I've mainly just lurked in C&V for the most part, since I've never had much to add. I've been on the lookout for an older lugged steel road bike for a long time now. I guess I've fallen in love with how they look.

So then the other day I saved a 1980 Fuji Sports 12 from the dumpster behind my apartment complex. It was in pretty rough shape, having sat outside for who knows how long. so I brought it home, and now I'm in the process of cleaning it up. It needs a lot of work, but it's not beyond saving, at all. I just finished tearing it down, and all the original components look pretty good, though there's some rust to be taken care of on the chrome bits. Frame looks good inside and out, save for some scratches. As I can afford it, I'll get it rolling.

It's a little (Ok, more than a little) too big for me, but it's top tube length seems pretty close to what I find comfortable. I'll just have the seat set pretty low. I know it's not a particularly good bike, (It's Hi- tensile steel) but hey, I think it's cool, and it gave me sad bike eyes. Yay project bike!

wow, that's a ginormous Fuji!

Scott

Those are some loooooong tubes! Enjoy the restoration and think "tall".

easy fix... wear platform shoes while riding... like these for instance



andy

Andy;

You can't wear GREEN shoes with Brown, don't you know that????

Looks like something Bootsy Collins would wear for St. Patrick's Day...who is Bootsy Collins? Think "C&V" funk.

Wow! what is that a 27 inch frame?

Lower model but worth saving and learning on. If nothing else clean it up and flip it to get some cash to buy something your size.

I will warn you of this: Over sized frames are not going to bring a premium. Just not many people looking for them. That same bike in a 54-60cm size would fetch about $50 more.

Throw that up in the Catch of the day thread.

PS keep that Blackburn rack or charge extra for it. In fact if you are in north GA I'd be interested in it.

I must have missed THAT episode on the Bravo channel!!! My Bad... here try these, they go with anything...



andy

I recommend getting a set of big tools to work on that bike:



Neal

+1. A Fuji Sports 12 was one of my first bike flips. Cleaned up they look quite nice. Here is the 1981 that I recommissioned a few years back.

I just hate it when bikes' do that, dont you?

My advice? Dont go spending a bunch of coin on that bike. Fix it up enough to ride it safely until you find a better one that does fit you. Check the thrift stores in your area and weekend yard sales. Put your feelers out to your friends that you are on a hunt. Check the classifieds in the newspapers. Still lotsa good bikes out there that will fullfill your dreams.

There's gold in them thar hills!

That's more or less what I had planned. I was riding my commuter home and pulling the Fuji along side, thinking about the possibilities. Eventually I arrived at cleaning up all the original components, ditching the worst of the added on stuff (Mirror, velcro bottle cage,) and riding it. I'm 6' 1", but the top tube gets me by about 2 inches on flat ground, but I can ride it. I work on bikes all the time and love it, so this is a treat for me, since all my current bikes are in good working order. (If it ain't broke, don't fix it!)

Grim: Sorry, Northern Arizona's a bit far away from you.

So far, I've taken it apart and cleaned out the headset and bottom bracket, re-greased and reassembled them. Everything came apart like it was put together yesterday, though I had to pry the old grease out of the bearings. No rust inside the frame from what I could see, the inside of the BB shell looked clean one I scraped out all the grease. The chain was rusted up, but had no stretch to it. The freewheel is very stiff. Cables were all rusted inside their housings. Seat on it in the picture is actually off a Next BMX bike, I think, and the post is the wrong size. (tossed it when I saw that) Other than that, I need to de-rust the rest of the chrome, clean up and touch up the scratches on the frame, and buy new cables, chain, seat and post, and get some pedals and bar tape.

I'm really enjoying this.

That looks great! Now I know what to aim for, though the deals on mine are in pretty bad shape.

rednek... sounds like you are having a great time with it, good for you!!! I can relate to all you were saying about working on the older bikes, it is alot of fun, i just always have to watch and make sure it doesnt cut into the real reason to own bikes...Riding them!!!



andy