Touring - What's the general consensus on the Fuji Touring?

OK first and foremost, as my name suggest I am a "Newbie" so please be gentle with me here!

Back story: I used to love riding my bike, rode it anywhere and everywhere I went before moving house and it became difficult to ride from here. So after a few years I've decided to start getting into it again. My ultimate goal is to be able to head over to Europe next year on a self supported tour (no time frame so I'd be easily content with 100-120-140km per day if not less, whatever tickles my fancy!), staying in a mixture of hostels, campsites and the wilderness. I've just recently bought a Giant Defy 2 to ride this summer/autumn before heading off in the next Northern spring/summer. I'm still young and healthy so I don't need that much work getting into shape.

I've looked around on the net and I never thought it would be so hard to find a decent bike around here. Whenever I search under 'touring' I get back a whole lot of results for commuting bikes which I can only assume would fail big time on the big stage. What I have found though is the Fuji Touring '10 & '11 in my price range ($1,100 - $1,300ish, I could stretch over a tiny bit if absolutely necessary). I know I know, Australia is an absolute rip off for practically ANY retail product but there's not much I can do about that. I seem to like the '11 most but only see it advertised in Sydney (1,000km's away) so unless I intend to fly up and ride it back it might be out of the question. Would it be possible to get a fitting on a '10 and then order the size '11 I want and have it shipped down?

OK my main question is this; I know the Fuji has been around for EONS and is loved by many but I haven't been able to find a single review on the newer ones, so are they any good for entry level? What would have to be swapped out on them before a major tour? Is there any competitor bikes in the same price range I should know about?

You should know I'm really fussy when I buy things, and I wouldn't be able to sleep at night riding a 2nd hand bike so I'll need to buy new. If there's no other decent tourer's at this price what about a mountain bike? What model MTB's are good for long tours? Sorry to ask so many questions but I've searched Google, Yahoo, Bing and I can't find a damn thing about this bike beyond the specs of it, and this place has thousands upon thousands of posts so I figured there might be some helpful people around!

If you need an indication of the prices we have here, the Defy 2 cost $1,499AUD brand new, opposed to about $1,000USD (I think?), so yeah it's a bit of a rip off. I tried searching these forums but apparently my search words were too common so I couldn't find any useful information. Anyway guys, this whole post could just be another day on the forums if you know what I mean, but I tried to look myself and failed miserably. Thank you all so much in advance for any information.

1,000-1,300 buys a lot of touring bikes. Don't worry, most of them are in your price range.

The Fuju Touring is exactly the same bike as the Windsor Tourists. They are clones with different stickers. See here: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

If you use the search feature on this forum you can search for reviews of both of these bikes. The general consensus is that they are both pretty good for the money. Some people have had problems with the wheels breaking spokes while fully loaded but... it happens. There are lots of other good bikes in this price range. You can get the Windsor Tourist for $599 online if you are good at building bikes yourself and you can find decent shipping rates to Australia. The Canodale touring is nice and in your range. The forum favorite is easily the Surly Long Haul Trucker which is $1,100 in the US. It is the starting point for all comparisons.

I just checked bikes direct and it says they wont ship to AUS but if you have a friend in the US shipping is free and they can mail it to you. If might cost 100-200 for shipping but you will still save over buying the Fuji I think?

I have a 2010 Fuji Touring, and I am very happy with my choice. It is a well made, light weight steel frame bicycle that has worked out well for me. I don't know anything about Bikes Direct or Windsor for that matter, I went with a name and company that I was more familiar with and trusted to put out a good product. Ordered it through a local bike shop, which he, the owner of the shop, set the bike up for me, did the tweaks and gave it the check over after a couple of hundred miles. I have had no problems or negative thoughts on this bike, it's a good value. I did a lot of research before I made a decision and oddly, some of the best information and comments I got on the Fuji Touring was from a web site in Australia. Good luck with your search, there are many good touring bikes out there.

Oh, Machka.... someone needs you... :)

The Fuji is a venerable old bike. Nothing wrong with it at all. But there are more modern choices out there. Some of the Australian based members will chime in I'm sure.

Thanks Zeppinger, I've done a Google search and it's out of control! I've come up with anything from $320 to the nearest airport, up to $700 to my door, so safe to say it's not worth the hassle of importing one, they'd probably sting me a few hundred for import tax aswell. I had a look on www.bikeexchange.com.au which has alot of bikes advertised but there isn't even an option for a Windsor so I can only assume we don't have them here.

