ScottRyder 

Still on my Fuji bucket list ... a blue/yellow Team in my size and in immaculate condition. I'll look forward to seeing yours when you've got it rebuilt.


Scott

ScottRyder 

1986 Fuji Opus III

Usually, I let my Fuji's remain pretty much as the Fuji gods intended, this one I needed to stretch out a bit by adding the white Paselas tires The frame is a very subtle light pink, as are the Royal Gran Compe brake calipers and levers .. My lovely Japanese co-worker, when looking at the hues of blues, pinks and whites, said it reminded her of the cherry blossoms against the blue sky in Japan. It must be what Fuji had in mind ..

When I received the Opus, it was only missing the original Fujita saddle which was a light pink suede ... I needed a white Fujita saddle!. Upcoming C&V Fuji star Keith Hatful came to my rescue by doing an amazing job re-covering one on my brown Fujita Conpys with a high quality vinyl which can easily pass for a beautiful white leather. Thanks Keith!!!!





Scott

beech333

I'm glad that you opted for the white hoods. Very nice.

Bikedued

NICE. I can't think of any bike in recent history that could pull off white tires. That Opus, sir? It certainly does, and quite well! I love it!!,,,,BD

illwafer

that 1986 fuji is serious!!!

auchencrow

That would turn a few heads!

nlerner

That's beautiful, Scott. Be sure to wear the white gloves when you ride it!

Neal

robatsu

Scott, that is super. Like some other posters, I've always wanted white tires on a bike, but never had one that would pull it off.

Soma Roark

Ok this is my third thread but I love my bike! eat it, lick it =)

robatsu

1972 Fuji Finest:

auchencrow

Gorgeous !
(I really like the photo too BTW)

beech333

When I first heard that you were thinking about using maroon on this bike, I didn't think that you could pull it off. I was quite incorrect. Well done.

I assume that you are still unsure about keeping this one, but are you planning on getting the seat tube panel decal?

robatsu

There is no seat panel decal on this one. The only decals missing are little red white blue bands on the borders between paint/chrome.

Yeah, unless shipping bikes to Japan all of a sudden gets a lot cheaper and we all of a sudden have a lot bigger place over there, this one probably doesn't go. However, it may be a while before I really have to face up to that. I'm going back and forth between here and Japan for a while, so I can keep some stuff for a while.

One thing that is causing a lot of unhappiness right now is that selling stuff like this off, it is way more profitable (and much easier, imo) to part things out than sell whole bikes. For something like this, no bid deal, since it is a build up of non stock parts. However, I'm struggling with this issue right now w/a stock Opus III I have.

beech333

I've never noticed that before. Learn something new every day.

robatsu

Actually, there is a tiny seat panel decal (a "Racing" one like on the forks) on the front of the seat panel near the top. It is present on this bike - I just assumed you meant the typical large "FUJI" block lettering seen on virtually all of their models from the 70's/80's except some of the earliest models (such as this).

ScottRyder 

Thanks everyone for the positive comments on the Opus III.

Jay, that Finest is gorgeous! What tires are you running on that? They match the saddle and bar tape perfectly.

Neal, after seeing your Finest frame this past weekend has got me thinking ...

Velocals has the little red/white/blue decal strips for the seat tubes, forks and chainstays. Good luck getting in touch with JR, I've given up.

Scott

beech333

It isn't just me then. I sent him a few emails months ago, but never heard back. That is a shame.

southpawboston

scott, first off, your opus III looks amazing! second, have you tried greg softley in australia for decals?

Elev12k

Again a beautifull Fuji, Scott

destikon

I love it! I just scored an 86 absolute for $50. This puts my ride to shame.

destikon

I'm LOVING those big fatty tires! That's a true super commuter ride there.

ScottRyder 

Hey Absolutes are a very nice ride .. no shame on those. I'm checking out one on Saturday, I'm hoping and praying it's an '89 in wine/mist.

https://www.classicfuji.com/Absolute_1989_Page.htm

I'd give it the white treatment pretty fast!

Scott

Sixty Fiver

Not nearly as pretty as most but a fabulous ride... my 1988 Kuwahara Shasta "Urban Assault Vehicle". Set up as a fixed gear for winter riding and just overhauled her and added trekking bars to replace the drop bars I was running.



And her sister... a 1987 Cascade... set up for touring. Original drive was Deore (still have the crank) but am running Suntour and currently have a VX GT in the rear and not the Cyclone shown here.

I have probably put more miles on this bike than any other I have owned and found her in pretty mint shape and paid $25.00 some years ago as this is all the LBS wanted for her... my friend got the deal and passed it on to me.



Both are hand built models on Ishiwata tubes and were really touring / expedition bikes that were sold as mtbs... both these bikes see a lot of mileage and the Cascade used to serve as my fixed gear winter bike until I decided she was to nice for that and picked up the Shasta.

Wish I could get 100 of these frames... the Cascade is a rarer bike as it was their top of the line model and cost nearly $1000.00 new... the Shasta was a model level down and in '88 sold for about $800.00. In '88 the Shasta got much nicer as the previous version had a straight gauge 4130 frame and was much heavier and not as well equipped.

Up until recently you could have bought a new Cascade frame and fork and it was marketed as an expedition frame... also saw a Cascade model (1987) that was also lugged but has a sloping top tube and will take pictures of it next time it rolls into the shop as it is pretty unique.

Sixty Fiver

Better angle of the Shasta... the triple butted frame is lighter than the quad butted frame on the Cascade.

coltrain22

Here are some pics of my Lotus America. It has a Shimano FF System.