Here's mine. Picked it from an estate sale as a frame and fork. I converted it to 700c with a 700c fork. Plenty of space for the knobbies. I use this on the flat gravel trails around my house (KATY trail)

^ I like what you did with that Royale!!! They make great gravel grabbers.

Scott

Thanks, man! I used to have street tires on it and decided to convert this instead something nice I had. It turned out great. The chromo frame really is strong and eats up the bumps!

That is an 81 just like the one I bought today. Anthracite Grey is an 81 only color according to the catalog. What I found interesting is that the 81 catalog shows brazed on cable guides. Your Royale, as well as mine, has cable clamps just like the 1980 model. I'm guessing that the frames were made the previous year. Not that it matters really, looks like the same components, although mine has center pull brakes which might get replaced soon for cleaner looking side pull dia-comps.

It rode so well for a test run around the block, I may just grow longer legs if the seat post is too stubborn. And it weighs 28 lbs according to my bathroom scale.

HA! Six years later, this still made me laugh. Again.

And to keep on topic. I think those are great bikes. Here's one I bought as a basket case, and fixed up for my wife. She loved it, but found an 82 Trek she liked better, so we moved it on.

Thanks for posting to this old thread. My Fuji has been tucked away sans handlebars for a few
years now. I'll order new parts and put it back in order. I miss the old girl.
I'll post a pic when done.

I'm currently doing a 650b conversion on one of these. Pics to follow.

Finally got this 1981 Royale riding better, but still need to replace the cables, because the brakes were bit scary. The seat post was frozen and it took a week to break free, destroying it in the process. Seat post in vise, four hands twisting, banging and pulling finally prevailed. Cranks were loose as well, but I rebuilt the BB due to the copious amounts of penetrating oil used on the seat tube anyway.

Unwrapped the crappy bar tape job and re-wrapped, cleaned it up a bit and have been riding this beauty for a week. It's heavy but I was surprised by the components. Suntour "Fuji" vx rear derailhuer is very light and shifts so smoothly with the power shifters, same for the front.

I was going to turn this into a store runner with gravel tires, racks and pannier, but maybe with a few more light components it will be be a favorite? Don't really want to change it other than running nicer hubs than the Sunshine 5345 because its original except for the seat as far as I can tell. Possibly getting a Brooks B17 Narrow this weekend, that will be a first.

Here are pics of my finished 650b 1979 fuji royale.

this bike is one of my favorites and a definite keeper. has the same low trail geometry of the fuji s12s. this bike, unloaded feels, dare i say it, fast, and i tend to manage the same or greater average speed as my lightweight race bike, due to the 650b x 42c tires ability to smooth out awful roads.

She's a little heavy, and i may have saved 1/2 pound by converting a nicer frame, but finding the clearance for 42c tires with fenders can be difficult. this bike is still comparable to what a similarly sized, similarly equipped surly crosscheck would weigh.

overall im very pleased and find myself riding this more than any of my other bikes.

I just acquired this 1979 model in great condition.

I plan to convert to a 2-speed with a SRAM Automatix with a single front side pull brake.

But not "mit Käse"!

I briefly had one just like becave7's, but in black. Sold it off in my "Great Clearance Sale" of 2007 preceding our move from Olympia, WA to Oregon. One of several I should have kept. Don

Why change the front brake, new pads and cable and your golden. I have a SRAM 2 speed on my cruiser and it is great.

Cleaner look and better feel.

I have removed the brakes, levers, shifters, freewheel, rear hub, and derailleurs.

All in great, basically unused shape.

PM if interested for a vintage Japan made restoration.

I have completed everything to convert it to a 2-speed. Enjoy!

I love seeing these old steelies. I also have a Fuji Royale but I can't post a picture yet because I'm a new user.

So I rode my Fuji Royale bike in Madison for some years back, and it was probably one of the fastest commuter bikes I ever owned, crashed it, kinked the tubing.

So now I found this Fuji Supreme online, just ordered it. Anybody have a run down on them, performance review, advice on it in regards to Fuji Royale performance.

Appreciate it.

I have a Royale I bought in 1980, 44 years ago. Excellent bike. Still going strong, although it has not seen much use in the past 15 years. I recently dusted it off and waxed it and I'm riding it again. Still rides and shifts great!