Very Early North American Fuji Urban Barn Find
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Very Early North American Fuji Urban Barn Find
Thirty Six Views of Mt Fuji ... plus one more
I've been taking more of an interest in Japanese bikes of late, after having my interest piqued when I lucked out and picked up a local 3Rensho frame & fork not long ago and even more after reading ScottRyder 's "Japanese Steel".
While perusing the local online ads, a very vague posting for a local old ten-speed Fuji accompanied by a couple of blurry, off-angle pictures kept showing up for the past month or two. I finally took a closer look and saw what appeared to be chrome lugs, though I couldn't be sure. After a few weeks of reaching out to the seller, I finally received a response and this week picked up what I think may be a diamond in the rough.
I'm still doing my research, but I think this may be a very early (1971?) North American Fuji "The Finest" (it has a very low "K6" (Showa 46) serial number on the downtube). It seems to be a bit of a time capsule. I was told by the apartment manager chap who was selling it, that he was doing so on behalf "of the original owner, a very old gentleman". Well, he seems to have good taste and ridden this quite a bit at some time even if it has been sitting indoors for decades. I wasn't able to glean any more than that of it's provenance, but he clearly upgraded the wheels, replacing the originals with some really nice Mavic MA40s laced to Campagnolo Record Hubs.
I haven't decided what I'm going to do with it yet. I haven't even dusted her off. I'll probably replace the original Fujita Seamless Super Y.F.C Model No. 800 saddle with a really nice Japanese period SPEEDIC Professional saddle produced by the Takahashi Saddle Co. that I have kicking around from another project.
The early Dia-Compe center pull brakes and levers stood out to me, as did the Sugino crank and early Suntour derailleurs (V-GT). I'm not sure what generation they are, but I think they're pretty early. The bars are Italian Modolo Speedy Anatomic Alloy and I'm not sure about the stem. The seatpost is a Japanese Fujita Hupel "Creep" Rider which I think came stock. Some other curiosities are that this bike has Yuko Cold Forged dropouts, not Suntour like most of the later ones, and it also has what I think is an Ishiwata 512 "track style" fork crown like the early Fuji track bikes.
Overall, I think I lucked out and managed to pick up a really nice bike with a TON of character for just a couple hundred bucks. I'm really looking forward to cleaning her up, replacing the tires, and riding her as much as I can as I get to know her. If anyone can educate me on these early Fujis or recommend any changes aside from the regular "barn find" pre-ride maintenance, I would appreciate hearing any and all advice.
I will post more photos as I get her cleaned up (sorry for the poor photos, these were literally taken "as-found").
PS I think my favorite detail is the seat clamp bolt which has the logo with Mt. Fuji very subtly on it, sitting right above the not at all subtly mirrored chrome seat stay cap.
I've been taking more of an interest in Japanese bikes of late, after having my interest piqued when I lucked out and picked up a local 3Rensho frame & fork not long ago and even more after reading ScottRyder 's "Japanese Steel".
While perusing the local online ads, a very vague posting for a local old ten-speed Fuji accompanied by a couple of blurry, off-angle pictures kept showing up for the past month or two. I finally took a closer look and saw what appeared to be chrome lugs, though I couldn't be sure. After a few weeks of reaching out to the seller, I finally received a response and this week picked up what I think may be a diamond in the rough.
I'm still doing my research, but I think this may be a very early (1971?) North American Fuji "The Finest" (it has a very low "K6" (Showa 46) serial number on the downtube). It seems to be a bit of a time capsule. I was told by the apartment manager chap who was selling it, that he was doing so on behalf "of the original owner, a very old gentleman". Well, he seems to have good taste and ridden this quite a bit at some time even if it has been sitting indoors for decades. I wasn't able to glean any more than that of it's provenance, but he clearly upgraded the wheels, replacing the originals with some really nice Mavic MA40s laced to Campagnolo Record Hubs.
I haven't decided what I'm going to do with it yet. I haven't even dusted her off. I'll probably replace the original Fujita Seamless Super Y.F.C Model No. 800 saddle with a really nice Japanese period SPEEDIC Professional saddle produced by the Takahashi Saddle Co. that I have kicking around from another project.
The early Dia-Compe center pull brakes and levers stood out to me, as did the Sugino crank and early Suntour derailleurs (V-GT). I'm not sure what generation they are, but I think they're pretty early. The bars are Italian Modolo Speedy Anatomic Alloy and I'm not sure about the stem. The seatpost is a Japanese Fujita Hupel "Creep" Rider which I think came stock. Some other curiosities are that this bike has Yuko Cold Forged dropouts, not Suntour like most of the later ones, and it also has what I think is an Ishiwata 512 "track style" fork crown like the early Fuji track bikes.
Overall, I think I lucked out and managed to pick up a really nice bike with a TON of character for just a couple hundred bucks. I'm really looking forward to cleaning her up, replacing the tires, and riding her as much as I can as I get to know her. If anyone can educate me on these early Fujis or recommend any changes aside from the regular "barn find" pre-ride maintenance, I would appreciate hearing any and all advice.
I will post more photos as I get her cleaned up (sorry for the poor photos, these were literally taken "as-found").
PS I think my favorite detail is the seat clamp bolt which has the logo with Mt. Fuji very subtly on it, sitting right above the not at all subtly mirrored chrome seat stay cap.
Last edited by CriticalThought; 11-10-22 at 05:11 PM.
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Great find! That looks like it should clean up nicely.
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Really well proportioned bike. Thank you for sharing!
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Very nice, and I’m sure you will enjoy the riding experience.
