Test: At first glance, the Fuji Rakan 29 1.3, with its 120mm travel and 29″ wheels, fits into the trail bike category that is so popular at the moment. However, our test shows that the bare numbers are deceptive, because the Fuji is not a trail bike in the modern sense - but that's a good thing!
Fuji Rakan 29 1.3 frame
The Fuji Rakan 29 comes with an aluminum frame in all configurations: This way you can keep the price down with Fuji (€3.499 for our well-equipped test model) and the weight remains at just over 13kg for our test bike in size L (without pedals ) definitely in the green area. A lot reminds us of the big "enduro brother" Fuji Auric, that will be some time ago also had in the test: Tube shapes, rear end and design language are very similar - but that should be taken more as a compliment, because the curved top tube in combination with the angular tubes brings a lot of dynamics and the color combination of unobtrusive anthracite and restrained decals is also pleasing.
The cables and lines on the Rakan run inside the frame: rubber plugs are located at the inlet and outlet openings, with which the lines can be kept under tension. What is all this for? This way you can prevent rattling lines inside - at least that's the theory. It works pretty well in practice, and thanks to the softer rubber, the plugs hold up much better than they did on our Auric test bike last year. However, one of the plugs came off twice during our test phase. Although this can simply be pushed back into the frame, the solution is unfortunately still not optimal.
A special feature of the Fuji Rakan 29 is the rear triangle. Fuji calls it Mlink and it is a combination of the classic four-bar linkage with Horstlink just in front of the rear wheel axle and a VPP rear triangle (Virtual Pivot Point), which usually has a joint just behind the bottom bracket. With the Fuji Mlink, the decisive bearing is now in the middle of the chainstay – at first glance, this takes some getting used to. Without wanting to go into too much detail at this point - according to Fuji, the new rear triangle principle should combine almost no rocking uphill with smooth downhill performance and, above all, minimize the load on the bearings and thus ensure longer durability.
Fuji Rakan 29 1.3 Geometry
The Fuji Rakan 29 is available in four sizes – they all have in common the chain stays, which are just under 450mm long, even for a 29″ bike. While the competition tries to keep the struts and thus the rear end as short as possible with their bikes, Fuji takes a different approach. But why? Short chainstays not only shorten the wheelbase, they also make a bike noticeably more agile and lively, but at the same time the climbing ability suffers significantly and with every millimeter less the tendency to nervous handling increases. So while the long struts of the Rakan certainly come at the expense of agility, the Fuji bike should score well on climbs with good performance and smooth running.
The fairly steep steering angle of 69° takes a similar approach, helping to keep the front wheel firmly on the ground even when climbing steep ramps, but will have a slightly negative impact on downhill performance. The Rakan is modern in terms of its frame length: With a reach of over 440mm in size L, those who want direct steering behavior can also choose to ride a nice and short stem.
Fuji Rakan 29 1.3 Equipment
The equipment of the €3.499 Fuji Rakan 29 1.3 is well thought out, adapted to the area of use and consistently solid to high quality. The 2-speed drive with the new 11-speed XT group from Shimano offers a huge range thanks to the 11-40 cassette and the two chainrings, which also make trips into the high mountains more bearable. Although many mountain bikes in this spring travel class now come exclusively with a 1-speed drive and do without a front derailleur, the two chainrings fit the character and orientation of the Rakan perfectly.
The brakes also come from Japan: The XT M8000 stoppers presented this year promise the necessary power and are combined with a 180mm disc on the front wheel and 160mm on the rear wheel - heavy riders should possibly consider changing to 180mm at the front and rear to prevent heat problems .
The chassis is made entirely of components from the US manufacturer Rock Shox: The 120mm Reba at the front comes from the XC area and is one of the best forks available there. In addition to an open and completely locked compression stage, the Rock Shox Monarch RT3 also offers the rider a platform that results in a stiffer rear end behavior without giving away too many reserves. While the fork can also be easily locked from the handlebars, Fuji does not use a handlebar remote control for the damper - but this can be quickly adjusted to the circumstances with a flick of the wrist to the easily accessible and tactile lever, even while riding.
