Knowing my friend Keith Gaber, as generous as he was, he probably doubled his money when twenty years ago he sold me this Fuji S-10-S Special Racer for the princely sum of five dollars. (A Dubuque, Iowa garage sale find, no doubt). I loved the little yellow bike at first sight. Although the S-10-S was Fuji's basic model, it is nevertheless an historic bicycle, marking Japan's entry into America's burgeoning bike-boom market. The Nitto girder stem, Sugino Maxy crankset, Belt saddle, Suntour GT rear derailleur: wonderful.
Sheldon Brown on The Fuji S-10-S Special Racer
"Gene Ritvo and The Fuji S-10-SThe first Japanese company to figure out the U.S. market was Nichibei Fuji (not to be confused with all the other Japanese companies that are called "Fuji"; "Fuji" is roughly the Japanese equivalent of "Acme.") The U.S. importer at the time was Eugene Ritvo, from the Boston area, and he seems to have been the first knowledgeable U.S. cyclist to succeed in getting a major Japanese bike maker to listen to him.
He spec'ed the breakthrough model, the S-10-S, and, when the first batch had persistent spoke breakage problems, he insisted that all of the wheels be replaced.
The S-10-S featured Sugino Maxy cotterless cranks (while competitive models from Europe were still using steel, cottered cranks). It had a well designed, butted frame, available in a full range of sizes, nearly indestructible Ukai aluminum rims, and the bike soon acquired an excellent reputation for reliability and performance.
The S10-S had aluminum handlebars and stem, Sunshine high-flange hubs, and a Belt leather saddle. This model name was continued for several years. In 1977 it was upgraded to 12-speed, and later the name was changed to S12-S."
Note: Handlebar angle has been adjusted since photos were taken.
Sheldon Brown on The Fuji S-10-S Special Racer
"Gene Ritvo and The Fuji S-10-SThe first Japanese company to figure out the U.S. market was Nichibei Fuji (not to be confused with all the other Japanese companies that are called "Fuji"; "Fuji" is roughly the Japanese equivalent of "Acme.") The U.S. importer at the time was Eugene Ritvo, from the Boston area, and he seems to have been the first knowledgeable U.S. cyclist to succeed in getting a major Japanese bike maker to listen to him.
He spec'ed the breakthrough model, the S-10-S, and, when the first batch had persistent spoke breakage problems, he insisted that all of the wheels be replaced.
The S-10-S featured Sugino Maxy cotterless cranks (while competitive models from Europe were still using steel, cottered cranks). It had a well designed, butted frame, available in a full range of sizes, nearly indestructible Ukai aluminum rims, and the bike soon acquired an excellent reputation for reliability and performance.
The S10-S had aluminum handlebars and stem, Sunshine high-flange hubs, and a Belt leather saddle. This model name was continued for several years. In 1977 it was upgraded to 12-speed, and later the name was changed to S12-S."
Note: Handlebar angle has been adjusted since photos were taken.
1973 Fuji S-10-S Special Racer ©Daniel Dahlquist