Thrift Store Find
 

I just picked up this Fuji Palisade at a thrift store. I cleaned it up a bit and will take it to the LBS for a going over (new tires, tubes, true rims, etc.) I am curious as to what year it is. I am thinking early 80's maybe. It has suntour running gear.

As for the condition I couldn't be happier. the frame is perfect with only a few minor scratches.

[IMG]http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/3859/1000438qp8.th.jpg[/IMG]

Nice find. Just don't ride it until it has been gone through--I rode my garage sale find, and I think I may have damaged some cones on mine as the grease had dried out. I repacked them and just ride it anyhow--but I would be happier if I had known that ahead of time.

yeah, i agree, check all of your bearings and races before you try to ride that thing. as to dating it, i cant really help you there. i looked for a site that would have the serial numbers on it but turned up empty handed. maybe a fuji enthusiast on here could help you more.

This may be the only Fuji catalog online. I think it is mid 1980's. It's got a Palisade on there.

that is a nice ride... we had one in the shop a while back and I recall it was lightweight
we set it up as SS

Nice catch! Does it have a Valite tubing sticker on it anywhere?

grease
 

yeah,I think that's what the creaking is from the bottom bracket{crank } on my latest thrift shop find.

Your best bet to determine the age is to decrypt the components date codes using the information on the Vintage-Trek website.

http://www.vintage-trek.com/component_dates.htm

The model year is usually the same or one year newere than the components. Good luck. FYI, future pics should be taken from the drive side, in order to show the crankset and deraiileurs, which which aids in determining the level and year of bicycles.

Yes the bike does have a frame sticker. It is labeled VILITE. I have done a couple of seaches (including the almighty google) and cannot find anything on vilite only valite. Has anyone heard of this tubing material.

Also, all the of components are Suntour DX3000.

I have just finished rebuilding the hubs this evening and now the bike is ready for my first ride tomorrow. I have to say that I am really happy with this bike. Thanks to T-Mar's link I was able to date the bike to 1987 (using the date code on the suntour derailer).

Condition wise this bike was not ridden very much. When I bought it the tires were new, they still had the small ribbon of rubber on the center of the tread from the factory molds. But they were so old that the rubber had dry rotted!! I also can't see any appreciable wear on the sprockets and the chain checks out fine.

After a thourough degreasing lubing and new tires (w/ rebuilt hubs) it is like a brand new bike.

I will follow up with a couple of pics tomorrow.

Brad

Please take a picture of that VILITE decal.

Rebuild the fork bearings and BB as well, before the first ride. You will be glad you did!,,,,BD

Ok I admit that I am an idiot and can't read. The sticker does say valite, I was misreading it due to it being pretty mucked up.