Fuji Rakan 1.5

Fuji has been around for a long time, well over 100 years in fact. Originally a Japanese owned and made brand, they’ve been in the MTB market since the early ’80s. They fell on hard times through the ’90s however, eventually going bankrupt before being bought by Advance Sports International; the same company that owns Breezer Bikes—another classic name in cycling.
So the brand has quite a bit of history behind it, and much of this has been focused on the road and the competitive side of mountain biking. They’ve made some stellar race hardtails, sponsored World Cup XC riders and even won a marathon World Championship title thanks to Danish rider Annika Langvad. What they haven’t really had is a solid trail bike; that is something with a decent amount of suspension travel that appeals to riders who aren’t focused on smashing Strava segments.

New Beginnings
For 2016 they’ve set about changing this with the introduction of two new platforms. There’s a 27.5 inch wheeled 160mm travel all-mountain bike called the Auric and the 120mm travel 29er that we’re reviewing here; the Rakan. Both utilise the same ‘M-Link’ suspension system; a design first seen on Breezer bikes.

The M-Link was developed for Advance Sports International by the Sotto Group; the same company that was originally responsible for Yeti’s ‘Switch’ suspension system. The M-Link is a bit like a short link design (think Maestro or DW Link) but the lower link isn’t so short; the rearmost pivot is halfway down the chainstay. It’s certainly an interesting take on modern suspension design that touts a number of benefits, but more on that later.

Fuji offers the Rakan in three models, all of which utilise the same alloy frame. To begin with the Aussie market will only see the base level Rakan 1.5, a model that’s expected to retail for around $4,499. At this price you get a 2X10 Shimano drivetrain with Deore triggers, cranks and front derailleur. The rear derailleur is a more upmarket XT unit and thankfully it features Shimano’s Shadow Plus clutch system to reduce slap and keep the chain in place. Brakes are also Deore level; not exactly fancy with minimal dials and adjustments but extremely functional and effective brakes. Most of the ancillary bits – bars, stem, seatpost and wheels – bear the Oval name. This is a house brand that’s used by Advance Sports International and you’ll find them on most Breezer and Fuji bikes.

While we’re not likely to see them in great numbers, the more upmarket Rakan models will be available by special order. The Rakan 1.3 is a full XT 2X11 equipped bike with DT wheels and RockShox suspension while the top-end Rakan 1.1 has a SRAM X.1 drivetrain and Factory level Fox suspension. All feature the same frame as our test bike however, so the overall ride characteristics should be similar.

In keeping with current trends the frame features internal cable routing throughout, and this includes the hydraulic rear brake line. Aesthetically this tidies the bike up and the multitude of ports throughout the frame provides plenty of cable routing options. The holes are on the small side however, so routing a fresh cable through the frame requires patience and good technique.

Dropper Options
While none of the Rakan models are spec’d with a telescopic seatpost, the frame caters for both stealth-style and regular dropper posts. The regular-style cable routing is fed internally through the top tube—again the ports are small but it’s certainly manageable.

Things get a little more complicated when it comes to the Stealth routing. The cable enters up near the down tube/head tube junction and travels all down from there. Life gets complicated once you reach the bottom bracket; here it needs to pass through a small slot and up into the seat tube. To make this bend you’ll need to remove the bottom bracket and help the cable through; this in itself is a hassle but it doesn’t end there.

All Rakan frames have a PF30 bottom bracket shell. With the range topping Rakan 1.1 it’s fitted with an expanding sleeve style Praxis bottom bracket, so removal is a relatively straightforward process. With the Rakan 1.5, you’ll find an alloy reducer sleeve hiding within the PF30 shell—it allows them to fit the threaded Shimano bottom bracket inside. The sleeve is fitted using Loctite, so it won’t come out in a hurry and you’ll have Buckley’s chance of getting a cable through if the adaptor sleeve left in place. In short, the Rakan 1.5 is stealth dropper compatible but don’t expect the fitting process to be easy—my advice; leave it with your local Fuji dealer and smile!

