Classic & Vintage - First road bike - Fuji S-10-S

I recently acquired a '77 Fuji S-10-S 12-speed. It was my dads but it was just collecting dust in the cellar and I am going to take it to school with me this semester.

I'm pretty sure it's all original except for the seat and the tires. I like it a lot, fits me well (I'm a tall guy, 6'6) and rides very well and smooth. It's a very quiet bike and feels sturdy.

Body has some paint chipped off and small rust spots but it is structurally sound.

http://img411.imageshack.us/i/img0614v.jpg/

http://img24.imageshack.us/i/img0616cl.jpg/

What do you guys think? I'm thinking I want to take off the foam on the handlebars and get some cool looking tape on it, and maybe a new seat somewhere down the road. I was told a Brooks B-17 would be a nice touch.

OP pics, for convenience.

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/5572/img0614v.jpg

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/6589/img0616cl.jpg



I was told a Brooks B-17 would be a nice touch.

That or a Fujita Belt, which was original to the bike.

That is a fine first road bike, but I am very biased. It was mine too.

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae179/beech332/Rides/03-16-10/104_0489.jpg(mental note: I really need to get an updated pic)

As it probably has sentimental value, make sure you protect it. Bikes on college campuses rarely last long.

Nice Bike ! Get a good lock, lots of bike theves on every campus. Plus, there are times when students go out drinking and come back and stomp wheels for what ever reasons vandals do what they do.

New bar tape would look better and likely be more comfortable to ride with.

Buy a good lock and then lock the bike up in your dorm room.

....
Buy a good lock and then lock the bike up in your dorm room.

+1 to that. It will be gone in a NY minute if you forget.

ALSO - Before you ride it anywhere you need to service the bearings in the wheel bubs and crank bottom bracket. Sitting for as long as it has, the lubricant could be like dry mud.

Thanks a lot for the replies!


+1 to that. It will be gone in a NY minute if you forget.

ALSO - Before you ride it anywhere you need to service the bearings in the wheel bubs and crank bottom bracket. Sitting for as long as it has, the lubricant could be like dry mud.

I would like to check into this issue to make sure that it is okay on my bike, but I am pretty much a newb to bike terminology so would you mind explaining where the "wheel bubs" and "crank bottom bracket" are? First thing before I rode this bike I took it to a local bike shop around here and they did a "tune-up" on it for $64 and also installed a new tube in the rear tire.

Would you expect that the mechanic who did the tune-up would have checked these locations that were mentioned before? I would really like in the future to be able to take care of my bike myself and not have to rely on a 65 dollar tune-up when I don't even know what the guy did. So this will be a long learning process but that is why I joined these forums :)

Would you expect that the mechanic who did the tune-up would have checked these locations that were mentioned before?

Probably not. I think those are reserved for overhauls. This isn't hard and with the right tools, just about anyone can learn to do it for themselves. Most people just seem too lazy or don't want to get dirty.







I would like to check into this issue to make sure that it is okay on my bike, but I am pretty much a newb to bike terminology so would you mind explaining where the "wheel bubs" and "crank bottom bracket" are?



He meant hubs instead of "bubs". Here are a few pics from when I tore down my S10-s. This is the hub, when opened up to remove the bearings and old grease.

Hub overhaul

after opening the hubs up

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae179/beech332/S10-s/Hub%20Build/104_0593.jpg

grease and bearings removed

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae179/beech332/S10-s/Hub%20Build/104_0596.jpg

fresh grease with new bearings(about $15-20 to do your own bike, if even that much) The initial tool purchase will be the biggest cost for a typical college student.

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae179/beech332/S10-s/Hub%20Build/104_0598.jpg

do the same for the other side and other wheel and then put it back together again. For the rear wheel, you will need a freewheel tool. Most likely, it is the two prong suntour model and then use either a bench vise or long wrench to turn that freewheel tool.

crank bottom bracket

I don't have any good pictures of this being regreased, but the bottom bracket is the assembly that is in the location of the hole in the bottom of my frame here, right in front of the rear wheel. It is very easy to service, if you pick up the tools. Use common sense and put new grease in place of the old grease, as I did with the hub above.

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae179/beech332/S10-s/104_0568.jpg

You may want to check around Sheldon Brown's glossary, google his name with bike and you should find it easily enough. He should have pictures of everything you need, which will make things easier for you.

beech - thanks for fixing that for me.

m00nset - He is steering you to the most authoritative site for bike maintenance on the web. The late Sheldon Brown was a guru when it comes to servicing these old gems.
Though less extensive, the Park Tool website is also useful with pictures and instructions on what tools you'll need.

By the way - beech's bottom photo shows both the fixed and adjustable cups removed. It is generally best NOT to remove the fixed one and just clean it from inside. They are usually dificult to remove even with a special tool and it is not necessary unless you are installing a cartridge bb or the like.
ps- The fixed cup is the one on the right - (adjacent to the big chain wheels).

pps - It's just my 2 cents, but on consideration, I think you would be better off bringing a junk bike to school and preserving your dad's Fuji for posterity. Fewer regrets that way.

Thanks a lot for the help guys I really appreciate it.

I understand your concern about the bike, but I have a good lock and had my other bike there last semester when I was living in a dorm and it was fine. I will also be in an apartment this year so I will be storing it inside most of the time. Also, it's not as sentimental as you might think, my dad bought it used a year ago and never rode it. I happened to find it in the basement and he said I could take it.

I will look into getting the tools for this job. I'll definitely try to get it done before I leave for school.