Early 90's Bianchi Avenue

Bianchi Avenue we refurbished here at Bike Boom. If your'e not familiar, Bike Boom is a used bike shop in Davis square, on the border of Cambridge and Somerville , near Boston MA. where we specialize in restoring and refurbishing used and vintage bikes and offer professional bicycle repair services.

This early ninties Bianch Avenue, probably 1993 or older is a nice old school chromoly lugged hybrid with comfortable semi upright riding position. Binachis are very popular  in Boston for some reason. This bianchi avenue has received new tires, tubes and cables.  Original shifters were replaced to thumb shifters as the old shifters didn't survive. It was in pretty good condition when we got it with relatively low miles. Hybrids were first produced in the late 80's and gained popularity during the nineties but today they are probably the most popular type of bike. People look for a fast commuter or a bike path bike with a relatively upright riding position and indexed shifting. A lugged hybrid like the Bianchi Avenue is a rare bike as lugged bikes were replaced with welded bikes by the mid nineties. Today, lugged bikes are only made by boutique brands like rivendell and small one man shops as they are hand made and usually silver brazed. Other hybrids we sold can be found here and the  history of bianchi here. 

sold to a student during the yearly rush of September when students come in town for the beginning of the college year. great times.

Parts list for  early 90's Bianchi Avenue  Rear Wheel: https://amzn.to/36dGCGE Front Wheel: https://amzn.to/2Qf7lgI

Tires (Standard for leisure riding): https://amzn.to/36aCvLz (choose 700x35 or 700x32)

Tires:(Flat resistant, heavy duty): https://amzn.to/2MLhUpj Select (700x35 or 700x32)

Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

Rear shifter: https://amzn.to/2tomiUl

Front shifter: https://amzn.to/2QCHKwX

Rear Derailleur: https: https://amzn.to/2sHJOeL

Front Derailleur: https://amzn.to/2Pj0QHH

Crank: https://amzn.to/39tFBwf

Cassette: https://amzn.to/37oL9pN

Pedals: https://amzn.to/2OUDbyD

Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

Headset: https://amzn.to/38EkfvQ Choose 26.4 but it's better to remove crown race and measure steerer diameter)

Brake pads: https://amzn.to/34TYUMF (standard use, original part)

Brake pads: https://amzn.to/369Nvbs improved performance in wet and cold condition 

Brakes: https://amzn.to/2s2IfIg

Saddle: https://amzn.to/34Wkccn

Handlebar (25.4 clamp): https://amzn.to/34SU2XT

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/2smGpT6

Early-Mid 80's Takara Advantage

Are you looking to repair this bike?

Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon.

Over the years we repaired thousands of Vintage bikes and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts. 

Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued. 

We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike.

Parts list for Early-Mid 80's Takara Advantage:

➤Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

➤➤Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

➤Handlebar Tape: https://amzn.to/2qxHiaf

➤Rear Wheel: https://amzn.to/2RuAB3X

➤Front Wheel: https://amzn.to/2PuFaIM

➤Tires (good): https://amzn.to/2s9eipE (similar look, casual use, choose 27x1 ➤1/4)

➤Tires (better): https://amzn.to/33YwOyl (super flat resistant and fast rolling, choose 27x1.25 or 27 1 1/4)

➤Shifters: Front and rear (right and left): https://amzn.to/347vWrv

➤Rear Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/2DYUOXF (choose w/ direct attachment)

➤Rear Derailleur (Better): https://amzn.to/2PupyVA (choose GS type)

➤Front Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/3415IXm (choose double)

➤Front derailleur (better): https://amzn.to/2LAI262 (better quality, fit and finish)

➤Bottom Bracket: https://amzn.to/2RydlSI (Likely 68x122.5 but must measure spindle length before purchase)

➤Crank (good): https://amzn.to/2Yw7miQ (better quality fit and finish, will likely need a new bottom bracket)

➤Crank (better): https://amzn.to/2rg0YQx (lesser quality option, likely will not need a bottom bracket)

➤Freewheel: https://amzn.to/2qx4c1t

➤Headset: https://amzn.to/38EkfvQ (Choose 27.0 but it's better to remove crown race and measure inside diameter for sure)

➤Pedals: https://amzn.to/3593fvC (Modern style)

➤Pedals: https://amzn.to/2DZbNZP (same style as original)

➤Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 5, 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

➤Brake pads (good): https://amzn.to/36eEldP (casual use)

➤Brake pads (better): https://amzn.to/38ixNN7 (Improved performance and wet/cold condition)

➤Brakes (rear): https://amzn.to/2P31N8o

➤Brakes (front): https://amzn.to/2Prqcn2

➤Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/2LQALz9 (similar to original

➤Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

Mint Takara advantage touring bike we refurbished Here at Bike Boom. If your'e not familiar, Bike Boom is a used bike shop in Davis square, on the border of Cambridge and Somerville , near Boston MA. where we specialize in restoring and refurbishing used and vintage bikes and offer competitively priced professional bike repair services.

Great representative bike of the early 80's with a Lugged 4130 chromoly frame and alloy components with suntour shifters. Takara was an american company building bikes in japan to be marketed solely to the US cyclist, similar to nishiki, univega and shogun. They were not as popular as the univegas and shoguns here in New England but we still manage to find a few every year. They had a  whole range of models such as the prestige, custom 12 and others. 

