oldskoolwrench

A question for those in the know...

I've come across a Touring Series IV here locally, but for some reason it appears as if it's got a double crank set (looks like a Sugino) as opposed to a triple. Was this standard with the Series IV, or by chance was it originally equipped with a Sugino AT triple?

Sorry for the non drive side photo; I tried to have the owner take a full one of the drive side.



Thanks for the assistance!

Alan

toytech

A sugino at would be correct I think. Looks like it has been replaced.
Usually half step with a granny ring like my V a couple posts back

oldskoolwrench

That's what I thought; it's just odd to see a double on a frame with three bottle mounts and canti's!

PlanoFuji

I came across this very pristine 1981 Fuji Grand SE on craigslist and purchased it with the intent of upgrading the vintage components to something a little more modern and personally comfortable (compact crankset, wider bars, better brake levers). Even though the gentleman who sold it to me was a wrench at a local bike shop and told me that he had already repacked the bottom bracket and headset with new bearings and grease and replaced all cables, I decided to strip the bike down myself to verify everything was in as good shape as it appeared.

After I got it home and had a closer look, I noticed that cables were in fact vintage and coated in rust when I pulled them out of the housing. I also discovered a couple of places on the derailleur housing where it had developed severe cracks. So I decided to do a complete strip of the parts and clean and regrease everything while replacing the ball bearings, housings, cables, and bar tape. In during this process I also decided against changing the components since the originals are in excellent shape after cleaning and it appears as if this bike has everything it came with in 1981.

So here are a few photos of it post tune-up:










It seems so pristine, that I just don't think I will do anything with it. I may see if I can find someone willing to trade a comparable vintage mixte with a decent condition frame and center pull brakes...

rjhammett

I bought this '85 League Fuji from a co-worker two weeks ago for super cheap. It is in perfect shape.

rjhammett

Since I posted this earlier today I took it out for my maiden ride. It is a bit on the small side. It was an ok ride, good but not great.

rekmeyata

The ride quality was my opinion of my 84 Fuji Club with the VaLite quad butted tubing ride...it's OK, but not great. I can live with it, it's a much better ride then my now junked aluminium bike I had, but not as great as my other steel bikes.

rjhammett

I will have to see if I feel the same. I picked up an '84 Club Fuji a few weeks ago. I am still in the process of rehabbing it. I have as yet to get it on the road.

rekmeyata

Don't get me wrong, it's not a piss poor ride, it's just ok. I have other steel bikes that ride better, not a lot better just a tad better; I'm sure there are other steel bikes that ride a bit worse then the Fuji such as Peugeot bikes - I never cared for the ride of those.

eschlwc

hey! i'd like to replace the cartridge bb in my 1984 club fuji with a traditional cup and cone model without relying on the current spindle length. the frame shell is the standard 68mm wide. the crank is the original sugino rt double. is there a resource showing the correct spindle length for this particular crank? or do any of you fuji experts know the proper spindle dimensions for this crank?

rjhammett

Try this: https://sheldonbrown.com/bbsize.html

rjhammett

I sold this last night so I am down to 1 Fuji. My '84 Club will be gone when I finish rehabbing it.

eschlwc

the sugino rt double is not there, travis. i guess i'm looking for a '84 fuji owner/expert for the info.

eschlwc

the '85 league is basically the club bike from the year before.

rjhammett

I am the owner of an '84 Club. I just measured the spindle on mine. I didn't remove the crank arms but I was able to measure to the ends of the spindle. It is a super long 147mm.

rjhammett

Seems like a coincidence. I own an '84 Club and last night I sold an '85 League.

rekmeyata

147? are you sure it's not 127 using a double? I also have a 84 Club, I doubt their built differently, please double check that measurement for yours. I kind of eyeballed it with a measuring tape without taking off the crank arms, you could be right but it just doesn't seem right to me.

rjhammett

I neglected to heed the wisdom of the old saying 'measure twice and cut once'. I pulled the crank arms this time and remeasured. The spindle length is 126.05mm on my Club Fuji. I had measured to the end of the bolt (with crank arms attached) not the end of the spindle the first time.

eschlwc

i love you guys.

rekmeyata

126.05 makes a lot more sense, not sure how their classified meaning if they round down to 126 or round up to 127, though they do make a 126, I think Shimano still sells one at that length.

eschlwc

i found a page where a sugino rt owner found the code '3r' on his sugino spindle, and a response was, "sutherland's says a 3r is a 126, 32-52-42."

rekmeyata

I figured it was probably rounded down, and when I searched for a 126 I found a Shimano does make that size, I'm sure there's probably others too that make it I just didn't look any further.

itstom

Hey Rekmeyata,
Thanks for the feedback. The rims that came on it are 700x25c. Wanting a more cushy ride I opted for Vittoria Randonneur Pro (32s) which are allegedly pretty tough. They have a similar tread pattern to the Paselas - I have the tourguard versions on my 86 palisade with the original 27x1-1/8 rims. I think they come in the 700c size, but I wanted to try something a little softer. I also like that the vittoria's have the reflective stripe. I'm anxious to try them, so might put them on the Palisade to try them out.
I agree about the lepree "black" version. The whole black component thing is kind of half baked on this bike. I found a Deore Biopace triple which isn't black, but it fits the cranks, so I'm already off track with that one. Since the cranks came with holes for a third ring, I'm hoping it will all fit on the existing spindle. I need to take it to the local co-op to get the pedals and cranks off to check the bottom bracket cuz I don't have the tools.

Other than that, the bike's all apart for now. Both deraillers are in great shape after I cleaned them up, and the brakes too. Overhauled the hubs and trued the wheels and they're looking pretty good too. Oh, and the freewheel was a sunrace from I'm not sure when, but I got a Winner Pro to put on there, so psyched about that.


I'm undecided about the paint job. Most of it looks pretty nice and the decals are mostly in good shape, but there are some scrapes and whatnot that have been touched up and it kind of bugs me because it's not a great match, and also a bit of surface rust. No bends or dents though. I think I'll just put it back together and leave it as is, for now at least.

I'm pretty new to this kind of work, but I "upgraded" the palisade (it was my only ride for 20 years) last year with Suntour Blue line deraillers, symmetric shifters, and a new winner freewheel and had a great time doing it - That all started with a skipping chain plus I was tired of everyone telling me to get rid of the "safety" aka suicide levers. After discovering this place I had the confidence to go at it, and that became my practice bike. So now I've "upgraded" to the Del Rey. One of these days I hope to graduate to a Touring V or something else. I've decided I'm past the age where the racing bike geometry is going to be fun to ride, but working on these things is a blast.

rekmeyata

Those Vitts look nice but they don't make them in a 27" size. Which I can't understand with millions of the 27" wheels still on the market you would think there would be quite a few manufacturers still making tires for that wheel size, instead just a handful and only 3 maybe 4 tires that are really any good, the rest are low end junky tires.

It takes a lot of time and patience searching CL, garage sales, and Goodwill type of stores to find a decent vintage bike, but they do pop up on occasion.

dailycommute

Have been riding the 85 club much of the last month on commuting duty. A tad heavier than the 84 team, but still a very nice rider. Mostly original including wrap and hoods! Geared for flat to rolling so climbing hills can be tough but overall a quality vintage rider with many years left.