Classic & Vintage - I can’t contain myself anymore, my ’88 Fuji Opus IV

Well, this is a little premature as the bike isn’t yet complete but the story is classic C&V and I want to share!

The Opus series of bikes are arguably one of Fuji’s finest efforts. Looking at Scottryder’s examples and examples of other members tell me they are just stunning bikes. It has always been a goal to have one.

Most of what you see is the Opus III models, made from 83-86. These were more classicly styled bikes with Suntour drivetrains, non-aero levers, friction shifting. Fuji skipped a year in 87 and introduced a one year model called the Ecco which featured oversize tubing and “lugless” construction.

Skip now to 88, and the Opus returned for a single year as the Opus IV. The Opus’ last hurrah would be the Opus V in 89. Here is the Opus IV as pictured in the 88 catalog:

http://home.comcast.net/~khatfull/images/opusiv/opuscatalog.jpg

Personally I think this is a stunning bike. Most of you know how I feel about white components and there we are, white frame, Sante’ group, yum.

Back in late September an unassuming CL ad in Portland popped up with a single picture attached:

http://home.comcast.net/~khatfull/images/opusiv/opusivasoncl.jpg

Yep, the Opus IV has been single speeded with flat bars. BY THE GRACE OF GOD NOTHING HAD BEEN CUT OFF!! Scott suggested contacting the seller and asking if he’d consider just selling the frameset. He was looking for $250 for the bike as it sat. I wanted to offer enough to incent him to sell without thinking about it so I offered $200 and he accepted. Fourtunately PDXAero stepped up for the facilitation, he met the seller, made the purchase, and shipped me the frameset. Here’s what I got when I got it out of the box (minus some ugly stickers which came off immediately):

http://home.comcast.net/~khatfull/images/opusiv/opusframe.jpg

The paint and decals were in ok shape. Several paint touch ups had been done and time hadn’t been good to the factory white pearl paint. Areas of grease contact (headset and BB) has yellowed a lot and the paint did not fade with age evenly. I decided that a repaint would be in the frame’s future.

I decided pretty quickly that it would NOT get Sante’ components. Finding Sante’ in nice condition is hard enough, and when you do it’s quite pricey. About the time I was languishing over what components I might want to put on it my good friend Collin2424 was selling a frame on which was hanging a MINT condition DA7700 9-speed group. It seemed like a match made in heaven and I procured the group back in mid-October. I’ve waffled on a wheelset but eventually decided on Ultegra 6500 hubs (over the FAR costlier DA7700 hubs) and I have a 32H hubset in hand but am still waffling on rims. And by the way, no brifters on this bike, this will be 9-speed downtube shifting baby!

Now, fast forward to mid-November. I missed a Fuji Design Series that was advertised here on local CL. So distraught was I that I posted an ad the day later asking if the new owner would be willing to sell the bike. Three weeks later I get a response. I arrange to go see the Design Series which ended up having issues but talked to the seller, who was an ex-LBS owner and Fuji dealer. I was describing my bikes and the fact that I have this Opus IV frameset that I was going to get repainted as soon as I could get VeloCals to produce the decals for me. He says, “Opus IV decals? Be right back.” Guy comes down with decal sets for several models, Club and Team Fujis….and 5 whole decal sets for the Opus IV!! Real, actual factory decal sets, 20 miles from my house. Obviously I buy one from him. So although I didn’t get what I went for which was quite disappointing I got something, in the end, much more valuable to me:

http://home.comcast.net/~khatfull/images/opusiv/decaloverview.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~khatfull/images/opusiv/downtubedecal.jpg

Scottryder hooked me up with a frame painter by him and on January 21 I sent the frame. As of today it’s been blasted, prepped, painted, and the pearl coat is on. I hope to have a couple of pics of the frame in this state before the decals and final clear coat go on.

Thanks for reading. As soon as I get the frame back I’ll post pics and certainly as soon as the bike is complete, which shouldn’t be long if I can decide on a pair of rims.