DW99 you wouldn't happen to remember the site would you? Whenever I search I can only come up with the specs of the bike, I can't find anything about how it actually performs on the road! It's driving me crazy. Have you done any major day in/day out touring on it, or is it used more as a daily bike?

I would prefer an '11 over a '10 simply 'cause of a nicer colour, but the Fuji's seem to be few and far between which is a real hassle. And who would this Machka fella be I wonder..

Machka is a woman. A Canadian woman living in Australia (see website in signature line) ... I've been here 17 months now. I don't own a Fuji touring bicycle, but my husband Rowan does.

If you're trying to ship from North America to Australia, chances are it will cost a fortune. It is so much cheaper to get stuff from the UK or NZ than it is to order from NA. Look at the Thorn bicycles from the UK ... you might get a better deal there, but if you're ordering, remember to keep the cost below $1000 (or $999) or so because you can avoid the import duty that way.

We're looking at ordering Thorn frames, one at a time, and building them up.

The Fuji and Windsor are both adequate bikes for loaded touring. I own a Windsor and it is pretty much stock with the exceptions being the rack and the crank which I swapped for a Sugino XD600 to get more suitable gearing for mountain and hilly loaded touring.

If I were to upgrade anything else it would be the back wheel, but I am still running the bike pretty much box stock including the saddle. After doing the Trans America and a couple other longish tours I am still quite satisfied with the bike. My daughter also has one and has used it extensively touring and commuting. She too is quite satisfied with the bike. Our good friend who was on the TA with us is also happy with her's. All three of the bikes are stock except for the cranks and the racks on two of them.

The bottom line for us is that nothing NEEDS to be upgraded except for the gearing which was too high.

If you will be carrying particularly heavy loads I would swap the rear rack, but Lauren rode coast to coast (US, 4200 miles) with 30-35 ish pounds of gear and the stock rack did OK. I did notice a bit of sway, but it did not seem to bother the rider.

I doubt that shipping a Windsor to Australia makes sense, but buying a Fuji there probably does.

Ohh you're a woman? I'm sorry I'd no way of knowing. I agree on the import it's a bit foolish but the main point of this post was to get some pointers on the Fuji which I can obtain here. @staehpj1 were you referring to the Windsor there? If it's the same as the fella above suggested then would the gears really be the only thing needing changing on the Fuji? Maybe the racks and rear wheel too?

Ohh you're a woman? I'm sorry I'd no way of knowing. I agree on the import it's a bit foolish but the main point of this post was to get some pointers on the Fuji which I can obtain here. @staehpj1 were you referring to the Windsor there? If it's the same as the fella above suggested then would the gears really be the only thing needing changing on the Fuji? Maybe the racks and rear wheel too?

The two are identical as far as I can tell so yeah, gearing for sure, racks maybe. Rear wheel... I personally just use it, keep an eye on spoke tension, carry spare spokes, and carry a unior cassette cracker (http://harriscyclery.net/product/unior-pocket-cassette-cracker-lock-ring-tool-2456.htm)so you can replace inner rear spokes. Later if you decide you need to you can upgrade the rear wheel. I'll probably wait until they are shot and buy a wheel set if I don't want a new bike by then.

What brands of bikes are at dealers where you live?

do you have a bike that fits you really well? measure It , fit some racks on it ride it around .

Measure the dimensions of the set-up. write to SJS

and see about picking up a fully dimension matched bike when you get to Europe.

Koga Miyata offers a signature custom build menu. they will assemble the bike
and ship to a selected dealer , there are some a short ride on public transport
from the airport you will fly into.. LHR, or AMS, etc

Don't forget to get the VAT refund paperwork, you can get things refunded
in an export situation when you take it out of the EU.

Akzz, I have done loaded tours, of not more than four days and weekend overnight camping trips. Have not done any major touring, although I wouldn't hesitate to head out for a multi-month tour if time allowed. I usually carry around 50 to 60 total pounds of gear, it handles the load very well. Most of the 1500 or so miles that I have put on the bike have been on a rail trail here in Missouri. I enjoy riding the Fuji most and do ride it mostly but I switch between it and a Raleigh C40 hybrid for day rides. I think, if you have done a search, you have probably been to the Cheeky Transport website, that is the one in Australia that I had in mind.

