I have a 1983 Del Rey, and I'm pretty sure it was the first year that model was made. It got a good write up in "Bicycling" that spring, so I bought one. Price was $300. It came with Sun Tour Vx derailleurs, Sugino 52/42 crankset, Dia Comp brakes and levers, Ukui (sp) rims and I can't remember the name of the hubs. Nitto bars and stem. The weight was advertised as 24lbs. although I never weighed it. The frame is quad butted Valite steel tubing as T-Mar mentioned. And yes, the Del Rey model became a hybrid around 1986 ~.


I've put over 50k miles on it over the years. I still ride it occasionally; although I've graduated to lighter and faster bikes, I never forget the sweet ride.[/QUOTE]

I've been swept away by an old Fujis "sweet" ride. I needed a ride while My commuter was waiting on a new wheel so I stopped at the Salvation Army. I was moving an ugly rattle-can painted 12 speed to get to a newer aluminum hybrid when I realized how light the 12 speed was.

I asked the clerk how much and she said 10 bucks.

Talk about sweet -- I haven't wanted to ride anything else since.

No decals. No stampings other than Fuji on the forks and Suntour on the droppouts.

Nitto stem and Nitto Olympiade bars, Suntour Ar deraileur. Sugino 2 ring crank. Dia Compe 500 brakes. Ukai rims with Miche hubs.

With it having been stripped of factory paint I doubt I'll ever figure out what model it is.

I still can't believe that this nearly free old "junker" can ride and perform so well compared to the bike I paid good money for.