balindamood

T-Mar.

The 91/92 Fuji Discoverer has a serial number if F1?80877. I am going to have to file the BB shell to figure out if the 2nd/3rd number combination is 1-something, or L-something. The 3rd digit may be a 6 but I do not know if the above is enough for you to go on. I have tried the soap thing and this is the best I can get with that. Next step-sand paper, but I would rather not go there.

balindamood

Check that. It is F1080877.

mobile homeless

I would feel remiss if I didnt add my nephew's 1983 Fuji Espree, even though this bike is covered extensively within this thread. The one model seems to cross several lines, with a few different forms, from mixtee, to touring, to Quad Butted VALite, Triple Butted VALite, down to regular Butted VALite. The "stem shifter" models seem to have single butted VALite, a cheaper Sugino crank, and AR derailleurs while downtube shifter models move up to triple and quad butted tubing, the Sugino VP/GP/GT crank, AR-X derailleurs, etc. So if you see a Fuji Espree on Craigslist, dont assume it's a Quad Butted, VP crank model...

I fixed this beast up and gave it to my young nephew, just getting into biking. hoping to keep the flame alive. Indeed, he's enjoyed riding it every day and I get a bang out of seeing him enjoy thje process.


• Frame: 58cm ~ SC342138 (March 1983)
• Tubing: VALite Butted 414
• Brakes: Dia Compe 500: 0283 (Feb 1983)
• Bars: Fuji Magnese Steel NITTO B111
• Stem: NITTO
• Sugino Crank: S 170 GC 8 (March 82)
• Sunshine Hubs: 5345 C with nuts for rear (Does not correspond to Date code)
• Rims: UKAI 27 x 1 1/4 Alloy
• FD: Suntour AR - YJ (Oct 82)
• RD: Suntour AR - YE (May 82)
• Shifters: Suntour Friction - Stem Mounted

https://i-vol.com/bikes/83_fuji_espree_1300.jpg

comall01

Hey T-Mar,

I am new to BF and have an old Fuji Feather Compo 700. I bought it a few months ago and have been just riding it around town and was trying to find info on it like what year it was and if it was a bike worth putting some money into and turning into a nice bike to put some miles on. Here is the pic and the serial number is FF800553

charlie.adamsar

I have a tall (59cm top tube c-c, 61cm from the center of the bb to center of t-t along seat tube) Fuji Sagres that I love.
The serial number is: SA745783 (January 1987)
The steerer tube is stamped: ISHIWATA 6 L
The seat tube is labeled: VALite 4 S. i 5
Dropouts: Suntour
Derailleurs and shifters: Suntour alpha-5000 downtube shifters
Cranks: Sugino VP
Brakes: Dia Compe (possibly not original)
Seatpost: Sugino SP-KC (kind of fluted with centimeter markings)
Wheels: 27x1 1/8 Araya Alloy Rims Laced to Sansin Hubs
Stem:Huge, labeled "MINI ********** BREVETE"
Paint:Maroon with multicolor bands on seat tube
Bars, saddle, and brake levers are non-original.

I bought this bike because it was simultaneously the tallest and lightest bike that the man had.
I've already put quite a few miles on it and hope to do some collegiate racing on it in the Spring.

cb400bill

Here is a picture and info about my brand new 1979 Fuji Gran Tourer.

Serial number F79D5996.

dtipton

Picked up two Fuji Esprees.

Serial Numbers:
FL404263
FA508159

Both have Suntuor ARX, Sugino cranks, Dia Compe brakes, Suntour downtube shifters.
Quad Butted Valite tubing

Benton

I have a Fuji Royale. I bouhgt it for 25$ to build a commuter bike. It is perfect for the job. This is my second Fuji the first was a Sport that I gave to a friend after a dump truck incident with her bike. This bike is even nicer. It came all stock. I added toe clips, bar tape, fenders and lights.

Fuji Royale

FK916081

Crome Molybdenum 441

Crank
Fuji labeled Sugino
4252

RD
Fuji VX Suntour VX-s
4532

FD
Suntour VX

Shifters
Suntour (Downtube)

Brakes
Dia Compe
Centerpull

Rims
Ukai
27 X 11/4

Hubs
Sunshine
5345

After reading te previous this bike may help you fill in the gap for 1979.
Thank you for the resource I hope this helps. Wish I had pics.
Peace
Benton

roccobike

Bill, that Gran Tourer is beautiful. Looks like it has very low miles, or no miles.
dtipton and Benton how about pics? PLEASE

cb400bill

Rocco, thanks. It is beautiful with its black frame, shining chrome and gold trimmed lugs.