Fuji describes the Rakan as being made with their ‘top of the line lightweight aluminium’. It is a well-appointed, well-finished alloy frame but I wouldn’t describe it as lightweight. Our large was 3,530g including the shock, which is at the upper end of what we’d expect for a 120mm travel 29er frame. As a complete bike it tipped the scales at 13.5kg without pedals; acceptable for the price but still a little portly when you consider there’s no dropper post.

What it gives up in weight it well and truly delivers back with a general feeling of robustness. This frame offers exceptional lateral rigidity, especially in the M-Link back end. The M-Link itself is said to offer a number of advantages over other suspension systems. First up the pivots encounter less force than you get with a short-link design, so the bearings should last longer. Like a short link system, it affords great tune-ability in the suspension kinematics (although this is debatable as Horst Links can offer variable axle paths and wide ranging suspension characteristics too). They claim that the abbreviated linkage arms and compact swing arm afford excellent stiffness and also allow for shorter chainstays than a short link design (that’s why you won’t see too many DW Link 29ers with short chainstays).

In addition to the M-Link suspension, both the Rakan and Auric feature ‘boost’ spacing. This means the drivetrain and hubs have a wider stance, which in turn creates more free space around the bottom bracket. As with the M-Link suspension platform, the boost system can allow the rear wheel to tuck in closer to the frame.

Middle Ground
While these design features can be used to create a super tight back end, Fuji has built the Rakan with 445mm chainstays. Two years ago this would have been considered short for a 29er but you’ll now find a number of big wheeled duallys with ’stays in the 430mm range. The Rakan isn’t short in the chainstays but it does have acres of clearance all around the rear tyre—it’d take a ton of sticky clay to stop these wheels truckin’ on!

What’s all the fuss over short ’stays anyway? In most cases tucking the back wheel in closer to the bottom bracket makes it easier to pop the front wheel skywards. It also promotes a more rearward position on the bike that lends confidence when descending whilst keeping the overall wheelbase length in check to retain agility.

Of course there’s always a flipside with anything to do with frame geometry. In this case the longer stays make you less inclined to ‘loop out’ on really steep climbs and afford better stability on high speed descents—especially when it’s rough.
Overall the geometry follows relatively traditional lines for a trail oriented 29er. The chainstay length promotes stability so Fuji has opted for a moderately steep 69-degree head tube angle to speed the steering response. While the front centre is longer than what you’d expect to find on the models from sister brand Breezer, the figures remain fairly conservative. Our large for example has a 440mm reach, which isn’t overly roomy for a bike with a 480mm seat tube. Most normally proportioned riders will find themselves needing a 70-90mm stem on the Rakan—these figures will be very familiar for most mountain bikers and it’s an entirely acceptable setup.

Point the bike uphill and the geometry affords good control and poise at climbing speeds. The M-Link suspension is extremely stable and efficient under power too. There’s next to no pedalling bob when seated, yet the rear wheel remains hungry to swallow any momentum-killing obstacles. When standing, the back end remains composed and there’s very little ‘mush’ to be felt, even with the Fox shock fully open. The 13.5kg total bike weight certainly takes the edge off things, so I certainly wouldn’t describe the 1.5 as a sprightly climber, but that would likely change with the higher end models (the 1.1 for example weighs around 12.2kg).

Head downhill and the Rakan is a surefooted descender. The M-Link is quite linear in its suspension feel; it isn’t amazingly supple and ground-hugging in the initial travel but it is very willing to gobble up mid-sized bumps using most of the travel, most of the time. Big hits will see you blow through the travel with relative ease, but this isn’t really intended as a big-hit bike (that’s what Fuji made the 160mm travel Auric for). Instead the big wheels and 120mm of travel help you motor through most of the bumps that you’ll encounter on a rough trail ride without suffering with a wallowy and detached feel on smoother trails.
What the bike doesn’t deliver is a zippy feel; perhaps the longer stays play a role but I found it hard to loft the front wheel and the ride didn’t inspire me to pop off lips and catch air. For me the Rakan was less about shenanigans and more about clocking up the kilometres over rugged trails, and doing so in an efficient and comfortable manner. It remained confident at higher speeds and the super-stiff frame helps you to hold a line with relative ease on off camber roots and rocks.

