Classic & Vintage - Winter Project Advice Wanted - Yellow Fuji Special Road Racer - gettin a roundtuit

Winter Project - Yellow Special Road Racer - should I change the cranks?

I've been mulling my next project, and I'm almost certain it will be my yellow Special Road Racer as the bike promises to give me the most riding enjoyment vs. what I could build and taking into account what's already up and running in the stable.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/Yellow002.jpg

I like the upright handlebars, shifters look good, but the grips have to go

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/Yellow008.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/Yellow003.jpg

I'm not super fond of the cranks, and have better ones that may fit, but I'm torn on keeping it stock or making it pretty. As it is, I'm just going to touch up the paint and keep it in its original yellow glory.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/Yellow004.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/cyclonefdandcranks.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/Yellow007.jpg

I could also swap my cyclone rd on here, but I think I'll just keep the V-GT as it should work fine and looks nicer to my eye than the cyclone would on this bike.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/cyclonerd.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/Yellow005.jpg

btw, the rd is hung properly now, this pic is how it was when I got the bike.

I've been sitting on this for kind of a long time now, being distracted by other projects. It's time to make this one a regular rider.

The Fuji SRR is one of those great high-ten bikes from the 70's, so I would keep the crank because I think it's part of the character of a "Special Road Racer" - but then I'd reinstall the drops for the same reason... Whatever floats you boat, I guess.

I have a few sets of these Old School rubber grips tucked away. They might be just what the doctor ordered for that nice old Fuji...
http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Bicycles_Table/French_Bicycles/Motobecane_Bicycles/Motobecane_Gran_Jubilee_57/Motobecane_GJ_Mustache/Motobe_GJ_Must_HandleBars_2.jpg

I would not change anything except for the grips and clean it up. Maybe the rear rack and dork disc could go.

i have a red version of that for my winter bike. i personally love the cranks and the triple spider! i can pretend it's one of those Rene Herse cranksets. ha!

my downtube was drilled for a bottle holder and i have to ditch the nice looking Nitto stem, as I always require a much taller stem.

here's mine in it's form when i got it:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6647431607_3f2ca73570.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpbikeresearch/6647431607/)

That red sure is purdy. I'm a bit envious. Ok, so I'll keep the original cranks. Would it be too much to inlay some of the metal bits with paint. I think the cranks are Maxxy and I'd like to fill-in around the lettering. There is already either black shore-lining on the lugs ... or maybe it's just grime. I just feel like tarting up the components in a period style. The gold blob of paint on the chainring has to go though :)

Randy, I'll keep those grips in mind, I need to check around in the barn as I may already have a set.

I would change the pedals. Those weighted pedals seemed like a good idea, but you end up with your foot on the wrong side eventually, and you bend the reflectors in.

I think the SSRs are really neat bikes, I did this one a while back and if it had been my size I'd have kept it in a heartbeat.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y171/FORDSVTPARTS/Bikes/DSC04348.jpg

Nice work! The bike looks beautiful

Tom, I think I'll change those pedals as you suggested. In the past I've had trouble getting pedals to clean up like the rest of the bike. For a keeper, I'm going to want it to shine all pretty like.

+1 Ditch those pedals, every time I find them, they are bent.

+1 I like Randy's mustache conversion, although your bike is fine as is. Nashbar puts their mustache bars on sale, all the time, really cheap, if you decide to go that way.

Vx RD is pretty much bullet proof, I would keep it.

With some polishing compound, I think that paint will clean up and look great!

Those Nashbar moustache bars are cheap! Sadly, cheap is just my style. Is it just me, or do Nashbar's moustache bars look just like northroads bars that have been flipped. I always thought real moustache bars had less rise/slope in them? I'm not sure I know the term I'm looking for, but I mean the difference in elevation between where the stem connects and the hand holds. I thought old-timey moustache bars were flatter?

236373236374Here's a 1973 that I restored to original with the exception of removing the "safety levers" and adding black hoods. I decided to keep the spoke protector and cranks. I think that they look terrific all polished up. This one is totally rebuilt from every fastener, bearing, and surface. Sold it to a young marine who wanted something vintage to ride. It was a beautiful bike. My vote would be to restore yours to stock - that's a really nice way to go. My two cents...Phil

Nice Work! I like the touch of paint on the crank arms. Is that a black, or navy blue? Good to see the bike got a turkey-leg-ectomy and down tube shifters. I also like the dork disk, shiney!

It's black enamel. I thought that it dressed up the crank a bit. The original white hoods on the DT shifters are a really nice touch, too. Thanks.

I have a line on an identical frame/crank/stem/handlebar for $25, but I've hesitated to pull the trigger. Too expensive to find all of the other bits... PG