OrangeBrian

See you guys i just saved enough money to rebuild this bike. But i feel kinda iffy cause, when i went to the bike shop today i saw some cool premade bikes, and that made me feel like i shouldn't make my bike.


Well anyways the frame is a 1994 Fuji SunFire in Green That i got for 40 bucks.
I was planning to make it an Shimano Nexus 8sp IGH Commuter bike.
But the thing is i feel kinda iffy Becuse i can buy a bike for cheaper and its already made. Or i can Make a bike to my specification But for a price about 500 total to rebuild with an IGH.

hmm what do you think should i sell the frame And buy a new bike? Or go ahead and make it into an awesome bike ahaha???

FunkyStickman

If the frame fits, then you'll learn so much more rebuilding it yourself, and will be much more proud of it. Not to mention it'll be unique, if that means anything. If the frame doesn't fit, or doesn't have the features you want, then let it go.

shizzy

there is also the option of doing it piece by piece instead of buying one. spread your money out.

4SEVEN3

as said above, if the frame you have works, rebuild it and get exactly what you want.......youll learn a lot building, and youll have something thats truly yours!

OrangeBrian

Thanks guy and those are good points but still idk........................

rhm

An old Fuji with an 8 sp hub sounds pretty good to me. I have an old Trek I did that to, and it's excellent. The bike you're thinking of building is probably better than what you'd buy for similar money, so I'd say go ahead and build it.

Bear in mind, if you build up a custom bike, you will be more or less stuck with it. It's much easier to resell a bike in original condition than a rebuilt one, especially if its repainted as well. So if you're quite confident the rebuilt one is what you want, then no problem; if you're uncertain, be sure to save all the parts so you can put it back together if necessary, and don't paint it.

AlmostTrick

Since your name is OrangeBrian I don't see how you can do without having an orange bike, so I say paint away. A good finish starts with proper preparation. Pics when done please.

OrangeBrian

YEA im painting it orange! XD im powder coating it. not bad for $60 paint job =P

And yes im posting pics after i resize the pics

FunkyStickman

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Yessssssss.....

[/Napoleon Dynamite]

OrangeBrian

here are pics of the color and frame XD

chaadster

Man...even though I don't know anything about a Fuji Sunfire, I can see by looking at the welds in those pics that it's a real POS. Not to be hurtful, but I'm saying that there doesn't seem to be much there to be interested in other than the possibility of a repaint. Maybe HI is different, but around here, a frame like that is available for free. Anyway, my vote is buy new, disassemble, and give the new frame the $60 paintjob. You'll learn just as much and get your orange bike.

OrangeBrian

hmmmmm That is well pointed out.

irclean

I'm afraid chaadster may be right. If the frame was lugged I would say keep it, but it looks like a run-of-the-mill frame to me. Perhaps someone in the Vintage forum (if not here) could give you more info on your frame.

OrangeBrian

idk the frame fits me and with that pointed out idk if i should make it now hmmph

CCrew

Before you go powdercoating it, have you made sure the rear dropout spacing is right for IGH? I'd hate to see a fresh powdercoat job get borked because you subsequently had spread the rear stays. That can potentially crack the powdercoat, not to mention that you have to clamp on the frame to hold it to block the stays out.

Just a thought

OrangeBrian

how do i do that, i gotta special order the hub cause they dont have it in any of my local bike shop here in hawaii. And i was going to buy it online At tree fort bike .com so yea............

chaadster

Just measure the distance between the rear dropouts (in millimeters). It will probably be 135mm, but check and compare that number to the listed hub width specs. If frame spacing is less than hub width, that's the scenario CCrew is concerned about, and which you should take to a shop for remedy.

thdave

you can tell from those pics that the frame sucks? Goofy. I'm an engineer and all I can tell is that it doesn't have lugs. The weld is only shown in one image and it's the farthest point from the camera. There's no into to be had on weld quality from that pic.

chaadster

If you define "weld quality" as integrity of the joint, then yeah, I agree, there's no info on weld quality in that pic. However, if you determine "weld quality" from an aesthetic perspective as I do, it's plain to see it's a low grade, inexpensive, cheaply mass produced frame, or in other words, a POS.

Your probably not a bicycle engineer, huh? You can only tell it's lug-less? I mean, you can't tell it's not brazed, either?

AlmostTrick

If the spacing works out for your hub, you can always just rattle can it for under $20. Sand smooth, One can of primer, one color and one clear. Done properly it will look fine.

I finished my ’68 Schwinn Orange Krate with spray cans. Chevy engine enamel to be exact.





While I sandblasted my frame just because I own a blaster, hand sanding will work just as well, just take longer. I also finished with rubbing / polishing compound once it was fully dry. If you intend to try this yourself there is plenty of helpful info on the net. Oh, and any Fuji frame can’t be that bad.

OrangeBrian

ahaaha hmmi can take pics of all the welds? and yea i kninda think it was mass produced but sold at bike shops only. cause the frame has a sticker that says made in Taiwan

OrangeBrian

I think i might work On the frame today Im going to grind off all of the cable hangers And wash down the frame SO yea And i try rember to take pics too

irclean

Man, I lusted after that bike when I was a kid. I think Raleigh had its own version, too, but my parents ended up buying me a Sears Free Spirit chopper instead. Kinda cool looking with its metallic red, white, & blue banana seat and ape-hanger handlebars, but nowhere near as cool as the the Orange Krate.