Fuji Bicycles Marseille

Price Paid:  $999.00 at LBS

Model Year:
2003

Favorite Ride:
Any place with the wind t my back

Bike Setup:
Speed play pedals, Koobi Century PRS saddle. Can't say enough good things about Koobi saddles. Mavic CXP22 rear wheel. Tough and good for training but heavy and not very aerodynamic. Polar CS 200.

Summary:
This is for a 2003 steel frame Marseille that has been the most trouble free bike I've ever owned. Thousands of miles over the years and the only problem has been a pulled spoke nipple and had to replace the rear rim. The Ultegra components have been flawless. Every shift is smooth and sure. The steel frame isn't the lightest but it's comfortable and very stable. A great trainer or every day ride.

Strengths:
Dependable, handles well and comfy enough to enjoy the ride

Weaknesses:
Not self cleaning. The stock saddle is horrible, but aren't they all?

Similar Products Used:
Peugeot, Motobecane, Trek

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Performance

Model Year:
2002

Favorite Ride:
Skyline Drive

Bike Setup:
stock except for ritchey compact crank

Summary:
This is for the 853 steel version of the Marseille. I purchased this bike because long rides on my Klein Quantum Pro were beating me up. I wanted to the the supposedly great ride of steel and this bike was priced right at my LBS (Performance). After one ride I put away the Klein and have ridden it less than 300 miles in the past 5 years compared to over 10,000 on the Marseille. It is fairly light (19.5 in 58cm) and though a bit flexy it still seems to carry a high average speed. The bike has done numerous Mountains of Misery century rides as well as other long rides and always leaves me feeling good at the end of the day. Acceleration is a bit slower than the Klein or any good race bike but otherwise it rocks. I still run original wheels and all components except for a new compact crank.

Strengths:
reasonably light, great ride, comfortable, almost as fast as a true race rig, great classic look

Weaknesses:
a little flex and a bit of instability on fast mountain downhills

Similar Products Used:
Klein Quantum Pro, Fuji Team, Specialized Allez

Price Paid:  $0.00 at LBS

Model Year:
2004

Favorite Ride:
down hill with the wind!

Bike Setup:
changed out the wheel set for Open pros and seat for a Fizik, otherwise stock.

Summary:
I orignally had a 2002 model (steel frame) that I used for my daily 35 mile commute. After 2 seasons, the steel frame cracked at the bottom bracket. Fuji replaced the frame under warranty with the 2004 version.

At first I wasn't happy with the aluminum frame (wanted steel again) but over time and miles and continued commuting, I have come to like the light weight and excellent ride.

The 2002 had a carbon fork so maybe its the carbon fork plus carbon seat stays on the 2004 that make the alumimum ride smooth.

Overall, very happy with the bike/frame and Fuji's support!

Strengths:
smooth ride
light weight
GREAT FUJI warrantly support!

Weaknesses:
broken steel frame

Similar Products Used:
Giant, Fuji

Price Paid:  $960.00 at Pedersens

Model Year:
2004

Favorite Ride:
The Hills of Utah

Summary:
This is a very fun Bike. The first week I got it I rode it for about 100 miles. It is great on the hills up and down. It is lightweight and pretty smooth.

Strengths:
Lightweight, handles well through tight turns, great hill climber.

Weaknesses:
The geometry is kind of tight and a good back strech is needed from time to time.

Similar Products Used:
My dads 21 year old cannondale.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This is a follow-up to an earlier review... Now have many miles on my Fuji Marseille, including 4 centuries.

After up-grading the wheels (Mavic Cosmos), the Saddle (Terry Fly), and seat post (Forte' Carbon), I am super-pleased!

So... If you keep an eye out, you can find the Marseille, or the Team at your LBS, and with the addition of a nice set of wheels, saddle and seat post, you will have a great bike for under $2K.

Strengths:
Light... Stiff, but with mods, very resilient. Looks pretty nice when clean.

Weaknesses:
paint chips easily... Industrial welds are semi-ugly, though intuitively it seems better to leave them alone, rather than grind them to a smooth finish.