Strengths: Ride stability, weight compared to some other touring bikes.
Weaknesses: I replaced the seat but that is such a matter of personal taste that it may not matter to others. Also due to an accident (operator error), I replaced the wheelset, though I do not believe any rim could have withstood the damage. Still, I had been told that someday I should replace them so that is why I gave less than 5 overall rating. Also the rear rack Fuji included was not strong enough for my normal loads.
Bottom Line:
I bought a 2008 Touring new in late 2010 so the specs are slightly different, but not much, from the current model. This was my first touring bike, though I had toured some on a mountain bike. I am very happy with the Fuji and am not really likely to ever replace it. The ride is stable, the drive train componentry is very functional and reliable. I believe it is a very good value.
Strengths: Comfy. Made of steel, looks pretty and retro. Feels stiff. Light for a touring bike. Versatility - The geometry is sport-touring: slacker than a cyclocross bike but steeper than a touring bike, which makes it a good all-rounder.
Weaknesses: Stock parts: Wheels have hub problems, crankset is HEAVY, square taper BB, 1" threaded steerer, saddle is tiny. Seems the BB flexes enough to cause chain rub make pedaling in the big chainring-small cog combo. Fuji brand cachet isn't as hipster as something like Surly. Paint chips easily. One of the bottle mounts on my frame is crooked. 135mm rear hub spacing. Semi-horizontal dropouts allow the rear wheel to slip sometimes.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. Despite its many quirks and shortcomings (see weaknesses), it continues to charm me. I love that it's made of steel, is comfy, and takes almost anything I throw at it. Despite being marketed as a touring bike, the geometry is actually more sport-touring-ish, so it does everything well. I mainly use it for mixed dirt and road and long distance rides. It's relatively fast on the road, and a perfect urban-assault machine that feels at home on bike paths and fire roads. I've even thrown cyclocross knobbies on it and took it mountain biking, where the relaxed geometry makes it easier to handle on technical sections, and it never missed a beat. The sheer versatility of this thing is probably why I like it so much. This would be the bike that I keep if I were to only have one bike.
Of course, I probably only enjoyed the bike this much after major modifications. The bike was 28 pounds stock, which is good for a touring bike but heavy for anything else. I switched to a threadless headset (improved steering stiffness), switched to good old Open Pro wheels, took the rack off (may use it later though) and switched to a lighter crankset and BB. These modifications dropped it to 23 pounds, which is pretty respectable.
Bike Setup: Fuji Touring (British Racing Green), Mavic Open Pros, Deore components and LX crankset, Tiagra shifters and front derailleur, Nashbar carbon cyclocross fork, personal cockpit items
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Submitted by
Ray Lovinggood
a Commuter
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2011
Strengths: Geometry and smooth ride really make me smile. The factory rear rack is great and the stock saddle gets along just fine with my butt.
Weaknesses: The brakes. They always felt weak to me. Granted, my only other bike experience is EXTREMELY limited, but I do like the 105 brakes on my road bike and even the old Fuji Regis that the Touring replaced had better brakes. I complained every time I saw the bike shop owner. Finally, after only 860 miles, the pads were worn out and he replaced the stock Tektro's with a different design Tektro's. They are better, but still won't stop the bike like the 105's on my road bike.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike to serve as my commuter, not as a "Touring" bike, but the machine rides so nicely that I'm giving the idea of actually touring some thought. I believe mine is a 2011 model. It has the "quill" style stem and bar end shifters.
After looking unsuccessfully for a used bike that "looked right", was the right size, and had provisions for a rack, I ended up buying this bike new. On the test ride and for the first week or two, it felt quite odd with the 175mm cranks and overall geometry as compared to my other bikes. I didn't quite like it. But now, I love it.
I've purchased SKS fenders and hope to install them soon.
My daily commute totals only 14.5 miles, broken into two legs in the morning and two in the afternoon, with a 30 mile bus ride separating the legs. The longest leg of the commute is only 6 miles, but I must say, it is a sweet 6 miles!
I have ridden it on a few "road rides" with the longest being 50 miles and I was quite pleased with all of the rides.
With the longer cranks and lower BB as compared to my road bike and even the older commuter, I had to realize that I couldn't power through the curves as I had previously, lest I bury the low pedal into the pavement and "high side" my body. So now, I just coast through corners.
I'm very pleased with this bike. It has made my commute even more enjoyable.
Similar Products Used: Don't have a similar product.
Road Bike: Fuji Roubaix ACR 2.0
Bike Setup: Headlight: Cygolite Expilion 250
Taillight: PDW Dangerzone
Rack Pack: Lone Peak RP-700 (used every day)
Baskets: Basil Cardiff (installed and used occasionally).
Fenders: SKS to be installed very soon.
Computer: Cateye Mity 8 (old fashioned - wired.)
Pedals: "Campus Pedals" from Performance Bike. Plain on one side and with SPD clip on the other.
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Submitted by
wade
a Commuter
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2011
Strengths: despite what i read about gearing issues with this bike when loaded ive never had any promblems with this bike and i live in north alabama around mountain after mountain but every rider is different i carry an average of 51 lbs of gear in bags going up and down hills and sometimes im walking the bike but i think thats from exhaustion and not the gears. other times ive pedaled all the way to top of steep grade with out ever stopping or discomfort i am by no means a powerful cyclist either.
Weaknesses: ihave no complaints.
Bottom Line:
the best bike i have ever dreamed of .does good with loaded gt54 bags and gt18 bags and of course some more good stuff strapped on top of that. overall good ride for long distance expeditions and for running to town.
Bike Setup: 2009 fuji touring bike surly nice racks front and rear. cat eye headlight and lights and motion headlight two rear flashers planet bike turbo 1 watt.arkel gt18 on front gt54 on rear two water bottles with cages and a whole bunch of gear in bags thats about it.
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Submitted by
jim
a Recreational Rider
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2011
Strengths: strong frame, good looks and cheap price
Weaknesses: rim out of true and broken spokes after 6 months, changed rims to mavic 719A and spokes to 14ga doubled butted, after 4 years seat wore out and i replaced it with a brooks B17 (great comfort)
Bottom Line:
love the ride, easy handling fully loaded or day to day light load. had to change a few things as they wore out,
