Well, I wanted to get rid of the 32s to start with. I've been drinking the fat-tire/fender koolaid for about ten years now and this bike was just begging for some relatively skinny tires. Yeah, it is perched on the cusp of the 80's lack of ornamentation like lug lining, etc, but still has some of the classic cues like the the chrome fork/stay lowers.

Next thing is the handlebars, in getting rid of the bar-ends. Superbe DT shifters. I have a set of Fujitoshi stitch-on leather bar wrap in black and some Suntour Superbe drilled brake levers w/black anatomic hoods. They also make the Fujitoshi stuff in navy blue, but I was comparing the pics of the 80 vs. 81 model - the 80 had blue bar wrap, the 81 had black, I decided that the black was better. Anyhow, that with the hoods will complete a smooth black/blue/silver look on the bike. Plus, I have a set of Superbe calipers for a brake upgrade.

I bought a set of Superbe road pedals from cyclotoine, those should be here soon. I'm going to mate those w/some NOS Fujita alloy toeclips that have navy blue leather wrap on them. Pretty sharp, that.

Beyond that, I'm going to make up one other set of wheels. This will probably push the limit on the black stuff. I have a set of Superbe Pro freewheel hubs, gorgeous, new, been saving for a long time. Then it turns out there was some fellow on ebay selling Velocity Synergy 32h rims for $75 a set w/rear OC. Black w/machined sidewalls. I dunno how that is going to work out, but I'll always have both sets of wheels. In my mind's eye, it looks ok - that is not to take anything away from these wheels, which are really gorgeous box sections, nicely anodized.

The Velocity rims will be the only non-japanese thingies on the bike. I'd have liked to build the Superbes into a Japanese rim, but I haven't been able to find anything I really like and meets my criteria for performance as well.

I'm kind of getting the idea now where I want to end up with on this bike - at a glance, not very far off of stock, kind of elegant but fast, a little more luxo than a pure sport bike but not a cush tourer - I'm thinking hot rod lincoln.

BTW, the rear rack is vintage "Jim Blackburn". I'm not crazy about the look, a little dowdy, but the vintage is cool. It is useful for hanging a pannier and carrying all my stuff, though, and comes on/off pretty easy.

I'm also pretty sure that this bike is going to remain fenderless. I don't see myself riding this one in the rain a whole lot, plus the relatively stingy clearances make this an easy choice.