Classic & Vintage - Fuji S12-S

I picked this bike up last weekend for $30. Was rideable, but put some new tires on it since the ones on it seemed to be rotting away.

Anyway I think this bike is from the mid 80's? I've been riding a MTN bike this year so from getting out on the road with this is a improvement till I decide if I want a new road bike (and what to buy).

What can anyone tell me about this bike. Search's came up empty.

Thanks

The Fuji S10 was the first Japanese made bike to really "crack" the US market. It was made specifically for US riders and was competitive with Euro bikes that cost considerably more.

Japanee bikes had been in the US. Nishiki imported some and Schwinn imported 1000s of Panasonics as LeTours but the Fuji really opened the market to the Japanese who had a huge share until later in the 80s when high yen prices drove manufacturing to Taiwan.

Yours is just a slightly newer version of the 1970s S10. A very good bike but probably not alot of collector interest. Hunt around www.sheldonbrown.com for a little more info though I've paraphrased alot of it here.

I always thought that the Fuji's were the cream of the crop of Japanese manufactured bicycles. The s12s was your standard all purpose road bike. It's impossible to say without looking at your bike, but I was selling Fuji s12s bikes in 1979.

Also check out this link. http://sheldonbrown.com/vrbn-a-f.html#fuji

For the most part, Fuji's were merely O.K. road/touring bikes. They weren't particularily light, or even that well made from what I saw of them in the late 70's. They were extremely common around here, and can often be found at garage sales for $10-$40.
At the bike shop, we used to make jokes about Fuji owners, since we considered most of them to be poseurs.

I wasn't really thinking it was a collectors item, I was just trying to find some info on the bike.

Thanks for the replies....

I wasn't really thinking it was a collectors item, I was just trying to find some info on the bike.

Thanks for the replies....
Fuji bikes of the 70's and early 80's are the best quality bikes I have ever ridden. I still have
my 1978 Fuji Sport, 12 speed. I would consider it a collectable bike because of its exceptional
high quality componets.

norsseman

I have been riding road bikes off and on since the 70's. I first started with a Motobecan, than proceeded to the Fuji S12S. I loved the Fuji's good handling and light weight. I paid somewhere in the $400 range back in the late 70's. I raised my family and kind of put road biking on the back burner. Recently I found another Fuji S12S that looks exactly like the one I had back in almost 30 years ago. Both tires were flat and the rubber just above the brakes was melted (probably stored in a plastic shed, where temperatures go into the 100 plus in hot weather) I cleaned it all up and took it for a ride and it really cruises with very little effort. 18 speeds helps. For the price This is the best bike I've ever had. I suppose if your willing to spend $2500 to get a couple pounds lighter in one of these carbon framed bikes, thats your choice, but, I'm really happy that this bike found me or I found it again. The Japanese had a point to prove with this bike, and they did that.

I picked this bike up last weekend for $30. Was rideable, but put some new tires on it since the ones on it seemed to be rotting awaw

I'd love to see some pics posted.

The first "decent" bike I had was a Fuji, purchased in I think 1983. Oddly enough, I can't remember the model, but it had non-aero hoods, a purplish-sort of frame color, screw-on brake cable clips on the top tube, 144 BCD Sugino Super-Mighty crank... . It was a very nice bike. I crashed into a truck and migrated the usable parts onto a Davidson Challenge in 1987.

edit: I'm replying to a 4 year old post... DOH!

SunTour introduced their 6 speed freewheel in 1978 and Fuji got a one year exclusive on it, so you would think that the S-12-S would have been introduced that year. but apparently they still used the S-10-S designation for that year. So it looks like it's no older than 1979, when Don D. was selling them.

The info I have is on a 1978 S-10-S, but it should be comparable to the early S-12-S models. It was 3rd from the bottom of the line and cost $250 US. Advertised weight was 26 lbs, but a Bicycling article of that year states 28 lbs. (I'm not sure if this is optimistic marketing on Fuji's part or a printing error form Rodale Press.) It specs a pretty long wheelbase and fairly low gearing, so I'd consider it a recreational tourer. The main frame was butted CrMo, but the stays and forks were hi-tensile steel. Components are typical for the era and price range.

I had always thought that this model had disappeared by the mid-1980s, but I may be wrong. The back of the derailleurs and cranks should have date codes that you decode using the info at the excellent Vintage-Trek webiste.

