3speed

The serial number is SE625820. Judging from classicfuji.com, I think that means it was made in May of 1986. The dropouts say Suntour if that means anything. It originally had 27" wheels. And if measurements help at all, it's 50cm from center of bottom bracket - top of top tube. 51cm top tube when measured from front of seat tube - back of head tube. When the rear wheel is all the way in the dropout, axle to axle distance is ~40"(no idea if that matters at all). Any ideas as to what this frame is? Or ideas as to how aggressive the geometry is? And unless I missed some, I think all of the frames in this size have VALite tubing of some sort. Does that mean anything special, or is it only when you get into the triple/quad butted stuff that it's decent tubing?

T-Mar

Yes, the serial number indicates a 1986 model. The 27" wheels indicate an entry level model. VALite was a steel alloy that was proprietary to Fuji and typically used on upper, entry level models. It was better than hi-tensile steel, but not as not as CrMo. Generally, it is considered roughly equivalent to the carbon manganese alloys, such as Tange Mangaloy and Ishiwata Mangy.

Forged SunTour dropouts elinates the lowever entry level models with claw type derailleurs. If your frame has shift lever bosses on the down tubes, it is either a Del Rey or Sagres with quad butted VALite. If not, it is an Allegro or Palisade, with triple bitted VALite.( I'm assuming it doesn't have cantilver brake bosses, which would make it a Touring series IV.) Which of two in either category is a moot point, as they were almost certainly identical frames. Mass volume manufacturers like Fuji typically economized by creating multiple models using the same frame with different components. Geometry would be considered relatively relaxed, for recreational purposes.

3speed

Thanks, T-Mar! I was hoping you'd comment since I figured you'd have a good idea of what it is. Glad to hear about the geometry being fairly relaxed. It's getting built up as a townie type bike for my girlfriend, with all decent quality modern aluminum parts. Sounds like it should be a decent bike for her. It doesn't have the canti or shifter bosses, so Allegro or Palisade it is. Thanks again!

Oh, what size seat post should this have? It didn't come with one, and there's some powder coat in the seat tube, so it's tough to tell what it should have. 26.8?

T-Mar

I don't know sure sure but the quad butted VALite frames of this era have been reported with a 26.8mm post, so it's quite possible that the triple butted VALite frames used the same size.