fusion raid: muddy profile
fusion raid: muddy profile
integrated headset
Mark and Carl of CM Cycles, Maesteg, asked me if I'd like to ride their demo Fusion Raid XC type bike, and write up my opinion (they obviously haven't seen me riding). I jumped at the chance to ride a new bike, though it turned out to be the wettest windiest weather I've ever ridden in. It was GREAT!!
After changing pedals, letting some air out of the tyres and adjusting the saddle height, I was ready to go. I had decided to do one of my regular rides, this was so I could better judge how the bike performed on familiar ground. Taking a new bike to a new route is unfair on all parties, one needs to form a relationship with ones bike based on mutual trust and comfort zones, and I likes my comfort zones.
Bike sorted? Right, off we go! Well, off I go, on my own again.
I rode from the shop up a steep tarmac road for the first part of my ride, I couldn't help noticing the rear suspension had a lot of bob. This could well be down to my poor pedalling technique though, I'm used to a lockout for smooth climbing. I thought 'hmm this doesn't bode well for the rest of the ride'.
Then came the first real climb, up the 'piggeries', (why is it called the piggeries? there's no pigs there!), it's short and steep, two rows of bricks on end with strips of wet grass on the sides. It can be a struggle when it's wet, today however it's waterlogged, even the snails had trench foot. A good test of the tyres, and the suspension, and my legs.
The tyres gripped well, the suspension suspended well, my legs felt like lead. The bobby-ness of the rear suspension wasn't an issue on this sort of climb, the bike just seemed to dig in and get on with it. Indeed, it was only on the fireroad climbs that it became apparent, so not such a big issue after all, as a re-valved shock to incorporate a pedal platform would help a lot, or a new shock with a lockout, or I could improve my technique..... yeah, right!
XT rear mech
Once past the piggeries the gradient eases and the surface is better. Onward and upward to the Start of the Penhydd trail. Desolation zipped past, Brashy track was shorter than usual, Green Lane, muddy but quick, Frog Corner, nearly managed to get through but the soft surface just sucked me down. I was pleased with the tyres, I spun out in the deeper mud but the tread didn't clog too much.
By the time I got to Hidden Valley I was starting to get the feel of the bike, and liking it. It was handling well but Hidden Valley is a good test for me, I can ride it all and on a good day can get around with no dabs, but I'm not relaxed on it. How would I manage on a new bike?
Extremely well, is the answer. The corners seemed less tight, the backend didn't squirm about so much on the wet roots and rocks, I got air on a few little jumps that I usually roll. I nearly fell off on the sharp right bend around the tree, but that's because I got my feet wrong. I went back up the trail and rode around comfortably.
Sidewinder was a blast, I nearly got airborne on some of the walls, I had to stop for a fallen tree near the end and that interrupted my flow but I still got the very last corner, not smooth and not pretty but I got around there.
I was looking forward to Dead Sheep, it's my favourite section at Afan, the bike didn't disappoint, I flew around! (well, as much as I can fly anywhere, what I mean to say is that I rode faster than I usually can).
You're probably starting to get the impression I enjoyed riding this bike, and I did, very much so. It flattered my mediocre skills, it gave me confidence to get around and over things that usually made me uncomfortable, and I did it faster.
That's not to say the bike didn't have it's faults though, I've mentioned the rear suspension not having a lock out, but the Rock Shox Tora fork does (of a sort), I much prefer rear lockout to front, especially on fireroad. Having the front locked out and the rear active was a strange sensation, it seemed to accentuate the bob I was getting, so I took off the front lockout.
rear shock placement
There is about 1/2 inch of height adjustment on the fork steerer, so if you want more, unlucky. I think if you need more then you have the wrong sized bike. The Tora is Rock Shox's budget fork but it has rebound and compression adjustment and is height adjustable from ~ 80mm to ~ 130mm. I don't like the plastic winder cap as I've broken them on my Recon's. They are fairly easy to replace with much tougher alloy units though.
The rear shock placement is open to all the crap coming off the rear tyre, maybe some sort of mudguard could be bodged to help protect it. The rebound adjustment between the shock linkages is not easy get at but should not need to be fiddled with once set. Metalwork around the rear suspension is industrial looking and has loads of places to collect crap, and I found a puddle there during the ride. This easy collecting of mud could cause problems for the shock in really claggy conditions.
rear crap catcher
I managed to ground the pedals twice, but was surprised it was only twice, being used to the high BB of Marin's I thought I'd be catching my pedals much more often.
Hayes 9 brakes just worked, no issues at all after I'd wound the lever position in for my reach. No grabbing, no fade, no rubbing, they slowed my down and stopped me when I wanted. I didn't have to think about them, and that must be good.
The only thing I didn't like among the Maniac parts were the grips: the Maniac Peta Grips were too hard and too thin for me, my hands ached. Grips, like saddles, are a personal thing, and one of the cheapest 'upgrades' you can make on a bike. I likes my Serfas grips I do's.
Speaking of saddles, my bum made friends with the Selle Italia XO, it was comfortable from the start and caused no problems all the way around.
off centre shock
The Raid is classed as an entry level bike from Fusion, with a retail price of £1795.00. The frame is handmade in Germany and comes with good (but not great) levels of equipment from Shimano, SRAM, Hayes and some stuff from Maniac, whom I've never heard of.
I have some issues with the rear suspension placement, but it's similar to the placement on some Spesh bikes and they sell well. The bearings are cartridge roller needle bearings (or sumpink, my brain went to sleep when techie stuff was discussed), recessed in the frame then hidden behind a bolt on cap with an 'o' ring seal. They should cope with a lot of riding. The Fox shock has standard bushings. With these being in the firing line from the rear wheel they may need frequent replacing.
I'm also told that Fusion are in the process of making mudguards to help protect the rear shock and linkage area. A proactive bike manufacturer can't be bad but they should have seen this coming and sorted it before production.
Warranty period is two years, which to my mind isn't a long time for a handmade frame but is as good as or better than some other manufacturers. My Marin frame has a 5 year frame warranty and main pivot bearings have a lifetime warranty. I've been told by Mark from CM Cycles that Fusion will 'extend' the warranty for a year or two more for problems that are clearly due to manufacturing or design error. This takes away some of my concerns about longevity of the frame.
Truvative chainset
Forget about money for a moment, the basic componentry didn't interfere with enjoying the ride. Out on the trail the ride characteristics are the best I've experienced. I really enjoyed riding this bike, in fact I want one.
I'm thinking of marking it down for no lockout on the rear shock and cheap forks, and I'm not sure about the rear shock position and the exposed shock bushings. All this, along with the (relatively) high price, has me thinking 8/10, but the ride was great and I want to give it 10/10. So I'll give it two marks:
Ride: 10/10
Componentry: 8/10
How many stars would that be?
Unfortunatly CM Bikes are no longer in business and I don't know anyone who imports/sells these bikes.
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