1986 Team Fuji Road Bike

Quick Answer: This 1986 Fuji is a Japanese-made Team Fuji road bike built around an Ishiwata EX-O-M quad-butted steel frameset with full Suntour Sprint componentry, Araya 1W aero rims, and a 56cm/55cm geometry designed for competitive road racing.

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The 1986 Team Fuji doesn’t need introduction to anyone who followed Japanese road racing in the mid-eighties. It was built to race, and everything on it reflects that purpose.

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Frame and Tubing

The foundation of the 1986 Team is an Ishiwata EX-O-M “Fuji” quad-butted tubeset — a collaboration-grade steel that Fuji specified for its upper-tier road models during this period. Quad butting means each tube varies in wall thickness at four points rather than the standard two, allowing engineers to remove material where stress is lowest while reinforcing the areas that take the most load. The result is a frame that rides with the compliance of steel but without unnecessary weight.

Frame geometry is 56cm seat tube and 55cm top tube — a configuration that places this bike in the medium-large range and suits riders in the 5’9″ to 5’11” range depending on reach preference. The geometry reflects the era’s preference for a longer, lower position consistent with road racing demands of the time.

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The blue and yellow colorway is original to the model and ties directly to Fuji’s team livery of the period, reinforcing its identity as a Fuji team road bike built for visibility in the peloton as much as performance.

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Drivetrain and Components

Suntour Sprint componentry runs throughout the drivetrain — derailleurs, crankset, and chain are all present and confirmed in fine working order. Suntour Sprint occupied a strong mid-to-upper tier in the Suntour hierarchy during the mid-eighties, offering reliable indexing performance and durability that has proven itself over decades of use. The fact that the crankset and derailleurs remain functional nearly four decades later speaks to the build quality that characterized Japanese component manufacturing during this period.

The brake levers are black Dia Compe Aero Compe units — a deliberate contrast to the rest of the build that mirrors the stem color. This kind of intentional color coordination was a hallmark of Japanese bicycle design in the eighties, where component matching extended beyond function into visual cohesion. The side-pull caliper brake configuration is standard for road racing geometry of this era.

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Wheels and Tires

The wheelset on this Team Fuji road bike is built around Araya 1W aero section rims laced to period-correct hubs. Araya was one of the dominant Japanese rim manufacturers of the era, and the 1W aero profile was a direct response to the aerodynamic focus that was reshaping professional road racing during the mid-eighties. These rims were specified on competition-grade Japanese road bikes precisely because they offered a measurable aerodynamic advantage without the weight penalty of deeper carbon sections that hadn’t yet become practical for production bicycles.

Notably, this example still runs its original Mitsuboshi 700c x 19mm tires. The 19mm width was the “go fast” specification of the era — narrower than modern performance tires, designed to minimize rolling resistance on smooth road surfaces. The fact that these tires have survived intact is unusual and adds to the documentation value of this particular example.

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Finishing Kit

The seatpost is a fluted Fuji unit painted to match the frame’s blue and yellow color scheme — a detail that confirms this bike was assembled with attention to presentation equal to its mechanical specification. Fluted seat posts were a weight-reduction feature common on competition-grade Japanese road bikes of this period. The pedals spin smoothly, consistent with the overall condition of the drivetrain.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What tubeset is used on the 1986 Team Fuji ? The 1986 Team Fuji uses an Ishiwata EX-O-M “Fuji” quad-butted tubeset, a collaboration-grade steel specified by Fuji for its competition road models during the mid-eighties.

What components are on the 1986 Team Fuji? The bike is equipped with Suntour Sprint throughout the drivetrain, Dia Compe Aero Compe brake levers, Araya 1W aero section rims, a fluted Fujita seatpost, and original Mitsuboshi 700c x 19mm tires.

What size is the 1986 Team Fuji frame? The frame measures 56cm seat tube and 55cm top tube, placing it in the medium-large range suitable for riders approximately 5’9″ to 5’11”.

