Fuji Finest CL Score: Damaged Frame, Unsafe At Any Speed?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Berwyn PA
Posts: 6,425
Bikes: I hate bikes!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 429 Post(s)
Liked 709 Times
in
233 Posts
Fuji Finest CL Score: Damaged Frame, Unsafe At Any Speed?
I pickup this Fuji Finest of philly cl today. It was cheap and the frame is tweaked. (See pics) It came with 36 hole Campagnolo low flange hubs, laced to 700c Mavic MA40's, Sugino Mighty Double Crank, Suntour Superbe FD, Suntour Cyclone 7000 RD, Suntour Down tube shifters, Dia compe brakes & levers. I feel it was worth the low price for the components.
My question is regarding the safety of the frame. As you can see by the geometry and the bulge on the top & down tubes, there was an impact in it's past. I know the frame could never be sold, but is there any way to tell how unsafe it is to ride? There are no cracks and some minor paint chipping under the bulges. Anyone ridden a frame witht his kind of damage? If so how long and was it safe? I took a short ride on it and it tracks fine and seems to handle ok. Thanks for the input.
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
My question is regarding the safety of the frame. As you can see by the geometry and the bulge on the top & down tubes, there was an impact in it's past. I know the frame could never be sold, but is there any way to tell how unsafe it is to ride? There are no cracks and some minor paint chipping under the bulges. Anyone ridden a frame witht his kind of damage? If so how long and was it safe? I took a short ride on it and it tracks fine and seems to handle ok. Thanks for the input.
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
#2
Broom Wagon Fodder
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,384
Bikes: Fuji Supreme; Kona Wo; Nashbar road frame custom build; Schwinn Varsity; Nishiki International; Schwinn Premis, Falcon Merckx, American Flyer muscle bike, Motobecane Mulekick
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 52 Post(s)
Liked 64 Times
in
30 Posts
Hey, I was wondering where you'd been!
I'd be really careful with that. That looks like it's right where the butted tubes change thickness. Plus it totally f's with the geometry. I'd contact a local frame builder and see if he could replace those two tubes. If that was horrifically expensive I would find a new frame and transfer the parts over. If the frame is not salvagable, I'd clean it up and hang it on the wall as an example of the beautiful work that came out of Japan during that era.
I'd be really careful with that. That looks like it's right where the butted tubes change thickness. Plus it totally f's with the geometry. I'd contact a local frame builder and see if he could replace those two tubes. If that was horrifically expensive I would find a new frame and transfer the parts over. If the frame is not salvagable, I'd clean it up and hang it on the wall as an example of the beautiful work that came out of Japan during that era.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Maidstone, Kent, England
Posts: 2,637
Bikes: 1970 Holdsworth Mistral, Vitus 979, Colnago Primavera, Corratec Hydracarbon, Massi MegaTeam, 1935 Claud Butler Super Velo, Carrera Virtuoso, Viner, 1953 Claud Butler Silver Jubilee, 1954 Holdsworth Typhoon, 1966 Claud Butler Olympic Road, 1982 Claud
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
Beautiful classic bike, but sadly the frame must be regarded as untrustworthy at best. It might last for ever, but IMHO it's equally likely to snap at the bulges at any time. Losing the front end completely on a fast descent, pounding up a hill or in traffic wouldn't be a whole lot of fun. It's a real shame but if the top tube and down tube can't be replaced I'd look for another frame in the right size and swap the parts over. I really wouldn't take the risk of riding it.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: New England
Posts: 325
Bikes: 2020 Fuji Bighorn 1.3, 2005 LeMond Buenos Aires, 2013 Jamis Coda Elite
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
+ 1 on the wall art - assumign the frame cant be salvaged. I have 2 of my nicest bikes on a 2 bike stand in my LR - and I love looking at it (I do ride them as well )! But I'm single (divorced actually ) and I live alone so I dont need to consult any one else!
