Hi all, recently acquired an '82 Team Fuji that I am giving the ol 650b conversion treatment. I have seen endless amazing examples of the S12, fitting fenders with 42mm tires but not many Team Fuji's. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the geometries' of the two bikes? The Team Fuji is technically of the racing category and the S12 is of the touring but are the differences only due to material or lugging? Or is the clearance different between the two? Thx

A racing bike is a sports/exotic car, and a touring bike is an SUV. Use case and setup is, logically, completely different (when geometries, components, and setup are fully committed to their archetypes).

The Team Fuji sports fairly standard HT and ST angles, identical to the S12-S, but if you look at the fork blades, the S12-S's are quite raked vs the high-speed-focused minimal raking of the Team. The chain stays on the Team are shorter as well for more maneuverability. Tubing is lighter, components are lighter, including wheels/tires.

The Team Fuji's brakes are 'standard' reach (47-57mm) and actually have room for 700x32mm tires, if not 35mm tires. That's pretty darn generous for a speed-focused bike, but it was 1982 and that wasn't out of the ordinary on something that wasn't the tip of the proverbial spear. A 650B conversion would probably work pretty darn well, and look at home. Get some 35mm or 38mm tires and have room to run fenders. It'd look pretty sharp, and handle and accelerate pretty decently, too, all with added comfort. I've seen at least one Bridgestone RB-1 converted to 650B and it looked completely natural. A great way to increase the ride quality of a race bike.

Awesome, thanks both! Ah yes, the forks do slightly vary, though luckily the Team Fuji has dimpled chainstays too.

I snagged a cheap pair of used 42mm Rene Herse' so I'm going to give those a go and report back. I have a Velocity Dyad wheelset so hoping the wide rim will support my cause by keeping the height of the tire within reason.