Don Buska

Why is it always so darn cold when I want to take pictures of my completed restorations 10 degrees today before wind-chill Just finished this morning - was waiting for the bar tape to arrive. Purchased this 1975 Fuji S10-S frame in August of 2017 on the forum. Here is the original thread. I also have an album of additional photos here.

Most often with my builds, that I intend to keep and ride, I will upgrade the bikes to better than original components. I should define my use of the term 'upgrade'. By that I mean I will stick with the same manufacture, but instead us a component that is higher up their offering lineup. I will also allow myself to go ahead a few years if some major improvement in performance will be realized. For example, the original 1975 S10-S used a Sugino 3-bolt crank with the outer chainring swaged onto the crank arm assembly. I wanted the freedom to select and change my chainrings so I opted for a later version 5-bolt Sugino crankset. Notice the one used is from a 1977 Fuji S10-S, so I followed Fuji's own direction here. Another change was going from standard Dia-Compe model 610 center-pull brakes to the finer finished Gran-Compe GC-610 versions, including some really nice later GC model levers (NGC200). And finally, the derailleurs have gone from Suntour's V-series to the top end (for 1975) Cyclone line. Honestly, the Cyclone GT long cage rear derailleur used was not introduced until 1976, but remember I have a built-in 'few year' buffer on my upgrade component classification

New wheels were built (CR18 polished Al rims) with period Suzue high flange hubs. I did stick with my favorite Japanese tire company and used Panaracer Urban Max 27 X 1 1/8 Black Wall's. That solid black with the yellow lettering just made it a mandatory use on this yellow bike BTW, all my other vintage bikes use their Pasela PT gum wall versions.

Enjoy the picture and album. Only one more bike to restore this winter, a 1975 Fuji 'The Finest'.

bikemig 

That's a fine looking build. I'm looking forward to seeing your "finest" build as well. I have a 1972 fuji finest that I need to rebuild this year as well.

Bianchigirll 

Beautiful!

speedevil 

My first "decent" bike was a Fuji Dynamic 12, purchased in 1978 if memory serves. Very similar to the S-10-S, your build looks great. Nice choices on the component upgrades.

I remember lusting after the Fuji America and Ace, but both were more money than I could afford.

I do still look through ebay and CL for Americas and Aces. Maybe one day I'll find one.

dddd

It's amazing how well that some of these most basic models ride, even with their steel rims (Araya and Ukai steel rims were some of the smoothest ever made).
I can't imagine the foam in that saddle is still happenin', would it be possible to remove the cover and re-foam it?


Maybe I missed any comment on the Cyclone derailer, could that have been original?


The first Japanese bike that I ever worked on was a NY barn-find rustbucket S-10S that I parted out in 1977 or so. I only recall the unusual I-beam stem that ended up on my Schwinn Stingray, and I don't think that any of it's other parts are still around. I used it's fork and front caliper as a truing stand for a short time, having to bend it one way or another for truing front or rear wheels.


EDIT: You fooled me with those rims, I took them for chrome! Looks like the bike is nicely upgraded, almost gotta have a decent seatpost on any bike I ride.

jonwvara 

Nice job! I've always liked the S-10-S for some reason. I did a parts-bin rebuild of one a few years back and gave it to a local kid who needed a bike.

I have to admit, though, that it makes my legs hurt just to look at that freewheel.

exmechanic89

Really nice.

due ruote 

Very pretty. Looks like the front at least has really good clearance even with 27” wheels. Is the rear similar?

Don Buska

In 1975 all the Fuji's have what would later be called 'Touring Frame' dimensions. Even the Newest! I can usually tell immediately by seeing the distance between the tire and the seat tube. An inch or more space and I call it a touring frame, less than that I lean toward labeling it a Race frame. Your right if one wanted to they could squeeze some fenders in there.

I looked at trying 700C wheels, but it would have required some really long reach brakes. Thankfully Panasonic still makes there tires in 27".

Don Buska

Well considering your in Vermont I can relate to your comment on the rear sprockets Living here in the Midwest a 23 or 24 low sprocket is fine. However, please note, I did put a 38T on the front for those occasional hills, and might even try a 36T sometime. The long cage Cyclone rear will have no problem with either.

