ID help - Fabulous Free Fuji Find, Finest or??????
 

I was driving down an alley in my neighborhood, the day before garbage/recycling pickup, when I see 2 bikes, a white frame w/components and some wheels, out by a mini-dumpster. Didn't have my bifocals on but I can tell the frame is a decent '70s Fuji. 2 wheels are steel and 2 alloy, with rotted tires.

Went up to the house, where I was told to take what I wanted. Left the matched set of Schwinn electro-forged 5 speeds, complete, rust free and looking little used, for someone else. Took the frame and alloy wheels. No decals so I did a bit of googling to see what I have.

At first I figured it was a 1974 Finest. Serial number K9I10034 indicate 1974. White was a Finest color option in '74. Suntour V-Lux RD, SL FD and PowerRatchet shifters are correct.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=439974

But, the long point lugs and semi wrap-over seat stays don't match any photos I've found on-line.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=439968
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=439969

Campi brakes, brake levers and pedals aren't original so they are no help. Nicely done brake bridge.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=439970
O-rings are cracked but the shoes are little used and the arms are unblemished. Anyone know what size the O-rings are?
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=439971
Fortunately there are plenty of reproduction hoods on Ebay at reasonable prices.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=439972
A little rough on the outside but smooth as butter.

The photo in the '74 Fuji brochure http://www.classicfuji.com/1974_04_Finest_Page.htm appears to show an earlier Mighty Comp without the slotted spider and drillium rings.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=439973

Wheels are later Matrix 700s with 126mm spacing in the rear and a 5 speed alloy Winner FW. I had to cut the tires away as the kevlar beads were so tight I worried about damaging the rims. But once I did I found the rims to be true and the bearings smooth.

Pretty bike. You can buy black O rings at true value and there are colored ones ones on the 'bay. If your going to rehab that as a keeper I would suggest replacing the blocks/pads. The may look OK but 30+yo blocks can be dry and take more effort to get your stopped.

I think you already know all this, but maybe it'll confirm what you already know:

My 1972 Finest has similar paint scheme, white with chromed lugs, chrome exposed on stay caps, stays, and fork ends. But the lugs, fork crown and stay caps are different; yours are fancier. The '72 Finest has chrome panels on the seat tube and down tube, which yours obviously doesn't have, perhaps painted over.

My 1974 Ace has the same lugs as my 1972 Finest, so I imagine the 1974 Finest had the same lugs as the 1972 one.

Like yours, my chain stay cable stop is clamped on, not brazed on.

Sugino Mighty crank is right, but an earlier version of it, no drillium.

Wheels should be sunshine large flange hubs with Ukai tubular rims; your wheels are not from a Fuji Finest.

Finest did not come with Campy anything. Brakes should be garden variety Dia-Compe center pulls, and the pedals should be pretty plain as well.

What's the stem and handlebar; what's the seat post? In particular, what's the seat post size? 26.6?

Clearly there is something very special about yours. Good find!

The challenge with catalogs is that they are sent out to be printed well before actual production. They are basically out of date as soon as they are created. Manufactures were free to make any changes they want once production started and often they did, up to and including adding or dropping models.

Catalogs are a gift, they provide a lot of guidance, but they are far from perfect. As far as components, bike is 41 years old. Owners over the decades have had plenty of time to make changes for upgrades, appearance, or any other reason. Look at our C & V STI thread. Tremendous changes on most of those bikes. Higher end bikes like yours were more likely to be owned by enthusiasts, who are more prone to tinkering.

Wow...pretty nice for a trashpick! I wish I had some people who didn't want their bikes like that and set them out on the curb.

I'm no Fuji expert, but I think it was the Newest that had those Cinelli-type lugs.

Looks like the pedals have the metal dust caps rather than the chrome-plated plastic ones. Good find. Scary to think what would have happened if the trash truck got there first. :cry:

Right on Neal, it's a re-painted '74 Newest. Good eye for a non Fuji guy! :thumb: The earlier Newests had three holes in the lugs ..

Scott

That is a fine machine.

I think the OP may just win the curbside bike award of the year. We do give out an oscar for that right? That's a heck of a find from someone else's garbage, :thumb:

Even tho it's a Newest, it's still the FINEST kind .. wait till member ClassicJapanese chimes in .. his eyes will be spinning.

Scott

So what you're saying is, it's so fine it's finer than Finest? That may be true, but it's definitely not right.

Geez, I am STILL trying to find the parts to build mine, and you get a whole bike free. This isn't my year apparently. Nice find! Shoot it silver and get some Velocals.,,,,BD


Mine is 0043. What are the odds!?:D

+1

absolutely unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOWZA!!!! wow!

It was like that - in the trash... I do seem to recollect someone finding an SBDU bike in the trash. I've salvaged some interesting stuff in my time, but. It just amazes me what people throw away. Well, one person's junk another's treasure (speaking of which, in my still vain attempt to find a Campag pump bracket, I've pulled out another batch of my junk boxes. Interesting.)

I have a new appreciation for fine Fujis. Nice save!

Wow! My head is spinning! That is one amazing find; oh my. I just sold a beautifully cleaned up and mildly restored one of these for $900.00. It is unquestionably the Fuji Newest. It's the "1B" -- you have two of the hardest to find parts as well. The milled Nitto Stem (this was done at the factory only for the Newest) and the drilled Mighty Custom Competion cranks. Strip all that aftermarket white paint and you will have one of the sweetest riding chrome steel bicycles on the planet. Find the V-lux Suntor rear dersilleur, the later (not earlier garden variety center pull Gran Compe brakes), (but don't look for the suede Fujita saddle; there are too many of us after one of those and the Competion will be as ruthless as three piranhas in a goldfish bowl with a single namesake resident...). Ukai Fibreglas filled rims, Soyo 90 tires (forget it!) -- wow, amazing, the fates were favoring you that day/evening. I thought things like that only happened in bicycle heaven. PS to two of my friends out there, sorry you've not heard back from me, you will....last thing, grey brake cable housing. But I would go all chrome on this (as stated it should be beautifully chromed under that white paint unless they scuffed it up) and red bar tape and red cable housing, and a leather Fujita Professional saddle, oh my my; sweet as an ice cream sandwich on the sweltering plains of the Serengeti...

Owned a Finest and son owned and raced a Fuji Pro.
Brings back memories!