevintagemtb
1990 Mt. Century
thevintagemtb
1991 Elevation 10,000'
SunTour XC Pro group, Al lugged carbon fiber frame. The 1991 catalog has no pic of this model.
1991 Elevation 10,000'
flickr
1992 Elevation 7,000'
1992 Elevation 7000 Full carbon front with a Al rear triangle. Optional RockShox - but the original forks have a nice paint job. SunTour XC Comp group.
1992 Elevation 7,000'. 1992 catalog shot.
ragandbone
1)
Univega sold more mountain bikes than any other brand from 1982 → 1985 (Univega) and hence Miyata was, for a while, the largest mountain bike manufacturer.
2)
The Japanese Mazda Miata supposedly gets its name from old German. Mazda doesn't use the “Miata” name in markets where “Miyata” bicycles continue to be sold to avoid copyright issues.
3)
See 1983 catalog at: https://www.ragandbone.ca/Miyata/miyata_selector.html
4)
See 1984 catalog at: https://www.ragandbone.ca/Miyata/miyata_selector.html
5)
See 1985 catalog at: https://www.ragandbone.ca/Miyata/miyata_selector.html