All Things FUJI
#1051
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 9,015
Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,
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Very, very nice! I take it that's the original saddle, housing, bar tape, etc? Mine came all original too except for the saddle and wheels.
I'll share a pic of mine again as I just shot this to show the new tubular setup I just put on it. Original bar tape still under the leather wrap.
I'll share a pic of mine again as I just shot this to show the new tubular setup I just put on it. Original bar tape still under the leather wrap.
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Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
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#1052
Mother Nature's Son
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Posts: 3,206
Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
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864 Posts
'88 Fuji Ace, sort of
This Fuji Ace frameset was given to me a couple of years ago. By default, it became my experiment bike and has been changed many times since I first built it. I really went in a totally different direction with it recently. I stripped and repainted it with rattle can Rustoleum Gloss Enamel Smoky Grey. I put mustache bars on it with mountain bike brake levers and DA 7700 bar ends. The right shifter I could get to work for a while, then something happens internally that prevents it from operating properly in either friction or indexed. I finally quit messing with it and am now using a 105 8 speed DT lever for the right bar end. It works great in friction.
I like the way the build finished, but I still am not sure about mostly black components, or going with more silver and gum/brown wall tires. The only thing original on this bike are the materials used for the frameset. It is on the heavy side, very comfortable, versatile and fun to ride. I have some decals coming, OLD SCHOOL FUJI, that will be on the top, seat and down tubes.
Pretty sure I like the mostly blacked out better.
I like the way the build finished, but I still am not sure about mostly black components, or going with more silver and gum/brown wall tires. The only thing original on this bike are the materials used for the frameset. It is on the heavy side, very comfortable, versatile and fun to ride. I have some decals coming, OLD SCHOOL FUJI, that will be on the top, seat and down tubes.
Pretty sure I like the mostly blacked out better.
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#1053
Port
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Boston
Posts: 6,851
Bikes: 2022 Soma Fog Cutter, 2021 Calfee Draqonfly 44, 1984 Peter Mooney, 2017 Soma Stanyan, 1990 Fuji Ace, 1990 Bridgestone RB-1, 1995 Independent Fabrications Track, 2003 Calfee Dragonfly Pro
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1,215 Posts
This Fuji Ace frameset was given to me a couple of years ago. By default, it became my experiment bike and has been changed many times since I first built it. I really went in a totally different direction with it recently. I stripped and repainted it with rattle can Rustoleum Gloss Enamel Smoky Grey. I put mustache bars on it with mountain bike brake levers and DA 7700 bar ends. The right shifter I could get to work for a while, then something happens internally that prevents it from operating properly in either friction or indexed. I finally quit messing with it and am now using a 105 8 speed DT lever for the right bar end. It works great in friction.
I like the way the build finished, but I still am not sure about mostly black components, or going with more silver and gum/brown wall tires. The only thing original on this bike are the materials used for the frameset. It is on the heavy side, very comfortable, versatile and fun to ride. I have some decals coming, OLD SCHOOL FUJI, that will be on the top, seat and down tubes.
Pretty sure I like the mostly blacked out better.
I like the way the build finished, but I still am not sure about mostly black components, or going with more silver and gum/brown wall tires. The only thing original on this bike are the materials used for the frameset. It is on the heavy side, very comfortable, versatile and fun to ride. I have some decals coming, OLD SCHOOL FUJI, that will be on the top, seat and down tubes.
Pretty sure I like the mostly blacked out better.
It rides very well.
I've posted here before, but what the hell...
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#1054
Mother Nature's Son
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Posts: 3,206
Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
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864 Posts
Rocket-Sauce , thanks for the reply. I have seen the pictures of your Ace, very nice. I believe you are right about mine being an '89. I wanted something different, that is what I came up with, in the end. It is a fine riding frameset, a bit on the heavy side and I don't care. Sometimes I think about how I can lower the weight, but I always get back to leaving that alone as it does not matter. The whole bike has been done with the only concern that I wind up with a decent looking bike that rides well. The reality is that I could have left the frameset with the original finish and just restored it as much a could be done, including fixing some areas of surface rust. It has been both a fun and a frustrating project, the frustration all directed at me.
In the end, I wound up with a bike that is really close to as I envisioned it. I am pretty sure the mostly blacked out components are going to stay. I had not used bar end shifters in close to 35 years. They work well, friction, and just make sense on this particular set up. I sure like them better than the DT levers.
In the end, I wound up with a bike that is really close to as I envisioned it. I am pretty sure the mostly blacked out components are going to stay. I had not used bar end shifters in close to 35 years. They work well, friction, and just make sense on this particular set up. I sure like them better than the DT levers.
