Classic & Vintage - Should I buy this Fuji S12?

I really know very little about bikes but am looking to buy my first one since I was a kid and could use a little help from some pros about a potential purchase.

Long story short: I'm 6'7" so I assume that most bikes I find will be too small. I'm looking for a used road bike that won't be too pricey (i.e. under $200) for my first bike.

So why am I posting in this forum? Because I'm being offered a Fuji S12 for $150 and honestly have no idea if it's worth it, though I am starting to suspect that it's a pretty high asking price. (Seriously, I don't know much about this, any of you here could swindle me easily. :P)

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/3121/fujit.jpg


I'll cross my fingers hoping for some helpful feedback. Unfortunately I haven't lurked here enough to know what an ignorant new poster should expect.

Looks much too small for you. At 6'3" I prefer a 63cm frame, that looks like a 58cm. I would hold out for something larger.
Could be the angle but the fork looks bent forward too.

I would pass on that. If it was spotless and had been kept indoors that price might fly.

An S12 was my first real road bike back in 1976. It's a HEAVY bike. While not as porky as a Varsity, it's still no light weight.

Don't confuse an S12-S with a Sports 12 ... This is a Sports 12, not at all the same animal.

The first reference I can see at ClassicFuji.com is 1980 for this model .. but the components on the photo provided by the OP suggest a mid '70's model Sports 10. The style of the Dia Compe top tube cable clips suggest a much earlier bike as well.

Scott

Waaaay to small of a bike for someone 6'7".

You won't be comfortable on that bike. Please keep looking.

OP, where are you from?

I suppose it all depends on how aggresive a riding posture you prefer, but I can't fathom one in which a 58-59cm frame will accomodate a person 6'7". I'm 6'0" and ride 63cm (25") frames. That said I have long legs and prefer a slightly more relaxed posture for long distances. Schwinn, Raleigh, Nishiki and others produced many of their models in 27" (68cm) sizes. I think you should be looking for one of those. Searching for "tall" or "large" frame bikes should yield some results. In your case you're going to have to be patient. Good luck!

+10 Way too small.

+10 Poor condition.

+10 Not an S12S unfortunately. Sport 12 is bottom of the barrel. S12S is a pretty decent bike.

Its a big NO on this deal.

You need to look for a XXL frame, something like a 66cm to 68 cm frame size. They are rare, but they are out there. And the good news is that there are not many buyers for bikes that large, so they usually sell at a discount.

Thanks everyone. I really do appreciate the feedback. I've been wanting to finally get a bike for the last year or two (granted, my interest goes up and down in waves) but never feel like I know enough to make a smart decision and don't want to pay full price for a brand new one for my first one.

@Scott - Good to know. I thought I had picked up on bike lingo of shortening calling a Sports 12 to S12. Whoops!!

@cb400 - I live in Minneapolis, MN. Called a local refurbished bike shop that a friend recommended to see if they had anything my size, sadly they didn't.

Here are a few finds on the Minneapolis CL.

http://re-cycle.com/bike.aspx?pic=3580 This is the nicest tall bike I found. Overpriced for its condition. Someone tell me why they put 170mm cranks on bikes this tall?

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/bik/1807556598.html As usual, the pics suck. Not a high-end bike and not worth the asking price, but chances are anyone selling a frame this big has had it a while and just wants it gone. Keep that in mind when making an offer on a bike.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/bik/1800567483.html Probably a touch shorter than ideal. Bar-end shifters are nice.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/bik/1791716376.html Way overpriced.

Oh, you're in C&V member Khatful's area. Don't worry, he only likes pink and turquoise Fujis .. :lol:


Scott

Oh good to hear. I'd hate to have him buying up everything that was half way decent out from under me. But I'm just fine with letting the pink and turquoise Fujis pass. :)

@Lloyd - I emailed the second link you posted. That's actually my neighborhood in Minneapolis so it shouldn't be too hard to get over there for a test ride at least. Hope they'll come down in price a bit.

So I'm actually going to take a look at this one today:
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hn...807556598.html (http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/bik/1807556598.html)

Any pro tips on what a newcomer like me should know/look for on this bike?

Dang, if I weren't flying out on business in 3 hours or so I'd offer to take a look with you.

Size looks good for you.
Appears to be an 82 Supreme: http://classicfuji.com/Supreme_1982_Page.htm
If the little pics are any indication it looks to be in really nice shape.
Make sure everything that turns turns freely without any "catches" or 'clicks" or anything that feels out of the ordinary.
You'll probably want to replace cables and housings, perhaps tires and tubes, maybe some fresh bar tape.
It's not a lightweight, but not a boat anchor either.

Tell you what, if you do get it PM me...I'd be happy to help you assess it. I won't be back in town until Saturday again but after the 4th I'd be happy to lend a hand.

Also, try to work on the price too :) Unfortunately MSP market prices are pretty high compared to other parts of the country....such is life when you live in the #1 bicycle friendly city in the US huh?

-Keith

That is a big 'un isn't it?