I met a guy in Glacier National Park two summers ago. He was on a Fuji Tourer. He had started in Buffalo, New York, and was headed to Portland. He was carrying a moderate load - rear panniers only, no cooking gear, lightweight tent and sleeping bag with no sleeping pad (yuck!) He was very happy with his bike, except he had to replace the wheels in Yellowstone. I don't remember why, but I remember him saying he had to replace them. He was riding very long days - lots of 100-mile days.

If you buy a Fuji Tourer, then have to replace the wheels, won't your cost be approaching the cost of an LHT? I was on my LHT, which has had no problems in three years and three tours. However, I built mine up from a frame, so I have no direct experience with the sturdiness of an LHT complete.

Okay, this isn't very helpful. Sorry.

Haha don't worry BigBlue every little bit helps! I'm not really fussed though if I have to spend $100 or so for some new wheels that's nothing, anyone know what it would cost for a gear change? The LBS is a Giant dealer and I haven't seen any tourer's in there to think of, could probably get the guy to order one in but I know nothing about Giant tourer's if they even exist so I'd rather avoid that if I could. I don't think I'd want to wait before arriving in Europe to get a bike because I'd like to be able to train fully loaded here, right now all I have is a road bike and that's just a margin of the weight I'd have to be moving on tour, I'd like some experience first.

The '08 LHT is selling at $1,500 and the '10 between $2,100/$2,400 while the '10 Fuji is around $1,100 so it would need a fair bit of customizing before it was even close the the LHT. I mean it looks like there's no negative comments on it, and I'd be more than happy just doing a gear change, wheel change and possible rack change if that's all that others seem to have reservations about.

I've jumped on the Cheeky Transport website and have now been linked to an absolute monster of an article so I think I might set aside my evening for reading that! Thank you all for your help you'se are legends.

anyone know what it would cost for a gear change?
A common answer is to buy a Sugino XD600. I think my Trans America companions and I paid $80 (US), but that was a pretty good sale. Here in the US they can be found pretty commonly for about $100. That gives you a 26-36-46 along with the 11-34 cluster. I think it was worth swapping the 26 for a 24 ($12), but I rode 4200+ miles coast to coast crossing the continental divide 9 times before I swapped the 26 out for a 24.

You could conceivably just put a 24T ring on the existing crank. I tried that and it worked but the shifting was kind of clunky going to and from the small ring. The problem is that the stock crank will not take anything smaller than 39T in the middle position.

The Canodale touring is nice and in your range

If I recall correctly, Cannondale killed the touring line this year.

If I recall correctly, Cannondale killed the touring line this year.

Also they probably aren't in his price range in Australia.

Fuji brand has been around for decades ,
maybe get a used steel frame one and do some upgrades , and an overhaul ..
and that will get you down the road..
Bikes Direct gets a lot of questions , because you are on your own for assembly
and all the adjustments dealers normally do

a getting thrown off in the deep end of the pool task for a newby.

bypass any oversize baggage fees and bring just packed panniers.

On a Group trip a member of the group just went shopping for a bike in London when we arrived , at a FW Evans shop.

A common answer is to buy a Sugino XD600. I think my Trans America companions and I paid $80 (US), but that was a pretty good sale. Here in the US they can be found pretty commonly for about $100. That gives you a 26-36-46 along with the 11-34 cluster. I think it was worth swapping the 26 for a 24 ($12), but I rode 4200+ miles coast to coast crossing the continental divide 9 times before I swapped the 26 out for a 24.

You could conceivably just put a 24T ring on the existing crank. I tried that and it worked but the shifting was kind of clunky going to and from the small ring. The problem is that the stock crank will not take anything smaller than 39T in the middle position.

I also put a Sugino on my LHT, and I also swapped the 26 for a 24. I climbed the North Cascades Highway and Loup-Loup passes on my old bike with too-high gearing. I kept trying to shift down to a lower gear and there wasn't one. I suffered on the ride, and my knees started hurting to the point that I had to abort my tour in Omak, before Wauconda and Sherman passes.

With the 24-tooth granny and my 11-34 cassette on my LHT, I've never encountered a climb for which I felt I needed a lower gear, and my knees have quit complaining.

When I was young I liked to push a higher gear up a hill and feel the burn in my thighs. I thought I was becoming huge! My knees didn't suffer then. Now they do.