During this era, Fuji were welll repsected bicycles. Along with Miyata, they were generally considered the among the best of the Japanese, mass volume manufactuers.

Mueller, don't DOH yourself, you're not the one who brought this post back to life. Besides, it looks like the OP didn't really get the type of response he was after. Hopefully, he's still around.

Well, I'm going to put this post back up on top again with my 'find' this evening. I was responding to a FreeCycle ad, and the gifter was only about two miles away within the same town. Turns out the woman's granddaughter goes to school with my daughter.

Long story short, I went there to pick up the Fuji Berkeley she had, when she asked me if I also wanted this other no-name bike. Turns out the no-name was an S12-S. Very dirty but in otherwise beautiful shape. I spent this evening cleaning it up. The wheels are dead nuts on, brakes are nicely adjusted, shifts smoothly, etc. Only thing not original is the seat & bar tape. Brown, 25" (a slight bit large for me, but rideable if I am careful....).

Oh and the Berkeley? OK, but a bit modified, and not very well. Bar end shifters sort of jammed on, other hacks. Still, the price was right for two bikes, and the conversation about how she came to have these two bikes was quite entertaining!

Making sure I post on every Fuji thread I find...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/boysrus/Fjui%20S10-S/193_9316.jpg

A '77 S-10S, sporting a few mods. Yes, those are 700s. Love me some Fuji.

Still, the price was right for two bikes, and the conversation about how she came to have these two bikes was quite entertaining!

"Well....We're waiting." Judge Smails. :)

Figured someone would ask!

While most people in our area use a carting service, some still haul their trash to a regional transfer station. They also take metal and some bulk items for a small fee. The day Mrs. G was dropping off her trash bags, these two bikes were resting against the fence by the dumpster/compactor. She asked about them, and was told that if nobody wanted them, they were going for the deep dive later that day! Without really knowing why, she threw them into her wagon and headed home. She said that she was a child of the depression, and detested waste. It somehow seemed criminal to crush nice looking bikes.

When she got home, her daughter berated her for bring home more than she got rid of that day, and after some thought about how crazy it was to further stuff her garage with useless items, put them on the freecycle board.

If I had a need for it, I could also have had a junk lawn tractor, and a bunch of other things she has carted home! I like this lady!!

I have a 1981 S12S 18 speed that I purchased new. I have ridden it across the U.S. twice in 82 and 84 [from San Fran to Bar Harbor Maine] fully loaded. This past Sept my wife and I rode 700 miles in 7 days from Syracuse NY to again Bar Harbor with me on my trusty S12S. I have taken good care of the bike doing all maintenence myself.Besides tubes and tires the only modifications to the bike are a smaller small front chainwheel and bar end shifters. I have worn out 2 rear derailleurs and replaced the chain. I haven't counted the miles but I have to have well over 20,000 miles on it. My wife rides a 1980 Univega GranTurisimo that is a carbon copy of the S12S. I think these bikes will out live us all!:thumb:

ive got a S12-S. My first road bike, its a nice tough frame, rebuilding it currently.

If you are a purist, I suggest you skip this post.

I rode the S12-S a bit this weekend, and it renewed my prior feelings that I am not a true road bike guy. I just don't have the back for being down in the drops full time, and I don't feel in control riding the brake hoods. I'm spoiled by flat bars where I can rest a finger on the levers and be near the shifters for immediate response, and be a bit more upright and relaxed. So, in the American Engineering spirit, I decided to modify....

Step one was to add dual levers ('suicide levers') to the brakes. Here I got a bit creative and build up a unique hybrid system.

The S12-S comes with Dia Compe hoods/levers & 500G sidepull brakes. There is a quick release mechanism on the calipers. Lower end systems with dual levers usually have the quick release as a little swinging tab on the lower lever. There would be no good reason for a complete lever system change to gain the dual lever, as this would produce two quick releases. Remember that 'red button' pivot on the hoods? With some disassembly, that can be removed, and the long red button substituted that has the inner side extension for the dual lever. I had several extra sets of old duals lying around that I could scavenge parts, so did just that. My new system works quite well. It is true to the original, reversible, and functional as I need it.

Next up: replace the downtube shifters with stem shifters. Searching for parts now.... I have a cablestop to go where the current shifters are, but need a stem unit in good condition.

Otherwise, I really appreciate the upgraded engineering that a higher model in the lineup offers. I rode the 18 speed S12-S back to back with the 10 speed Berkeley, and the difference in total feel and performance was greater than I was expecting.

