Mountain bike brand - Fuji

[Harry Flashman]

My Cannondale got nicked recently. Now while it was a beautiful posey bike and great for commuting, it *whisper* wasn't actually that good. Heavy, and not great at jumping around the urban jungle. It was a thing of beauty, but not particularly capable.

So I have been test riding £1000 bikes, looking for a replacement. As I have a Ride 2 Work scheme, this meant Evans' offerings. I was going to settle on a Specialized Stumpjumper Pro, on at £800, reduced from £1000. Lighter and more manouevrable than my Cannondale, and a proper mountain bike rather than a mountain bike biased hybrid.

However, on their website I noticed something called a Fuji Mt.Fuji Pro, again on sale, reduced from £1100 to £900. So I ordered it in for a test ride. Never heard of the brand, but had a nice groupset on it (full SLX) and some decent reviews on the web.

All I can say is this, chaps. You have to try one of these things. It makes the Specialized feel completely clumsy. Build quality is lovely too - the frame feels light, yet averything holds together and rides beautifully. Only real letdown is the shock (Rock Shox Recon - same as the Stumpjumper), but a spare Bomber from home is going on it to even things out. On paper weight is a bit lighter than the Specialised; in reality, it feels a league lighter. The same go for its competitors from Scott, and GT as well, which I also had a go on before making my desicion. It jumps well too; easy to lift, although, as I said, the shock doesn't fill me with confidence if I were to do anything really big on it, as opposed to riding trails and jumping off the odd step in the city.

The handling is actually a bit commuter-esque; what I think is a long top tube and stem mean that you are out over the front. Great for town and OK for XC, but I'd be a bit uncomfortable heading down anthing steep. Of course, you can adjust this with stem and bars...

It accelerates uphill like a demon though, and is very, very fast. Shimano SLX bits are a joy too: they feel precise and nicely engineered. They look very good too.

I'd never heard of this brand. Sounded a bit Evans-exclusive rubbish like Pinnacle. The truth is very different: Japanese brand, apparently quite well-known in the USA, and fantastic to ride. Also hoping as that no-one knows what it is, no-one will try to steal it...*fingers crossed*

For £900 in the sale, bargain. I got the last one though...!

Edited by Harry Flashman on Friday 5th November 14:41

[P-Jay]

Never heard of them, but the spec looks good for the money

Had a quick look at their site and I think they're only officially sold in US, Australia, Taiwan, Italy and Germany, I guess the UK will soon be added to that list if Evans are selling them.

Looking the fact they make Police Spec bikes

http://2009.fujibikes.com/Specialty/Police-(1)/Pol...

[anonymous-user]

Fuji have been around for a good while and make a wide range of bikes. their road bikes are highly regarded though i havent ridden one. havent ridden one of their mtbs either so cant comment but the £1000 hardtail market is very competitive so anything around that price break should be well specced and good to ride.

[mackie1]

Rock Shox > Marzocchi surely?

[shalmaneser]

mackie1 said:

Rock Shox > Marzocchi surely?

Would agree with that by and large, depends what 'Zocchis he's putting on though. Recons not excellent.

Fujis are OK, but a distinctly XC biased frame - not too happy going down/jumping etc, fine if you're not into that kind of thing. Pleased you're happy with the bike, OP!

[princeperch]

I understood that Pinnacle made some fairly handy road rads?

[mackie1]

I know Recons aren't top of the range but with the MoCo damper and air spring they really only lose out to a Reba on weight. Still much lighter than an air sprung 'zocchi though.

[Roman]

pablo said:

Fuji have been around for a good while and make a wide range of bikes.

Yes they were offering some nice road and track frames in the UK market in the late '80s/early '90s but like Vitus had to compete against established brands using Reynolds or Columbus tubing.

[Harry Flashman]

The Fuji has a 19 inch frame, so won't be quite the trick monster that my Spooky is, but I think will be a great XC machine, and acually, on road tyres, good for some long distance touring too.

My spare fork is a 2008 Marzocchi Dirt Jumper. For the use I'll give it (commuting and jumping of things/crashing through potholes), I think it will be pretty OK - but it will add weight to the front. I'll lose the Rock Shox's remote lockout, but as I've never used a fork lockout in my life, I don't think that this will be too much of a hardship...

As a London machine, I think that this will be perfect, and great for the odd weekend trip out to the country too.

Edited by Harry Flashman on Friday 5th November 14:58

[With these feet]

I bought a Fuji road bike after being recommended one by my LBS.
I was looking at Raleigh road bikes but once I saw it I was suitably impressed.
Beautifully finished, good spec for the price and rides really nicely.

Again, before seeing one I hadnt thought of one.
If their MTB's are put together like the road bikes then it'll be great.

Pity they dont make a full susser as I recently ordered a Spec Enduro but would have looked at Fuji...