Old Fuji...
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 1
From: Southeast USA
Old Fuji...
My first road bike, a circa 1987 Fuji Sagres, is still up in CT at my in laws house. I'm going to pick it up when we drive through there in July.
Is the bike worth anything or worth saving? It should be in great shape as it has been stored indoors all these years. I dont think it has been ridden in at least 15 yrs. I'll have to post up some pics once I get her back.
Is the bike worth anything or worth saving? It should be in great shape as it has been stored indoors all these years. I dont think it has been ridden in at least 15 yrs. I'll have to post up some pics once I get her back.
#3
Warning, this is coming from fuzzy recollection and some speculation.
I'm pretty sure the Sagres was made from Valite tubing. My understanding is that Valite was rebranded Ishawata Mangy X tubing, but I could be mistaken on that. Regardless, Valite and Mangy X were both used in the first machine brazed frames. This allowed Fuji, Trek and others to bring in lugged frames at a fraction of the cost of hand brazed CrMo frames.
"Value" is quirky thing. If you like the way the frame looks and the way it rides, enjoy it. I have a similar type Trek and use it for my errand bike. Very servicable.
I'm pretty sure the Sagres was made from Valite tubing. My understanding is that Valite was rebranded Ishawata Mangy X tubing, but I could be mistaken on that. Regardless, Valite and Mangy X were both used in the first machine brazed frames. This allowed Fuji, Trek and others to bring in lugged frames at a fraction of the cost of hand brazed CrMo frames.
"Value" is quirky thing. If you like the way the frame looks and the way it rides, enjoy it. I have a similar type Trek and use it for my errand bike. Very servicable.
#4
WoodBadge NE-VI-1
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 386
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore
Bikes: 1983 Sequoia by Specialized; 1989 Panasonic
Fuji info
Originally Posted by Miller2
My first road bike, a circa 1987 Fuji Sagres, is still up in CT at my in laws house.
Is the bike worth anything or worth saving?
Is the bike worth anything or worth saving?
If the photo teases you enough, you might try (excuse the ads) the website in my signature. I collect monsters.
#5
Team Sohoku
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 0
From: Not where I want to be.
Bikes: BMC, Cannondale, '87 Nishiki Modulus, 3Rensho Keirin
Originally Posted by beaverstuff
You bet! Pinnah was pretty much on target. Ishiwata made VALite frames, Fuji's propietary Chrome-Vanadium steel alloy frames, until 1992, when Ishiwata closed doors. You will have a piece of history. Pray that the decals are intact. ASAP, coat the decals with clear fingernail polish to protect them.
If the photo teases you enough, you might try (excuse the ads) the website in my signature. I collect monsters.
If the photo teases you enough, you might try (excuse the ads) the website in my signature. I collect monsters.

#6
WoodBadge NE-VI-1
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 386
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore
Bikes: 1983 Sequoia by Specialized; 1989 Panasonic
Six foot, three
Originally Posted by SingleSpeeDemon
O-M-G!!! How tall are you???

I'm only 6' 3", but I have disproportionally long legs and arms; short trunk.
I originally had a 58cm bike, then, found out about frame sizes and obtained a 63cm Wamsley.
Then, I hit the big time with those three Fujis (Ishiwata made VALite frames)
I'm in heaven!!

Hey, what am I doing? This is the other guy's thread!
Last edited by beaverstuff; 07-02-06 at 03:38 PM.
#7
just keep riding
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,560
Likes: 44
From: Milledgeville, Georgia
Bikes: 2018 Black Mountain Cycles MCD,2017 Advocate Cycles Seldom Seen Drop Bar, 2017 Niner Jet 9 Alloy, 2015 Zukas custom road, 2003 KHS Milano Tandem, 1986 Nishiki Cadence rigid MTB, 1980ish Fuji S-12S
I came across a Fuji Sagres last year and got it to use as a beater. After stripping it down to clean up and before reassembling it, a friend in our bike club who needed a good road road bike for not much $ bought it from me. I helped him build it up and it turned out to be a really nice bike. It handles very nicely. He rides it every day. In fact we rode together today. I like his bike so much that I found another Fuji (S12-S) for myself. I hope to be building it up soon.
#8
WoodBadge NE-VI-1
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 386
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore
Bikes: 1983 Sequoia by Specialized; 1989 Panasonic
Originally Posted by BluesDawg
I came across a Fuji Sagres last year and got it to use as a beater. After stripping it down to clean up and before reassembling it, a friend in our bike club who needed a good road road bike for not much $ bought it from me. I helped him build it up and it turned out to be a really nice bike. It handles very nicely. He rides it every day. In fact we rode together today. I like his bike so much that I found another Fuji (S12-S) for myself. I hope to be building it up soon.
If you want some info on the Ishiwata Fujis, I have gobs of stuff I gleaned from the internet in the last year. (Excuse the ads in my signature URL - free site.
)
#9
Bike Junkie
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,625
Likes: 40
From: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
Originally Posted by beaverstuff
Great! As I mentioned, above, I've done three - in the last year!
If you want some info on the Ishiwata Fujis, I have gobs of stuff I gleaned from the internet in the last year. (Excuse the ads in my signature URL - free site.
)
If you want some info on the Ishiwata Fujis, I have gobs of stuff I gleaned from the internet in the last year. (Excuse the ads in my signature URL - free site.
)
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#10
just keep riding
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,560
Likes: 44
From: Milledgeville, Georgia
Bikes: 2018 Black Mountain Cycles MCD,2017 Advocate Cycles Seldom Seen Drop Bar, 2017 Niner Jet 9 Alloy, 2015 Zukas custom road, 2003 KHS Milano Tandem, 1986 Nishiki Cadence rigid MTB, 1980ish Fuji S-12S
I don't know if the tubing on my S12-S is Ishiwata or not. The decal says "Fuji Chrome Molybdenum Tubing 441". It does not say Valite as the Sagres does. Nothing stamped on the fork.
My Bridgestone is made from Ishiwata quad-butted tubing and it is the love of my life.
My Bridgestone is made from Ishiwata quad-butted tubing and it is the love of my life.





