mfavero

Thanks! Mine is like the '84 but with the aero brakes as well. The serial # on mine is B556, which from what T-Mar has been working on seems like it should be an '85 model. But now I'm confused because it is the exact color of this '84 model and everything else seems to be the same except those aero brakes. What is the serial # of yours? I would love to find one of those old fuji water bottles. I'm planning to build up tubular wheels for the one I have. Hope that goes okay.

mfavero

I forgot to ask, do you happen to know if both models in your pics are hand-built or just the '85?

T-Mar

To increase your confidence in the model year, I suggest you start dating the components using the date code info the components page of the Vintage-Trek website. Don't stop at just one component. Date all the components as they will sometimes cover fair range. I be interested in hearing the results.

The 1984 Opus III were also handmade based on serial numbers. See post #14 of this thread where Afilado has one with serial number E414.

u1st

Looks like we got our scans from the same guy. He contacted me after I had won the auction and offered to send me the scans. Very nice guy. I think he posts, or used to post here, but I forgot what his handle was. If I remember correctly, he has a number of nice Fuji's of his own.

cesarq641

The serial number on my Fuji Pous III is J479, which from the earlier serial info I see, would be the 79th bike made in October 1984. This date seems to jive with the date of the rear superbe pro derailler. Based on the specs I see on the scans of the 84/85, my bike was pretty much original with the exception of the wheelsets, pedals and seat. The wheelsets it came with were shimano 600 hubs with GP4 Mavic tubulars, cheap pedals, and a new Terry butterfly Ti seat. I have since taken off the tubular wheelsets (I still have them), and replaced them with Mavic MA40 clinchers with specialized hubs. The tubulars were too much work to maintain. I find it hard to believe that the 1985 color scheme looked that way. Pink seat, pink straps, pink cables......too much pink ! My bike is in pretty good shape, but because of all the scratches and scuffs and decal condition, I would like to someday repaint my bike, but I would like to put some new Fuji decals on it. Don't know if that is possible.

cesarq641

I forgot to add, again, based on the earlier serial number info, yes, my Fuji Opus III serial number J479, was a hand built bike.

afilado

My E414 has been tampered with a little bit with respect to original components. I made a few earlier notes on this.

One additional thing I've noticed is the presence of aero style brakes - DiaCompe RGC 400 - with natural rubber covers. According to the literature these only showed up on later year models yet I believe these to be original to my '84 model. Both Superbe Pro derailleurs were marked as produced in mid '83 .

Does anyone know how many Opus III or IV were manufactured in any given year? T-Mar?

T-Mar

The one thing to remember about catalogs is that they have to be available very early, generally in time for the fall dealer shows and Christmas. Back off from there for printing and delivery times and the photo sessions could roll back well into the fall. Consequently, some of the bicycles may not exactly match the pics or specs due to last minute changes or parts availability. It's always challenging to determine if the variations are OEM driven or an owner substitute. The best bet to try and match the components date code with other componets' and the frame's aerial number.

We can make an educated quess on quantities based on the serial numbers. I have yet to see any serial numbers going past 4 characters/three numbers, indicating that production was probably under 100 units per month or just over. That means roughly 1200 per year, but this special unit was also producing other high end models such as the Pro. Being a higher end model, there were probably less Pros produced than Opus. My guess would be less than 1000 Opus per year.

mfavero

I feel dumb. The rear wheel I had for my opus actually does fit. I was looking at it again today and double checked it just in case. These wheels are clincher mavic cxp10 with shimano RSX hubs and a 7 speed cluster. I'm still going to rebuild the sunshine hubs (they are better) with a couple of new, never glued mavic ssc tubulars I bought off of craigslist from someone in Baltimore. I should get them next week. Now I have to figure out my stem sizing before I re-cable it and get it ready to ride.

Sheldon Brown

The front Sunshine is perhaps better, but the RSX rear is WAY better than the Sunshine or any old thread-on freewheel hub.

Sheldon "Freehubs Rule" Brown

mfavero

Here is a picture of the fuji opus iii I bought from ebay last December. I'm looking forward to getting it on the road. I just won a set of 32 hole superbe pro hubs to build onto a set of mavic ssc rims I found on craigslist for a great price. I recently attended a bike swap/sale in Maryland where I met someone who actually raced the opus iii back in the 80's.

mfavero

So, if these bikes were handbuilt, how do I find out the name of the person who built mine?