kinda interesting retro bike from Fuji

[eddief]

http://www.fujibikes.com/LifeStyle/ClassicSeries/Absolute10.aspx

[johnnymossville]

Hey you're right. that's interesting. It would be great for just tooling around on or showing up to group rides with.

Nice Find.

[eddief]

definitely need a special bike for both of those sorts of occasions.

perfect.

[Ken Robb]

I think the 42 small ring is a mistake but it's a cool alternative to one's ultra-race bike.

[slugbottle]

No Shimano

[thwart]

But a sloping top tube... ? That's what the geometry info says.

Huh?

[regularguy412]

But a sloping top tube... ? That's what the geometry info says.

Huh?

Yeah, I had to look twice, too. I think it's just Fuji's 'generic' pic that has all the dimensions drawn out (on the geo page). The pic of the bike shows horizontal ( or practically so) top tube. The TT dimension shows the virtual distance.

Mike in AR:beer:

[nahtnoj]

If this bike were tig welded it would cost about a grand less. Am I really paying that much more to look hip and retro?

[Jawn P]

2010 Raleigh Record Ace, anyone?!
:)

[Ray]

So it's a "lifestyle" bike, not a road bike? The pic sure doesn't LOOK like the stays are 44cm. I've had bikes with 43.5 and 44.5 that showed more separation between the seat tube and rear tire, both with the same 72 degree seat tube.

I guess an interesting conversation piece, but I bet they don't sell many.

-Ray

[Ken Robb]

If this bike were tig welded it would cost about a grand less. Am I really paying that much more to look hip and retro?

It doesn't sound like it. :)

[torquer]

Fuji makes some good value bikes, and I like the idea of mass-market lugged steel, too, but how many of these are they really gonna sell? For $1500 you can get an Ultegra-level build kit on a much lighter frame, if you keep your eyes open, so there goes that end of the market, and for somebody looking for a niche coffee-stop conversation starter (probably their fifth or eighth bike, anyway) they would want a better component selection or could get a decent-condition original off flea-bay.

I'm guess there's some market out there for this bike, and maybe Fuji doesn't need to sell a million; they certainly got us talking about the brand, and maybe that was all this bike needed to do!

[MIN]

fuji's msrp is always high, it'll sell for ~60-70% of that at a Performance Bikes.

[johnnymossville]

fuji's msrp is always high, it'll sell for ~60-70% of that at a Performance Bikes.

if it showed up for $500 at Performance I would consider jumping on it. :beer:

[paulrad9]

Are the shifters very long or are the shifter bosses really high up?

The non-name/house components really detract from the appeal. There are many steel frame offerings in the 1,000 - 2,000 range and I wonder if Fuji offered just the frame & fork for a grand, if it would make the Connoisseur a more attractive offering.

[johnnymossville]

The cheap components really detract from the appeal. There are many steel frame offerings in the 1,000 - 2,000 range and I wonder if Fuji offered just the frame & fork for a grand, if it would make the Connoisseur a more attractive offering.

so true. the frame and fork seem to deserve better, but that would price it even further out of bounds.

frame only would be nice.

[MilanoTom]

It looks cool, but I don't see the market for it. Casual riders probably won't want to bother with downtube shifters, and those who know more about bikes would probably recognize that for the same (or possibly less) money, they could put together a bike with a decent used steel frame and used Nuovo Record or Suntour components that would be way cooler than an off-the-shelf Fuji.

As an example: I'd probably sell my barely used 3Rensho Katana-S for five or six hundred bucks. That would give the buyer a full grand to put together a parts group for it. My guess is that an astute buyer could put the parts together for considerably less. What's cooler then, a Fuji for $1500 or a 3Rensho for $1500?

Regards,
Tom

[jvp]

what size is your 3rensho? :D

[GuyGadois]

I think bar-end shifters would have been a better choice. I like the bike though.

-GG-

[Waldo]

On the spec sheet it says handlebar width is 60. Not sure what unit of measurement they're using, but if its' the usual, one package of bar tape won't be enough to wrap these babies.

[spacemen3]

Nice, I like it very much. Good for Fuji for having the guts to manufacture a steel bike. They did the retro thing right all the way back to the 52/42 chainrings. And check out the details in those lugs.

http://www.fujibikes.com/getattachment/8509c2f6-c21b-4f91-8893-78c8e8b55755/ABSOLUTE-1-0-3.aspx

[dancinkozmo]

+1 !!

[mike p]

I like it, but you can do much better yourself. E-bay an old steel frame and add your own parts. Go to serotta image gallery and do search for classique. I built that frame I bought from a forum member with parts I had for quite a bit under a grand. Much better than the crummy parts on the fuji.

Mike

[Lifelover]

It's a nice looking bike but the down tube shifters are a deal breaker.

There is no good reason for them.

[shinomaster]

I like that bike! The Kona Honkeytonk has DT shifters as well.

[fiamme red]

It's a nice looking bike but the down tube shifters are a deal breaker.

There is no good reason for them.I love downtube shifters! :banana:

[JohnHemlock]

I think it's purty. I have 3 ebay frames in my garage needing a build and this thing still appeals to me for some reason.

[MilanoTom]

what size is your 3rensho? :D

54 c-t. 54 tt.

[thugly]

54 c-t. 54 tt.

jerk

[MilanoTom]

jerk

Because it IS your size or because it's NOT?

Regards,
Tom