Fuji Special Road Racer S10-S
Fuji Special Road Racer
I’ve been in the hunt for a touring bike with specific features for a couple of years now. I wanted a somewhat slack geometry, fender and rack eyelets, and I like shiny bits so my criteria included a chrome tipped fork and chrome chainstay. I’ve seen a couple of bikes that fit my criteria but each time I was too slow on the draw, and lost out to another buyer.
Fuji Special Road Racer
More than once I became inpatient and almost bought something that lacked all the features I wanted, only because I wanted a new bike really bad. But finally my patience paid off. Hubbard sent me the link to this Fuji Special Road Racer the other day and I did some fast research and determined this was it. I quickly called the seller to make arrangements to see the bike. It was mine!
The name “Special Road Racer” is a bit misleading; other than the dual chainring, this bike has far more in common with a touring bike than a racing one. The geometry is relaxed, it has a wide ratio gearing, fender and rack eyelets, and even braze on frame pump pegs. The Special Road Racer would later go by the name S10-S.
It comes with Sugino cranks with three arm spiders, Nitto B115 bars, Ukai rims with Sansin high flange hubs. The stem is a not often seen Nitto Hi-Crown, also known as an “I-Beam”. The front derailleur is Suntour Compe-V, while the rear derailleur is a Suntour V-GT Luxe. The original Fugi Belt leather saddle had been replaced with some vinyl thing, but I’ve got a black Brooks Champion that will be installed very soon.
Suntour V-GT Luxe and chrome chain stay
This is a keeper for sure and the best news is there is not a spot of rust on it, so all I need to do is wash it off and then start polishing the shiny bits. In spite of the pristine condition of the matching bar wrap, I see black leather Toshi wrap in the future, some chrome fenders and possibly a porteur rack. Oh, and those gumwall tires will be replaced, I know gumwall is the proper style for vintage bikes but they are just not my thing.
I am stoked and really happy that I remained patient and held out until I found exactly what I was looking for.
All photos were provided by the seller, I’ll be posting updated photos when the bike is finished.
Great looking Fuji, how do you guys keep scoring these amazing bikes?! I’m starting to get a little jealous, although I am still more than okay with my Fuji Palisade.
Kevin, I think I have now scored a grand total of two amazing bikes in 4 years or so. Hubbard is the dude who scores something every other week. I found both of mine on CL.
Chris
Those handlebars look almost like track bars rather than touring jobbies…
Chris,
You are so kicking my butt in the Fuji category now! I didn’t realize that that bike was the predecessor to the S10-S; very cool! Mine is the S12-S LTD.
Honestly, I am glad that you swept in and scored it. It seems like a really good deal, and I looooove green. I’ll bet when you’re done with it it’s going to look great.
Of course, mine has 18 gears and I’m gonna fly by you once Justin rebuilds them both…….:)
H
They seem pretty narrow, I was thinking the same thing myself. I haven’t had a chance to ride it much so I’ll have to find out how comfortable they’ll be over the long haul
Hubbard, how light is yours? Mine seems very light, well relative to my other heavy bikes.
This really is a good score. Hubbard, the number of gears don’t make you faster – the amount of time you ride does.
Chris, mine also seems very light to me. Of course, I have all these steel frame tanks.
Justin, our NYC correspondent, Mr. Welch, also says: it’s not the gears, it’s the legs!
Here ya go for all you Fujiphiles….
http://nihonmaru.blogspot.com/
This bike was marketed and advertised as a touring model…go figure…
Congrats
Score. Thanks LoneLobo!
Got one just like it. My parents gave it to me for Christmas when SRR’s were introduced. Everything original including the rat trap pedals. The original pump should also be around here somewhere. Thinking about cleaning it up and riding again. Lived in Balto. at the time and raced it around Lake Montebello with my now deceased Dad, who had a red one just like mine. He was still riding his at the age of seventy four. Memories…..
