Road Test/Bike Review (1972) Fuji Road Racer (The Finest?)
03-18-19, 05:17 PM
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Road Test/Bike Review (1972) Fuji Road Racer (The Finest?)
This review is a little confusing. I'll defer to the Fuji experts of BF who care to opine,
In 1972, Fuji had three models labeled Road Racer -- S10-S, Finest, and Newest (see back cover Fuji ad below for photos of Newest and Finest)
The article doesn't specify in text which model they are featuring in this road test of Fuji Road Racer, but the photo of the featured bike is the same as Finest
Now things go sideways.
The first sentence of the article states "The Fuji Road Racer, top of the Fuji line...", yet the back cover ad indicates Newest was top of the line
The weight of the featured Road Racer is 23 lbs, yet the back cover shows Finest weighed 22 lbs. It's Newest that weighed 23 lbs.
Maybe the weight difference is the difference between factory data and the road tester's findings.
In an article not shown in this post, the 1972 Fuji Newest listed price was $390 and the 1972 Fuji Finest listed price was $290. The list price of the featured Road Racer was $295 -- consistent with Finest.
At this point, I'm not even convinced the bike shown is the one they road tested, or that there wasn't some mix up in prices, weights, etc.
Maybe this is one of those Lost in Translation moments.
Whatever...it's presented as published. There were no errors or omissions published in the next 3 months issues that followed.
PDF attached below, but does not include the Back Cover ad for Fuji Road Racers, The Newest and The Finest.
In 1972, Fuji had three models labeled Road Racer -- S10-S, Finest, and Newest (see back cover Fuji ad below for photos of Newest and Finest)
The article doesn't specify in text which model they are featuring in this road test of Fuji Road Racer, but the photo of the featured bike is the same as Finest
Now things go sideways.
The first sentence of the article states "The Fuji Road Racer, top of the Fuji line...", yet the back cover ad indicates Newest was top of the line
The weight of the featured Road Racer is 23 lbs, yet the back cover shows Finest weighed 22 lbs. It's Newest that weighed 23 lbs.
Maybe the weight difference is the difference between factory data and the road tester's findings.
In an article not shown in this post, the 1972 Fuji Newest listed price was $390 and the 1972 Fuji Finest listed price was $290. The list price of the featured Road Racer was $295 -- consistent with Finest.
At this point, I'm not even convinced the bike shown is the one they road tested, or that there wasn't some mix up in prices, weights, etc.
Maybe this is one of those Lost in Translation moments.
Whatever...it's presented as published. There were no errors or omissions published in the next 3 months issues that followed.
PDF attached below, but does not include the Back Cover ad for Fuji Road Racers, The Newest and The Finest.
__________________
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
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