Wheel Surprise
Whilst the frame and ride characteristics are the key to any bike’s performance, it’d be remiss not to mention some of the components. To begin with the Oval 600 wheels deserve a thumbs up. At 1,930g for the pair they’re a respectable weight for a 29er wheelset at this price point. More importantly they are also quite wide; measuring 32mm externally and 27mm between the bead hooks, they offer good tyre support and allow you to drop your air pressures right down without suffering tyre squirm issues. The inner profile allowed for tubeless conversions too, although the Schwalbe Rocket Ron tyres were a loose fit and an air compressor was required for the initial inflation. You’ll just need to fit some valve stems and wrap the inner rim with adhesive backed tape. Additional engagement points on the cassette mechanism would have been nice but on the whole the Oval wheelset is a keeper.

With a 22/36 chainring combination, the 2X10 drivetrain offers a really broad gear spread but also leaves you with a huge change in ratios when shifting between chainrings. Dropping to granny really messes with your pedalling rhythm; it’s something that you’ll reserve for the steepest climbs but the bailout gear will be appreciated when you really need it.
With almost any dually the chainring selection will also impact on the suspension performance, and that’s certainly the case with the Rakan. Pedalling in the 36 cog is neutral and efficient with no noticeable feedback through the pedals as the suspension does its thing. Drop to the 22 chainring and the back end rises up in its travel when you push hard on the pedals.

Under power the back end becomes less active and there’s some clear interaction through the drivetrain with a noticeable amount of pedal kickback. I feel the M-Link will perform best with chainrings from 30 through to 36 teeth—within that range you’ll get a nice blend of suspension performance and pedalling efficiency. The design will certainly play well with a 1X conversion if you ever choose to go that way.

The Performance level Fox 32 fork features their new FIT4 cartridge. It performed well on the descents but its active nature did have us utilising the bar mounted remote for smoother out of the saddle climbs. While the lever offers three positions, the middle setting didn’t feel any different to the fully open setting. Ideally we’d have preferred a subtle ‘platform’ setting over the complete lockout that we had with the remote lever fully depressed.

Overall the spec of the bike is good with little that you’d need to change. The lack of a dropper is the most obvious omission, so you’ll need to factor that expense into your bottom line (at least you get to choose your preferred flavour). As a re-entry into the trail bike market, Fuji has done a great job. The geometry is safe and familiar, delivering a stable ride at speed combined with sure-footed climbing ability. The performance of the M-Link suspension is on-point for its intended use, providing great pedalling efficiently and allowing you to straight-line most trail nastiness. Most of all the Rakan is a robust and stiff 29er that won’t squirm or quibble when pushed hard and fast—it’s a solid machine that should handle anything you throw its way.

Thumbs Up
• Super stiff and solid frame
• Efficient suspension design
• Wide and not-too-heavy wheels

Thumbs Down
• Bit on the heavy side
• Begging for a dropper post
• Pedal kickback in the granny ring

Specifications
Frame:  A6-SL custom-butted hydroformed alloy
Shock:  Fox Float Performance Series120mm Travel
Fork:  Fox 32 Float Performance, FIT4 120mm Travel
Headset:  FSA sealed cartridge
Handlebars:  Oval Concepts 250, 6061 Alloy 720mm
Stem:  Oval Concepts 3D-forged alloy 80mm
Shifters:  Shimano Deore i-Spec
Front Derailleur:  Shimano Deore
Rear Derailleur:  Shimano XT
Cassette:  Shimano HG-50, 11/36 10-speed
Chain:  KMC X10
Cranks:  Shimano Deore 22/36
Bottom Bracket:  Shimano Threaded External Bearing
Pedals:  N/A
Brakes:  Shimano Deore
Wheels:  Oval Concepts 600CL
Tyres:  Schwalbe Rocket Ron Performance 2.25
Saddle:  Oval Concepts 200
Seatpost:  Oval Concepts 300, 6061 alloy 30.9mm
Weight:  13.6kg without pedals (large frame 3,530g)
Available Sizes:  S, M, L (tested) and XL
Price:   $4,499
Distributor:  Oceania Bicycles (03) 9799 4144 / www.ocbicycles.com.au