Also they probably aren't in his price range in Australia.

Haha nope, about a grand over the top. There doesn't seem to be too many options here though, I think I'll just check out the Fuji and do the gear change, start getting into the loaded rhythm with it and see how the wheel holds up. It'll only set me back about 2 or 3 hundred and we only live once to do these things! Thank you all for your help here you're absolute legends.

Hmm 2 posts why I wrote those 3 lines.. I should really stop dawdling! Feitsbob, I have a bit of pride and I know I'm not qualified to build a bike up from scratch and expecting it to take me across an entire continent haha, but you're right about just taking packed panniers, I mean what would I do with the excess once I left? It would be kind of foolish for me to do otherwise.

Bigblue are you in agreement that the 26 should be changed? Does it make it that much better during the climbs or what? 9 times across the US seems to me that either is handleable. Is it a case of if you can change it, do it?

Hmm 2 posts why I wrote those 3 lines.. I should really stop dawdling! Feitsbob, I have a bit of pride and I know I'm not qualified to build a bike up from scratch and expecting it to take me across an entire continent haha, but you're right about just taking packed panniers, I mean what would I do with the excess once I left? It would be kind of foolish for me to do otherwise.

Bigblue are you in agreement that the 26 should be changed? Does it make it that much better during the climbs or what? 9 times across the US seems to me that either is handleable. Is it a case of if you can change it, do it?

I'll pipe up again on that one. I found the 26 OK in the mountains where the climbs were 6-8%. Where they were more steep than that I wished for lower. The thing is that a 24T ring was $12 so why not just be prepared for steeper climbs? It may be more expensive there, but I bet you can still find one pretty cheaply.

Of course you can always ride a while with the 26 and then decide.

I've look at the Tourist. It kills me they sell that bike with completely inappropriate gearing. What's up with that?
"TruVativ Touro Triple Road, 30/42/52T or FSA Vero 30/39/50T (No choice)"
That's fine for a road bike, but a touring bike? Really?

The Windsor Tourist comes with a 9-speed set up. Will a Sugino XD600 work? It's sold as a 7-8 speed setup.

The Windsor Tourist comes with a 9-speed set up. Will a Sugino XD600 work? It's sold as a 7-8 speed setup.
I've set up three of them that way in preparation for our TA in 2007. They were used that way for the TA and lots of subsequent usage including more touring, local day rides, and commuting. They work fine.

FWIW:
I think that the FSA Vero 30/39/50T is a bit more workable than the TruVativ Touro Triple Road. It is probably usable with a 24T inner. Still it is poor practice to spec a crank that won't take smaller than a 39T in the middle position.

So I decided to see what is offered down under and found this:
http://www.borsaricycles.com.au/loadShopSingleProduct.do?id=758&productSource=showShopProductsPage.do

No idea about the brand or where this is relative to the OP.

That Allegro is surprisingly good looking, I actually prefer it to the Fuji Touring. I looked into the origination of the company and it seems to be pretty reputable. It's actually a pretty good read if anyone's interested. http://www.allegrobikes.com.au/ And this was taken from the Cheeky Transport site "Basically, Richard, the Victorian Fuji rep was aware that the fujis were going to be stopped, and he got some bikes made up that are pretty much exactly the same bike." Richard is the guy behind Allegro, so it looks like it's been bought out specifically as a replacement.

But yeah moving on, the bike comes with a 52/42/30 setup so would definitely need a change there. Or it can come in an optional 48/38/28 or 42/32/22. Do either of these set ups sound alright to you guys? Obviously the other components are different so I'll have to look into them all. Thoughts?

Akzz, that Allegro tourer seems like a lot of money for very average components. They list Tektro cantis but show long reach side pull brakes. Also they don't mention what the brifters are but I'm guessing Tiagra or Sora?

Hmm 2 posts why I wrote those 3 lines.. I should really stop dawdling! Feitsbob, I have a bit of pride and I know I'm not qualified to build a bike up from scratch and expecting it to take me across an entire continent haha, but you're right about just taking packed panniers, I mean what would I do with the excess once I left? It would be kind of foolish for me to do otherwise.

Bigblue are you in agreement that the 26 should be changed? Does it make it that much better during the climbs or what? 9 times across the US seems to me that either is handleable. Is it a case of if you can change it, do it?