How Much did you pay for your? I got one last year for free. The Belt saddle was missing and some horrible gell seat was on it, I replaced it with a used Selle Italia leather saddle.
I’m STILL riding my Fuji Special Road Racer that I bought new when I was in college back in the mid ’70s! IIRC, it ran me a shade over $210 back then.
Over the intervening years, we’ve ridden well over 60k miles together. I’ve replaced just about every component except the handlebars, handlebar stem and – believe it or not – the original Belt leather saddle!
Back then, I had built up a set of wheels around Phil Wood sealed bearing hubs that lasted me probably close to 20k miles. Now riding on an old pair of Shimano hubs, Mavic MA-2 rims, and a SunTour Winner 6-speed freewheel and still in 27″, although finding quality 27×1-1/8″ tires is getting tough!
The original Sugino three-pin crankset (odd-ball 51/39T) was replaced with a Sakae triple… The SunTour V-GT Luxe deraileur lasted until I could no longer find parts to rebuild it… The shifters got replaced before I even took possession with the SunTour bar-end ratcheting shifters that are still on there bike today!
I rode it on a charity ride a couple of years ago, and one guy who was manning a repair station at one of the rest stops came running over and said “Wow, now there’s a piece of history!” I still have the ‘tire flickers’ on there that I bought waaaaay back then.
What can I say, I love my old ‘vintage’ bike! Then again, I guess that makes me ‘vintage’ as well!!
I’m just building up a Special Road Racer Mixte for my wife with much delight, but I am wondering if anyone knew what original pump was attached to the frame braze-ons. I believe it is 18″ and I would love to hear if anyone has a recommnedation!
Cornelius, I don’t know the answer to your question, and I know I sound like a broken record, but I would encourage you to pose that question in the Classic and Vintage Bike Forums. You will find experts on pretty much every brand there and often times they can tell you where to find a part, or how to go about it.
I wish I had the mixte version. Want to trade? :-)
Cool beans! In 1979 I road a Fuji Special Road Racer from Wyoming to the Mississippi River. Bought the bike in Jackson, WY for about $300.00 new as my “old bike” (’72 Paramount) did not have rack braze on’s and I wanted a smoother ride for the distance. I still have the Paramount but the SRR was sold in the mid 80′s. Bummer. Great to hear these bike’s are still sought after and are finding homes!
They’re well made and easy to work on, Fuji made great bikes. Hey sell me your Paramount :-)
……………….I had one in 1976 It was blue. Had the smallest chrome spoke protector on the rear wheel. I think about that bike. not every day but many days. I want it back. Then I can go back. a time machine
I HAVE A SPECIAL ROAD RACER GREEN IN COLOR WITH A 25 INCH FRAME WHICH I PURCHASID BACK IN 1975.ITS ALMOST MINT AND ABSOLUTLY NO RUST.MY FUGI JUST SITS ON A WALL RACK IN MY GARAGE. IVE BEEN RIDING A FUGI MOUNTAIN BIKE AT 8000 AND WANT TO SWITCH BACK TO A FIXED WHEEL BIKE THAT I RODE IN MY YOUTH.THE FUGI SPECIAL ROAD RACER WAS THE BEST STREET BIKE IVE OWNED IN MY LIFE.IF ANYBODY IS INTRESTED PLEASE CONTACT ME richyrosenberg@gmail.com
Did you ever get the fenders on the SRR? If so, what did you use?
I just picked up a 1974 SRR model and want to attach some fenders. I have in mind the 52mm version from Velo Orange. I previously tried 45mm VO fenders on a bike with 27 1 1/4″ wheels and was unhappy with the narrow clearance. I’m looking for information for happy fendering.
Steve I am actually selling the Fuji on Craigslist. I have too many road bikes these days and have made arrangements to get a needed mountain bike but first the Fuji has to go. It’s a sweet bike, you’ll enjoy yours! You might send an email to Chris at Velo Orange and have him advise you. – Chris