Classic & Vintage - Info about this Fuji?

Picked up this bike at a garage sale: Fuji Supreme, Fuji Valite Tubing, rear d is suntour 7 GT. I think it is mid 80's. Anyone know anything about this bike? Good? Bad? Ugly? I am using it as a commuter and "grocery getter" i have ordered a single wheel trailer for it. Any info would be appreciated :D

Picked up this bike at a garage sale: Fuji Supreme, Fuji Valite Tubing, rear d is suntour 7 GT. I think it is mid 80's. Anyone know anything about this bike? Good? Bad? Ugly? I am using it as a commuter and "grocery getter" i have ordered a single wheel trailer for it. Any info would be appreciated :D


Based on the quality of the tubing and the derailleur mentioned, this bike was in the lower end of Fuji's line
with the observation that Fuji is a quality brand, so there is no "junk" in Fujis lineup. The tubing, if I recall correctly is a type of Hi-Tension steel, heavier than chromoly but certainly adequately strong. Are your wheels steel or aluminum? Also, if you haven't already, check tires, tubes and rimstrips to see if replacement is needed. Ditto for the brake pads. If your going to be hauling a trailer with its extra weight , the condition of the brakes in general (cables pads, and overall adjustment) will be crucial, even more so if your wheels are steel, since brakes always work better on aluminum rims due to the slippery nature of a chromed steel surface.

My wife rode a Fuji Supreme just like that for a number of years. Her's had Valite tubing nd SunTour components. Had a 6speed freewheel which Fuji thought was a big enough deal to put "12 Speed" decals on the chain stays. We bought it used when we rode with a college bike club before we got married, probably in 1985. I'd guess the bike from around 1979, a time when "12 speeds" weren't all that common.

Adequately light. Her's had alloy rims and galvanized spokes.Later had wheels built with Wolber Super Champion rims and stainless steel spokes. Bike still lives. Sent it to her brother. They live out in the sticks with no paved roads so it's attached to a stationary trainer. That bike's had alot of miles and still going.

:beer:

The tubing, if I recall correctly is a type of Hi-Tension steel, heavier than chromoly but certainly adequately strong.

Hi Tom, Valite was a proprietary tubing that was at least double butted and MUCH lighter than Hi Tension steel. My Club Fuji w/ Valite is an '85 model and the tubing is quad-butted and extremely light and strong. When I purchased the bike in the spring of '85, I paid almost 600 dollars for it, and it was on sale at the time.

Mr. Jim, you've got a great frame there. Whatever you decide to do with it, whether as a single speed commuter or a gear cruncher, you'll be quite happy with the ride. Enjoy!

Hi Tom, Valite was a proprietary tubing that was at least double butted and MUCH lighter than Hi Tension steel. My Club Fuji w/ Valite is an '85 model and the tubing is quad-butted and extremely light and strong. When I purchased the bike in the spring of '85, I paid almost 600 dollars for it, and it was on sale at the time.

Mr. Jim, you've got a great frame there. Whatever you decide to do with it, whether as a single speed commuter or a gear cruncher, you'll be quite happy with the ride. Enjoy!


Yup...you're right..after a bit of research, turns out that Valite is a vanadium steel with a better pedigree than Hi-Tension steel...lighter and stronger...thanks for pointing this out..

Thanks for the info guys, Rims are aluminum, and I am replacing tires tubes rim tape and brake pads before hauling the trailer. I am taking it on a long road trip later this week (200+ miles)

I am going to rebuild this bike and thought I would bump this back up. Does anyone see any problems with adding modern components to this bike? I do know about rear triangle spacing and think I will be fine with that. I would like to not replace the front der and crank if possible and just run them in friction mode with Barends. I am going to change it to 700c wheels and replace the chain and rear der probably with a shimano deore if that would work with the suntour components

I am going to rebuild this bike and thought I would bump this back up. Does anyone see any problems with adding modern components to this bike? I do know about rear triangle spacing and think I will be fine with that. I would like to not replace the front der and crank if possible and just run them in friction mode with Barends. I am going to change it to 700c wheels and replace the chain and rear der probably with a shimano deore if that would work with the suntour components

The only potential problems I see here are changing wheel sizes, and possibly the reach of the rear derailleur. If you have brake calipers that will allow you to position the brake pads properly on the rims, that won't be an issue - but if not... I'm not sure how many speeds you want to make this, but not all rear derailleurs have the range to carry a chain across 9 or 10 gears in the back.

I am going to rebuild this bike and thought I would bump this back up. Does anyone see any problems with adding modern components to this bike? I do know about rear triangle spacing and think I will be fine with that. I would like to not replace the front der and crank if possible and just run them in friction mode with Barends. I am going to change it to 700c wheels and replace the chain and rear der probably with a shimano deore if that would work with the suntour components

My restoration (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=409782&highlight=)

All kinds of modern components. Others have done more. It's not that hard, if you know what you're doing.