branman1986

Are the stock racks that come on the 06 Fuji Touring bikes worth a darn? Are stock racks on any bikes worth a darn for that matter?

I called the company headquarters and they wouldn't give me a definitive max weight, but said that similar racks are rated for 25 lbs(all in all, he didn't seem sure about it). I figure while 95% of my time on the bike will be for commuting to and from work and 25 lbs is more than enough for small panniers with just my clothes & shoes, but I will definitely be taking the bike out for weekend or weeklong camping tours. Should I just go ahead and upgrade now or will the stock Fuji rack hold up?

Also, I've read about some people having spoke breakage problems on older model Fuji Touring bikes, but that it was either supposed to get fixed with later models, or it was fixed, etc. Anyone have an update or having/not having any problems?

edit: Is it typically the rack that fails first or wheels/spokes?

sdime

According to LBS when I tried to order a Fuji Touring, Fuji stop making the bike. You will not be able
to get the Touring, so your question is probably irrelevent.

branman1986

I have one being shipped as we speak, I bought it on Sunday from Performance and it's supposed to arrive at the store on Friday. It's an 2006, so maybe he was referring to Fuji possibly not continuing the line for 2007?

subigo

The standard rack is fine. The 25 lbs. limit is right.... If they are really going to stop making the bike, it's a shame. Mine rocks. Get one while you still can.

sdime

I'm not sure what the guy at the LBS meant. However, I'm sure that they couldn't,
or wouldn't, get it for me. The response was the same from another bike store on
the other side of town. I took it as Fuji sold all the Touring model and is not making
any more. Come to think of it, how can they sold out when Touring bikes are so
unpopular? If anything, there should be a glut of supply at the warehouses.

branman1986

I got the 64 cm frame, so maybe they have plenty of those left since it's an unpopular size...maybe they were just out of your size?

Rowan

The rack on my 2001 Fuji broke the welds on the centre struts at the top after around 15,000km of touring. There was nothing spectacular about the loads. It was replaced by a Topeak rack with the alloy extrusion on top to take a trunk bag. That was already four or five years old, and was later transferred back to the original bike, and replaced with the even beefier Topeak Super Tourist rack which is of tubular construction and has the top extrusion for the latest Topeak trunk bags. The original Fuji rack also didn't have the extrusion on the top, so if you don't run mudguards/fenders, there was no protection from water and road grit.

rnagaoka

I changed my '04 Fuji rack with a Jandd Expedition. It fit perfectly. The stock rack didn't extend far enough back for my taste. It also flexed quite a bit compared with the Jandd.

rnagaoka

branman1986, just a head's up if you didn't know already...Performance is having a "double points weekend" (20% off for members) 8-5-06 to 8-6-06. If you already paid, maybe you can negotiate.

CBolt

I think they discontinued the World but are still making the Touring. The rack is pretty flimsy. I cant say how much weight it will hold, but the rack flexes a lot and that will eventually lead to failure.