Submitted by
hammertime
a Cross Country Rider
from Brockville On. Canada
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2008
Strengths: almost bombproof!!! Had to do some welding around the seat tube but other than that the elevation 500 is still going strong. Upgraded all components over the years and had the bike down to 22.7 pounds ready to race. Climbs and handles singltrack great,Point and go on the downhills.
Weaknesses: huh ?????
Bottom Line:
hard to beat a hardtail! great bike triple butted splined cro-mo frame, love riding this bike hopefully a few more years left in it!!!
Similar Products Used: Gary fisher sugar 2, Specialized stumpjumper, Norco sundowner
Bike Setup: mavic ceramic rims w/xt hubs, xtr r.d. grip shift w/gore cables, 7 sp. cass. drilled out. easton monkey lite bar, avid ti v brakes, manitou fs ti 80 mm fork flite saddle
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Tat
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, ON
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2006
Strengths: - a solid ride - durable - no front shocks! :-)
Weaknesses: This is Miyata Elevation 200, one of the lower bikes of the line, I presume, so the components... could've been better, shall we say. The bike still has its original shifters, and the right one is toast for all I can tell, so I'm stuck with a three-speed until I decide to replace the shifter.
The frame could also be a bit lighter. But it's not anywhere near the heaviest bikes I've owned. The absence of the front shocks helps keep the overall bike weight down.
Factory saddle is very uncomfortable. Especially for females, I think. Although the previous owner of the bike was a lady, and didn't seem to mind the seat at all.
Bottom Line:
You know the thing I love about this bike the most? It has no front suspension (that is, it's lighter and tougher than it would've been otherwise). You see, I am not actually a mountain biker: I am a tourer and a commuter, so I ride on pavement most of the time. Unfortunately, these days you can't get an mtb without front shocks, it seems - and hybrids or roadies will be considerably more expensive for the same sort of quality, I find - so I counted myself lucky when I was offered this little bugger, at a bargain rate too. I use it for various city trips now, and it absolutely does the job.
It's a pity you can't get Miyata in this part of the world anymore.
Similar Products Used: Miele Saturn, K-mart-type junk, hybrid bikes (Trek 7500 FX, Marin San Anselmo)
Bike Setup: Standard factory set-up for all I know, except I put in a new seat. The original one just hurt my sitting parts so badly! Other than that I haven't changed anything in the bike since getting it from the previous owner; I don't know whether she tinkered with the setup or not.
Strengths: great light frame, decent components for the price level
Weaknesses: no front shocks
Bottom Line:
This bike kicks butt.....I bought it in 1996 as my first bike out of univeristy.....still riding it. I've put this bike through hell....riding hard down ski hills, many single track trails, cross country and riding around town.....never had a problem with any components or frame. All of my friends that bought different bikes at the same time have since bought new bikes since and I am still riding this one. I just bought a new Specialized Stumpjumper FSR because it was time to finally buy a new bike. But I only have the greatest praise to give to the Miyata elevation 300....one of the best purchases of my life.
Bike Setup: factory set up with additions of Rock Shox quad 21 and shimano m515 clipless pedals and specialized body geometry seat
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2003
Strengths: -SOLID -will still be around, and working fine after you've thrown everything you have at it -rode it hard for nearly 10 years ... rain, snow, mud, dirt, rocks, streams, stairs ... and all kinds of other things
Weaknesses: -heavy -technology is now out of date -can't really be compared to my new Rocky, but a great bike
Bottom Line:
I have absolutly abused this bike and ridden it in conditions is was never made for and yet, can not complain about the performance or durability of the bike. I bought it in high school, after my first job and rode it for about 10 years, through all conditions the Canadian wilderness could throw at it (year round). Now that I can afford to get a new bike, I finally did ... and absolutly love the F/S ride, but this bike still has a lot of miles left ahead of it. Can't wait for Toronto to thaw out and get back on the bikes on a regular basis.
Similar Products Used: Rocky Mountain Instinct (new ride)
Bike Setup: Elevation 300 ... originally spec with STX derailer, Alivio most everything else ... had to replace the rear derailer ... so banged up, it could no longer be tuned ... put on a used XT ... am now transitioning it to a commuter bike (slicks, fenders, etc ... ) , should be fun ... and fast
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
TOM ORLANDO
a Weekend Warrior
from BRONX, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2001
Strengths: VERY STRONG AND FRAME STILL HOLDING AFTER 10 YEARS AND STILL LOOKS GOOD.