As of right now it has no miles. And if it weren't 25 degrees, with 20 mph winds, and freezing raining outside, that would no longer be true.

TommyL

Another one for the list. A Fuji S12 S LTD. It has a triple crank and proudly declares "18 speed" on the right chain stay. Same 331 tubing as the other bikes from this time. The wheels and rear derailluer are not original to the frame.

Warning, big picture: https://myweb.students.wwu.edu/lingbl...Fuji_S12_S_LTD

FG011636 puts it in July of 1980, right? I was surprised at how light it is, compared in general to other 25 year old bikes I've come across.

Anybody know anything more about this bike? I've heard of the S12-S, but never seen or heard of this 18 speed version.

T-Mar

Yes, July 1980 is correct. If you go to the first post of tyhis thread, there is a list of the Fuji catalogs that we have located and where to find them. I believe 1980 is one of them, so it should tell you all you need to know.

McDave

Here's another Royale. I'll just copy Benson's formatting 'cause I'm lazy like that.

Photo of bike here: https://buggytexas.com/images/Royale1.jpg

Components suggest early 1981 but serial # points to January 1980?

Fuji Royale Serial # JA 008844

Chrome Molybdenum 441

Fork
Ishiwata 1 A

Bars
Nitto Olympiade 114

Stem
Nitto Young

Crank
Fuji labeled Sugino J12 (1980, Dec)

RD
Fuji Suntour Vx WI (1980, Sept)

FD
Fuji Suntour WE (1980, May)

Shifters
Suntour (Downtube)

Brakes
Dia Compe 500 Sidepull Front: 0980 Rear: 1180 (Sept & Nov 1980)

Rims
Ukai 27 X 11/4

Hubs
Sunshine

Seatpost 26.6mm

T-Mar

You're correct. Even the fork dates to January 1981. I can only speculate that somebody grabbed the wrong stamp for the year or the frame had some defect and was tied up in the rework cycle. Still, a year waiting for rework is a long time. Thxs for the submission.

raverson

Here's a rather nice Fuji S-10-S I picked up on CL last weekend.

Serial # F8K23726 which dates it 11-73. Drivetrain is Sugino-Suntour 50/40 x 14/34. Very practically geared, even by todays standards. Still has the original Belt saddle and Nitto bar/stem, both of which are in good shape.

reverborama

That is exactly the bike I hope to find someday (in that size, too!). I want to ride it to the All British show because it represents the beginning of the end for all the European brands -- and it would be interesting to compare quality and componentry with the nicely restore British bikes of the era.

BTW, this is my favorite thread ever.

mcmahon

Over Christmas, while visiting my in-laws in Minneapolis, my father-in-law gave me his old Fuji Royale (I’d been eyeing it for a while). It had apparently been hanging in the garage for about 20 years, and other than a thick layer of dust, it was in great shape. It has the expected nicks and scratches, but it cleaned up beautifully (T-Mar: that aluminum foil trick for chrome works unbelievably well!).

Here are the vitals for the database:

Serial # KF004248
Tubeset: “Fuji Chrome Molybdenum Steel Tubing 441”

Components:
Rims – Ukai 27 x 1¼ w/o LA
Hubs – Sunshine, front code: 5345, rear code: 5345
Freewheel – Suntour/Maeda 6 speed 14-30, code: WF (1980, June)
Crank – Fuji-branded Sugino, “Forged 170 Japan” code: J-6 (1980, June)
Front Derailleur – Fuji-branded Suntour Vx, code: 4532 Japan WD (1980, April)
Rear Derailleur – Fuji-branded Suntour Vx, code: VL (inside circle) (1979, December)
Brakes:
Levers – Dia-Compe, code: 0379 & 0780 (March 1979 & July 1980)
Centerpulls – front & rear both marked 5583 on bridge, 0380 inside arm (March, 1980)
Stem – Nitto Young
Bars – Nitto Olympiade 114, 39cm
Pedals – MKS #K11A
Saddle – Avocet Touring II (not sure this is original)

According to Vintage Trek database, the newest component on this bike is July, 1980, so I’m fairly confident in declaring it a 1980 model by components alone. The frame serial number confirms it (F for June, 0 for 1980).
I’ve built it up as a single-speed with mustache bars for now, but I’ve carefully bagged and kept all the original parts for future restoration. Actually, the bike was in amazing condition—I had to replace the headset (badly indexed) but otherwise I’ve only had to repack the bearings and give the whole thing a good cleaning to get it to where it is now.