This is going to be a fun thread.

am i glad I stayed up and read this

....can't wait to see it complete.

That is pretty crazy, finding original decals that close to home. It was destiny!

That is a great story. I too love Fuji's and wish for a Fuji Opus. They are beautiful bikes and yours is going to be incredible. What a story, and the deal with the decals is something else. Go buy a lottery ticket!

I hope the new paint has as good of a lustre as the old paint, even while faded and yellowed in places, the pearl looked like nicer than any paint you would see on brand new cars.

Also is this the thread I should post an image of the elevation profile from my ride out to pick up this frame?

Edit:
Love the fork crown
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_eyxn8SPSTwU/TKZQrBRtVUI/AAAAAAAAAQI/XlusjIJf0hE/s1024/IMG_20101001_135118.jpg
Don't forget to mention the headbadge and brake ferrule grommets.

Great score on the bike AND the decals. Congrats!!

andy

I'm sure it will be outstanding, but every time I hear "Opus," I think of a fat penguin or Richard Dreyfuss .

I hope the new paint has as good of a lustre as the old paint, even while faded and yellowed in places, the pearl looked like nicer than any paint you would see on brand new cars.

Also is this the thread I should post an image of the elevation profile from my ride out to pick up this frame?

Don't forget to mention the headbadge and brake ferrule grommets.

I figured you'd chime in...absolutely, post that profile! The painter has described the pearl as "subtle" which is how I would have described it as well.

And you're right, headbadge and ferrules.

The frame was missing the headbadge of all things...maybe previous owner(s) didn't like Fuji, who knows. From his seemingly endless store of Fuji "stuff" Scott pops up with a headbadge. Amazing.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hCtXNDGAhxI/SLOMdtKYsWI/AAAAAAAABi0/GSA3c0Nvvuo/s400/nephilim_RaidersSmithsonianWarehouse.jpg

The frame also has internal routing for the rear brake housing, you can see the exit in my pic of the frame above. But, the little plastic ferrules on each side are missing and I think they'll be impossible to find. Nope, ftwelder pops up with a "How many do you need? Amazing.

I'm sure it will be outstanding, but every time I hear "Opus," I think of a fat penguin or Richard Dreyfuss .

:)



... or Saturday night at the Ordway for an opera.

Keith, I'll be checking out the recently painted frame tomorrow a.m. prior to the decals and clear coat being applied. I'll take some photos for you and you can post them if you wish.

Scott

Can't wait to see the finished product. Man I'd like to find an Opus, so nice.

Mutt

Keith, I'll be checking out the recently painted frame tomorrow a.m. prior to the decals and clear coat being applied. I'll take some photos for you and you can post them if you wish.

Scott

By all means sir! And I'm loving that avatar! :)

Are you putting a Rolls on it? If not, what? Silver chainrings? Dark anodized rims?

"how many do you need?"

When I was putting my Univega together I got a DA7400 crankarm cap and a 3ttt rubber stem cap from folks on the forum here. I hope to be able to repay the favor to someone else here someday.

Cool story with your bike, I can't wait to see it done.

I do think you should spring for Sante, but I understand why you don't.

Well, this is a little premature as the bike . ..You disgust me.[/it's not fair]

Are you putting a Rolls on it? If not, what? Silver chainrings? Dark anodized rims?

Rolls in hand :)

Yes, silver chainrings, standard DA FC-7700 crankset:

http://www.bikepartsplace.com/images/med/31815013.jpg

I'd add too....DA7700 is the newest I would have considered at all for it. Once up to 7800 the Jetson's style cranks come in and...well, ick. The above is a nice, classic looking crankset and I don't think it will detract from the nature of the bike. Especially with the nifty 9-speed downtube...a modern classic? Getting close :)

Rims are still in flux. This build was the impetus for my thread about late 90's tubular rims. My approach here is this: I bought the bike in '88, raced the heck out of it :), wore out the Sante but still loved the frame and replaced the Sante in 1999 with the DA7700. Decided to replace the wheelset as well so I'm looking for a period correct late 90's early 00's tubular rimset. Mavic Reflex are up there since the can be had with machined sidewalls.