From oldroads.com, probably the best forum for vintage bikes on the web: "Takara bicyles were made to spec for an Oklahoma firm, Takara Bicycle Co. The company survived well into the 80's and possibly beyond. Though not confirmed, the bicycles were probably made by Kawamura, the same company that manufactured Nishiki. Ads showed base and immediate models. Road rests from the period vary in opinion from "average" to "outright bargain", depending on the model, though they had nicer than average paint" .

1982 miyata six ten 610

Are you looking to repair this bike?
Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon.

Over the years we repaired thousands of these and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts. 
Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued. 
We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike.

Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

Handlebar Tape: https://amzn.to/2qxHiaf

Rear Wheel: https://amzn.to/2RuAB3X

Front Wheel: https://amzn.to/2PuFaIM

Tires (good): https://amzn.to/2s9eipE (similar look, casual use, choose 27x1 1/4)

Tires (better): https://amzn.to/33YwOyl (super flat resistant and fast rolling, choose 27x1.25 or 27 1 1/4)

Shifters: Front and rear (right and left): https://amzn.to/347vWrv

Rear Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/2DYUOXF (choose w/ direct attachment)

Rear Derailleur (Better): https://amzn.to/2PupyVA (choose GS type)

Front Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/3415IXm (choose double)

Front derailleur (better): https://amzn.to/2LAI262 (better quality, fit and finish)

Bottom Bracket: https://amzn.to/2RydlSI (Likely 68x122.5 but must measure spindle length before purchase)

Crank (good): https://amzn.to/2Yw7miQ (better quality fit and finish, will likely need a new bottom bracket)

Crank (better): https://amzn.to/2rg0YQx (lesser quality option, likely will not need a bottom bracket)

Freewheel: https://amzn.to/2qx4c1t

Headset: https://amzn.to/38EkfvQ (Choose 27.0 but it's better to remove crown race and measure inside diameter for sure)
Pedals: https://amzn.to/3593fvC (Modern style)

Pedals: https://amzn.to/2DZbNZP (same style as original)

Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 5, 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

Brake pads (good): https://amzn.to/36eEldP (casual use)

Brake pads (better): https://amzn.to/38ixNN7 (Improved performance and wet/cold condition)

Brakes (rear): https://amzn.to/2P31N8o

Brakes (front): https://amzn.to/2Prqcn2

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/2LQALz9 (similar to original

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

A very nice Miyata 610 ( six ten ) we refurbished at bike boom somerville. the bike has a different triple crank then the original and also the dia comp, aero brake levers are probably not original as well. 

here's the 1982 miyata catalogue  . A classic touring bike, just before they were fitted with cantilever brakes. 

Triple butted chromoly , lugged frame. we replaced the chaim, freewheel, tires, tubes cables, brake pads, handlebar tape, and installed brand new alloy wheels.

Sold to a harvard student. 

Miyata was one of the best japanese manufacturers and fabricated their own tubings. They also put the best parts in comparison to other manufacturers like fuji, univega, etc., even on the low end bicycles.

In general, miyatas are always a good choice. we have come across many miyatas and we will add them to the blog in the future.

1987 Lotus Excelle

Are you looking to repair this bike?
Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon.

Over the years we repaired thousands of these and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts. 
Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued. 
We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike.

Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

Handlebar Tape: https://amzn.to/2qxHiaf

Rear Wheel: https://amzn.to/2RuAB3X

Front Wheel: https://amzn.to/2PuFaIM

Tires (good): https://amzn.to/2s9eipE (similar look, casual use, choose 27x1 1/4)

Tires (better): https://amzn.to/33YwOyl (super flat resistant and fast rolling, choose 27x1.25 or 27 1 1/4)

Shifters: Front and rear (right and left): https://amzn.to/347vWrv

Rear Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/2DYUOXF (choose w/ direct attachment)

Rear Derailleur (Better): https://amzn.to/2PupyVA (choose GS type)

Front Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/3415IXm (choose double)

Front derailleur (better): https://amzn.to/2LAI262 (better quality, fit and finish)

Bottom Bracket: https://amzn.to/2RydlSI (Likely 68x122.5 but must measure spindle length before purchase)

Crank (good): https://amzn.to/2Yw7miQ (better quality fit and finish, will likely need a new bottom bracket)

Crank (better): https://amzn.to/2rg0YQx (lesser quality option, likely will not need a bottom bracket)

Freewheel: https://amzn.to/2qx4c1t

Headset: https://amzn.to/38EkfvQ (Choose 27.0 but it's better to remove crown race and measure inside diameter for sure)
Pedals: https://amzn.to/3593fvC (Modern style)

Pedals: https://amzn.to/2DZbNZP (same style as original)

Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 5, 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

Brake pads (good): https://amzn.to/36eEldP (casual use)

Brake pads (better): https://amzn.to/38ixNN7 (Improved performance and wet/cold condition)

Brakes (rear): https://amzn.to/2P31N8o

Brakes (front): https://amzn.to/2Prqcn2

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/2LQALz9 (similar to original

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

Beautiful Lotus Excelle, Ishiwata triple butted chromoly lugged frame.

Lotus was an american brand selling japanese made bikes (Tsunada and Ishiwata), to be sold only in the US, similar to Shogun, Univega and many others.More about lotus here and a 1981 catalogue here, and a great lotus fan page here.

they started making bikes in the late 70's and stopped in the late 80's. they are usually mid to high end bikes and this is a beautiful example. sold to a student in boston college who came with his friend, who bought a Fuji del rey.