Capecodder

Hi all,

Let me start by saying I'm new here, and this is my first post to this forum.

I will be 50 years old in a few months and just got into street bike riding in the past few weeks, and just got my first new (to me) bike... It's a 1982 Team Fuji 12 Speed and I am very impressed with the comfort, and speed of this bike, though it doesn't take much at this level.

Let me know what you think, and if this a decent bike. The bike came with 2 sets of wheels, one set is the original Gold UKAI wheels with a straight block, and the second set is said to be for trainning, and they are Matrix Titans made by Tru American Corp. The stem is a Nitto Young as are the bars. The brake components are Dia Comp AC500 as well as the levers, and the crank is a Shimano 600 with Biopace Chain Rings Oh, the deraileurs are both Suntour BL.

Thought I'd show you all some pics, and hope you will comment. Well thanks for having me, and I hope to contribute as my knowledge grows.





















Mike from Cape Cod.

Old Fat Guy

Great first post.

Here is a link to Fuji catalogs and info, if you haven't already found it:
https://classicfuji.com/

BTW, Matrix rims were a Trek housebrand.

noglider 

Hi. Yes, it's a nice bike. I had one a few months ago and sold it. A couple of friends test-rode before I sold it it, and they loved it.

Yours looks like it's in good condition, so it should serve you well.

I recommend you try some cleated shoes and pedals to match. You won't want to go back. I happen to like the SPD type of cleats best.

Capecodder

Thanks Old Fat Guy..... That's a very informative site, and I had not seen it before.

I didn't buy the bike for resale value I just bought it as a first bike, and it seemed to ride very smooth, and comfortable for me, and pretty darn fast (for me anyhow). I figured I could spend $150.00 for a department store bike or get this one, and with the extra set of wheels I thought it was a good deal. Is this bike a piece of junk, and I'm just ignorant? I probably should have done more homework before buying it, but I had just a small amount of money to spend. I just hope it will last a coulpe years till I can afford something better.

Capecodder

Noglider,

Thanks for your comments...... I guess it's time for me to start learning about road bikes. It looks like it's in very good shape, and everything works great, and it shifts really smooth.

ftwelder

Welcome aboard! I got an '83 Team Fuji a couple of months ago. I haven't ridden it yet but hope to soon!

nice looking machine! I hope you keep it well protected from the salty air when it's being stored.

Capecodder

The salt air was a concern of mine as well as the little rust spots here, and there. Is there anything I could do to prevent anymore rust and/or treat the current rust spots?

Thanks,
Mike

auchencrow

Welcome to C&V Capecodder!

That is a fine bike - the best way to handle rusty chrome bits is Oxalic Acid and water - sold at Sherwin Williams paint stores in powder form.
It is also used for larger parts (frames) but it can ruin the finish on alloy parts, especially if submerged too long or at too high a Ph.
You'll want to use a rust preventative after treating the parts as well.

There are many threads on "OA" here in C&V with more detail.

PS- OA is commonly labeled as wood bleach or deck wash.

beech333

Well, IMO, there are many different schools of thought on that. Some people think bikes are junk if they are not the most modern offering, with indexing and brifters. There are also some who think that if it isn't Italian, French, or English, it isn't worthwhile. Then, there are those who can appreciate any good bike, no matter where it came from. You will be getting many opinions from many different people.

As you can tell from my avatar photo, I am a big fan of Fuji. They really didn't make any crap. They were very solid machines for the price. If I rode by you and saw that bike, you can be sure that I would slow down to try and talk to you about it.

If you read the info on the catalog page for your bike, it is intended as an entry level racing frame and that is exactly as I would describe it. Yes, there are better bikes(aren't there always), but I wouldn't ever call it crap. I have a Team myself, although it is an 85. I love that bike and I am a bit disappointed because I think that I will need to sell it to make room in my garage(I have 9 bikes right now).

What really matters is what you think of it. I, for one, have a preference for the cheapest bike in my collection. People make fun of it and tell me to upgrade, but it fits like an old shoe and I could never let it go.

That Team is a nice bike. Enjoy it and if you ever decide to get rid of the gold wheelset, let me know. You may also want to consider finding some Suntour bits for that frame. As you have probably seen, that bike did not originally have anything Shimano and as everyone knows, Suntour was clearly better at that time.

mazdaspeed

Team fujis are really good bikes. You did great for the price!