PS - After looking at Danddd’s catalog from 1980, I realize I just threw out what were probably the original Silver Star tires! (I did keep the Silver Star tubes, though)

Pompiere

mcmahon, I bought the twin to your bike in Orlando, Fla. in the summer of 1980. Unfortunately, it was stolen a couple years later when I was in California. The Avocet touring saddles came out later. I have a Touring I that I bought in 1986. When I was at the LBS recently, I mentioned that I really liked the Avocet saddles, he showed me a bin with several marked at $5.00 each. Limited funds kept me from buying them all, but I did get a nice Honey Brown Touring II.

T-Mar

Thank-you for posting. Just be aware that the foil is only masking the problem. The pits and rust are still underneath the foil.

Mason Red

Fixing up the old Fuji and saw this. Sorry I’m late getting the information but maybe it will help or confirm your data. Its original except replaced saddle and I have that. I didn’t see anything else on the derailleur but will be happy to look if needed. T-mar you helped on a centurion, and if I understand this is a March 84 bike.
Boulevard
valite 616
#SC419004
derailleurs suntour ar
power thumb shifter
crank S 170 GC 8

Was this an entry level bike?

T-Mar

Yes, March 1984. I don't have anything specific on a 1984 Boulevard, but I do have info on the 1985 Boulevard XC, which cost $350 US and has higher model derailleurs. I also found a 1984 Fuji ATB advertisement referenceing 3 models: Boulevard, Sundance and Mt. Fuji. I know the latter two were above the Boulevard, so it does appear to be their entry level ATB that year. As a quick sanity check, I compared it to Miyata's offerings. They also offered 3 ATBs, with their entry level model being AR equipped. While none of this is definitive, the Boulevard appears to have been their entry level ATB and probably sold for about $300 US.

I think we have a pretty good confidnce in the serial number format, so while a check of the derailleur date code would be nice, it is not of any priority. Thxs for posting.

thejackal

Fuji Espree # FL404659 Have it down to the frame, might repaint and turn in to a single speed or sell size 56. Having trouble figuring out how to post pics on here. Any help?

nlerner

I'm proud to make a contribution to this thread. Just picked up a Fuji Touring Series III frameset plus most components (essentially everything minus the wheels):

Serial # FJ410255 (1984?)
Valite quad-butted tubing 1769 decal on the seat tube, color is silver
SunTour fork ends and Fuji labeled rear dropouts
SunTour Mountech FD date code of ZG (1983)
Shimano STX RD, which the guy I bought it from said he installed as a replacement for the original
SunTour downtube shifters w/ braze on mounts
Sugino RT triple crankset with a date code of CG (1987?) so perhaps those were added later
Nitto stem and Nitto Olympiade bars
Dia Compe cantilever brakes
Belt leather saddle

And it's my size! I've been very envious of those Miyata 1000 and Specialized Expedition owners out there, and am very glad be in possession of a Japanese tourer.

Pics later on once I'm home and can put some wheels on the thing.

Neal

T-Mar

Neal, thank-you for posting. That frame is from October 1984, so it is more likely to be a 1985 model than a 1984. Unfortunately, I only have the 1984 and 1985 specs for the Touring Series IV. I'm not surprised the rear derailleur was replaced. The original MounTech was notoriously unreliable.

soonerbills

T-Mar, I posted pics on this one in an earlier thread I posted. https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...highlight=fuji I incorrectly posted this as a "Advantage" The bike in question is a Absolute model On the BB numbers are OC 055 And sideways to that is F7124716 Cranks,chainwheels and BB are Sugino Drive side crank has 175 or 775 inside a little dished circle inboard chainwheel is marked DZF 52 Rims are Araya and are 27 X 1 1/4 and are marked "W/O Japan" Hubs are marked "SR" Front is marked "1 or 7 87 Rear H 87 Pedals are unmarked and are set up with toe clips with leather straps. Marked "Avenia" Shifters are SunTour no markings Deraillerers are SunTour units Rear is a Accushift X2000 Front is unmarked Brakes are Dia Comp Levers are Dia Comp as well Frame is marked 4130 Moly Hope this helps! By the way,while cleaning and inspecting, I found out the non-drive side crank has a crack. Does anyone have or know of a source for a replacement?