Re: [CR]Fuji bikes??

(Example: Framebuilders:Rene Herse)

From: "Mike Schmidt" <mdschmidt@patmedia.net>
To: "Joe Bender-Zanoni" <joebz@optonline.net>, "Jerome & Elizabeth Moos" <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>, <Boy651@aol.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <20041123142808.93752.qmail@web81003.mail.yahoo.com> <004701c4d1d9$14d79e40$6400a8c0@jfbender>
Subject: Re: [CR]Fuji bikes??
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 08:04:06 -0500


Happy Thanksgiving to all us Yanks.

In terms of equipment, I have to agree with Jerry. I had an early 70's Fuji Finest. It was my first real bike and I bought it from a small bike shop in Roslyn NY for $300. The bike came with Toyo tubular tires and high flange hubs in addition to the components described by Jerry. The frame was white with a partial unpainted chrome down tube with black graphics. That was the color until 1973 or 74 when it was offered in blue. I thought the early Newest was Silver and equiped with Campy Nuovo Record and a $200. jump in pricepoint.

The Fuji - Great riding bike. It was stolen in Anitoch CA in 1982 and recovered about a month later when the kid took it into the local Schwinn dealer because he could not figure out how to get air into those weird presta valves. Big mistake on his part. The bike was recovered and I removed the paint the kid applied with a spray can. I also lost the original finish and graphics as well so I sold the bike and I replaced it with an 82 Cinelli which I still own 22 years later.
Mike Schmidt
Stirling, NJ


----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Bender-Zanoni
To: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos


<classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 10:52 PM Subject: Re: [CR]Fuji bikes??


> I'm going to disagree with a few things here.
>
> In the first place, starting at least by 1975 the Fuji Pro was out with
> first generation Suntour Superbe equipment. That was the top of the line by
> a long shot.
>
> Also the Fuji Ace frame was a little rough at best. While it was priced
> between the Newest and Finest, a lot of that cost was in the components.
>
> Probably only a Fuji Pro really held its own with a top model Bianchi for
> example and I'd take the Bianchi then and now.
>
> Joe Bender-Zanoni
> Great Notch, NJ
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jerome & Elizabeth Moos" <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
> To: <Boy651@aol.com>; <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 9:28 AM
> Subject: Re: [CR]Fuji bikes??
>
>
> > For much of the 70's the two top Fuji models were the Finest and the
> Newest. Both high quality double-butted CrMo Japanese tubesets. Top of the
> line (at that time) Sun Tour/Sugino/Diacompe components. The Newest was
> racing geometry, the Finest a bit more relaxed sport/touring geometry. A
> bit later in the 70's came the Fuji Ace with a complete original Dura Ace
> gruppo as the name implies. These bike were, in my opinion, as good as the
> top models of any high volume European or British marque at the time.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Jerry Moos
> > Houston, TX
> >
> > Boy651@aol.com wrote:
> > Hi,
> > Who's up on their 70's Fuji bikes? I have someone who wants to sell me his
> > bike and I know ABSOLUTELY nothing about the line. I don't know if this is
> a
> > higher end bike or run of the mill... I intend to take some pictures
> > tomorrow and thought maybe there was someone I could send them to for an
> opinion.
> > What I know so far is, it's red, Suntour Derailleurs. Both ends are
> chrome.
> > Nitto handle bars. Dia Compe brakes. There are three cable clips on the
> top
> > tube.
> >
> > thanks
> > george elanjian
> > (los angeles)