4Rings6Stars

Happy to see a nice Fuji and happy to see another local!

It will serve you well and last longer than us all, as long as you take care of the rust and take care of it. Welcome to C&V!

EjustE

Welcome here!

This is a great bike and you will enjoy it! It looks like your Team Fuji is a later 82. The crankset has been upgraded as well. Here is my '82 as I got it a few months ago:

jamesj

I had one of those i was going to sell, but seat tube got stuck in the frame and i tried all kinds of stuff to get it out in the end i decided to strip it and keep the parts. I got a nice tange levin headset out of it i still haven't found out what to use it on.

Old Fat Guy

Clean it and wax it. No need to go overboard at this point. Anything you can do to inhibit the rust will require disassembling the bike. The rust doesn't look all that bad from the pictures, at least.

You did real good for the price, considering you're on the East Coast. I'm in MI, and that bike in ready to ride condition would be about $200 w/ one set of wheels here. Ride it, and if you find something you like better, sell it and buy the better one. You will find that in a very short time you can trade your way up to as nice a bike as you desire at pretty much no cost to you.

Also, treat all the advice here with skepticism. We all have opinions, not all of them are based on fact. Do your research, and have fun riding. Riding is what it's all about, ultimately.

Phil_gretz

Cape Cod,
You're starting with the right bike. I'm 50 and recovered from back surgery a summer ago, when I bought a carbon racing bike. Great bike, goes fast and is responsive, etc...

For the winter, I picked up a free Fuji Royale to which I added fenders, wide tires, and better brake pads. This bike rode fine and kept me going through slush and salt. Over the winter, my wife said that she'd like to begin touring, so I picked up two old steel steeds to build into touring bikes. Hers a Trek 620 and mine a Fuji Saratoga. The Fuji rides like a cadillac, and is very stable when fully loaded.

Recently, I found (on CL) two broken down 1989 Club Fuji bikes (one for $40, the other for $50), from which I was able to make one complete and capable ride. All original except cables, pads, and tape. I prefer this bike to the carbon/ultegra/carbon crank, aero wheel blah blah blah that I could ride any day.

Here's the point. 2500 miles later I would have started with the Club Fuji had I known what I know now. Your bike will ride similarly. An excellent, capable bike that will exceed your abilities for some time. Keep it properly maintained, tuned, lubricated, inflated and trued and you will have plenty of bike for some thrilling and strengthening rides.

As your friends here have encouraged... ride, ride, ride. You have an excellent foundation from which to start.

Best regards,
Phil G.

ScottRyder 

Hi Mike, greetings from the Cape your north, Cape Ann. I'm a wash-a-shore on Cape Cod, but I come down just about every weekend.

I bought my first Fuji on the Cape back in the late '70's. Damp Cape Cod basements have been know to lesson the life of many steel bikes .. luckily I brought mine up north and inland to avoid that fate.

Depending on where you are, perhaps we can get together sometime to talk Fuji's!

Scott

stien

Another Cape Codder! (I'm in Falmouth). Enjoy the riding. Beautiful week.

Capecodder

Thanks for all the replies...... I have gone out and test rode several new bikes by Specialized, and Trek and to tell you the truth I like the ride of my Fuji much better. I am really considering having the frame blasted, and powder coated, and I have a shop in my are that does it for $100.00 and they do fantastic work. I want to stop any further rust spots and think this is the best bet as I will be keeping this bike for a long time (probably forever). What are your thoughts?

beech333

There will be virtually no resale value, not that it is a particularly rare frame. But still, there are those here that will say "don't do it" and "It is your bike, do what you want."

Personally, I would probably try and get by with treating the rust and following up with touch up painting. You will miss the two tone paint and the quality of the paint once it is PCed.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Sweet ride. I had the pleasure of riding noglider's team fuji before he sold it and I really liked it. I seem to recall it had the gold UKAI rims too which I think look so cool.

beech333 is right on that there's as many opinions on whether to paint or not to paint as there are folks with opinions....my only comment on that point is to ride it all summer and fall and wait til you hang it up for the winter to make the decision. Tearing a bike down for a repaint is no small project...it will take some time, some swearing and some new tools.