Fuji Bicycles Cross Pro

Price Paid:  $1600.00 at Performance Bikes

Favorite Ride:
The Next One

Bike Setup:
Brooks B17 saddle; Shimano 520 SPD pedals, Fizik bartape, DiNotte lights

Summary:
I've never been driven to write a review for anything before but when you're in love, you want to tell the whole world. My bike is actually an 09 and I think I might've found the perfect bike. I'm not a XC racer nor do I intend to be one, but for the daily commuter or if you intend to ride long distances or all day, you need to check this out. On my Felt F75 road bike, I really had to watch out for driving over stuff but once I got my cockpit right and got over the fear of riding over potholes, manholes and everyday street flotsam and jetsam, you feel like you can ride all day. You could do worse than the stock tires and the Ultegra components makes this bike humm and easy to ride. I'm 5'7" and about 160 lbs and the 49mm frame couldn't fit me any better. I threw on a Brooks B17 and even though it weighs a bit more, the fact that I'm going to lose weight becuase I WANT to ride everyday more than makes up for the added weight. After I put on my FSA Compact Omega, you won't find me at home anymore. I looked for over 2 months for a XC bike and didn't intend to spend this much but I'm glad I waited. It's even light enough to pull your front wheel up over holes and save you a flat. I've ridden three days in a row at about 40-45 miles round trip and I still want more.

Strengths:
Ultegra components at this price point; the frame geometry for my size; Tires

Weaknesses:
The seat (but that's a given); bar tape (the first thing I changed when I got home);

Similar Products Used:
first XC bike but I'm putting my other 3 bikes in storage since I got the Fuji

Price Paid:  $1400.00 at performance

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
streetsstairswoodsriverhome

Summary:
its either a 2009 or 2010, either way, the thing sings. been great in the city, including traintracks and stairs, having a good time on single track, cooks up dirt roads. really really happy with her. tires of course are wobbly in corners (crossmax) and i don't really dig the top brakes, the only time i seem to use em is when i've got a cup of coffee in my hand. i sized the frame a bit small, which is fun for riding, even small trials (up stairs, hopping around in the dirt) are possible... she's super light. the only other mild problem is brake pads, the stock ones have glazed over and i keep having to file em down... life could totally be worse. and as far as the seat goes, it came with a fuji seat and i thought i'd swap with another race seat i have lying around but haven't done so yet... don't really seem to need to. i love my bike. yup.

Price Paid:  $900.00 at CA

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
touring

Summary:
THIS BICYCLE IS AMAZING! I use it as my bulletproof yet nimble commuter. I added fenders and a solid topeak rack and I am just so happy with this bike. I was worried about geometry and whatnot initially but the bike can take rear panniers with enough room for heel clearance. Really, you can't go wrong with dura ace/ultegra for only 900 bucks!

Price Paid:  $1100.00 at Performance Bike

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Fuji Cross Pro

Bike Setup:
Stock frameset/wheelset/crankset. XT rear on 10spd cassette, ultegra shifters/FD. XTR seatpost, flite saddle. Weight is just barely over 20 lbs.

Summary:
I originally bought this bike to use all of its components on another build, but the barren frameset just begged to be built up so I had to give in. I have to say this is the most bike to ride both on city streets and tame offroad. I built it up without CX levers which is far superior as they add a great deal of friction to the braking. Also I never once used to stock saddle, which is incredibly uncomfortable. I am going to try my hand at cyclocross this fall and this will be an excellent machine for the job.

Strengths:
The component group is top-notch for the price range. The bike looks great and rides great. The strengths far outweigh the weaknesses.

Weaknesses:
Stock saddle sucks, CX levers are annoying, the wheelset is not the best there is. The Avid 4 brakes are frustrating. No disc tabs means upgrading to disc is out of the picture.

Similar Products Used:
Plenty of road bikes but no cyclocross.

Price Paid:  $1750.00 at ZM Cycle Toronto

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
19 km each way commute

Bike Setup:
FSA gossamer 30-39-50, SRAM X9 front, Brooks B17 special, MEC 3-stay rack, Planet Bike Cascadia fenders, Schwalbe Marathon 32 tires, SPD520 pedals I had lying around, Flight Deck computer.

Summary:
I don't race cyclocross, I bought this bike specifically as a fast commuter that I could load up with commuter junk (rack, fenders) yet not feel like I'm driving a tank. I had been using a 15 year old rigid MTB converted to commuter duty. Wow! what a difference! Almost makes my road racer redundant! The stiff frame accelerates beautifully in traffic, just launches up hills, and I love the tight 10speed cluster -- none of which I'd get with a touring bike (sometimes suggested for commuting). Since I do carry a lot of junk sometimes I had the crank swapped for a triple, which I really prefer to compact anyway, as I use the middle ring the vast majority of the time, but the ends of the range are there when I need them. The shop swapped the front derailleur for an SRAM-X9, which I was skeptical about but does work well, and since it's top-pull it doesn't use the dorky pulley. They left the short cage Dura-Ace rear, which doesn't have enough take up for small-small combinations, but I have the Flight Deck computer so it's easy to avoid going there. Shifting is slick. The stock tires are rather fun in grass/gravel etc., but absolutely scary cornering on the road. Brakes are OK. Wheels true so far. Looking at what others paid I didn't get a great deal, but it was there in my size and I was impressed by the zip on the test ride -- just what I wanted. Took 10% off my commute time!

Strengths:
Responsive frame! Accommodates commuter junk. Tight & slick 10 speed rear end.

Weaknesses:
Barely-compact crank not enough gear spread for me. Stock saddle a total disaster, but that's normal. Both are easy fix.

Similar Products Used:
This is my first cross bike, have had all sorts of other bikes for all sorts of riding.