Mark Manley
Raleigh Fan
It looks like Fuji are like buses, you wait ages for one then two come along together. A few weeks ago I was reading up about vintage Japanese bikes with many people saying how good they are so I Googled Fuji for sale in my area and apart from a lot of more modern stuff which I believe is no longer made in Japan there was a Sagres in my size for sale only a few miles away.
A few hours later the deal was done and the bike collected, it is from 1984 and was a middle of the range model which shares its VA Lite butted steel frame with several other models, this one coming from the second owner the first having brought in to the UK from the US. It appears to be low mileage and generally good condition but at sometime had been left in damp storage and the paint to the top surfaces of the frame was a little pickled which lead me to the decision to respray it with a can of Jaguar opalescent silver blue I had bought just because I like the colour, the decals were chosen for the colour contrast rather than the actual model.
While it was apart I pondered what to do with it and have replaced some of the original Sugino parts with Sakae Ringyo which I am quite partial to. I also for the time being at least have made it a single speed as I like the clean lines but I have just taken it for a spin around a local short circuit I do here which is either up hill or down and the 36/24 gearing works quite nicely going up the hill anyway.
It still needs handlebar tape and perhaps different coloured cables but is more or less rideable. My first impressions are very good but then I would say that about anything with two wheels and pedals.
And the specifications.
Frame-Fuji VA Lite butted steel 2KG frame only 3KG frameset
Forks-Fuji VA Lite steel
Headset-Hatta
Stem-Nitto
Handlebar-Nitto
Tape-none yet, possibly a light blue
Brake levers-Dia Compe Guidonnet
Calipers-Dia Compe 500 side pull
Brake pads-Dia Compe
Freewheel-D C Cross 24 tooth
Chain-Sunrace
Cranks-SR Apex 170mm
Chainring-36 tooth Stronglight
Bottom brakcet-SR
Pedals-SR SP100
Rims-UKAI 27 x 11/8 alloy
Hubs-Sunshine
Tyres-Continental
Saddle-Fuji
Seatpost-SR
Bolt-Sugino
Weight-10KG as a single speed
A few hours later the deal was done and the bike collected, it is from 1984 and was a middle of the range model which shares its VA Lite butted steel frame with several other models, this one coming from the second owner the first having brought in to the UK from the US. It appears to be low mileage and generally good condition but at sometime had been left in damp storage and the paint to the top surfaces of the frame was a little pickled which lead me to the decision to respray it with a can of Jaguar opalescent silver blue I had bought just because I like the colour, the decals were chosen for the colour contrast rather than the actual model.
While it was apart I pondered what to do with it and have replaced some of the original Sugino parts with Sakae Ringyo which I am quite partial to. I also for the time being at least have made it a single speed as I like the clean lines but I have just taken it for a spin around a local short circuit I do here which is either up hill or down and the 36/24 gearing works quite nicely going up the hill anyway.
It still needs handlebar tape and perhaps different coloured cables but is more or less rideable. My first impressions are very good but then I would say that about anything with two wheels and pedals.
And the specifications.
Frame-Fuji VA Lite butted steel 2KG frame only 3KG frameset
Forks-Fuji VA Lite steel
Headset-Hatta
Stem-Nitto
Handlebar-Nitto
Tape-none yet, possibly a light blue
Brake levers-Dia Compe Guidonnet
Calipers-Dia Compe 500 side pull
Brake pads-Dia Compe
Freewheel-D C Cross 24 tooth
Chain-Sunrace
Cranks-SR Apex 170mm
Chainring-36 tooth Stronglight
Bottom brakcet-SR
Pedals-SR SP100
Rims-UKAI 27 x 11/8 alloy
Hubs-Sunshine
Tyres-Continental
Saddle-Fuji
Seatpost-SR
Bolt-Sugino
Weight-10KG as a single speed
