Lovenutz

I have been looking for a vintage touring bike for a while now so when I had the chance to buy this I did not hesitate. It wasn't cheap, but I think it was a fair price. Hard to judge with the value with the modern components. I'll be posting in the appraisal section too to see what the experts think. I guess it kind of hurts the value as a collectable, not that it is a particularly rare bike, but all original carries some weight. On the other hand the upgrades make it more functional as a rider.

So, here is the list of modern parts:
-Tiagra hub
-Sram 8 speed cassette
-CR18 rims
-Sanyo Generator front hub
-Koolstop pads
-Shimano downtube shifters
-Cinelli handlebars
-gatorskin tires
-deore LX m580 rear derailer
-Velo Orange front rack

Was also wondering about the frame tubing. VA-lite, a proprietary tubing from Fuji. I've been reading that quality was somewhere between chromoly and Hi-ten?

Paint is rough in some spots and filled in. Here are some pics...
fuji 1.jpg
fuji 2.jpg
fuji 4.jpg
fuji 5.jpg
fuji 3.jpg

Lovenutz

more pics
fuji 6.jpg
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fuji 9.jpg
fuji 10.jpg

thumpism 

Nice bike with sensible upgrades. The original was not so special as to be a collectible, so I would not worry about the changes made to it. And very close to my size. Good find.

Lovenutz

more pics

artclone

Super nice. I've been looking for any of the Fuji Tourings but they are rarely for sale around SF or on eBay.

I don't know if the later versions have that nice chrome fork crown. Does the III have the spare spoke holder on a chainstay?

I have a similar era Japanese touring (Schwinn Voyageur) and have considered a dynamo hub for it.

3speedslow

Nice looking touring rig. Have you got any ride time on that Belt saddle?

specialmonkey

Sweet bike. I'd like to have one too, especially the III because I like the classy silver color scheme. Many seem not to be all original these days.

The upgrades are nice but all original would be desirable to me. I think the stem may have also been swapped.

This website - https://www.classicfuji.com/TouringSe..._1984_Page.htm

is pretty informative.

I'm not sure how good or bad VALite is, but I think Fujis of this era look really well made, solid, and cool.

Depending on the local market, I'd say $250-350.

cdmurphy

Lovenutz, you've got a nice bike there. All the changes from original are definite improvements, at least functionally. Value wise, they're maybe a wash, or might detract a bit. Get yourself an LED front light, and maybe a bag for the front rack and you're all set for just about any sort of light touring / long distance riding. It's not a super high end bike, so you shouldn't feel too beholden to keeping or restoring it to original.

Looks like you have room for some cushy tires. If you like the blackwall look, I can highly recommend the Vittoria Voyager Hyper tires. They're on semi-permanent closeout at Planet-X, for around $15-20 depending on current sales. They're available in 32, 35, and 38mm, and are pretty supple, with a reasonably thick, slick tread. Not quite Compass tire nice, but for the price they're a fantastic bargain. I've had 3 pairs of the 35mm tires swapped between a number of bikes, and they give a very fast, cushy ride inflated to 50-60 psi

Lovenutz

No spoke holder. I was actually looking for a Voyageur, found one that was in rough shape and passed. Kinda with I had bought it.

Just a few short rides. It is really hard. I'm hoping it will break in.

Thanks I've been threw the old Fuji catalogs a few time. It's really interesting to me. Va-lite was some kind of vanadium, aluminum, manganese alloy. The Touring IV and V of the same year are all chromoly. So I am assuming its somewhat lower quality. I payed 300 for it which I assumed was a higher end of the value, but I've finally got my touring bike.

Lovenutz

I actually prefer the gumwalls on these vintage bikes. The only problem is these wheels are actually 27 inch. I don't know if I can convert to 700c with this cantilever brake set up. They're also new rims and tires so I will probably ride it like this for a while.

My Fuji America though is 700c and in need of some new rubber.

spiker

there's one listed on Cape Cod Craigslist, my size, 64cm. All original but definitely ridden hard & put away wet. If close by would be a good resource for original bits. Started at $100 asking & down to $60.

Cougrrcj

If yo ever decide to get rid of the Belt saddle, let me know! My '75 Fuji S-10S is still wearing it's original Fujita Belt, but it is showing it's age after 40+ years and tens of thousands of miles of use!

Just for my own edification, does your Belt have a metal reinforcement on the underside? My original doesn't, and either does the brown one I got for my Univega Gran Tourismo, but a 'spare' I had picked up a few years back (that has the lacing holes) does.

brokebottom

She's pretty

Salamandrine 

More or less, but perhaps a bit closer to cro-mo. Assuming it's vanadium steel, it's generally in the neighborhood the lower range of cro mo UTS.

There isn't really such a thing as "hi-ten" steel BTW. All it means is high tensile. Technically 4130 cro mo is hi ten. There are hundreds of alloys and tempers of carbon steel. It follows that the quality of steel used in "hi ten" frames varies enormously. Some is pretty nice stuff.

At any rate, cool Fuji! Nice classic Japanese touring bike for sure. I remember those from the time.

Lovenutz

I'm in the middle of a move right now and it's at the new place. I can check if there's any reinforcement underneath when I get settled.

And sorry Coug, I'll be hanging on to this one for a while. It's going on my America. The catalog shows that the America came with a Fujita F-17 so this will be closer to original. The Avocet Touring I that on there now is going on the the Series III... It's more comfortable anyways.
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ryansu

I looked at a Fuji Touring III on ebay last year when I was overwhelmed by vintage mid 80s Japanese touring bike fever, your bike looks great and I agree with the other the upgrades are sensible and probably add to the ride experience. I found a Schwinn Passage in my size locally instead also a bit more than I would usually pay but not bad and it calmed my fever. I made a few changes to my mostly but not completely stock as found bike to make it a good fit - cockpit items mostly

[IMG]Pass hill day by Ryan Surface, on Flickr[/IMG]

Lovenutz

@ryansu Wow nice! I really like your Passage. I was looking for one of those Tenax framed Schwinn bikes. I had a chance on a Voyageur but missed it. My Fuji came with another set of wheels with knobby tires, another cassette, and two sets of fenders. And all the 'upgrades' I was planning on were already done. I couldn't say no.

ryansu

Thanks @Lovenutz I am really enjoying the Passage and its plush stable ride, I hope you have a similar experience with the Fuji III. I can see why the Mid 80's gets referred to as the Golden Age of Japanese touring bikes

bike_galpal

aluminum? i don't think so, it does say steel on it...

Lovenutz

Vanadium, aluminum, and manganese steel alloy.

bike_galpal

ah, didn't realize you could mix aluminum and steel

OldFatBastard

Pic of my Touring lll. Non standard rear derailleur, brake levers, Alex 700 rims/hubs, fenders.

Salamandrine 

Where are you finding this information? I've seen a couple casual references to aluminum being used as an alloying element in Va-lite, but I'm not sure I believe it. Not a normal component of vanadium steel AFAIK. Vanadium, Chromium, Manganese, yes. Al? doubtful.

Lovenutz

I'm going off what I read in the 1982 catalog. It's in the italicized part. It says Fuji developed VAlite in tandem with one of the worlds leading bike tubing manufacturers. I think Ishiwata?

Might be tough to read. If you go to the link it's easier to see.
fuuugi.jpg
https://www.classicfuji.com/1982_04_I...tion3_Page.htm

jetboy 

I had no idea. that is pretty cool.