It's a little late in the year for this but after reading about the San Jos8 (Harris Cyclery's single-speed Bianchi San Jose upgraded with a Shimano Nexus-8 hub) I decided I needed something like that. I scoured the web and local bike shops but didn't really find what I was looking for. REI actually had a nice Nexus-8 based commuter, but most of the bikes were cruiser style. Buying a new San Jose or Redline 9.2.5 and performing the conversion would work but I just couldn't let go of the idea of doing this with an old frame from scratch.

I acquired this red Fuji Royale frame in Minneapolis from Craig's list. I spent the next couple of months trying to figure out how I was going to do this right the first time. After figuring out which crank and BB I needed, the rest was just ordering parts and bolting them on. Oh yeah, and figuring out how to install and adjust the rear wheel and shifter. The instructions provided by Shimano are not what i'd call comprehensive. The Internet and Sheldon Brown had the material I was looking for and it was actually quite easy. The bars are Nitto 105's, the brakes are Dia Compe's (Thanks, Darwin!). The controls are the original suicide levers from my Schwinn World Traveler. The pedals are just some inexpensive SPD's I got from Nashbar or Performance. I just need to add the front brake (yes, I have them on the "wrong" sides but after 30 years of riding motorcycles, I NEED the front brake on the right!) and wrap the bars. The drive train is 42 front, 19 rear, 172.5mm crank, with 700cx25 wheels.

Bob

After hooking up the rear brake I finally took it for a quick spin last night and I have to say that Nexus hub is fantastic. Hopefully I can get a couple of good rides in before the snow flies.



Oh yeah, gotta change that decal to read "8 Speed."

Hey, I'm the girl who advertised the frame (it was actually my boyfriend's.)

I am so, so pleased to see that it found a happy home and that you made it into something that you love. Amazing!

I love it! Great build! I just did the exact same conversion to a Schwinn World Voyageur. I had 700cc wheels built at the lbs and with the full black SKS fenders on, I can run Nokian 35mm Studded tires. I had the front wheel built with schmidt dyno hub powering two e6 headlights and a tailight. It is my winter bike. I love the suicide levers. I did the same thing using tektro interuptor levers. I too really like the nexus hub in this format. Anyway, we better take this discussion over to the commuting forum! I will post pics when I get it "tweaked". Great Job and congrats!!!

I thought you'd get a kick out of it, mplsminx!

I like your Royale, I had one about 25 years ago, but it was stolen. I have been toying with the idea of converting a Kabuki that I have. I have a Shimano hub and a spare 27 inch wheel that I could lace up. I really like the simplicity of a 3 speed.

I think you should do it. I finished the brakes and wrapped the bars the other night. I used Kool Stop Continental pads and they are so much better than the other pads I've been using I can hardly believe it. Twice the stopping power with half the effort. I'll never use anything else. Tonight I took it out for a longer (12 mile) ride with a few hills and street crossings. That hub is very smooth and silent. There's no feeling of drag and it's especially good when you've stopped at an intersection in a high gear -- just click it down and ride off. It really is nice to ride. I'm just sorry it's so late in the year!

I have a 25 year old Fuji Royale that my parents gave me as a present for my 21st birthday. It hasn't gotten much use for the past few years, and I started shopping for a new bike with a Nexis 8 speed (Jamis Commuter 3.0, Bianchi Milano, etc.).

But thanks to your post I'm now inspired to restore it and convert it to the Nexis. (OK, to be honest, I will have my LBS to the actual work.)

+1 on the Nexus 8 in a road bike frame conversion. I have attached the thread on mine. Good luck and feel free to contact me if I can help in anyway.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...chwinn+nexus+8

THanks. I'll be calling Sheldon and my LBS tomorrow.

I really like the one you built, Fender1. I keep meaning to ask you where you got those bottle cages. I've been using Two-Fish ones but I see that you are able to mount a pump with the ones you have. Who makes them?

golftdi: One thing I did not mention in the note about my build was that the Royale has a 126mm spacing in the dropouts and the Nexus is 130. I just spread them 4mm and put the hub in there rather than cold setting it. Several sites (including Sheldon's) state that it's OK to do this. The bike runs in a straight line with no alignment issues. You (or your LBS) could cold set the frame and make it 130mm permanently. Sheldon has a page on his site devoted to this. Also, if you don't have one already, add a 15mm wrench to your on-the-road toolkit so you can change the rear tire in the event of a flat!

Reverborama,

Since my bike has no braze-ons for cages I bought an Italian kit cage attachmnet kit (I forget the name) from Harris Cyclery. They work really well and are a heavy gauge plastic w/stainless steel hardware, no rust. The cages are cheapo $2 cages from airbomb.com. I was going to get a Surlty flask holder cage and flask to replace the seat tube cage for the winter as I don't need it in the cold.

+1 on the rear spacing. I found that Skip Eichert's description, www.vintagetrek.com, on how to cold set using a piece of all thread and 2 nuts and 2 washers a little less duanting than Sheldon's 2x4 approach. Allowed a little more discretion for the unskilled (Me!)

I just got the 27" wheel laced up to the Shimano 3 speed hub, but I had to stop so I can get ready for work. I also have a SA hub, but I figured for a Japanese bike I should use the Shimano. I had to use cross 2 lacing, since the spokes I had on hand were not long enough for cross 3. I am in the middle of multiple projects, so it may be a while before I get back to it.

I have the same bike that I am in the process of modifying. I am actually cold forming the rear to fit 120mm wheels instead of going to 130mm because I already had a new set of 120mms laying around. I could use help though with the bottom bracket. How is it threaded and what size is it? I would like to replace it with a cartridge type bb but I am unsure what to replace the original with. I will also be doing the crank arms so the spindle type does not matter. A link to a compatible replacement would be appreciated.