#Fuze wheel rider full#

And its cockpit feels pretty traditional. The Fuse is just aggressive enough that it feels natural, even effervescent on the climbs. Its slack head angle and ample travel tended to wander on slow climbs and cost it the quickness that would normally attract full-suspension riders to the hardtail concept in the first place. I’ve spent a half a season on the Chromag Surface, and that bike came with a bit of a learning curve. And for all the claims and imagery Specialized is pushing that tout the new Fuse as a limitless backcountry brawler, it’s actually quite accessible. Like 29-inch wheels did nearly two decades ago, 2.6-inch tires are helping make the hardtail relevant again, though I think I would opt for a Butcher in the rear to match the front since I was satisfied enough with the Fuse’s hardtail quickness that I’d give up a bit for some extra grip.īut what’s really new here is the frame. As should be the case whenever our industry splits the difference between two popular numerical standards, this tire spec offers the best of both worlds. Even when I crept down to 20 PSI in the rear and 18 up front, I never felt the squirm and rarely hit bottom. But I also admit I know plus-size’s limitations in the shredability department, and the 2.6 Purgatory / Butcher combo offers effectively none of them.

#Fuze wheel rider full#

As most of the terrain I enjoy is simply better enjoyed with full suspension, I want all the help I can get on the days I happen to be in the mood to pull my hardtail off the wall and sprint and play in ways only it allows. Now, I should admit that, especially on hardtails, I’m a fan of plus-sized tires. The Level brakes wouldn’t be my first choice on a bike with the word “aggressive” in its elevator pitch, but in a move that is both punk-rock and nerd-core, Specialized spec’d a 4-piston caliper on the front to offer more power and modulation where it matters most. The NX Eagle drivetrain runs on a traditional freehub body and its range falls a hair short of that offered by the original, but it is still Eagle.

The RockShox 35 fork runs on a basic Motion Control damper instead of the more-supportive Charger, but it’s got the burly 35-millimeter-stanchion chassis that the Pike and Lyric are based on. The spec on the Expert build was smartly chosen, but also with a sly eye toward value. Even with the $1,675 Comp build, Fuse 29s are the kinds of hardtails you should buy if you want a hardtail. The new Fuse emerged fully formed and ready to shred. But for most, this is not a gateway bike.

Especially from a brand like Specialized, which sells its bikes in actual bike shops and not consumer-direct, you’d be spending several hundred dollars more for rear suspension. That’s not to say you wouldn’t save a buck. And to match its extra thrashability, the once plus-sized-only Fuse is now available with 29×2.6-inch Butcher and Purgatory tires.Īt $2,150, the Fuse Expert isn’t the kind of hardtail you buy to save a buck over a similarly intentioned full-suspension bike. The bottom bracket technically went up a few millimeters, but the fork increased its travel by 10 millimeters. The reach increased by 20 millimeters and the head angle leaned back up to a degree-and-a-half. Namely, (wait for it…) a long and slack position. Want something more aggressive? Buy something with full suspension.

Want something less aggressive? Buy the Epic Hardtail XC race bike. The previous generation Fuse used to be Specialized’s version of that one kind of hardtail. Mainstream brands are realizing there’s not just one kind of hardtail rider, and there shouldn’t be just one kind of hardtail. But recently, we saw Marin release the San Quentin and Diamondback the Sync’r. It’s brands like Chromag and Commencal that are cooking up bikes like the Doctahawk and the Meta HT AM, respectively. They’re being staged from our industry’s equivalent of beat-up Winnebagos parked in empty lots on the edge of town. Most of the experiments in hardtail spec and geometry are happening only on mountain biking’s distant outskirts.