Just bought an '81 S12-S from the original owner for $195. The bike is in perfect condition with all the original parts, including tires. The guy said it has fewer than 30 miles on it, and I do not suspect he is exaggerating at all.

I love this bike and am looking forward to many good years of road travelling! I'll get a pic up when I get some batteries for my camera.

Just bought an '81 S12-S from the original owner for $195. The bike is in perfect condition with all the original parts, including tires. The guy said it has fewer than 30 miles on it, and I do not suspect he is exaggerating at all.

I love this bike and am looking forward to many good years of road travelling! I'll get a pic up when I get some batteries for my camera.

Can't wait to see photos! Sounds like a good price considering the condition, those S10's and S12's will last forever.


Scott

Here it is. I'm riding it in the National Multiple Sclerosis tour from St. Augustine to Daytona Beach, FL and back in October. Love this bike.

rreid, it looks nice, but can we get a real picture of it?

Hint hint: drive side.

Here it is. I'm riding it in the National Multiple Sclerosis tour from St. Augustine to Daytona Beach, FL and back in October. Love this bike.

Nice find, and thanks for bringing this thread up again - these are solid and underrated bikes! On a totally unrelated note, I have the same mirror on the wall of my living room, I got mine at Pier 1... Back on the Fuji subject, here's a '78 S10-S that a friend sold recently, it was too big for me but it was a nice ride.

http://www.boomspeed.com/artoflaw/incoming/fuji_01.jpg

Chris: great looking bike -- love that shade of blue! I got my mirror at Pier 1 also.

Big: I'll snap a shot from the other side soon!

http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac295/johncegw/Bike001.jpg

this is a club fuji i've had quite awhile, great bike. also pretty damn light with the val-lite tubing...ignore the high seat post a buddy of mine barrowed it that day...

Great Find.I have yet to see one ,local,for less than $125 .

I owned both the S-10-S & S-12-S back in the '70s. The S-10-S I bought used at an LBS. It was one of the earlier models, and the spokes in the rear wheel made an annoying "click-clacking" sound. Apparently it was a problem experienced by other riders. I don't remember how, but I got rid of that one. I then bought a new left-over S-12-S (yellow), which I put some heavy mileage on. I liked the Ukai rims and Belt saddles on those bikes. Back then they were a very decent bike for your average suburban cyclist. Pretty dependable and smooth. As far as the quality is concerned, I worked in a shop as kid and found many of the entry-level European bikes to be a nightmare. To me the Fuji was well thought out and well made, and a dream to work on compared to some of the other bikes I had to work on. I currently have filled the S-12-S niche with a Fuji Royale, which to me is like an S-12-S that has been improved upon. The Look saddles it came with, though, are not as nice as the Belt saddles.

I picked this bike up last weekend for $30. Was rideable, but put some new tires on it since the ones on it seemed to be rotting away.

Anyway I think this bike is from the mid 80's? I've been riding a MTN bike this year so from getting out on the road with this is a improvement till I decide if I want a new road bike (and what to buy).

What can anyone tell me about this bike. Search's came up empty.

Thanks

You just picked up the bike that changed the biking world back in the late 70's. The First japanese bike of decent quality called the S10S, then the S12S. We had heavy Schwinns back then and expensive Italian and French Bikes. The Japanese revolutionized the Bike Market with some great Bikes for a decent price at that time. They are still my favorite bikes to this day. Schwinn had Panasonic make the Le Tour back in the late 70's to keep up with the popularity of the Fujis. I sold my S12 S for $250 last year on CL but it was in mint condition and Had 18 speeds. Check out this website. Sheldon passed on a year or two ago, but his research lives on. There is info on this bike there. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/articles.html

Wingnut didn't just pick up the bike...he did so in 2003! Kind of a perennial post though, maybe there should be stickies for people who have similar queries NOT related to what it's worth. Like:

"I just picked up a Fuji S10!"
"I just picked up something called a Miyata!"
"I just picked up some weird bike with curly stays but am bending them back into shape!"

okay, maybe not that last one.

Making sure I post on every Fuji thread I find...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/boysrus/Fjui%20S10-S/193_9316.jpg

A '77 S-10S, sporting a few mods. Yes, those are 700s. Love me some Fuji.

Gotta love it! This is an '81 Royale that was made in November 1980 when Reagan won the election. Just rode it yesterday. Brings back memories of my old Special Road Racers.