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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle After |
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before |
Today is the start of Taro's Fuji Finest restoration. I think this bike is one of the coolest out there, it may not be stocked with Campy parts and Reynolds 531 tubing but it is just darn cool with the chrome frame and the Japanese parts.
What also makes this Fuji even cooler is Taro has the same bike in a single speed version, that restoration can be see at this link
Taro's Fuji Finest Single Speed. It is so cool to have the same bike set up two ways and it makes total seance to have both!
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| Taro's Single Speed Version |
The Fuji Finest is in pretty good starting shape, the paint is dull but I think very good shape under the dullness, the components are very cool, a older (And Very Cool) Nitto stem and handlebars, a beautiful Sugino crank, nice Die-Comp brake set and the Schwinn Approved bar end shifters will be replaced with down tube shifters. All the components should polish out beautifully. The Fuji Finest will also receive an older Brooks Professional saddle with the perfect patina for the look, new Brooks leather handlebar tape, all new cables and housings and new Panaracer tires. With the frame polished and the frame chrome polished and all the components polished this is going to be a stunning bike.
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Brake Levers |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Handlebars |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Handlebars |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Head Tube |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Front Brake |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Fork Crown Chroem |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Hub |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Rim |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Nitto Stem |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Bar End Shift Levers |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Head Tube Lug Chrome |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Top Tube Fuji Racing Decal |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Down Tube |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Saddle |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Seat Lug |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Sugino Crank |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Front Derailleur |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Cable Hanger |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Rear Brake |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Rear Derailleur |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Before
Rear Wheel |
I stripped the frame of its components, every thing came apart fairly easy, the bottom bracket came apart extremely easy, that is unusual and not sure if that is good or bad yet?
The frame paint is in really good shape, just a few chips and scuffs here and there, it should polish fantastic. The frame chrome is also not to bad, a good amount of polishing and it will really pop.
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Frame Before |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Head Tube |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Head Tube Chrome Lugs |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Top Tube |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Down Tube |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Seat Lug |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Seat Tube |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Stay Chrome |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Drop Out Chrome |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Fork |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Fork Crown Chrome |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Fork - Cool Fuji Racing Decal |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Frame Before
Fork Chrome |
The frame polished beautifully! White is always a hard color to polish to a high shine but going through a few grits the white really turned out nice. The chrome also polished very nice. It doesnt get cooler then a frame with polished chrome!.
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Crank - Before |
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Crank - Exploded |
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Crank - Polished |
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Crank - Complete |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
Crank - Installed - Poor Photo |
The brake levers are nice Dia-Comp levers. The original white hoods are rotted so new will be installed. I cleaned, polished and lubricated the levers and they look great and function smooth. New tan brake lever hoods where installed to go with the brown leather handlebar tape. I love the results of the brake levers.
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Brake Levers
Before |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Brake Levers
Before |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Brake Levers
Polsihed |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Brake Levers
Complete |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Brake Levers
Installed |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Brake Levers
Installed |
The brake calipers are nice Dia-Comp red label center pull brakes. I am a fan of center pull brakes and when they are polished they look fantastic. I disassembled the brakes and cleaned the pieces. Polishing on the power polisher and some new grease and the calipers look great and function great.
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Brake Calipers
Before |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Brake Calipers
Exploded |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Brake Calipers
Polished |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Brake Calipers
Complete |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
Front Caliper - Installed |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
Rear Caliper - Installed |
I skipped tot he wheels at this point, I had 6 wheels to work on that day so I made it a wheel day and did the Fuji wheels also. The wheels are very nice wheels with SR hubs and nice alloy rims. I cleaned and polished the hubs and then polished the rims, they look like brand new wheels. I installed the bearings and new grease and they spin fast and smooth. New Panaracer gum wall tires are the perfect choice for the Fuji and look great installed.
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
Rear Wheel - Before |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Hub
Before |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Rim
Before |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel
Old Grease |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Hub
Polished |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel Bearings
Packed |
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Rear Wheel - Complete |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
New Panaracer Tires |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
Front Wheel - Before |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Front Wheel Hub
Before |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Front Wheel Rim
Before |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Front Wheel
Old Grease |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Front Wheel Hub
Polished |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Front Wheel
New Grease |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Front Wheel
Complete |
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Wheels - Complete |
The saddle on the Fuji is kind of cool but this older Brooks Professional is very cool. The patina of the saddle is perfect. The seat post is in okay condition, I cleaned and polished all the components and they turned out good. This style seat post has a great look but I am not a fan of it, it is very difficult to install a saddle with my giant fingers.
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Old Saddle Left
Brooks Saddle Right |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Seat Post
Polished |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
Seat Post & Saddle - Complete |
The derailleurs are Sun Tour and good solid Sun Tour derailleurs they are. I Like these derailleurs a lot because they are bullet proof and function good. I disassembled the derailleurs, cleaned the pieces and did the polishing. The derailleurs turned out very nice and function very nice.
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Derailleurs
Before |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Rear Derailleur
Exploded |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Front Derailleur
Exploded |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Front Derailleur
Polished |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Rear Derailleur
Polished |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Rear Derailleur
Complete |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
Rear Derailleur - Installed |
The Schwinn Approved bar end shift levers are being replaced with Sun Tour Power Shift down tube levers. I like the feel of the power shift levers and will be a good fit for the Fuji.
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Sun Tour
Power Shift Levers |
With the bike almost complete it is time to wire the Fuji and install the Brooks leather handlebar tape. New cables and cable housings are being installed. The Ice grey housing look great against the white and chrome, the grey makes the cables fade to the back ground.
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - New Cables
New Brooks Handlebar Tape |
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Fuji Wired |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
Fuji - Wired |
Taro picked out the brown Brooks tape, a perfect color for the Fuji. It really complements the white and chrome and matches the saddle. I love these photos of the handlebar tape installed, it looks so good, so classic with the brake lever hoods and the cable housings, just Awesome!!
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Brooks Leather Tape
Half Installed |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Brooks Leather Tape
Installed |
Below is a photo of the Fuji with the handlebar tape complete and the Fuji almost complete, so cool!
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - |
The pedals are in pretty good shape and pedals usually take a beating. I did a combination of hand polishing and power polishing, they turned out great.
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Pedals - Before |
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Pedals - Complete |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Pedals
Installed |
That completes the Fuji Finest Restoration, I love the theme and look!!
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle - Complete |
The Fuji Finest is a really cool bike with the chrome lugs, the chrome stays and the chrome frame. The white, chrome and leather is a beautiful look and is quickly becoming a favorite. The test ride went great other then its cold and some snow flurries. It was a very comfortable ride and when I look at the bike it looks like it has a slack geometry for sport touring, just an awesome bike!! I think maybe fenders would be an awesome addition.
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Complete |
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| Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Complete |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
Bicycle Complete - Front |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Complete
Handlebars |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Complete
The very Cool Nitto Logo Stamps |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
Bicycle Complete - Head Tube |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
Bicycle Complete - Front Brake |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Complete
Front Wheel |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
Bicycle Complete - Front Half |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
Bicycle Complete - Lug Chrome ! |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Complete
Drive Train |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
Bicycle Complete - Saddle |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update
Bicycle Complete - Rear Brake |
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Taro's Fuji Finest Restoration & Update - Bicycle Complete
Rear Wheel |
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