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Ebisu All Purpose Randonneur

Quick Answer

The Ebisu All Purpose is a custom randonneur frame built with Kaisei 019 steel tubing, designed and distributed through Jitensha Studios. This particular build features a modernized randonneur setup with 650b wheels, a wide-range 2×9 drivetrain, dynamo lighting, and French-influenced component selection including Rene Herse cranks and Grand Bois centerpull brakes. The frameset accommodates 650bx42mm tires with clearance for fenders, making it suitable for mixed-terrain riding and self-supported touring.

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The All Purpose represents a contemporary interpretation of French randonneuring design, combining traditional steel frame construction with modern componentry. Built through Jitensha Studios with framesets manufactured in Japan, these frames utilize Kaisei 019 chromoly tubing to balance ride quality with structural integrity.

Frame Construction and Geometry

The frames are constructed from Kaisei 019 steel tubing, a Japanese-made chromoly tubeset that offers performance characteristics similar to Reynolds 631 or Columbus Spirit. The All Purpose model features geometry optimized for randonneuring applications, with relaxed angles that prioritize stability under load and comfort over extended distances.

The frame design accommodates 650b wheels with wide tire clearance. This build runs Grand Bois Hetre tires in 650bx42mm, with additional clearance designed for fenders. The fork mirrors the frame’s randonneur-focused design, providing sufficient crown clearance and mounting points for a dynamo front light and front rack if needed.

Jitensha Studios handles frame orders through a consultation process, though specific geometry charts are not typically provided to customers. Lead times historically range from three to four months from order finalization to delivery.

Drivetrain Configuration

The drivetrain combines French randonneur aesthetics with practical gearing for varied terrain. Rene Herse cranks are mounted with a 42/26 double chainring setup, providing a wide range when paired with the Shimano 11-36 nine-speed cassette. This configuration yields gear ratios from approximately 19 to 103 gear inches, suitable for both loaded climbing and unloaded road riding.

Shifting is controlled via Rivendell Silver downtube shifters, operating a mixed-era Suntour front derailleur and Shimano LX M580 Rapid Rise rear derailleur. The Rapid Rise system reverses standard derailleur operation, with the default position in the largest cog rather than the smallest. This arrangement reduces cable tension in lower gears, where most riding occurs.

The MKS Allways EZY pedals use a magnetic attachment system, allowing quick pedal removal for storage or transport without tools.

Wheel and Tire Specifications

The wheelset features hand-built 650b wheels using Grand Bois Papillon rims laced to premium hubs. The front wheel utilizes a SON Deluxe Wide Body dynamo hub in 28-hole configuration, generating 3 watts at 15 km/h to power the lighting system. The rear wheel is built around an Onyx Racing Vesper hub with 32 spokes, notable for its sprag clutch design that eliminates freehub noise.

Grand Bois Hetre tires in 650bx42mm provide a supple ride with adequate volume for rough pavement and light gravel. The 650b wheel size lowers bottom bracket height compared to 700c equivalents with similar tire volume, improving stability and handling characteristics.

Braking System

The frame mounts Grand Bois Chouette centerpull brakes, controlled by Gran Compe Aero levers. Centerpull brakes offer symmetrical pad wear and powerful modulation, though they require precise setup and compatible frame/fork mounting. The Chouette model provides sufficient reach for 650bx42mm tires with full fenders.

Centerpull systems require specific cable routing and compatible levers with sufficient mechanical advantage. The Gran Compe Aero levers are designed for this application, providing ergonomic hoods and reliable cable pull ratio.

Cockpit and Fit Components

The cockpit uses a modified NOS Nitto Technomic stem cut to 70mm length by Northern Cycles to accommodate a brass bell. This connects to Nitto Noodle (B177) handlebars, a shallow drop bar with compact reach designed for mixed-terrain riding and frequent hand position changes.

The Rene Herse Ultimate headset uses French-specification angular contact bearings, providing smooth steering with minimal friction. The Nitto NJSP72 Jaguar seatpost supports an Ergon saddle, with the Jaguar post offering classic aesthetic while meeting modern dimensional standards.

Lighting and Accessory Integration

The dynamo lighting system consists of a SON Edelux front light and Rene Herse frame-mounted tail light, both powered by the SON Deluxe hub. This configuration provides reliable lighting without battery management, critical for extended unsupported rides or commuting applications.

