Ran across a Team Fuji today n FB Marketplace. Met with the seller and rode it. Ended up bringing it home. I have been digging into it some, and by serial number, looks to be a 1986 model. Brifters have been added, drivetrain is all Dura Ace 8spd. Looking at the catalogs from that year, the colors don’t match up. This one has a chrome rear triangle and fork, red in the front, blue in the rear. Decals all basically intact. Tubing decal shows Valite quad butted tubing. I am guessing the components were swapped, but the color difference is throwing me off...any ideas? Maybe the frame was refinished? Would post a pic, but don’t have enough posts yet.

Nice bike
​​​​​​​This your bike?

Yessir! That would be it! Forgot how much I missed the feel of a steel frame till I hopped on this one.

That is a gorgeous bike, I love it.

Really dig that paint.
Nice score.

Not a stock paint job but it sure looks nice.

Paint is a little rough in some areas, maybe a repaint in its future. Right now, just ready to put some miles on it. Feels great on the road and fits me perfectly.

I'm inclined to think that this could be a rebuilt foreign market variation. Several Team Fuji have surfaced in the catalogue livery so it's obviously not a standard USA market model. It's seems unlikely that a previous owner would go through the expense of chrome plating and quad butted VaLite is also incorrect for the USA market. However, the frame style is that of a 1986 Team Fuji, based on the cable tunnels being on the underside of the top tube.The post diameter, if correctly sized, may tell us if it really is VaLite. Also, please provide the serial number.

Congratulations! Looks like a cool bike!

Seat post measures 26.5, though my digital calipers tend to measure a hair small...maybe actually a 26.6. Serial # KC692135. I actually pre-maturely posted the VaLite tubing, I was going off of the seller's info. The decal actually shows quad-butted 9658.

Update: Just pulled the seatpost...marked 26.6

Thxs. It's definitely CrMo tubing and the correct size post. That Fuji tubeset is almost certainly rebranded Ishiwata EXO-M. It's also definitely a 1986 model. being from march 1986.

Thanks for the info! I am seriously thinking of having the frame refinished. Though it does have some character just the way it is. Rides beautifully and feels so good. I had forgotten how nice steel rode.

Steel rides nice yeah, but I really think those team fujis ride nicer than most. Mine got crunched when a motorcycle left hooked me, and I miss it a lot. It was soooo smooth, even some of my non vintage enthusiast friends thought it rode nice.

Were these chromed under the paint? Better pics might tell us if that is show chrome or chroming to protect the frame under the paint.

Colors are different, as mentioned, from US bikes in '86. Yet another good argument for NOT repainting a bike.

https://www.classicfuji.com/1986_03_TeamFuji_Page.htm


Personally I'd take the original Sprint kit over the current setup any day.

Would love to have the original Sprint components as well. Will post closer pics soon, when I get the chance. The chroming looks to be frame protection. Whoever did the paint job used pinstripe tape to divide the paint from the "chrome" sections. Peeled it off and you can see the over-sanded areas. Kind of sad really. But, mechanically it is sound and rides very nice...the rest is all cosmetic.

^


(when will the forum gods give us a 'like' button? or is that too facebookie?)

Oh No not me, I'd keep the Dura Ace for sure.

Oh I will be. Just would be nice to see it in its old school glory.

Took it for it’s maiden voyage today...after cleaning and re-greasing the hubs. They felt gritty when I was putting on fresh rubber. Smooth as glass now. Took it for a short 10 mile spin, everything seems to be mechanically sound. Shifting was crisp, and the steel was much more comfortable than my newer aluminum Fuji. Soaked up the cracked road surface like it was nothing. I think I have a new favorite in the stable!

I mean even in the CL pics, it just looked so perfectly setup.

Sweet ride.

I'd like to see a closeup of the rear dropouts. My guess is they are Suntour Superbe PRO's. You are correct about all the component changes. In 86 Fuji was still a big Suntour user.

The rear dropouts are just marked “Fuji”. Did not snap a pic, just took a quick look on the way out the door.

Looks like you lucked out, that dude's ads are real shady. The Y66 he has up marked as "full Ultegra" isn't, it has a Claris rear derailleur. It used to be in the picture set in the ad, its been conveniently removed.

I guess I missed that ad. The two bikes he had listed were exactly as he advertised. I see a CL poster that has the same Fuji, though in a 56cm, and a Y66 for sale...but the Y66 has a pic of an Ultegra rear derailleur. Different guy though.