Late this afternoon I test-rode the 1988 Fuso I'd been lucky enough to win on Ebay last week.
The seller had misspelled Dave Moulton's name in the ad & taken only one pic of the bike from 5 yards away...also; no feedback score...so it went real cheap. I was very surprised to win it. I actually drove up to Fresno with cash to pick it up, just in case...
It turned out to be a nearly unused SLX example with an excellent set of Record wheels & yeoman Suntour Cyclone 7000 components. It'd been left unridden because Fresno is a dangerous place to bike. It cleaned up extremely nicely, & I changed out the aero bars & tires.
This Fuso is a 63cm c-t with a 58.5cm top tube; a perfect fit for me. It's handling is quick/aggressive; it splits the difference between Scapin & Serotta, and is well-balanced much like my old coin top Gios or a Merckx. It track-stands as nicely. You can bisect a dime while railing a corner, & in a standing climb, the front wheel stays precisely where you want it. No wag, no creaking or chain rub or bb flex or anything. The chainstays are not overstiffened like the S-bend Serotta, but this makes the Fuso a truly comfortable rider.
Very impressive, sweet-riding bike. I'm feeling a bit stupid for not getting hold of one previously. Now I've looked at CR's archived comments & see plenty of references to this great ride.
Anyone have Fuso or Dave Moulton stories? I sent Dave Moulton an e-mail thanking him for being so darn great a builder. I'm usually not so effusive, but this gentleman deserves real credit. The Fuso is an A+ ride.
Still sunny in Santa Barbara,
Jim Hultman