1989 Miyata Sandstorm

1989 Miyata Sandstorm road 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 professional bicycle repair services.

 The 1989 Miyata sandstorm was marketed as a bike path or a light cruiser, basically a bike you can easily ride on the weekend with an upright riding position. It was made to look similar to a mountain bike which at 1989 were starting to be very popular. It has a mountain bike frame and wheels but is equipped with caliper brakes and a 1x6 drive train. It also had a one piece crank and chain guard, similar to a cruiser.

We received the bike with a torn seat and dry tires, installed a nice cushy mattress seat off an american 3 speed columbia and fully refurbished it with thin , semi slick tires, new cables, housings, brake pads and grips. here is the 1989 Miyata catalog, it does show a different crank and handlebar/stem set up

Back in the late 80's and early 90's almost every manufacturer had this kind of bike in their arsenal, some even came with cruiser bars. The 1989 Miyata sandstorm is a cross between a comfort bike and and an old school cruiser with a very similar geometry to the Bridgestone BB-1 even though the Bridgestone BB-1 had more features of a mountain bike with the cantilever brakes and a triple crank. We love bikes like the Miyata sandstorm because they are already set up as upright commuters with the high stem and riser bars and that allows us to sell them cheaper. Very often we get nice rigid mountain bike but the have low stem and flat bars which result in a crouching position and then we have to spend time and replace parts to change them. People around Cambridge and Boston seem to like the relaxed up right riding position which is more suited for the beginner commuter who wants to see the road and cars around him at all times. Sold to a student in tufts university.

Late 80's Nishiki Century 1988 (?)

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)

Nishiki Century road 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 professional bicycle repair services

The Nishiki Century was in great condition when we got it. we replaced the original dry tires to a couple of miss matched lightly used tires and left the original tape in order to offer the bike for a lower price.The cables and brake pads were replaced as well but the bike had been in an almost untouched condition, for some reason the Nishiki and century decals didn't survive but the paint was shiny without a single scratch. this was an early indexed bike from a 1987 or 1988 equipped with one of the first Suntour Accushift stem shifters.

there isn't much info on Nishiki models, mostly on the Nishiki brand , here's what I found, feel free to ad more in the comments. 1987 catalog shows a very similar bike but with friction shifters. so this one might be a later model (?). a nice wiki page discussing mostly the West coast cycles company which had the Nishiki bikes built imported from various manufacturers in Japan and Taiwan. An extensive Nishiki wiki style fanpage  and a vast collection Nishiki bike photos and some catalogs and also an extensive post from bikeforums.net on Nishiki identification and serial numbers. Though this wasn't a complete refurb the girl who bought it was thrilled, she was looking for a ready to ride bike in a limited budget which didn't look too flashy, Boom, exactly what she wanted. 

Nishiki Century

Nishiki Century

Nishiki Century

Nishiki Century

Nishiki Century

Nishiki Century

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Early-mid 90's Diamond Back Approach Hybrid

Diamond Back Approach Hybrid 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
The Diamond back brand is relatively new. it was actually the predecessor of centurion, a brand of WSI an american company who manufactured and exported bikes from japan. in the early 80's WSI introduced the diamond back brand for their mountain bikes and later for the BMX series. throughout the 80's both names were utilized until centurion was dropped in 1990. Great article from sheldon brown on centurion models here. Used hybrids are hard to come by as they are pretty modern bikes, the first ones were produced in the late 80's. Most bike companies started offering several models  in the early 90's. They are considered all around bikes and it seems like they are probably the best selling bikes right now. They are so popular that people who don't even know what  a hybrid bike is, still want one. Hybrids rarely stay in our shop for more than a couple of days and women's hybrids with an open frame such as this Diamond back approach usually don't survive 24 hours in the shop in the biking season as usually the first person to try them will make a purchase.
We usually replace tires on all of our bikes unless it's clear that the tires are recent replacements or of high quality, these tend to survive for longer period. this Diamond back approach has undergone the standard refurb and was fitted with new tubes, cables and brake pads on top of the tires. More diamond backs  we refurbished here and a brief history of Diamond back and its predecessor Centurion and also a wiki page on diamond back