Weaknesses: NONE TO TALK ABOUT EXCEPT THAT IT IS A LITTLE HEAVIER THEN MY 98' FUJI.
Bottom Line:
IT WAS AND STILL IS (WITH A FEW UPGRADES) A GREAT BIKE. I JUST FIGURED IT WAS TIME TO BUY A NEW AFTER 10 YEARS.
This is actually a Valentine to my 1998 Miyata Shredder, which turns 13 years old this month. Suspension? Ha! (What are "rock shocks" anyhow, you young whippersnappers.) This is one of the original, old-timer mountain bikes and weighs at least 30 lbs. before you bolt on the rear rack, etc. I did recently get a great deal on some slightly-used Firestone SUV tires, which fit the steel rims perfectly. This is a honey of a bike. The paint is nearly perfect, only a small nick here and there. Not a squeak or a squeal in the CRO-MO frame or any of the components. I figure we'll turn 50,000 miles this month -- and the bike's got a bit on the odometer, too. I got it on a closeout deal and I've never seen another one on the trail or road. How do you rate a bike that's priceless?
Bike Setup: All standard Shimano LX 500 components except for seatpost, which was recently changed out to one of those new-fangled spring-loaded jobbers. (It was either that or replace my hip joint.)
Bike Setup: Shimano XT- and Rock Shock suspen. Rock ring.. and a little red bottleholder :)
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Bob Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Kingston,NH
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2000
Strengths: Bomb proof, handles very nicely. Climbs well. Haven't had to buy a bike in 8 years. Just feels right.
Weaknesses: Heavy. Had to replace the wheelsets, they couldn't handle what the bike can. Couldn't buy another one if I wanted to.
Bottom Line:
Im not retro, just cheap. My motto has been "if its not broke, don't fix it". I will ride this until the frame breaks, or the derailler hanger snaps off. For the amount of abuse this bike has taken, I have to rate it a 5.
Similar Products Used: Fuji Something, can't remember it has been so long.
Bike Setup: Ritchey clipless pedals, Mavic rims with LX hubs, Rock Shox Indy.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
spider rider
a Cross-Country Rider
from oregon
Date Reviewed: December 14, 1999
Strengths: smoothhandling , traditional hardtail, bullet proof, and you get what you pay for.
Weaknesses: not sold in the US any more
Bottom Line:
This bike is 25lbs before you put a shock on, you will never break it. Handles with cat like reflex.I rode mine since 1992 and with out hesitation it a classic frame ment to ride hard.Any bike on its second ove sea tour to Okinawa is got to be the heat.
Similar Products Used: C dale M500, Stump jumper, Gaint, raliegh, mantis
Bike Setup: With or with out front fork its great, It come with XT at the Elevation 5000 and goes up from there. Manatou 2,3 and sr.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tank
a Weekend Warrior
from houston, tx
Date Reviewed: April 1, 1999
Strengths: it is a tank, I've flipped on it, gone down stairs, etc. and it won't break
Weaknesses: it is a tank. It's so heavy
Bottom Line:
I wish they still sold Miyatas in the US. I bought this bike my first year in college on sale. At the time, cro-mo was really cutting edge and bikes with a front shock were in the $700 range. It's lasted me forever, and the only things I've changed on it are my handlebars (when I flipped and they bent), the tires, and brake pads. It's pretty much an indestructible bike with no really great qualities except it's not too high maintenance and the fact that's it really is bombproof. It weighs 30+lbs and has lasted forever. Plus, nobody wants to steal it. All in all, it's pretty decent.
I am finding myself with the rare option of a non-weekend ride Friday with a friend. He was wanting to hit something with higher elevation, possibly one of the rides off 410 or Kac Read More »
did out and back wednesday afternoon. hit snow patches even before first bridge. snow never got deep enough that we thought we needed to turn around but it was over an inch as we g Read More »
So, I was just messing around with an online wattage calculator today. [url=http://bikecalculator.com/wattsUS.html]Bike Calculator[/url]
And I know that they're not the most acc Read More »
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I use a forerunner 305 and really like it but the elevation gain seams a little wacky.
this is my last ride.
[ Read More »
Hi,
I did one loop of china camp today with GPS tracking app (Strava) on android.
It says total elevation gain 1675ft. Is this in the ball park or is the app completely off? I wa Read More »
