The other day I was visiting Phnom Penh and I often stop in the local used import bike shops there.
I stopped at one I only go to once in a while and there hanging in the front was a Fuji Finest with 650b wheels and 650bx35 tires, Cantilever brakes, half step gearing + granny, and it looked like DT shifters. Not sure about what it had for braze ons. The guy wanted $250 for it, hoping that I can go back next week and pick it up.

Sorry no picture but it was a nice maroon with a nice Fuji Mt headbadge.

I converted an early 70's Fuji Finest, the forks didn't need reraking to be considered low trail, and 42's fit on it just fine. I'm not sure, but I don't think there were any braze ons at all on the donor I found, so the one you saw was probably up-cycled.

The cantilever brakes sound like a serious modification. Any idea of the year?

If this was up-cycled like [MENTION=381793]gugie[/MENTION] says and [MENTION=19743]USAZorro[/MENTION] says that he Cantis sound like a serious mod, it was done either in Japan or it was a factory issue bike. I believe it is a Japan market bike. Many used bikes and some stolen bikes end up in big containers and are shipped here to Cambodia.
Now I have to hope it is still there in 2 weeks when I go back in after Christmas.
My Fuji Stratos is a Japan market bike as they were never listed in the USA market
Here is my Stratos

I hope it's still around when you go back. Pics, of course!

Well I finally got back into Phnom Penh to see this and alas it is too small, a 19.5 or 20, like most of the road bikes around here. Here are a few pictures;
looks like it has internal lighting wires for a rear mount bottle generator

What are those things attached to the chainstay by the rear der and SS Series graphics?

Found a thread with a similar frame. This bike is very different than the 70s Fuji Finest sold in the states:

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...ss-series.html

Interesting bike. I suspect you are correct that it is a model intended for the Japanese market. Everything looks factory to me. I know that enthusiasts in Japan were collecting 'constructeur' stuff at least as early as the late 80s, and it wouldn't surprise me that it had been going on for a some time already. That being so, Fuji making a sort of factory frenchie style touring bike makes a certain amount of sense.

If I had to guess I'd say it was made around '81 or '82, but considering it's a retro bike, it's a little hard to pin down.

Right, this makes sense to me. It's neat seeing components this old on a "new" bike.

My 1993 Bridgestone XO 2 is built along these lines as well (drop bars, 26 inch wheels and designed to look like a French style touring bike).

It may have been [MENTION=213280]dawesman[/MENTION] or one of our other Japan-centric members who has pointed out a couple time that 650b is very popular in Japan and has been since forever. In that sense, it makes perfect sense as a Japan market bike we never saw in USA bike shops.

What I really dig about this one is the SuperMaxy crank with the Herse-style rings, and presumable 50.4 bcd. I've got a Super Maxy crank that has the same look on the arms, but it's the cheap swagged version with the unremovable large ring.

Drive side only, maybe for mounting a chain guard.

I really enjoy posts like this one with pics of bikes not seen where I live. Thanks.

Too bad about the size. Love the handlbars , not wild about the integrated spider/large chainring ...

Thanks for sharing.

It's for a rubber slap guard (or leather, if you want to shell out for it); that style is pretty common on touring bikes.

The left-side R brake cable routing is a definite indicator of a Japan-only model.