Unknown Fuji Bike
 

Hey,

Someone is offering to sell me a Fuji bike with an unknown lugged steel frame probably from the 80's. It has Sugino VT crank, Shimano brakes (doesn't say anything else but Shimano). It's been converted to a single speed and has probably been repainted before, because I can't find any markings on it saying a model name.

Here are some pics. Sorry they're small but they're not mine.

http://kyledr.mine.nu/fuji0.jpg
http://kyledr.mine.nu/fuji1.jpg
http://kyledr.mine.nu/fuji2.jpg
http://kyledr.mine.nu/fuji3.jpg
http://kyledr.mine.nu/fuji4.jpg

Obviously the Schwinn seat is not stock. I should have written down all the components but I didn't have pen/paper. This thing is single speed and I want fixed, but it's close anyway. Brakes are okay and it's pretty solid, but not perfect.

So can anyone ID this bike? Model, year, quality, steel type, geometry, value? I know it's not much to go off of, but all I have is the serial number: N4N5569.

Thanks for looking,

Kyle

Any hints or general statements? Is the serial number worth anything? How would it compare to a Miyata 1400?

A miyata 1400 is a high end road bike from the mid 80s. The Miyata if in good condition would be worth much more in my opinion.

Its hard to say what you have. A Japanese mid-level Valite framed Fuji would make into a nice ride. But I also had a hi-tensile framed Taiwanese Fuji Pulsar from the mid-eighties that weighed a ton and felt lifeless to ride.

Frame materials
 

Hi,
To really check out the quality of your find, take a moment to remove the fork - yeah, take it out of the head tube. Then, look for Ishiwata stamped on the steer-tube. If it's there you've got a honey!
Jim

S/N search
 

I have contacted Fuji Inside Sales and they have no records of Fujis in the early 1980s, or before. If anyone has info contrary to what I'm posting, please, send me an email.

Thanks for your effort, man. Looks like I've got some better options, but I'll keep this one in mind.