I'd also consider a set of dark anodized Arayas if they popped up.

Fuji skipped a year in 87 and introduced a one year model called the Ecco which featured oversize tubing and “lugless” construction.

Hmm, a bit off topic, but the only reference I can find to this bike is one poster here on BF (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/589111-1987-Fuji-Ecco). Anyone sitting on a 61 or 64cm example? :D

Great stuff. I know this is going to be an awesome build, whatever you choose.

Hmm, a bit off topic, but the only reference I can find to this bike is one poster here on BF (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/589111-1987-Fuji-Ecco). Anyone sitting on a 61 or 64cm example? :D

It would be fun to find one, if anything, just for the novelty...look at those pics...doesn't appear to be TIG welded does it?

Khatfull - I think the DA Crankset will really complement the bike. Great choice IMO.
In your hands I am sure it will become yet another example of Fuji perfection.

Does that frame have oversized tubing? That really is a stunning frameset.

Beyond jealous!!

Hmm, a bit off topic, but the only reference I can find to this bike is one poster here on BF (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/589111-1987-Fuji-Ecco). Anyone sitting on a 61 or 64cm example? :D

Not a 61 or 64 but here's a link to better pics showing the frame construction:

http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=24530&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

I'd ride one :)

doesn't appear to be TIG welded does it?

The blue frame in the link does appear to be TIG welded; at least the top tube/head tube, down tube/head tube joints do. When you said "lugless" earlier, I thought you might mean it was fillet brazed. But fillet brazing is finished to a point where the joints look seamless; I can see the weld bead in the photos.

That is pretty crazy, finding original decals that close to home. It was destiny!

Well, ask Scott...when I drove away from that meeting with the guy I called Scott and told him I didn't come away with a Design Series...but i did come away with something unusual...and made him try to guess! Hahaha, we was as dumbfounded as I was. :)

Yeah, finding original decals really did cement the repaint plan I guess. :)

P.S. I run a partially khatfull'd DA 7700 crank with 7800 rings on my (unapologetically) more modern build. The combination makes for a great looking, excellent shifting crank. I could see something like this looking suitable on lot's of neo-classics:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_w4APNEt0JOc/TNjurYak6jI/AAAAAAAAANg/-T8eZpMlmqg/IMG_0842.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_w4APNEt0JOc/TNjuricvS8I/AAAAAAAAANo/-YtKqZc7Ycg/IMG_0849.JPG

Dang! Good story, good pics, thanks for sharing. I'm super stoked to see the results!

The blue frame in the link does appear to be TIG welded; at least the top tube/head tube, down tube/head tube joints do. When you said "lugless" earlier, I thought you might mean it was fillet brazed. But fillet brazing is finished to a point where the joints look seamless; I can see the weld bead in the photos.

"Lugless" is how Fuji described it in the catalog. I don't know if that's a red herring or not, but that's what they said.

This is shaping up to be a sweet ride.

I agree wholeheartedly with you guys about the crank, no offense to Rat Fink. Perhaps my eyes have just not adjusted to the look of the newer Frank Gehry-style futura cranks.

I know I'm in the minority here, but the right era STI's could be awesome on this thing.

I had a chance to buy an almost entire Sante group yesterday. It was a steal compared to what I've seen online (NOS), but still way way way too expensive. Doesn't make me lust after it less.

"Lugless" is how Fuji described it in the catalog. I don't know if that's a red herring or not, but that's what they said.

Well, "lugless" is not incaccurate, whether fillet brazed or welded.:) I think most folks who are into steel frames would like the idea of a fillet brazed joint vs. a welded joint, but either way is "lugless" of course.

