My recollection is that the Fuji Finest and Newest were the first to establish the Japanese in the minds of the US consumer as capable of making quality frames, not just components. I remember Fuji ads not only in Bicycling!, but more "mainstream" mags as well, showing these models on bike racks attached to expensive luxury cars. There were no doubt better Japanese frames on the market before these, but the Finest and Newest did a lot to legitimize Japanese frames in the market. And while they certainly weren't of the quality of an Eisentraut or Hetchins, they compared favorably to the high volume "pro" models from Raleigh, Peugeot, and even Colnago. Like Dale, I wish this one were a bit smaller.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
> In a message dated 1/6/2002 2:56:46 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> bikehunter@icehouse.net writes:
>
> << I have listed a nice Fuji "Newest" if some of you care to take a look.
> http://ebay.com/
>
> This bicycle/frame set is a very interesting step in the stylistic
evolution
> for the Fuji frame shop. I think in years to come this (and the
immediately
> preceding models) will be valued increasingly.
>
> Things I notice & appreciate about it.
>
> - The seat "top eyes" are really nicely conceived and executed.. The semi
> wrap and taper and pointed tips really are as nice as they come. A very
good
> eye crafted these.
> - The cutouts (really stampings) in the lugs are more machine-look but
still
> a nice gesture.
> - The joinery of the fork ends and seat/chain stay ends is also very
nicely
> done on this model (You can't see them in the pictures but I remember!)
Crisp
> edges, nice insertion of the dropouts into the receiver tubing..
> - The embossed logo in the semi c\sloping crown is really a nice touch..
Not
> exactly like anyone else had done yet classic and tasty...
> - The color(s) are very refined and Lexus like (foreshadowing?) Reminds me
of
> that steel gray and gold DeRosa combo in its classiness...
>
> All in all, a very nice example of a semi-production bike rising above its
> competition and offering a much better than average craft work. I would
buy
> it too iffen it was 21.5"-22"!
>
> Just my 2 cents....
>
>
> Dale Brown
> Greensboro, NC