I'm 58. When I rode the Northern Tier and had knee problems, I was 56. When I was young and touring on my 10-speed, the low gear was much higher than what I have now (I can't tell you the numbers because that bike is long gone - it was a Raleigh Gran Prix I bought used in 1973. It was probably a 1971 or 1972.) I could handle just about any climb in those days, but they weren't fun. It was about at that time that I discovered that there was such a thing as a touring bicycle with a triple chainring. Wow! I coveted one, but as a starving college student it was out of the question.

I've heard plenty of statements from people who say a 30-tooth granny is just fine, or a compact double is all you need. I'm sure if you're young, or really strong, or both, that's true. However, at my age, and in my state of mind, you can't have too low of a setup, but you can certainly suffer if you don't have low enough.

I put a 24 granny on my Sugino because that was as small as it would allow. I might consider a 22 if it was possible, but, like I said, with the 24 and my 11-34 cassette, I've never encountered a hill for which I felt my setup was unsuitable.

http://www.cheekymonkey.com.au/P1010198.JPG

If you check out that picture there yeah they're definitely cantis, just an optical illusion from the bodgy picture on the first site. It's also tiagra shifters or 'brifters' as you so elegantly put haha. But I don't think it's a case of a excessive price for average parts, so much as that's the kind of money we need to fork out for things here.

BigBlue thank you once again. I love reading about people's past travels, where they went or in your case, how they did things. I'm only young so I should just stick with the standard 28 or 26 and stop whinging I guess haha, at the very least it'll keep me (the opposite of lazy). I'll just look into them both a little more and decide which one I want to take the plunge with. Thank you all so much for your help.

Akzz, I was going from these pics from their website Touring model page:

http://www.allegrobikes.com.au/pista%20tour%20drake%20bridge.jpg

http://www.allegrobikes.com.au/Tour%201C.jpg

Dual pivot brakes may be good , there is a v brake braze on version too, I saw, on the site,
was 7005 aluminum, sloping top tube.
those wheels are an odd duck., 32 spoke is a minimum I'd say .. that is a sport touring build, I'd say pack very light.

Like US dealers , the touring gear , racks and so forth are point of sale add on's. apparently.

.... something with bar end shifters will let you build a mountain bike drive train in a 700-35 wheel and run drop bars .

Brifters go with road FD & big ring triples .. no friction mode for, back up.

... Once you add 80 Kg of touring gear and hit the mountains you will welcome those low gears ..

Pick a frame you like, dealer can swap components, as they have resale value, and will be new, some labor and exchange
difference..

In short you are not buying a car, parts on bikes are interchangeable across , essentially, frameset brands.

I'm not saying the Allegro Touring brakes are poor, just that they don't match up with the components listed. Also, at that price point, Quando hubs and Alex rims are weak. IMO, You can do better for the same or less $. If you like the frame, see if you can just buy it and build it up.

Ahh OK robow I see, you're looking at the expensive model of the tour range. Gotta admit it's not the most well set out website I've ever seen. Here's a few snaps of the one I'm looking at.

http://www.cheekymonkey.com.au/P1010197.JPG
http://www.cheekymonkey.com.au/P1010194.JPG
http://www.cheekymonkey.com.au/P1010195.JPG
http://www.cheekymonkey.com.au/P1010198.JPG

This is the cheaper model at about $1,500 (on sale for $995), the one you're looking at is the $3,000 custom built one. Atleast I think you are... As I said in the first post (I think), I can spend around $1,300 maybe a little more on the bike itself, and once I exchange parts and sell off the ones I replace I should still be in budget.

@ fietsbob it's already got a tiagra front derailleur, and I'm expecting a gear change, throw on new wheels and I've done exactly what I intended to do with the Fuji at a cheaper price. I've read some articles of late saying how most touring bikes are essentially the same, and even if it doesn't perform quite as well, a bit of hard work and perseverance never killed anybody.

The Windsor Tourist comes with a 9-speed set up. Will a Sugino XD600 work? It's sold as a 7-8 speed setup.

Curtis, I run a Sugino XD600 (48-36-26) crankset on one of my bikes with a 9 speed setup and 105 derailleurs. Works great. If your considering the Windsor don't let the crankset stop you. It's easy and reasonably inexpensive to change.

If you do buy a Windsor please post your thoughts/review.