Don Buska

I bought that seat for a bike I made up for my wife. She didn't like it. It's almost like new. The foam is in great condition. All my other bikes I ride use Selle Anatomica X1 saddles. I felt on this bike having a black Fuji saddle just fit the overall theme and I don't plan on using this for any century rides, but maybe some half-centuries though. I have my higher end vintage Fuji's (80 Newest and 86 Custom) that will do the distance rides. They are about three pounds lighter than this S10-S.

The first Fuji to use the Cyclone derailleur was the 1976 Professional. The S10 or S12 series never did, they always got stuck with something in the V-series lineup. So using a Cyclone is an upgrade for sure

dweenk

My wife has a Fuji S-10-S that she bought the first year that they were available in Gaithersburg, MD. That was 1971 or 1972 AFAIK, and she still owns it. It has a blue paint that is lighter than the Fuji Finest of that year, and the paint still glows in the sunlight. I hope I was able to capture the effect with these photos:

crank_addict

Nicely done, Don. Agree too on the era correct upgrades. Those components are top notch and reliable.

(Miss my S12-S Ltd. in black / chrome. Purchased new and later years was stolen.)

Don Buska

Always liked the metallic blue bikes myself. I noticed your wife's bike has the GRAN-COMPE (GC610) brakes as well, are those original? The few samples I've seen of the S10-S in this time frame all seemed to have the plain 610's and not the GC610. I figured my adding the GC610's was an upgrade, but perhaps Fuji used them on some factory S10's as well.

Cougrrcj

My S-10S wears a 13-21 six-spd SunTour Winner Ultra freewheel. Does just fine here in the Great Lakes region! BUT, mine also wears a 48/38/28 triple front in case I need it. Most of the time, it is just the 13,14,15,17 rear cogs and the 38 middle ring.

dweenk

Don,

DC 610s were the original spec, but when we went to pick it up it had Dia-Compe style no-name lookalikes on it. My wife refused to take it unless he switched brakes. I suppose Grand Compe was what he had laying around.

uncle uncle

Love the yellow. I've never ridden a '70's era S-10-S, but have always wanted to, so I could compare it to other entry level bicycles from that era. For some reason, I have a soft spot for that vintage and class of bicycle. I like the upgrades, but I especially like the well thought out methodology used to support your choices. You set some ground rules or goals for the upgrades and then tried hard to accomplish things within that framework. I often struggle to justify my own choices to myself. I might adopt your philosophies on the subject of upgrades, and what's appropriate for what some might consider a vintage bike that doesn't quite fit the definition of "classic".

Cougrrcj

The '75 S-10S was at least mostly alloy -- bars, crankset, hubs and rims were alloy - only the seatpost remained steel, making the weight a respectable (for 1975) 26.1 pounds for a 23-inch frame bike. It was a lower-midrange rather than the all-steel entry level Tourer and Dynamic 10. In reality, it was on par with the Japan-sourced Schwinn Super LeTour 12.2 that came out a couple years later.

Don Buska

Thanks I figured that they wouldn't use the Gran Compe version on the manufactured bike, since it was at the mid to low end of their offerings. Wow my wife never paid any attention to the components, strictly if it looked nice, i.e. paint job and chrome, it was OK with her. The calipers I used are both NOS, so I had to pay a bit of a premium for that privilege

Don Buska

The 26 lb class frames will probably ride a little bit smoother, but at the expense of a spunky quickness feel. That's the best I can explain it. I'm no expert at ride characteristics or descriptions, and naturally much of that is very subjective I have a couple of other 26lb class bikes, like my 1985 Bridgestone 500 and a 1980 SR 10-Speed. Both ride really nice, but when I plan on doing over a 50 mile ride I will opt for one of the slightly lighter higher end Fuji's. Those 'lighter' ones are between 23-24 pounds BTW. So really not that much lighter. Weight is fully loaded with water bottle, lights and accessories.

Tubing also varies. Both my BS500 and SR are Cr-Mo butted tubing, where-as this S10-S is straight Hi-Ten steel. Yet, they weigh about the same. My lighter Fuji's are DB and QB Cr-Mo tubing as would be expected. Once I get some miles under my belt on this S10-S I'll be able to give a much better review of ride.

Fuji was one of those companies that made nice bikes even on the lower end of the spectrum back in the 70's and 80's. Even this lowly S10-S has pretty nice forged Ishiwata dropouts. Many of the other makers would jump to stamped dropouts on their mid-low end bikes.