Hi all. I don't know a thing about vintage bikes, but I am looking to get a road/touring bike, and a local consignment shop has a 1983 Fuji America for $250. It seems like it is in pretty good shape, only has a few minor scratches. I'll need to throw some new tires on it and the owner said it may need a new shift cable. Question is, is this anywhere near a decent price? Or would I be getting totally shafted? From what I've read, the early 80s America series were great touring bikes.
Just fyi, I'm new to cycling. I have a comfort hybrid that I use for commuting and bike path riding that I really like, but want more of a road or touring style bike that is a little lighter as a 2nd bike.
Here's a link to the Craigslist ad that originally caught my attention:
I'm not familiar with those bikes, either, but $250 sounds like a lot of money for a bike that is nearly 30 years old, especially if it needs some work. One of the things you would eventually discover is that replacement parts for the bike are harder to come by than a bike from the last 10-15 years.
Actually those Fuji's were great bikes, it was a mid level unit but the frame and Suntour Mountech (I think) components (if the original components are still on it) were very reliable. Is 250 a bit high, yeah so I would offer less due to the tires and cables so subtract about $80, but also check to make sure the gears aren't worn. If the original components are not on it then no way is it worth $250.
I have a Fuji Club and it had quad butted tubing and that tube set was the best tube set besides the Miyata triple butted Splined tubeset that came out of Japan.
Older parts are available on E-bay, yes you do have to pay more but there's plenty out there. And some stuff like the freewheels you can buy new from IRD if you can't find a new vintage one. Cables are cables so you won't have an issue with those, and 27" tires and tube are still readily found, seats and bar tape etc is all common stuff. You can get a schrader to presta grommet to install in the rim hole to convert a schrader rim to presta valves then you can use ultralight presta tubes plus the selection of tubes is greater with better quality and any 700cx20-25 tube will fit a 27x 1 1/4 tire.
Looks like a good bike. I agree with Froze about the price, but I would be willing to part with the full $250 if the seller is adamant. The America is an especially nice bike from a period when most bikes were nice. I can vouch for the stock components of the bike. I have a Lotus that has a nearly full Suntouor Cyclone group set on it and it still operates flawlessly after nearly 10,000 miles. Of course the freewheel has been changed several time and I can't remember how may chains I have been through but not anymore than normal. They only thing that you might want to change on the bike is the single pivot brakes. Dual pivot brakes came out in the late 80's and they are superior in stopping power and maintenance to single pivot brakes. Single pivot brakes need frequent re-centering and tend to wear the cable side shoe faster.
Single vs dual pivot is a personal thing, they don't offer any different braking power it's just a matter of how much pressure it takes to activate the brakes. I have both types and I actually like the single pivot better because since it takes only a bit more pressure to activate the brake which for me allows a better ability to modulate the brakes. BUT, most people do like the dual's...I guess I'm the odd duck out on this one. When I say same power I mean you can lock up the wheels with any of the two types of brakes, once the wheels are locked up you can't have anymore stopping power! Tire width effects stopping power, the wider the tire the more rubber on the pavement thus the more power to stop the bike. It just takes a little more hand strength to squeeze the lever on a single pivot.