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 90's Diamond Back Approach Hybrid

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

shifter set: 3x7 https://amzn.to/2Qzzv4X

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 inside diameter for sure)

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

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

Brakes: https://amzn.to/2s2IfIg

Saddle: https://amzn.to/34Wkccn

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

Brake Levers (good): https://amzn.to/2smGpT6

Late 70's or early 80's Puch Austro Daimler Pathfinder AD

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)

Late 70's or early 80's Puch Austro Daimler Pathfinder AD 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.

Puch was an Austrian company who manufactured scooters, motorcycles, cars and trucks, apart from bicycles of course. The 70's and very early 80's bikes were made in Austria and the mid 80's models were made in japan for Puch by Kuwahara and Araya. This Puch Pathfinder  AD carries the Austro Daimler and Steyr decals and is constructed of 2800 manganese steel tubing. According to this page with lots of  informtion on Puch and the austro daimler high end sub brand here   this Puch Pathfinder AD, was made in Austria and  carried the same look of the more expensive high end Austro daimler models crafted from reynolds 531, the Interten, ultima and Vent Noir. The frame was probably made anytime before 1979 but the components are Mid end Suntour AR which were only introduced in 1981. It might have had its original parts upgraded as by 1981 pathfinders were already made in japan and were of lower quality. We have also refurbished other Puch pathfinders, without the Austro daimler decals, made in the early and mid 80's by Araya and have steel rims and Hi-ten frames. Here's another puch we refurbished at Bike Boom.

this Austro daimler Pathfinder AD is size 19" or 48cm which is the smallest frame with full size wheels made in that era, they are hard to come by and usually sell very fast as they appeal to men and women as well though most of them are sold to women. This one was bought by a nice guy for his girlfriend as they were looking for a quality 10 speed in this size for quite some time and instantly fell in love with this mint bike.

Puch Austro Daimler Pathfinder AD

Puch Austro Daimler Pathfinder AD

Puch Austro Daimler Pathfinder AD

Puch Austro Daimler Pathfinder AD

Puch Austro Daimler Pathfinder AD

Puch Austro Daimler Pathfinder AD

Puch Austro Daimler Pathfinder AD

Puch Austro Daimler Pathfinder AD

Puch Austro Daimler Pathfinder AD

Spalding Blade Re

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)

Spalding Blade Re 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. 
First time I bought  a Spalding Blade Re for the shop I was a bit puzzled. It seemed like a department store brand as Spalding is famous for their basketball and baseball equipment, especially the famous quality basketballs, I remember drooling over those orange leather basketballs in the local sports shop. I've seen my share of vintage department store 10 speed bikes (columbia, schwinn, huffy, free spirit, to name a few) but this ones struck me as a quality mid end bicycle from the 80's with it's alloy rims and suntour 7 components, the cranks and handlebars are steel but lots of the japanese brands had this parts mix on their low-mid range offering. The spalding blade Re is definitely Japanese or  Taiwanese as it has the standard geometry, tube dimensions, lug work and striping on the lugs. Department store bikes always offer older technology components on their bikes for example 7 speed systems when bike shop brands are equipped with 8 9 or 10 speed systems. The bike has friction shifting so it should be older than 1986 but being sold in department stores it should adhere to the rule I mentioned above so basically think it was sold as a low end bike in the late 80's but had the features of a mid end bikes of early-mid 80's, which makes sense as technology always trickles down in the bicycle business. We don't sell department store bikes but honestly, this one is as good as any Univega shogun or Fuji that was made a few years prior to this one. A few weeks later I found another spalding blade, turns out they were sold in Sears in the 80's. there was also a red women's spalding Blade  with cruiser bars that I will feature in the future. Overall, this spalding blade Re is a very nice lugged steel bike with very decent components and in mint condition, I don't think the bike had more than 50 miles on it. Sold to one of the line cooks in Mike's , the neighboring Italian restaurant in Davis Square.