Hello all,
I have a 1982 Fuji S12-S LTD:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...niversary.html

And I also have a 1974 custom made touring bike:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...ring-bike.html (Really need to update that thread, the bike's been done for a while.)

I was building the custom touring bike for a friend who has been out of cycling for a while. He couldn't get comfortable on it, and eventually realized that it's a little small and that road bikes aren't for him. He kept asking me to raise the handlebars to ridiculous new heights, and if I could make the position more like that of my Schwinn mountain bike. In the end I just sold him the Schwinn mountain bike and he's very happy.

I really shouldn't keep both of these and I could use some input on deciding which one to sell.

Both fit me. The Fuji is a really nice bike, I really like it. It's comfortable for me, it shifts very nicely (partly due to a modern ramped freewheel), it weighs 23 pounds, and it's just overall very solid and smooth. Its biggest drawback is that it has no granny gear, the lowest ratio is 42/28. It's perfectly adequate for normal riding but occasionally leaves me wanting more on very big hills.

The touring bike was custom made by Phil Fisher (https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/...page_id=363889) for a woman who was 5'2". I am 5'7". Interestingly the frame is nearly the same size as the Fuji's. The wheelbase is nearly identical. It weighs 25 pounts, but that's with a Pletscher rack and a heavy steel kickstand. I put a longer stem on it, and it fits me fine except for the crank. It has a Stronglight 165mm crank, and it's just too small for me. I would need a 170mm crank.
It also has a Spirt fd, but it has an 80s Shimano RD- I guess the original broke. It shifts pretty nicely, though I'm still working out the bugs. It was made locally by Phil Fisher in 1974, and its current red paint was by Ben Serotta himself.

I know how it feels to me is most important, but I would appreciate any input: which should I keep, the special edition Fuji S12-S LTD or the custom 1974 touring bike? Whichever one I decide to sell, I'll probably put it up on here and the local Craigslist.

I like Fuji bikes a lot. But that Phil Fisher is much more interesting. If it fits, that's the one that I'd keep.

This part confuses me.

What is this, "shouldn't keep both", that you speak.

You can always find another S-12 S with a little effort...
The other? Probably not so much.

Do you have a picture of the Red bike as you have it set up? How did the paint shine up? If your stem is not crazy long, and you only have a fistful of seat post, keep that one and trade for a crankset your size. (However, I really like riding with 170s and my inseam is 34in.)

+1

Fujis are a dime a dozen.

Chances of finding another Fuji at some point outweigh replacing the other.

The custom tourer is much more interesting. Which one fits you better?

Keep the Fisher

This has been resolved, I should post an update.
I'm still growing (18 years old) and both of these bikes have gotten small for me. They have 21" seat tubes, same wheelbase, similar trail, and similar top tube length. The only difference between the sizing of these two frames is the Fisher has more bottom bracket drop. This gives it a lower standover height, so my 5'1" mom can actually straddle it. I reinstalled the original stem and it fits her perfectly. I also replaced the Shimano rear derailleur with a more period-correct V GT Luxe.

I may end up needing to sell the Fuji anyway. Top of the seat tube to top of the saddle, measured parallel to the seatpost, is 7". I wouldn't even be able to have the saddle this high without a modern Kalloy seatpost. I'm building a 23" Fuji Sagres that will probably replace this bike.

My mom is planning to give her old bike, a Specialized Sirrus Sport, to my cousin when he's big enough. We're keeping the Fisher.