cmdowns

This just popped up on my auto-notify ebay search. I'm looking for a decent steel frame bike to use for fitness training in support of my xc mountain biking. Can you tell me anything about this bike? The price seems right, but I really don't know.

Vintage Fuji Allegro Road Bike Touring Valite 21.25" Frame 31.5" Standover 54 cm


Vintage Fuji Allegro Road Bike

Valite Tubing Frame is 21.25 in. 54 cm

31.5 in. Standover Height

18 Speed

Sugino VP130 Cranks

Diamcompe Brakes

Most other parts are Suntour

Tires and wheels in great shape

In very good condition and ready to ride

$95 shipping to anywhere in the Continental USA. $85 shipping to OH, IN, IL, WV, NY, PA, and KY.

Free local pickup from either Westerville, OH, Delaware, OH, or Ashland, OH is welcome and encouraged

wrk101

With shipping, not worth it. The Allegro is low in the Fuji line, not the bottom, but close. Local pickup, price is close. This bike will need a full service, it is NOT ready to ride. I see rusty cable clamps, old tires, rusty chain, etc. Its going to need a pretty thorough service. Once I see those mechanical issues, I assume everything needs serviced: cables, housings, bearings, grease, and so on.

One thing that does look good is the paint on the frame.

If you can do the service work, then on local pickup, bike is OK. If you have to pay to have the service done, forget it even on local pickup.

With shipping, this bike is pushing $200. Around here, $200 will buy a better bike, in ready to ride condition.


I would not trust this seller. First, description is misleading and inaccurate. Secondly, 7 neutrals and 3 negatives in the last six months out of 218 transactions = bad seller.

FastJake

+1

Definitely pass. I would probably not spend $100 on this bike. It needs a full overhaul, right now it's in decent "as-found" condition. Absolutely NOT ready to ride.

Lower end bike, maybe worth $150 all cleaned up. $200 in that condition is too high.

cormacf

Sorry to bump this thread, but what about this one?

FUJI ROAD BIKE

Thanks!

oddjob2

As presented, $75-$100. It needs a full overhaul, which consists of teardown and rebuild of bike, up to $200 at an LBS.

eschlwc

maybe. but i would look for a bike with an on-frame rear derailleur hanger and downtube shifters. their presence is a good indication of mid-level quality.

if you want a fuji, check out the classic fuji site and familiarize yourself with the models. i would stay away from valite, buy that's just me.

Catalog_Covers

unlike valite fujis, chromoly fujis will usually be priced in the upper $200s and $300s. they're generally worth that and more.

you can often find a better deal looking for univegas.

cormacf

Thank you!

FastJake

Valite doesn't necessarily indicate a low-end bike. I think this was a marketing failure on Fuji's part. They branded "Valite" on everything from low-end junk to some pretty nice bikes. For example, my 1984 Fuji Touring Series III is made from "quad butted Valite tubing" and is a very nice touring bike. Certainly as good as anything available from that time period in that price range.

eschlwc

^ my '84 club fuji was valite, and i thought it was too heavy, stiff and dead. all my univegas were more lively and fun to ride.

still looking for a chromoly fuji though.

ramzilla

Valite Fujis were mostly around 28lb bikes. Good sturdy bikes. Lighter than bikes like Schwinn Continental but, not as light as Shoguns & Centurions with Tange tubing. I like Fuji Valite bikes. They're good rides. Last forever. That's why there's still so many of them around. I would offer $100 and see where it goes from there. I wouldn't pay more than $125 for it.

Clang

This Miyata 310 looks to be a vastly better bike for the same amount of money.

[h=2]MIYATA MENS ROAD BIKE - $150 (LONG BEACH, CA)[/h]MIYATA MENS ROAD BIKE



BLUE MIYATA-310 MENS ROAD BIKE. HAS ORIGINAL AIR PUMP. FRAME 54CM. TIRES 27. NEW SEAT.

Clang

Worth a look:

[h=2]56 CM. NISHIKI PRESTIGE 12 SPEED ROAD BIKE | MADE IN JAPAN | - $160 (CARSON)[/h]56 CM. NISHIKI PRESTIGE 12 SPEED ROAD BIKE | MADE IN JAPAN |


GREAT LOOKING AND SMOOTH RIDING 56 CM. NISHIKI PRESTIGE 12 SPEED ROAD BIKE,
LIGHTWEIGHT, MADE IN JAPAN. IN EXCELLENT RIDING CONDITION, WITH SUNTOUR
CYCLONE DERAILLEUR, DIA-COMPE BRAKES AND 700C ARAYA ALLOY WHEELS.


This Motobecane needs an amount of work comparable to the Fuji you posted (if you wanted a fixer-upper), but if reconditioned, is a superior bicycle.
[h=2]10 speed racing bicycle france - $150 (canoga Park)[/h]10 speed racing bicycle france




If you wanted to spend a little more (sadly, original tires aren't a selling point when it comes to vintage bikes):
[h=2]Miyata 512 Comp. - $225 (Lakewood)[/h]Miyata 512 Comp.

Miyata 512 Comp. Blue w/ white seat, still has original tires, in very good condition, 12 speed shimano, kept in a bike box.

FastJake

Again, Valite was a term that Fuji used on a LOT of different bikes. You cannot generalize Valite just like you cannot say that all Schwinn bikes are heavy, stiff, and dead because you owned a Varsity that weighed 40 pounds.

Again, my 1984 Fuji Touring Series III is made from "quad butted Valite tubing" and was listed at 24.8lbs in the catalog. This is a full touring bike with a triple crank, cantilever brakes, 27" clinchers, etc. Nowhere near a racing bike but still a very reasonable weight: https://www.classicfuji.com/1984_13_T...esIII_Page.htm

Your 1984 Club Fuji was listed at 23lbs, very respectable what they considered an "entry level" road race bike: https://www.classicfuji.com/1984_10_ClubFuji_Page.htm

eschlwc

^ it didn't feel that light, though. it felt dead.

i often say, one example does not a sample set make. so maybe i should reserve judgment. still, it would be difficult for me to buy another valite fuji over a chromoly univega of the same value.

ramzilla

I've got a 84 Fuji Del rey. It's a beater bike that I loan out to friends. God knows how many miles are on that thing. Same chain, rings, & cogs it had when it was new. Only changed tires over the years. Still rides like a champ. Fuji's are some of the toughest two wheel things around.