Tuesday, March 12, 2013

1979 Fuji Royale (September 2012)

Make: Fuji
Model: Royale 
Year:  1979 
Obtained: September 2012 
Found: Bike Works 
Paid: $25.00


While visiting my favorite place for project bikes, Bike Works, on a Wednesday  I spotted a Fuji frame-set that gave me pause.  I thought to myself  "stop buying frame-sets! its easier to do complete bikes" and so I passed it by.  I really liked the look of it, however, especially the world championship-like banding on the down tube and I had been hankering to work on a Fuji for a while so on Thursday I was back to buy it.

The excellent site -Classic Fuji- helped me identify my prize as a 1979 model Fuji Royale

My frame-set came with a front derailleur, stem, seat post, brakes, bottom bracket, and a crappy headset.  I bought a new Tange headset and got most of the other parts out of the parts bin.  Unfortunately I did not get a frame-set only picture.  Have I mentioned that I really like head badges?  The Fuji's head badge is a classic.


I ran into issues with the rear derailleur and the crank-set I had out the parts bin so I put a new Shimano TZ-50 RD on the frame (cheap but effective) and lucked into a Fuji panto-graphed crank-set at Recycled Cycles to fix the crank issue.  I even found a (modern) Fuji branded saddle for this build.  The crank cleaned up nicely with the application of some Mother's Aluminum polish, a  great tip from my friend Hugh -Mothers really does the trick.

When I brought this bike home I had a vision of doing some orange accents to tie into the orange band from the world championship looking rainbow stripes and the orange lug lining on the frame.  I think the orange bar tape and toe straps add some color to an otherwise understated silver frame.


All in all I am happy with how it turned out and it was snapped up off Craigslist fairly quickly, so I guess the orange accents worked.


On a side note a new job, hurray for income!,  has kept me away from regular posting on the blog but I am hoping to finish up both the Raleigh curbside find project and the Fiorelli project soon. 


As always. Ride.Smile.Repeat.

11 comments:

  1. Wow! I really like the orange piping that goes around the lugs. How classy is That! I can see why this was snapped up. Cool ride for somebody!

    By the way....welcome back (I guess) to the worka-day world. Maybe we can all return in our next life and improve to a superior lifeform that is Hugh. Work on bikes and then ride said bikes until you tire of them and sell them!
    As always, nice work Ryan
    Jim

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  2. Hey Jim,

    Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the compliment. I too am a sucker for good lug lining and on the Fuji the orange really looks sharp against the silver paint job. Perhaps someday I can retire from the 9 to 5 world and get by restoring old bikes, guess I better work on finding me a "sugar momma" to make that happen....LOL

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  3. Or you could become a broke down old bum like me. There's plenty of trailer parks out there.

    That Fuji must have been hard to part with. Let me guess: not your size?

    Congratulations on your new gig. Really. No, I mean it.

    tee hee

    tj

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    Replies
    1. Actually it did fit me but my apartment has bikes everywhere I look so I had to let it go.

      Thanks for the congrats on the job...uh I think ;-)

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    2. If I can be a "Broke down old bum" who gets to ride my bike alot, lives someplace with 300 days of sun and no days under 40 degrees, has a valuable skillset like say Master Carpenter and if I can write excellent stories like my Friend the TPC then I might just sign up for the BDOB club ;-) Can I live in a AirStream?

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    3. You make it sound like fun. It is. Maybe I could start a school. Old Bum U.

      Sure, you can live in an Airstream. Fifth wheels with slideouts have more room for bikes, though.

      Delete
  4. I am rebuilding a vintage Raleigh Grand Prix with 27 X 1-1/4 Rims. Do you think the Club Roost Cross Terra Tire: 27" x 1-3/8" Steel Bead Black will work with the rims? I don't think clearance would be a problem.

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    Replies
    1. Amiller, I have put 27 x 1 3/8 tires on 27x 1 1/4 rims before so yes I think it will work if you don't have fender or frame clearance issues.

      Delete
  5. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  6. My name is end, I have a 79 royals original great condition. Do you know anyone that would be interested?

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  7. I have a similar bike which I am restoring. Did you have to touch up the orange lug lining and if so, how? Thanks!

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