Product news: First Look: Fuji Jari Carbon – Light gravel bike with bikepacking potential

Product news: Yesterday, Fuji presented the Jari Carbon, the carbon fiber version of their successful adventure bike. With a frame that weighs less than 1.000g, but offers numerous eyelets and mounting options for bags and bottles, you have a real unique selling point in the increasingly competitive gravel market. We took a closer look at the Fuji Jari Carbon at the official launch.

In the meantime, even the last skeptic should have recognized that gravel bikes are not a temporary trend, but that the versatile off-road racers have now firmly established themselves and are leaving their former niche in the direction of the mainstream with great strides. No wonder: they combine many properties that outdoor lovers have always longed for. Fast on the road and still suitable for off-road use. If the manufacturer thinks along, a veritable commuter for everyday use can also be conjured up from the sports equipment with a few attachments. However, versatile bikes are always a compromise - with the new Fuji Jari Carbon, however, the US manufacturer with Japanese roots seems to have found a very good balance.

The star of the show is undoubtedly the frame of the new gravel and adventure bikes from Fuji. According to their own statements, this is the first gravel frame made of carbon that is made entirely of one piece. The result is a terrific frame weight of just over 950g, which is more than impressive given the targeted area of ​​use.

Fuji Jari Carbon: Also suitable for bikepacking

Despite the low weight, you should not have to accept any losses in terms of rigidity and weight. The frame is even stiffer than its aluminum counterpart in all relevant areas. No savings have been made when it comes to mounting options either - on the contrary: up to four drinking bottles can be attached to the frame, the two in the frame triangle are height-adjustable to create space for bags. Eyelets for fenders are de rigueur, but mounting options for front and rear luggage racks are definitely worth mentioning, especially on such a light frame. 25kg may be loaded on the rear carrier.

Each Fuji Jari Carbon also comes with a bento box – a waterproof, zippered plastic can that attaches to the appropriate holes on the top tube just behind the handlebars. Space for mobile phone, keys, bolts or similar.

Last but not least, the rear triangle also has a special feature to offer: the double-bent, thin seat stays, in conjunction with the chain stays that are tapered in the middle, should offer 15mm of spring travel and noticeably increase comfort. Thanks to high lateral stiffness, however, there should be no spongy handling.

Fuji Jari Carbon: Two configurations with and without front derailleur

The Fuji Jari Carbon is initially available in two configurations, which mainly differ in frame color and drive group. The plain black top model Jari Carbon 1.1 comes with Shimano's new Ultegra RX group including the appropriate brakes. The Jari Carbon 1.3, on the other hand, does without a front derailleur and relies on the wide range of the Sram Rival 1 cassette. Both bikes are equipped with lightweight wheels with WTB KOM i23 rims.

The Fuji Jari Carbon will be available from specialist dealers this late summer.

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