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#1055
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: New York Metro Area
Posts: 3,880
Bikes: '02 Litespeed, '99 Bianchi Alfana. '91 Fuji Saratoga, '84 Peugeot Canyon Express, '82 Moto GR, '81 Fuji America, '81 Fuji Royale; '78 Bridgestone Diamond Touring, '76 Fuji America, plus many more!
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Those ACE frames are very nice. I don't think they made them in '88 however. There was no ACE model in the 1988 lineup. I believe yours is a '89 (unicorn fork). I had a 1990 which came with a semi sloping lugged fork. I built mine up with a mishmash of Shimano (105, Dura Ace, and Ultegra) and Sram (cranks).
It rides very well.
I've posted here before, but what the hell...
It rides very well.
I've posted here before, but what the hell...
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#1056
Senior Member
I didn't have a purple bike...
...so how could I not jump on this beautiful '87 Roubaix? Almost complete 105 6-speed group, which is in fantastic condition. It got fresh consumables all around. After a minor wheel truing, it'll be ready for the road.
Last edited by BFisher; 06-17-22 at 08:14 AM.
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#1058
Full Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 389
Bikes: Wow, where to start? A collection of 1980's and early 90's road, touring, and MTBs from the likes of Trek, Schwinn, Cannondale, Fuji, Miyata, Univega, Panasonic, and GT. It has gotten rather out of control.
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78 Posts
#1059
Senior Member
Interesting thing, I noticed the catalog specs SR hubs, but this bike has 105s. I failed to remember that I have the matching 105 headset until after I'd cleaned and repacked the original Hatta. I even have the pedals, but one of the clips is cracked.
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#1060
Full Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 389
Bikes: Wow, where to start? A collection of 1980's and early 90's road, touring, and MTBs from the likes of Trek, Schwinn, Cannondale, Fuji, Miyata, Univega, Panasonic, and GT. It has gotten rather out of control.
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78 Posts
Makes sense that the spec sheet may be incorrect. This was right around the time when Shimano was pretty much demanding manufacturers use their full group if they spec'd their drivetrain.
#1061
Full Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 389
Bikes: Wow, where to start? A collection of 1980's and early 90's road, touring, and MTBs from the likes of Trek, Schwinn, Cannondale, Fuji, Miyata, Univega, Panasonic, and GT. It has gotten rather out of control.
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78 Posts
Heads up in this region...sad condition though https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...ok_story_share
#1062
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2022
Location: USA - Southwest PA
Posts: 3,920
Bikes: Cannondale - Gary Fisher - Giant - Litespeed - Schwinn Paramount - Schwinn (lugged steel) - Trek OCLV
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nice looking Fuji at a flea market this past weekend
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#1063
Señor Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hardy, VA
Posts: 18,074
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
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700 Posts
Any early 70s The Finest owners out there .....what is your seat post size? Mine has a 26.4 in it but it is tight around the clamp area and im thinking the seatube clamp area where it inserts into the frame has been deformed a bit. I know some of the later ones....were 26.8.
This is specifically a low number K6 serial numbered frameset. Any K6 owners do me a favor and measure your seat post size or check it for me i would appreciate it.
This is specifically a low number K6 serial numbered frameset. Any K6 owners do me a favor and measure your seat post size or check it for me i would appreciate it.
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In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
#1064
Senior Member
I just bought (most of) what I think is a '74-ish The Finest. (I haven't actually seen in person it yet. It's at my son's house in Portland.)
Somewhere along the way its 27-inch wheels were swapped out in favor of tubulars (maybe some better hubs as well?). Trying to figure out what I should look for in the way of a crank, I checked the '74 Fuji catalog scan on Velobase. It doesn't list specific vendors or model names for anything though. Any idea what would have been delivered during the mid-70s?
(FWIW, I converted the multiple JPEG files in the Velobase scan into a multi-page PDF: Fuji74.pdf should anyone be interested in that sort of thing.)
Somewhere along the way its 27-inch wheels were swapped out in favor of tubulars (maybe some better hubs as well?). Trying to figure out what I should look for in the way of a crank, I checked the '74 Fuji catalog scan on Velobase. It doesn't list specific vendors or model names for anything though. Any idea what would have been delivered during the mid-70s?
(FWIW, I converted the multiple JPEG files in the Velobase scan into a multi-page PDF: Fuji74.pdf should anyone be interested in that sort of thing.)
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#1065
Senior Member
I just bought (most of) what I think is a '74-ish The Finest. (I haven't actually seen in person it yet. It's at my son's house in Portland.)
