Taro's Fuji Special Road Racer Single Speed Restoration

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle After

I recently started the restoration of Taro's Fuji single speed.  Has many of you know I ride fixed gear almost all of the time so I like this Fuji very much.  I believe under all that dirt, grime, corrosion, dullness and a little bit of a rough build is the makings of a fantastic bike.  It already has a classic look with the white paint, chrome drop outs and the old Belt saddle Fuji's version of a Brooks saddle.

The Fuji Special Road Racer does have a badly bent fork, the fork will be replaced with an all chrome fork which I think will go perfect with the looks.

The Fuji is very rough right now but I think the paint under all of that will polish out very nice.  The Fuji will receive a complete restoration with new cables & cable housings, synthetic leather handlebar tape and new tubes and tires.  I am excited to see the Fuji complete, I think it will have a beautiful classic look with the white paint, chrome dropouts and leather saddle with the synthetic leather handlebar tape.

I will continue the post tomorrow, it is late tonight.  I have uploaded some photos for now.

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle Before

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle Before - Handlebars

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Handlebars & Brake Levers

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Bicycle Before - Stem

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Bicycle Before - Bent Fork

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Bicycle Before - Front Brake

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle Before - Front Wheel Hub

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Bicycle Before - Crank

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Bicycle Before - Belt Saddle

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Bicycle Before - Rear Brake

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle Before - Chrome Drop Outs

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle Before - Rear Wheel Hub

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle Before - Rear Wheel Rim

The frame is in good shape under all of that dirt and dullness.  I think cleaning and polishing will do it wonders!  There is just a few chips to the paint.  Those Chrome rear drop outs are perfect, I don't think there is a look better then chrome rear drop outs!!

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Frame Before

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Frame Before - Bottom Bracket

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Frame Before - Bottom Bracket

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Frame Before - Chrome Drop Outs

As I thought the frame polished beautiful!! and white paint is not the easiest color to polish.  This may not be everyone's cup of tea but I absolutely love the white and the chrome drop outs,  It has an older look but classic look!!

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Frame Polished

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Frame Polished - Bottom Bracket

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Frame Polished - Down Tube

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Frame Polished - Chrome Drop Outs

The headset and bottom brackets definitely need a good cleaning and overhaul.  The bottom bracket is an odd size in respect to the tool did not fit in the notches well.  Everything polished beautifully and spins perfect.

The stem is a modern stem, it had a textured to the finish that was dull and scuffed, because of the shape of the stem it was very hard to get the polisher to the under side,  what is nice though about the stem  is there are slight line ridges running along the bottom of the sides.  I used those as a polishing line and polished everything above to a high mirror finish and everything below a good cleaning and a light polishing to remove the scuffs. 

i only need to cut about a quarter of an inch off the new chrome replacement fork.  I think the fork is perfect for the look of the bike.  i really can't wait to see the Fuji Special Road Racer finished.

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket - Before

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Polished

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Replacement Chrome Fork

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Headset Cups - Pressed

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Headset Bearings - Packed

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Headset
Complete

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Fork Complete - Weird photo angle because
I had the bike in the stand tilted up.

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Stem & Handlebars - Before

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Stem - Polished

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Stem & Handlebars
Installed

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bottom Bracket - Packed

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bottom bracket - Complete

The brakes are a little rough, the bolt where pretty rusty in spots.  It took some polishing but the brakes look great, They are really going to set the bike off against the white paint.

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Brakes - Before

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Brakes - Exploded

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Brakes - Polished

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Brakes - Complete

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Front Brake - Installed

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Rear Brake - Installed

The crank is a double crank that was broken down to a single speed.  The crank actually works very well this way, I like the shape, it will really go well with the theme.

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Crank - Before

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Crank - Polished

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Crank - Installed

The brake levers are pretty standard but whats nice is they where not brake levers that had suicide levers.  I really hate when the suicide levers are removed and then there is a large spacer protruding from the side.  The brake levers polished very nice on the power polisher.

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Brake Levers - Before

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Brake Levers - Polished

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Brake Levers - Installed

The Fuji Special Road Racer is really coming along, just got to finish up the wheels in the morning, run the cables and install the handlebar tape.

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle as of Now

The wheels where ix matched but both turned out very nice.  The grease in the hubs was nasty and badly needed and overhaul.  Both sets of rims where in rough starting shape but turned out fantastic.  New Kenda tires and tubes where installed.  The spokes where a little rough and did not come back to new but pretty good, the spokes where not worth the cost of replacing them.  The freewheel was very gritty but after heavy flushing and lubricating works great.

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Rear Wheel - Before

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub - Before

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Rear Whee Rim - Before

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Rear Wheel - Old Grease

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub - Polished

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Rear Wheel - New Grease

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim - After

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Rear Wheel - Complete

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
New Kenda Tires

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Front Wheel - Before

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Front Wheel Hub - Before

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Front Wheel - Old Grease

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Front Wheel Rim - Before

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Front Wheel - New Grease

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Front Wheel Complete

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Wheels - Complete

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Freewheel - Before

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Freewheel - After

With the wheels complete it was left to little bits and pieces.  The seat bolt and cable hanger, the saddle coupling, and wiring the bike and handlebar tape.

I really like the detail of the Fuji logo on the seat bolt.

I also think the synthetic leather brown handlebar tape is the perfect choice.

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Cable Hanger - Before

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Cable Hanger
Complete

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Seat Coupling - Complete

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - New Bits

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Front Brake
Wired

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Rear Brake
Wired

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Handlebar Tape Complete

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle Complete

I really enjoyed restoring the Fuji.  This is my favorite type and look to a bike.  A great frame with chrome stays, descent paint with a nice patina, lots of shiny pieces and single speed, although I would want fixed gear.  It is a classic look, with a classic color, with leather and chrome, doesn't get much better!!

Oh, and it ride great too!!!!!!

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle Complete

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle Complete

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Front Brake

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Handlebars

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Front Half

Fuji Single Speed Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Belt Saddle

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Drive Train

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle Complete - Rear

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Freewheel

Fuji Single Speed Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Artistic Shot