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Yes, that's a 1971-1972 Fuji Finest. While the frame was manufactured during Showa 46 (1971), it could be a 1972 model if manufactured late in the calendar year. We have seen examples of the round bladed, track style forks on both 1971 and 1972 models. Normally, we would be able to determine 1971 versus 1972 via the front derailleur but in this case, it's a replacement. The rear derailleur is also replacement. While it's era correct, the Finest did not come with the long cage V-GT and that large of a freewheel. I believe that is the 2nd generation of the V-GT. The wheels were probably replaced due to owner frustration with the OEM tubulars, while the bars and stem would almost certainly be to rectify a fit/comfort issue. The third character in the serial number, should give us a good idea of whether it is a 1971 or 1972 model, provided it's not in the grey transition period.
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I concur with all your analysis and assessments. Hard to believe it was almost 15 years ago when I made a 3 hour drive to pick up a 1972 Fuji Finest (in white). It is probably my most-used and very comfortable and reliable... plus can easily be mistaken for a PX-10 from a distance.
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Yes, that's a 1971-1972 Fuji Finest. While the frame was manufactured during Showa 46 (1971), it could be a 1972 model if manufactured late in the calendar year. We have seen examples of the round bladed, track style forks on both 1971 and 1972 models. Normally, we would be able to determine 1971 versus 1972 via the front derailleur but in this case, it's a replacement. The rear derailleur is also replacement. While it's era correct, the Finest did come with the long cage V-GT. I believe that is the 2nd generation of the V-GT. The wheels were probably replaced due to owner frustration with the OEM tubulars, while the bars and stem would almost certainly be to rectify a fit/comfort issue. The third character in the serial number, should give us a good idea of whether it is a 1971 or 1972 model, provided it's not in the grey transition period.
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Bar end shifter levers would have been an owner modification. Both the 1971 and 1972 versions on the Finest came with down tube mounted shift levers.
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I think some of the seventies Japanese lightweights are very nice. This is an example and it will be nice to see(hopefully) pics of it all cleaned up. My first lightweight bike was a Kabuki Diamond Formula , not as nice as this bike, but it was very light for a 25” frame and a joy to ride. I still have it . After years on a Schwinn Varsity , it felt incredibly quick and easily handled long rides without wearing me out.
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Early 1970s Fuji The Finest
Thanks for all of the nice comments everyone.
T-Mar I really appreciate all of the background info. I haven't had time to clean it yet, but I did wipe her down and take off the accessories just to get a sense of what she really looks like.
The serial number is one of the very first K6J00xxx series. What does that third "J" tell us? Thanks for the info on the derailleurs, freewheel, and other added pieces. It all makes sense as the original owner rode it in the Rockies, so I'm sure the gearing was the first thing he changed.
I hope you, Kabuki12 , and the rest of the gang appreciate the below photos. I feel pretty lucky to have picked this up as it is in great shape.
I still need to do the usual cleaning, greasing, adjusting, etc. necessary when a bike has been sitting for as long as this has, but once I do, and once I get my Speedic Professional saddle and some gum-walls on her (and trim the cables), I think I'm going to have some great rides in store! Cheers.
T-Mar I really appreciate all of the background info. I haven't had time to clean it yet, but I did wipe her down and take off the accessories just to get a sense of what she really looks like.
The serial number is one of the very first K6J00xxx series. What does that third "J" tell us? Thanks for the info on the derailleurs, freewheel, and other added pieces. It all makes sense as the original owner rode it in the Rockies, so I'm sure the gearing was the first thing he changed.
I hope you, Kabuki12 , and the rest of the gang appreciate the below photos. I feel pretty lucky to have picked this up as it is in great shape.
I still need to do the usual cleaning, greasing, adjusting, etc. necessary when a bike has been sitting for as long as this has, but once I do, and once I get my Speedic Professional saddle and some gum-walls on her (and trim the cables), I think I'm going to have some great rides in store! Cheers.
Last edited by CriticalThought; 11-11-22 at 03:16 PM.
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Thanks for all of the nice comments everyone.
T-Mar I really appreciate all of the background info. I haven't had time to clean it yet, but I did wipe her down and take off the accessories just to get a sense of what she really looks like.
The serial number is one of the very first K6J00xxx series. What does that third "J" tell us? Thanks for the info on the derailleurs, freewheel, and other added pieces. It all makes sense as the original owner rode it in the Rockies, so I'm sure the gearing was the first thing he changed.
I hope you, Kabuki12 , and the rest of the gang appreciate the below photos. I feel pretty lucky to have picked this up as it is in great shape.
I still need to do the usual cleaning, greasing, adjusting, etc. necessary when a bike has been sitting for as long as this has, but once I do, and once I get my Speedic Professional saddle and some gum-walls on her (and trim the cables), I think I'm going to have some great rides in store! Cheers.
T-Mar I really appreciate all of the background info. I haven't had time to clean it yet, but I did wipe her down and take off the accessories just to get a sense of what she really looks like.
The serial number is one of the very first K6J00xxx series. What does that third "J" tell us? Thanks for the info on the derailleurs, freewheel, and other added pieces. It all makes sense as the original owner rode it in the Rockies, so I'm sure the gearing was the first thing he changed.
I hope you, Kabuki12 , and the rest of the gang appreciate the below photos. I feel pretty lucky to have picked this up as it is in great shape.
I still need to do the usual cleaning, greasing, adjusting, etc. necessary when a bike has been sitting for as long as this has, but once I do, and once I get my Speedic Professional saddle and some gum-walls on her (and trim the cables), I think I'm going to have some great rides in store! Cheers.
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