#7
Stop reading my posts!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 12,930
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1408 Post(s)
Liked 1,025 Times
in
760 Posts
+1, it's too bad cause it would be such a nice bike...IF the frame wasn't horribly compromised. Since you got a deal, just transfer those NICE parts to another frame and retire this one to the "pasture" of wall-art. It probably wouldn't fail without warning, but it probably will fail and you might be many miles from home...I'd say don't ride it.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,233
Mentioned: 651 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4719 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,034 Times
in
1,874 Posts
+1. The steel has been stressed past its plastic limit and its properties compromised. Personally, I would not be riding this. It's not worth the risk. Too bad, because that beaty is full chrome underneath the paint. Still, it can serve one final purpose as a frame, by your submitting the serial number for my Fuji Serial Number Database.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: New Haven, CT area
Posts: 1,415
Bikes: Trek 7.5 Hybrid, Trek 1.1 Road, Holdsworth touring,Raleigh International,Ritchey Commando,Italvega Speciallissimo,et.al.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
10 Posts
That is a beautiful bike, but sadly the frame is in dangerous shape. As stated, there must have been a tremendous front-end impact to cause some bulges in the tubing. I would not ride it in that condition-you are playing with fire. The frame is severly weakened at those bulges.
#10
Señor Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hardy, VA
Posts: 17,929
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1488 Post(s)
Liked 1,057 Times
in
629 Posts
Ouchies. Hopefully the deal was good enough to make it worthwhile without the frame.
It could make wall art, or you could chop off the rear triangle and make a stool out of it.
It could make wall art, or you could chop off the rear triangle and make a stool out of it.
__________________
In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Berwyn PA
Posts: 6,425
Bikes: I hate bikes!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 429 Post(s)
Liked 709 Times
in
233 Posts
How does one go about making a stool? I had also thought about giving it to Bilenky Cycle Works (local frame builder) so they may resuse/salvage some of the frame/fork for who knows what in the future. Maybe that way something of it could continue to be of use. It is a sad end to fine machine.
Last edited by fender1; 09-22-08 at 07:36 PM.
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Berwyn PA
Posts: 6,425
Bikes: I hate bikes!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 429 Post(s)
Liked 709 Times
in
233 Posts
+1. The steel has been stressed past its plastic limit and its properties compromised. Personally, I would not be riding this. It's not worth the risk. Too bad, because that beaty is full chrome underneath the paint. Still, it can serve one final purpose as a frame, by your submitting the serial number for my Fuji Serial Number Database.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 68
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
T-Mar I have a '78 Fuji S10S serial # 78A90915. Hope this helps your database. Also, it has a tubing decal that says FUJI
DOUBLE
BUTTED
HI-TENSION
TUBING
881 I've never seen this. Any thoughts?
DOUBLE
BUTTED
HI-TENSION
TUBING
881 I've never seen this. Any thoughts?
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,233
Mentioned: 651 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4719 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,034 Times
in
1,874 Posts
The bicycles are 1975 and 1978 models respectively. In the late 1970s, double butted hi-tensile was often found on upper, entry level models. Tange had two such sets and Ishiwata had a least one. It appears to have been used primarily in Japanese brands. In addition to Fuji, I've seen similar tubesets on Miyata and Sekai. It faded from use in the very early 1980s and, at least in Fuji's case, appears to have been replaced by VaLite.
Being made of hi-tensile steel,these tubesets were obviously thicker and heavier than butted CrMo or MnMo tubesets. They were also heavier than plain gauge CrMo of the era but bridged the gap between plain gauge hi-tensile steel and plain gauge CrMo in weight and apparently, cost.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 68
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks T-Mar for the explanation. The bike is a bit heavy for a double butted frame. It also has a surprisingly harsh ride considering the geometry isn't very tight.
#16
Broom Wagon Fodder
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,384
Bikes: Fuji Supreme; Kona Wo; Nashbar road frame custom build; Schwinn Varsity; Nishiki International; Schwinn Premis, Falcon Merckx, American Flyer muscle bike, Motobecane Mulekick
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 52 Post(s)
Liked 64 Times
in
30 Posts
That's probably due to the Hi-Ten steel. Stiffness is pretty close between the various steels used for bicycle tubing. Since stiffness is related to the thickness of the steel and hi-ten frames use thicker walled tubing...
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 68
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I guess... Though even straight tube hi-tensile frames seem more forgiving. This seems more like aluminum. I lowered the tire pressure which helped a bit but that's just begging pinch flats. The bike is all original but it may get converted to an upright cruiser with a sprung saddle. I have plenty of other bikes that are nice for go-fast.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 68
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I just took this bike for a longer test. After about 5 miles it seemed to improve quite a bit. It has old Specialized Touring 1 1/8" tires ( which I have always liked ) and I'm beginning to think they just needed some exercise. Definitely a more supple feel.