A custom randonneur rack mounts to the rear triangle, designed specifically for this frame’s geometry and clearances. The rack accommodates traditional randonneur-style handlebar bags and panniers while maintaining heel clearance with the rear wheel.

Additional accessories include a Crane bell mounted to the modified stem, and Tomii Cycles aluminum bar end plugs.

Ebisu Brand Context

Ebisu frames are marketed and distributed through Jitensha Studios, operated by Hiroshi Matsumoto. Framesets are manufactured in Japan to Jitensha Studios specifications, utilizing traditional construction methods and Japanese tubing. The brand positioning focuses on French randonneur design principles adapted for modern component compatibility.

The brand offers several frame models beyond the All Purpose, each targeting specific riding applications while maintaining consistent design language. Frame turnaround times and communication processes reflect a traditional builder-client relationship, with less transparency than some modern custom builders but consistent execution quality.

The All Purpose achieves its design brief: a versatile randonneur capable of all-day rides, light touring, and mixed-surface exploration, built with quality components and careful attention to traditional randonneuring values.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What tubing is used in Ebisu frames?

Ebisu All Purpose frames are constructed from Kaisei 019 chromoly steel tubing. Kaisei 019 is a Japanese-made tubeset comparable to Reynolds 631 or Columbus Spirit, offering a balance between ride quality, durability, and weight. The tubing provides the compliance characteristics valued in randonneur applications while maintaining adequate stiffness for loaded riding.

How long does it take to receive an Ebisu frameset?

Typical turnaround for a frameset is three to four months from order finalization to delivery. This timeline includes the consultation period to determine frame specifications, manufacturing in Japan, and shipping to the customer. Lead times may vary based on current order volume and seasonal factors affecting production schedules.

What tire clearance does the Ebisu All Purpose provide?

The All Purpose accommodates 650bx42mm tires with clearance for fenders. This clearance is suitable for Grand Bois Hetre, Compass/Rene Herse, or similar randonneur tires in the 38-48mm width range, depending on tire casing width and fender choice. The generous clearance supports mixed-terrain riding while maintaining traditional randonneur proportions.

Can Ebisu frames accommodate different wheel sizes?

These frames are designed for specific wheel sizes based on the intended frame geometry and riding application. The All Purpose model is optimized for 650b wheels. Switching to 700c wheels would alter bottom bracket height and handling characteristics significantly, making it inadvisable without specific geometry compensation. Customers should specify their preferred wheel size during the consultation process, as the builder can design frames for either standard.

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  Takeru Kageyama Aluminum Road Frame

Quick Answer: What is the Zunow Z1?

The Zunow Z1 is an aluminum road frame produced by Osaka-based Zunow Cycles, founded by Takeru Kageyama in 1965. Despite appearing to be chromoly, the Z1 is a TIG-welded aluminum frame with fillet-finish cosmetics — weld beads were ground smooth and filled to mimic the look of steel construction. The frame accepts standard 700c wheels, a 68mm BSA bottom bracket, and 27.2mm seatpost. It is designed as a dedicated road platform compatible with both double and single-chainring drivetrain setups.

 

Takeru Kageyama built bicycles that looked like chromoly steel and rode like nothing else coming out of Osaka in the 1980s and early 1990s. The Zunow Z1 is one of the best examples of why. It is an aluminum frame that wears a chromoly disguise — ground welds, filled seams, a pearl white paint job that hides every trace of the TIG work underneath. The deception is deliberate and the engineering behind it is worth examining closely.

Zunow Z1 Specifications at a Glance

Specification	Detail
Frame Material	Aluminum (TIG-welded, fillet-finish)
Fork	Zunow Original — aluminum, caliper brake mount
Headset	Shimano Dura-Ace (EC34 press-fit compatible)
Bottom Bracket	68mm BSA threaded
Seatpost Diameter	27.2mm
Wheel Size	700c
Brake Type	Caliper (side-pull)
Drivetrain Compatibility	Double or single chainring
Dropout Style	Horizontal (road style)
Builder	Zunow Cycles, Osaka, Japan

The Z1 frame carries a “Fillet Brazed” decal, but that label is cosmetic rather than technical. The construction method is TIG welding on an aluminum alloy frame. After welding, the seams were ground down and filled with filler material to produce a smooth, seamless surface. The result is a frame that reads visually as lugged or brazed steel — particularly under the pearl white paint that Kageyama’s shop applied.