I was reading an interview with Tom Ritchey recently, and he spoke of his early days in the '70's doing fillet brazing, and I thought it was kind of cool that he referred to it as "lugless." He was saying that a lot of folks he knew didn't quite trust that type of frame construction at the time, so he was riding "lugless" frames when a lot of folks would not. :)

Fantastic looking build you have going there. One day I will have the pearl white on my Gazelle redone, but she's not in poor enough shape yet to loose the patina it's earned just yet. Looking forward to the finished build. Don't have any input on the rims other than you really can't go wrong with Open Pros - the newer ones have less than ideal decals, but those can be removed with a little care.

Heh there's a guy in K-ville selling an Espree. . . close enough, right?[/bitter jealousy]

This is going to be a fun thread.

+1

Well Keith, you know I know all about this bike already, but as I mentioned I'm pleased to reassemble all of the hiccups and adventures along the way. I remember the day you called me when you "stumbled" across the decals. I couldn't believe it - I think I sat in Stephani's parking lot for 30 minutes talking to you about it while I made her wait in the rain to open the gate for me! :D

What amazes me most is how this grail bike just fell into place for you. Made for one year only, it amazes me that you found those decals at all, let alone in your back yard for the most part. I think that in itself distracted you from the disappointment of that Design Series/Opus III mishap. I'm glad I had the groupset and saddle that will make this bike what you wanted.

By the way, I really need that groupset back :)

-Collin-

Once up to 7800 the Jetson's style cranks come in and...well, ick.


+10000. I've never been able to "get" the newer Shimano cranks - aesthetically, well, ick, particularly on a vintage/classic build IMO.
I'm not a fan of the space station spider, nor do I like the cigar cutter chainrings.

This is shaping up to be a sweet ride.

I agree wholeheartedly with you guys about the crank, no offense to Rat Fink. Perhaps my eyes have just not adjusted to the look of the newer Frank Gehry-style futura cranks.

I know I'm in the minority here, but the right era STI's could be awesome on this thing.



No offense taken. :)

For Keith's bike, I was thinking something like Specialties TA rings would look super:

http://www.radsportteile.de/images/product_images/popup_images/Kettenbl.%20schw_1554.JPG

BTW, I agree about the brifters.

When you finish that one.... You mentioned finding decals for a team Fuji, do you have one of those yet? I have an 83 team 23" frame and fork hanging in the garage (the brown one). It's very rough, definitely in need of a repaint. I have no plans for it, and no money in it (just gas for the trip to pick it up). If you are coming to Greensboro for the Classic Rendezvous weekend in May(should be worth the trip), you would be welcome to it.

Well, this is a little premature as the bike isn’t yet complete Oh, premature presentation....don't worry, it happens to other guys, too.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii80/RobbieTunes/untitled.jpg

Oh, premature presentation....wrong forum.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii80/RobbieTunes/untitled.jpg

Man I miss Bloom County.

ACK! Thhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhpt!

You guys and your Fujis!..
In all seriousness though, I'm quite looking forward to seeing more pictures.

You guys and your Fujis!..
In all seriousness though, I'm quite looking forward to seeing more pictures.

We're a odd lot I'm sure...we like beautiful, functional bikes. Weird. :)

We're a odd lot I'm sure...we like beautiful, functional bikes. Weird. :)

I'm weird too!

Weirdness aside, some great looking bikes.

khatfull, you do excellent work. I am a fan.

khatfull, you do excellent work. I am a fan.

You're very kind sir....thanks!


Looking for a Team Miyata frame or bike

Like this? Fork not original obviously but this has been hanging up in a co-op here for at least several months. PM me for details.

http://home.comcast.net/~khatfull/images/teammiyata2.jpg

Is that frame fillet brazed? Hmm, this one too (http://velospace.org/node/5543). Where in the catalogs are these?

Man I miss Bloom County.

ACK! Thhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhpt!
I third that. Country went downhill after Opus left the stage.

Few finishes as luxurious as pearl white. This one was meant to be...what a story!
Looking forward to this one's completion. I personally like DA-7700 series, aesthetically compliments this Opus.
My first encounter with Fuji was my uncle's new S-12-S. He was one of 3 uncles that encouraged my biking endeavors. So I can understand the Fuji love and obsession here.