Scott

That is a big 'un isn't it? Scott

So is a 6'7" rider :)

Good thing you stopped by here first, that first bike you posted is way too small. At 6'6" I know what you are going through to find a bike that fits. You will want to go with a 66cm to 70cm frame, don't fool yourself and think 63cm is close. You will feel cramped on it.

Out of the bikes posted by the Colonel, you made the right choice to look at the Fuji first. The others are overpriced, but I don't know the Minneapolis market.

Some of the bikes I always look that come in a large frae and are a good value for around $200 are;

Bridgestone 400 - I have 2 in 69cm's. They are relatively light for their size. The top tubes are longer than most larger bikes at 63cm.

Fuji Royale - A step up from the Supreme in frame material and componets.

Bianchi's - Hard to find, but they did make some 70cm frames.

Schwinn LeTour- Models vary aloy by years, but the late 80's were True Temper 4130 Cro-mo frames. They came in 27".

Panasonic 200 or 300.

Basically many of the Japanese brands made some of their mid level bikes in larger frames. Try to get something Cro-mo from Univega, Fuji, Bridgestone or Fuji. There are some Reynolds 531 frames in larger sizes but they are very rare.

The best way to search CL is use "Very Large "or "Very Tall" or try "69cm". You may find some custom builders that made large frames that way.

That Fuji looks nice, but the prices in Minneapolis market lately are starting to get out of control.

I volunteer at Mr. Michael Recycles Bicycles (http://mmrbstore.com/). I was planning on going in tonight; I'll ask if he has any very tall frames he'd be willing to sell if you don't get the Fuji. He did have some 25" frames, but there may be a 27" floating around.

Shame you're not in Nashville...price is even right:

http://nashville.craigslist.org/bik/1789965005.html

Kind of wild how the xtra tall frames make the wheels look like 20 inchers

OP, let us know how it went looking at the Fuji.

Just got back home, tried the bike out earlier this afternoon. The chain was coming off the gear at first, but the guy selling it seems to know a thing or two about bikes (i.e. more than me) and with a quick adjustment with the screwdriver had it tighter on there and working correctly.

Took it for a short ride around the neighborhood. (Side note: I love living in NE Minneapolis) It felt big enough, which was good. It was shifting and breaking decently too. I'm obviously no expert but I'd suspect both are things that could be worked on in the future to make tighter and more responsive, but I didn't have any issues either.

It has been years since I've ridden a bike, so half the time I was trying to get comfortable again. Can't say I enjoyed the comfort of the seat a whole lot, but figure I'd either get used to it or get a better one.

The couple who I met is selling it for their brother and said they think he'd be willing to negotiate some with the price. Oh, and you're right about the year, said it was an 82 or 83 (I forget which now) with its original parts. I told them I was going to get back to them after doing some more research on the bike and thinking it over for a few days.


So you know what the saddest part of this whole thing was? If any of you would have seen me, a 30 year old 6'7" man who hasn't ridden a bike regularly since the mid 90s, trying to get comfortable on one again. I bet I looked awkward as all get out...

I bet I looked awkward as all get out...

Yea, but I bet it felt pretty good didn't it?

I've been there, I know.

Scott

For some uknown reason, I seem to find a lot of Panasonics in sizes that are nearly appropriate for a guy your size, and not so much for a guy like me (5'8-1/2"). I would keep that in my quiver of search terms for bicycles in your size range.

Does your hair graze most door frames? They tend to be 6'-8" or 7'-0", and I could never comprehend why...

That Fuji looks nice, but the prices in Minneapolis market lately are starting to get out of control.

I volunteer at Mr. Michael Recycles Bicycles (http://mmrbstore.com/). I was planning on going in tonight; I'll ask if he has any very tall frames he'd be willing to sell if you don't get the Fuji. He did have some 25" frames, but there may be a 27" floating around.

No 27" frames in the shop; sorry.



Took it for a short ride around the neighborhood. (Side note: I love living in NE Minneapolis)

Because it's like St. Paul? :p


It felt big enough, which was good. It was shifting and breaking decently too. I'm obviously no expert but I'd suspect both are things that could be worked on in the future to make tighter and more responsive, but I didn't have any issues either.

It has been years since I've ridden a bike, so half the time I was trying to get comfortable again. Can't say I enjoyed the comfort of the seat a whole lot, but figure I'd either get used to it or get a better one.

The couple who I met is selling it for their brother and said they think he'd be willing to negotiate some with the price. Oh, and you're right about the year, said it was an 82 or 83 (I forget which now) with its original parts. I told them I was going to get back to them after doing some more research on the bike and thinking it over for a few days.


So you know what the saddest part of this whole thing was? If any of you would have seen me, a 30 year old 6'7" man who hasn't ridden a bike regularly since the mid 90s, trying to get comfortable on one again. I bet I looked awkward as all get out...

Hey, who cares? I'm a slobby middle-aged man riding a Raleigh 3-speed, but I feel like I'm twelve years old again when I'm on my bike. Enjoy the ride.