For the wheels, the choice fell on the X1900 Spline wheelset from DT Swiss. With a rim width of 20mm (internal) and a weight of around 1.800g, the wheels fall somewhere between Cross Country and All Mountain. Even if the Fuji Rakan 29 does not see its primary area of use in the descent, we would have wished for a few more reserves in this regard: the narrow rims in particular limit the choice of tires noticeably. The built-in 2,25″ wide tires are already at the upper limit of what is possible: 2,35″ or even 2,4″ tires should be a bit spongy on the Rakan. On the other hand, the simple option of converting to tubeless is nice: Since the Schwalbe tires are also tubeless-ready from the factory thanks to the thick SnakeSkin carcass, the tubes can be exchanged for sealing milk without major additional investments.
Speaking of tyres: the 2,25″ wide Schwalbe Rocket Ron can be found on both the front and rear wheel and have been the reference among easy-rolling cross-country tires for many years. Propulsion should therefore be guaranteed and there are enough grip reserves for the rear wheel, but caution should be exercised on the front wheel, especially if the surface is wet and/or greasy.
On the one hand, the omission of a dropper post is understandable in view of the more touring orientation of the Rakan, but we did miss the comfort that lowering the saddle on the trail offers from time to time. So if you are thinking about buying the Fuji 29er and want to tackle one or the other technical trail with it, you should at best plan to buy a reverb or a comparable support directly.
Fuji Rakan 29 1.3 – On the trail
The first thing that strikes you is the Rakan's excellent propulsion, right from the first turn of the crank: During our test, we rode a few bikes in this travel class, none of which even remotely advanced as well as the Rakan. On the one hand, this may be due to the easily rolling and generally quite light tires, but the geometry with its steep seat angle also plays its part. The Fuji Rakan 29 was particularly convincing during climbing passages on our tours through the Bavarian forest: The long chainstays ensure smooth running even on steep ramps and the steering angle contributes to the overall harmonious riding experience. It's been quite a while since we've had a full suspension bike in this travel class that climbed the vertical meters so willingly. As with the Auric, the rear triangle was convincing across the board: even in the open damper position, there was hardly any seesaw and at the latest when you switch on the platform with a handle, the rear of the bike is quiet.
Once at the top, it should of course also go down again - with the Rakan 29 we mainly ride flowy trails, never extremely steep, but like root passages, tight curves and the odd step. The Fuji also cuts a good figure here, although it is not quite as convincing as on the way up. The missing dropper post forces you to stop briefly to lower the post before longer descents - not a KO criterion, but definitely a lack of comfort. We get along very well with the Rakan on flowing passages: the rear end reliably swallows roots and stones, but still gives pleasant feedback from the ground and conveys security. The Reba at the front also cuts a good figure, but it tends to sag a little in the middle travel range – the long-travel counterparts Revalation, Pike and Co can do that better.
We were surprised by the downhill geometry, which had less of a negative impact than the raw numbers had suggested. Despite the fairly steep steering angle and the long rear end, the Rakan is by no means sluggish or sluggish, but it is much smoother and less nervous than many comparable bikes. One or the other may lack the last bit of liveliness and agility, but here, as is so often the case, taste, driving style and area of application are decisive.
The only thing that didn't really convince us was the choice of tires on the front wheel. With its flat profile and the lug blocks that are spaced far apart at the edges, the Rocket Ron offers very few reserves, especially in faster corners or on deeper ground - a slightly more potent tire like the Nobby Nic might have been a better choice here. On the other hand, the standard tire is a very good choice for the rear wheel.
Fuji Rakan 29 1.3 – Conclusion
Agile trail bikes with a geometry designed for descents that invite you to play are all the rage right now. The Fuji Rakan 29 1.3 does not belong to this category of bikes. However, this is by no means to be understood in a negative way: Because in the current trail bike hype, the proven category of classic touring bikes, which is still popular with many riders, is in danger of being lost. This is exactly where we would classify the Rakan 29: The Fuji bike climbs extremely well, has great propulsion and still has enough reserves for flowing descents. So if you are looking for a brisk companion for tours with a lot of altitude meters or perhaps the next alpine crossing, you should definitely take a closer look at the Fuji.
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