vintagerando

This popped up on CL. Here is description:
"Vintage Fuji Touring Series IV in excellent condition. Has both high rise stem as shown, and also original factory stem. Asking $399 or Best Offer. "
The price seems right at the peak for a this model.
Any thoughts?

eschlwc

ridiculous stem.

check the classic fuji site to pin down the frame material and year. it's a good bike that will be made much better with a normal stem and new tape/cables/housing.

if it were fully overhauled with new everything, it might be worth over $400.

i really like the chromoly fujis, but not so much the valite ones.

Bianchigirll 

I think that is around a '85ish but see if you can get more info and pics from the seller. A lot of the guys I used to ride with had these Fuji tourers of some sort. I don't think I would pay $400 for one but good touring bikes do go for decent money. OH I am pretty sure this a Ishawata ChroMo of some type.

wrk101

I've sold them fully refurbished and ready to ride for $400. This one is not in that condition. Do you have the time/tools/aptitude/pile of parts? If so, I would probably give $250/$275 for it. If you don't have those attributes, pass on it, as it will cost you $200 or more at a bike shop to get it right.

Exact year has little to no bearing on value.

zukahn1 

Also you should note that this is a compact Terry model back wheel is bigger than the front none standard geomtry made for a smaller Woman say 5'2 or so. For what it is the price would be OK if it was in nice ready to ride condition small touring bikes do command a premium in most markets. As presented I would say around $300.

ramzilla

It would have to be completely refurbished with new tires, chain, grips, & brake pads + all shined up to be worth $399. If not, start knocking the price down. It's definitely something to go look at if it's close by. Looks like its got cantilever brakes. Nice rack on back. Needs some decent reflectors front & back. Nice touring rig.

vintagerando

I went and looked at the bike.....no offense to Fuji owners, but I was not impressed. The rear dropouts looked cheap, the components unimpressive, the color--a sort of faded black.
The stem is not original, I think the cranks were changed out too. The seller wanted to charge extra if you want the original parts included.
I offered $125 and the owner laughed. He said, "but on ebay....blah blah , ...they sell for $500." Well, you should sell it on Ebay. He would not come down a dollar. When I heard he wanted additional $$ for original parts....I was out of there.

FastJake

No offense to you, but if this was actually a Fuji Touring Series IV you need to have your eyes checked. The dropouts on my Series III (one level below the IV) are not "cheap", they are nice forged Suntour GTII with two sets of eyelets. Most touring bikes come in boring, uninspiring colors. I have no idea why. I've seen enough brown Trek 520s to last me a lifetime.

These Fuji touring bikes are excellent machines and every bit as good as anything else available at the time in a similar price range. I expect to get another 30 years out of mine.

I do agree that the price was too high and the seller was being stupid trying to charge extra for the original parts.

vintagerando

Compare the dropouts on this Fuji to the dropouts on a Raleigh International....no comparison. The Fuji looks second rate. Boring colors on touring bike? What? I don't even know where to start.

FastJake

Give me a break. The International was second from top-of-the-line for Raleigh, a class above the Fuji. The International was a road racing/light touring bike, not a true touring bike with cantilever brakes and braze-ons. They were also about a decade apart. If you hated the color so much, how did you not see it in the photos?

You went and looked at a Subaru station wagon, and for some reason expected to find an Aston Martin.

Retro Raleighs: The International

wrk101

You really should have skipped looking at the bike. Pictures showed enough that price was crazy high and original parts were MIA.

Asking for a 70% discount is off the charts. In my experience, the most you will get is about 20%, so I just skip the sellers that are dreaming.

Drop outs and colors are typical for that era. If you want something else, move to a different era.

TugaDude

Classic Fuji site lists a 450 SE with the 24" front wheel. Their catalogs don't show a Touring Series IV with that option. Wonder if the previous owner did that.

Phil_gretz

Great bike that's worth more than the OP offered and less than the seller wanted. So many things wrong with this transaction, poor maintenance and presentation of the bike, unrealistic expectations (on both sides), and misinformation to boot. Sad, really.

If the frame size was correct, I'd have willingly paid $300 for it. Something was wrong with the front wheel (a 700c substitute?), and the stem/bar angle are a distracting clown act. Seller is a dope.