Somewhere along the way its 27-inch wheels were swapped out in favor of tubulars (maybe some better hubs as well?). Trying to figure out what I should look for in the way of a crank, I checked the '74 Fuji catalog scan on Velobase. It doesn't list specific vendors or model names for anything though. Any idea what would have been delivered during the mid-70s?
(FWIW, I converted the multiple JPEG files in the Velobase scan into a multi-page PDF: Fuji74.pdf should anyone be interested in that sort of thing.)
Somewhere along the way its 27-inch wheels were swapped out in favor of tubulars (maybe some better hubs as well?). Trying to figure out what I should look for in the way of a crank, I checked the '74 Fuji catalog scan on Velobase. It doesn't list specific vendors or model names for anything though. Any idea what would have been delivered during the mid-70s?
(FWIW, I converted the multiple JPEG files in the Velobase scan into a multi-page PDF: Fuji74.pdf should anyone be interested in that sort of thing.)
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#1066
Senior Member
Chris said the serial number was hard to read, but he suggested "5610593". Looking at the pic he sent, I suspect the second character is "G," but that doesn't line up with the description of the Fuji serial number decoder. It is kind of hard-to-read:
#1067
Senior Member
Thanks T-Mar. I might even have a Mighty in the bin. Interesting about the tubular wheels. That '74 catalog says 27-inch rims. Of course, if it's not a '74 I imagine it could be anything.
Chris said the serial number was hard to read, but he suggested "5610593". Looking at the pic he sent, I suspect the second character is "G," but that doesn't line up with the description of the Fuji serial number decoder. It is kind of hard-to-read:
Chris said the serial number was hard to read, but he suggested "5610593". Looking at the pic he sent, I suspect the second character is "G," but that doesn't line up with the description of the Fuji serial number decoder. It is kind of hard-to-read:
I suspect the letter prefix was poorly struck and it's ?6G10583. That would make July of Showa 46, which is 1971. That makes sense after having a closer look at the frame. First, it has the round track blades used only on the very early Finest models. Second, the front derailleur appears to be a Spirt, which is what was spec'd in 1971. In 1972 it was upgraded to the Compe-V.
As for the wheelset, it was fairly common to describe tubulars as being 27" during the early 1970s bicycle boom. Some even stated 27" on the label. The USA just couldn't get their head wrapped around non-Imperial tyre sizing. If you look at the old Fuji catalogues, it actually says "tubular" for the Finest, while the lower models say "W/O" (wired-on). Or you can look at the valves. The Finest is equipped with Presta and the lower models use Schraeder. High performance 700C wired-on wouldn't hit the markets until 1976, so when you see Presta in earlier catalogues they are almost invariably tubular.
Last edited by T-Mar; 10-20-22 at 03:30 PM.
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#1069
Bikes are okay, I guess.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 6,987
Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT
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The one in our showroom back then had Sunshine hubs and foam-filled Nisi tubular rims.
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#1070
Senior Member
The Sunshine hubs are correct but I remember the rims being Ukai, not Nisi. The core was filled with a plastic or foam material to increase rigidity. The tubular tyres were Toyo brand, later transitioning to Fuji branding.
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#1071
Senior Member
Thanks for the rim/hub updates. Now I'm really interested to get this bike home and check it all out. My son said the seller was the former owner of the Portland Bicycle Emporium. I wonder what other bits he still has stashed away...
#1072
Bikes are okay, I guess.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 6,987
Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT
Liked 2,493 Times
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1,582 Posts
#1073
Junior Member
'83 tsiv
#1074
Senior Member
78 America
I started a separate thread on this bike to chart any progress I make and for easy reference. Serial #78C50061 Sugino Mighty triple, 700c wheelset, Superbe/Mountech derailleurs. Appears to be mostly original, I suspect the pedals and saddle may be replacements. I'm not 100% sure but I think 77 to 78 may have been when the America model transitioned to a triple crankset and 700c wheels. Pictured as found this morning.
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Be where your feet are.......Lisa Bluder
Be where your feet are.......Lisa Bluder
#1075
Full Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 389
Bikes: Wow, where to start? A collection of 1980's and early 90's road, touring, and MTBs from the likes of Trek, Schwinn, Cannondale, Fuji, Miyata, Univega, Panasonic, and GT. It has gotten rather out of control.
Liked 173 Times
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78 Posts
I started a separate thread on this bike to chart any progress I make and for easy reference. Serial #78C50061 Sugino Mighty triple, 700c wheelset, Superbe/Mountech derailleurs. Appears to be mostly original, I suspect the pedals and saddle may be replacements. I'm not 100% sure but I think 77 to 78 may have been when the America model transitioned to a triple crankset and 700c wheels. Pictured as found this morning.
https://classicfuji.posthaven.com/19...-no-10-edition