In this day and age, electric shifting and disc brakes are commonplace in the road bike market. But how exactly does the performance of a complete bike change as a result of the different setups? We tested the light Fuji SL 2.1, once with disc and mechanical Shimano gears and once with Di2 and rim brakes.
Let's start with the similarities. The frame of the Fuji SL 2.1 is a carbon frame at the highest level: light, stiff and agile. In short, everything an ambitious cyclist could want in one frame. You have to make some compromises in aerodynamics, especially compared to the special racers you will need a few watts more here on flat and sloping passages. However, the full strengths of the Fuji SL 2.1 can be used uphill. In particular, the so-called High Compaction Molding Technology, in which a series of internal molds are used to eliminate wrinkles in highly stressed, complex radius bending areas - such as the top tube and bottom bracket - for greater compression in the carbon layers, one could save weight and still have a great one guarantee rigidity.
Almost all tubes like down tube, seat tube, top tube and fork use flattened carbon sections to improve stiffness. The fork has been specially reinforced - a patented technology from Fuji's carbon manufacturer called Reinforced I-Beam or RIB technology - to improve stiffness and steering precision.
The add-on parts, such as handlebars, stem, seat post come from our own house or from our own brand Oval. In the test, we had no problems over the entire route. The saddle also comes from Oval, specially equipped with a pressure relief zone to ensure more comfort on the bike. Unfortunately, it didn't meet our needs, but it has to be said very clearly that a saddle and the fit are always very individual and it should certainly fit one or the other well.
The wheels are the first difference between the two Fuji SL 2.1s: Of course, some need braking surfaces and others have discs. Both variants come from the own brand Oval and can convince in the test on any terrain. For ambitious (racing) riders, however, a little fine tuning with carbon wheels is definitely recommended. The matching rubbers come from Vittoria and are quite solid.
After a lot of theory and technology now to practice: The version with rim brakes and Ultegra Di2 is based on the concept of a classic race bike, with its low weight of 7,4 kg and that with aluminum wheels you have a convincing argument on your side on the mountain. The stiffness of the SL 2.1 is also convincing when accelerating and guarantees good power transmission. With the disc model, it is clear that adding the brakes requires more material, which is reflected in the weight. At just 8 kilos, the Fuji SL 2.1 Disc isn't the lightest bike on the market, but if you look at the competition with disc brakes you're right at the front and you don't have to hide.
In addition, you can feel a clear plus in the handling of the entire bike due to the well-functioning brakes. The disc was worth its weight in gold, especially during our ride in the rain, because you didn't have to be afraid that the braking distance could be too long, even on the fast descents. Disc brakes are an absolute must, especially for drivers who care about every second on the descents and around corners. However, we found the relatively unwieldy Shimano R-685 shifters on the disc version a bit uncomfortable, as they are less comfortable to hold compared to the smaller Di2 shifters. The two Shimano gears worked without any problems, the Di2 should certainly have a small advantage, since you can switch from the large to the small dial and vice versa without any effort even with cold fingers during our rainy ride. How serious the Fuji SL 2.1 is about mountains can also be seen in the gear ratio, with 52/36 teeth at the front and 28/11 you are definitely prepared for uphill rides, but for a racing driver the gear ratio takes a little getting used to at first. All in all, a bike that you can have fun with. Due to the different setups, the two bikes look different, of course, but they are pretty much identical due to the frame as the heart. In the end, everyone has to decide for themselves which variant they prefer.
Leave a Comment