This matters for two reasons. First, aluminum frames are stiffer per gram than chromoly steel, which changes the ride character. The Z1 transmits road vibration more directly than a steel frame of comparable weight. Second, the fillet-finish cosmetics add weight and labor time without changing the structural properties of the aluminum underneath. Kageyama prioritized appearance here — the Z1 was a road bike intended to look as refined as anything coming from Italy or the top-tier Japanese steel builders.

Single Chainring Conversion: Gear Ratio Engineering

The build documented here strips the front derailleur entirely and runs a 44T single chainring paired with a Shimano XT CS-M770 11-32T rear cassette on a 9-speed Ultegra RD-6600 derailleur. The math is straightforward. The hardest gear ratio drops from 4.72 (on a standard 52/11 setup) to 4.0. The easiest ratio drops from 1.56 to 1.375. Both changes move in the right direction for a bike that sees real-world climbing.

The RD-6600 is rated for a maximum 25T rear cog. Running 32T requires a Wolf Tooth Road Link, which lowers the derailleur’s pivot point and adds clearance between the guide pulley and the larger sprocket. The reported result after 100+ km of mixed riding is zero chain drops — standard chainring tooth profiles are sufficient on road for this application; narrow-wide is unnecessary.

Shifting is handled by Shimano SL-7700 W-levers on the top tube. On a single chainring there is no front shift input, so the lever is used exclusively for the rear. The choice of W-lever over integrated brake-shifters is a deliberate simplification — fewer mechanical points of failure, and a lever style that functions well for riders accustomed to single-speed riding.

Carbon Cockpit on an Aluminum Frame

Aluminum is stiff. That is the trade-off built into every aluminum road frame, and it is more pronounced on older designs like the Z1 where tube diameters and wall thicknesses were sized for the manufacturing tolerances of the era. The cockpit selection here — 3T Superleggera TEAM handlebars, 3T Arx II Team stem, and 3T Doric Team seatpost — is a direct response to that stiffness. All three components are carbon fiber, chosen specifically for vibration dampening rather than weight savings.

Carbon handlebars and seatposts absorb high-frequency road noise that aluminum and steel tubing pass straight through to the rider. On a frame this rigid, the difference is measurable over longer distances. The brake levers are Campagnolo Veloce, which adds a small aesthetic inconsistency to the otherwise all-Shimano drivetrain — but the lever shape and pivot geometry are genuinely different from Shimano’s offerings and worth running on their own merits.

Silver Components and the Wheel Choice

The Ultegra 6600 groupset components — cranks, rear derailleur, brakes — are all silver. Modern component groups default to black, so matching the rest of the bike to that palette required custom painting. Four carbon cockpit parts (bars, stem, seatpost, brake lever brackets) were sent to a specialist painter and refinished in pearl white to match the frame. The color gap will narrow over time as the frame’s pearl white ages under UV exposure.

The wheels are Chris King classic hubs laced to Velocity A23 rims — a combination the owner has run since messenger days. A23 rims are a 23mm-wide clinker profile, narrow by current standards but still functional with 28c tires under caliper brakes. The tires are Panaracer GravelKing 28c, which sit comfortably within the caliper brake clearance and provide enough tread for occasional unpaved surfaces without compromising road speed.

Component	Part
Chainring	Surly Stainless Steel 44T (130 PCD, 5-arm)
Rear Sprocket	Shimano XT CS-M770 (11-32T, 9-speed)
Rear Derailleur	Shimano Ultegra RD-6600
RD Adapter	Wolf Tooth Road Link
Shifters	Shimano SL-7700 (W-lever)
Brake Levers	Campagnolo Veloce
Handlebars	3T Superleggera TEAM 420mm
Stem	3T Arx II Team 100mm / 17°
Seatpost	3T Doric Team 27.2 / 350mm
Saddle	Selle Italia Flite Boost TM
Wheels	Chris King hubs / Velocity A23 rims
Tires	Panaracer GravelKing 700x28c