Hey, I just stumbled across this:

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/bik/1816951944.html

That looks like it may fit. I can't tell if it's a 25" or a 27". I have no idea if that price is reasonable or not, though.

I can't tell if it's a 25" or a 27". Looks like what Raleigh sold as a 25" (64ish). Mid-eighties vintage. The saddle looks shot, but that price sounds fair in my neck of the woods. If you're 6'7"and of average leg/torso proportion you'd probably best fit on the next size up, but it couldn't hurt to put a few miles on it if it's not out of your way.

I don't think the Olympian came in a 27", my guess is it is a 25". The larger Raleigh's I see are mostly Gran Prix's , Teams(basically a Gran Prix) and Marathons. The Gran Prix's was available with bar end shifters, which are nice when you don't have to reach so far down.

I have heard the Supercourse came in 27", but have yet to find one. That would be one of my holy grails.

I get kidded that I must look like Big Bird on a bike whenever I tell someone I ride. I don't think my butt is as big as his, so I can live with that.

I don't think the Olympian came in a 27", my guess is it is a 25". The larger Raleigh's I see are mostly Gran Prix's , Teams(basically a Gran Prix) and Marathons. The Gran Prix's was available with bar end shifters, which are nice when you don't have to reach so far down.

I have heard the Supercourse came in 27", but have yet to find one. That would be one of my holy grails.

I get kidded that I must look like Big Bird on a bike whenever I tell someone I ride. I don't think my butt is as big as his, so I can live with that.

It would appear to be a 25": http://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/catalogs/1985/pages/10raleigh-olympian.html

your in a bit of a no mans land for buying a bike. Buying one new could be a great idea just so you could get properly fitted and start out proper from the get go. Generally a bike shop is going to include fitting as well as future adjustments and tuning in the price of the bike so while you pay more there is definate value. The downside is that if you decide that cycling isn't for you, your gonna have a much harder time selling a huge framed bike.
One word about craigslist and classifieds in general. Virtually nobody posts their true asking price because everyone knows people are always going to talk you down.

Things to check for.
1. Take a magnet to the rims, seat post, stem and handlebars. the spec sheet that was posted above at http://classicfuji.com/Supreme_1982_Page.htm says it's all alloy so magnet shouldn't hold.
2. do the wheels spin true? If not, are they way out of wack. Regardless, At 6'7" I'm guessing your also well north of 200lbs, probably a good idea to ride the bike some and then get spokes retensioned.
3. how are the tires? has this just been sitting around rendering the tires dried and cracked. Tires aren't crazy expensive, but 2 decent quality ones can set you back $40 which is more added expense so you should deduct from their asking price.

If this bike is in good condition, I actually think it's a very good buy at 235 bucks, not necessarily becaues of some collectible value but because of the fact that it will be a bike that actually FITS you and with all of the alloy parts on it (as opposed to steel which is heavier) it's a pretty damn good bike. I bought my beatup Nishik for $30 but when all is said and done, I'll have spent about $350 to put on new alloy parts that function properly and get the weight down from 32lbs to 26. One change to consider is going to a 7speed freewheel instead of the 6 speed. the specs on that page say the gears are 14,16,19, 22, 26, 30. I swapped out the 5 speed freewheel on my 83Nishiki with Suntour Honor Rear Derailer (not as good a derailer as the one that should be on this bike) for a 7 speed Shimano Megarange that is geared 14-16-18-20-22-24-34. The spacing between gears is MUCH smoother and the 34 tooth gets me up the BIGGEST of hills. Again, I assume that at 6'7" your well north of 200 lbs and this would be a very nice simple upgrade to make. The freewheel cost me $13 from aebike.com. Bike shop would swap it out and tune the derailer for probably 20 bucks if not less. If someone tells you that derailer wont work tell them "Reverse the B screw". That is what i did on my Honor and it works with the 34 tooth big ring no problem!

EDIT:Nashbar has a 7 speed freewheel (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_175150_-1_201521_10000_200429)geared 13,15,17,19,21,24,32 I think I like those gear combo's even better!

It's looking like I'm going to get that Fuji this weekend for $215. Not much cheaper than they were asking originally, but between my hatred of haggling and that it seems about worth it, I think I'll just take it at that.

Btw, thanks everyone a TON for the help. I've been shocked how friendly everyone has been on here, I must be used to much more cynical message boards. :P

@CPFitness, you are correct. I'm about 255. Well north of 200 pounds!

ebay and Craigslist have tall frames and bikes available.

I'm looking at buying this :http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/bik/1842473235.html I'm just wondering how much to offer. I was thinking 150-180. I'm also thinking about converting it to fixed and would thus need a single speed crank. Anyone know what crank size I need?

I'm looking at buying this :http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/bik/1842473235.html I'm just wondering how much to offer. I was thinking 150-180. I'm also thinking about converting it to fixed and would thus need a single speed crank. Anyone know what crank size I need?

Crank size?

brain fart. I just want to know if i can put a modern crank on the bike.