Strengths: Light weight, precise steering, everything that you want in a top end bike except but for a low price.
Weaknesses: A tiny bit too stiff but I'm a 200 lber and have to pump the tires up stiff. Smaller riders probably could run lower tire pressure and have no problems. It isn't anything like my previous Colnago Master which was so stiff I just couldn't ride it because it bounced all over the road and murdered my butt. The paint DESIGN is a little cheap looking though the paint job itself is as good as you can get on aluminum bikes under $2K.
Bottom Line:
This is a surprisingly good bike. The frame was given to me by my brother who ran across it cheap. After putting it together as a beater bike I decided that it was too good to treat as a beater. Like the entire Fuji line of bikes it has very high quality for a low price. If they did slightly better paint jobs on them you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the Fuji and the expensive alternatives. As for the ride - with my setup I wouldn't hesitate to ride the bike anywhere including in crits or road races. Though with the bar-end shifters you couldn't shift well in tight circumstances, most of the time you don't have to worry about that sort of thing. The frame itself is very responsive yet stable. The Look HS-1 fork I put on it is a little too flexy but that sort of balances the stiffness of the rest of the frame. If I were going to race the bike I'd probably change to an Easton SL.
Similar Products Used: Basso Loto EL
Colnago C40
Colnago Super
Eddy Merckx Corsa 0.1
Eddy Merckx EX Pro
Look KG241
Bike Setup: I got the frame as a gift and put a Look fork on it that I had laying around. I also put on bar-end shifters and DuraAce derailleurs because I wanted a bike to ride in the winter that would keep me shifting the same as my touring and cyclocross bikes. I installed a set of Kyserium Equipe wheels. Somewhere I got a Ritchey Bio-Max bar which turned out to be a nice riding bar. The bike weighs 19 lbs setup with no intent to build a light bike.
Strengths: Good all around value, NICE looks, good tires came stock, good feel, not the lightest, but good weight for the money.
Weaknesses: SADDLE! hated the stock saddle, but I'm a girl and it was made for men so that could explain it. Also, not too crazy about those wellgo pedals, but they were easy enough to change.
Bottom Line:
This was my first road bike, and I have got to say you will be hard pressed to find better performance for the price. I have ridden it for 3000 miles with no problems (except for that one pesky car that sideswiped me, but I guess I can't blame that on the bike). The bike is not too heavy, and at 140 lbs I have not had any of the flex problems mentioned before. An excellent bike for a beginner or someone who wants to get the most for their small budget. I love this bike!
Bike Setup: Fuji Newest with Specialized Body Geometry Saddle and Shimano pedals
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
burttonboarder
a Recreational Rider
from California
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2003
Strengths: Awesome ride. Awesome price, even at retail value. Some people complain about the aluminum frame having a harsh ride but it isn't any worse than any other frames out their, it may even be better. Also for all of you out there whining about Tiagra components, STOP. They work well and seamlessly, however they are a little heavier but this is my first road bike and at this price, who cares?
Weaknesses: I didn't like the pedals it came with so I got some speedplay pedals instead. The saddle takes some getting used to. A carbon fork would be nice to soften those long rides. I feel dumb having triple crank when I am riding with the cyclist who have really good road bike(who I keep up with, by the way). The triple just adds wait for me, I haven't even touch the granny gears yet. You get a lot of fuji-what's from the Trek, Cannondale, Litespeed gang, but who cares after I blow by them on a bike that cost a third of the price.
Bottom Line:
It got an INCREDIBLY awesome deal on this bike. I had orginally ordered the Fuji Finest in a 64cm size. However, shortly after placing the order I got an email saying that they could not give me a Fuji Finest because they were out of them in my size, in order to compensate they sent me a Newest for the SAME price!!!!! Awesome, I know. This is my first road bike but I have tested some others by cannondale and trek, and to tell you the truth I can't tell the difference! I love the way it handles, its very fast and springy, VERY smooth shifting, and seamless pedaling. I have put 1000+ miles on it so far and haven't had any problems.
My first bike in 25 years. I bought it to get in shape. I liked the value. At $749 it is about $200 cheaper than similar Trek or Cannondale models. The bike has exceded my expectations. I have no complaints. The bike is versatile. I have done century rides, recreational riding and races on the bike. I has performed great. I have pasted countless $2000+ bikes during races and tours. For all you big guys out there, I'm 230 pounds and the bike has no problem keeping me comfortable..
Bike Setup: Factory with Syntace clip-on aero bars installed later.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Little5Grl
a Recreational Rider
from Indiana
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2002
Strengths: Price, looks, reputable manufacturer.
Weaknesses: Tiagra...
Bottom Line:
This bike is perfect for first-timers or those on a tight budget. It is not too heavy, and it is a comfortable ride with a fairly responsive frame. I got a really good deal on it through e-bay, and it was not used. However, this bike is great even at retail price.
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