1951 Japan’s Bicycle Guide – Preview

1951-japans-bicycle-guide-intro1951-japans-bicycle-guide-coverI am a collector of Japan’s Bicycle Guides and was able to pick up a very first 1951 edition of the catalog. Below I have provided a few quick snaps from my iPhone. I plan to scan the entire book as delicately as possible. The book is in good condition conisdering its age and purpose. However, the binding is becoming brittle and weak so I would like to minimize viewing the actual book as much as possible.

1951-bridgestone-bicycle-ad1951-japanese-track-racer-bicycleFuji-AdFor those into classic ad copy and design this is a gold mine. Fantastic vintage design work throughout. I look forward to digging in a looking at every bicycle, part and ad. This is a major score of information for a collector like myself.

Fuji Design Series Mark Gorski Track – The rescue

Mark Gorski on his Fuji Design Series track bicycle

Mark Gorski on his Fuji Design Series

It seems I have a thing for abused and neglected vintage Fuji track bicycles. Two of the worst condition bicycles I have ever acquired are now both Fuji track bikes. The first was the 1975 Track Racer TF Sprint and now I have just welcomed a 1985 Fuji, Design Series, “Mark Gorksi“, track bike. That being said, this was the first, tall, Fuji Design Series track bike I had seen for-sale; I now restrict incoming bicycles in my collection to my size.

1985 Fuji Design Series "Mark Gorski" Track bicycle

1985 Fuji Design Series “Mark Gorski” Track bicycle

I’d like to thank Darryl Glascock over at Eastside Cycles in Nashville for his excellent and friendly customer service. Eastside took possession and packed up the 85 Gorski for me. I’m not sure what I will do with the bicycle yet. Every square inch has a scratch… I will clean it up, regrease, ride and then decide what I will do. In my head I imagine a repaint to its original color with some nice pinstriping around the lugs etc. I’m usually not one to refinished bicycles in my collection; I’m more of a “preservationist”, however, there is a certain point at which I believe they deserve a refresh. This one could very well fall into that category.

I am very excited about this acquisition regardless of condition. These bicycles are not easy to find and I now own both Fuji Design Series road and track models in 63cm and 61cm respectively. I feel lucky.

 

1980 Fuji Feather Professional BMX – Part 4

It’s been a month since the last time I touched the 1980 Fuji Feather BMX bicycle. Today I had time to throw on some very sought after, black Mitsuboshi Silver star Competition II tires, a sleek Sugino SP-G1 BMX stem, Dia-compe 2-bolt seat clamp, black anodized aluminum seat post, black anodized aluminum handlebars and the very cool Fuji Seamless YFC saddle or seat as we call it in the BMX world.  And let’s not forget the Black OGK Mach grips…

1980 Feather Professional BMX Part 2

I’ve got the majority of the parts laid out with a few decisions to make along the way.

1980 Fuji Feather BMX Parts

One of the very distinct parts on the Fuji Feather Professional BMX bikes is the Tange Meriter headset. These are semi-sealed and were a very high-end part in the mid and late 1970’s.

Tange Meriter MX Pro headset

When acquiring a Tange Meriter headset one of the most often damaged parts is the top-nut. I must have 10 headsets and probably 5 good top-nuts, 2 bad top-nuts, and 1 unusable. If you ever find these top-nuts at a swap, buy them!

Tange Meriter MX Pro headset top-nut

Another very distinct part to the Feather Professional BMX is the curved Ishiwata fork.

Fuji - Ishiwata BMX fork

1980 Feather Professional Black

Today I begin bringing life back into this 1980 Feather Professional BMX. I will only be cleaning; there will be no resurfacing, repainting or even removing stickers on any parts.

80-feather-black

Coming soon Fuji Design Series B5142

The Fuji Design Series is the pinnacle of classic Fuji bicycles. I was able to acquire this DS in my size; which to my understanding is quite rare. More photos and story to come soon.

Classic Fuji Design Series