Before Ford released its iconic and innovative Model T in 1908 and even before Orville and Wilbur Wright took flight on that historic December day in 1903, Fuji was founded. The company was named after the graceful and sprawling Mount Fuji, a famous mountain and the highest peak in the beautiful country of Japan. They pride themselves on not only their longevity but the wanderlust their bikes invoke in their riders.
Fuji is a Japanese company and became the premier bike company of Japan as early as the 1920s. The iconic mountain logo has become synonymous with cycling over their 122 years of tenure, and many riders are able to proudly say that their first bike was a Fuji.
Fuji makes a wide variety of bikes, from single-gear drivetrains to over 20-speed bikes. They also make several different types of bikes such as mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, road bikes, and even children’s bikes. Today, we’re focusing on the fast and sleek Fuji Road Bikes. Fuji offers road bikes at many price points ranging from about $500 to nearly $4,000. Since the bikes span such a wide range of prices, the materials and parts used will vary significantly, but even the cheapest bikes offered by Fuji are of utmost quality and offer a comfortable, high-performance experience.
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Best Fuji Road Bikes Overview
Image | Model | Features | Price |
 | Fuji Feather Urban Bike |
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 | Fuji Sportif 1.3 Disc Road Bike |
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 | Fuji Sportif 2.3 Road Bike |
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 | Fuji Sportif 2.1 Road Bike |
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 | Fuji Sportif 1.1 Disc Road Bike |
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 | Fuji Gran Fondo 1.3 Road Bike |
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 | Fuji Transonic 2.3 Road Bike |
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 | Fuji Gran Fondo 1.1 Road Bike |
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 | Fuji Transonic 2.1 Road Bike |
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Fuji Feather Urban Bike
The least expensive bike on this list, although perhaps for reasons you may not expect. This bike has a static 16-tooth cassette, meaning there are no additional gears to shift to. That’s right, this is a single-gear bike. It can be run as either a ‘fixie’ meaning the rear wheel will only spin if the pedals do. It can also be run ‘freewheel’ which allows you to coast without taking your feet off the pedals.
This bike has caliper brakes and a steel frame, which are pretty typical for a bike in the $500 price range, but undoubtedly, the single-gear drivetrain does a large amount in decreasing the final cost for this bike when compared to others on this list. This bike comes in a fairly wide range of sizes, from a 49 cm frame to a 61 cm frame.
Related articles … 10 Best Beginner Road Bike Under 500$ In 2023
Key Features
- 700 x 25C Tires
- Single Gear 16T Cassette
- Fairly Aggressive Riding Position
- Steel Frameset
Why we liked it
- For cyclists on a budget or new riders, it’s a great value for the money
- You don’t need to learn about gear shifting to ride the bike
- It will be a fast racing bike for the money
Pros
Cons
Fuji Sportif 1.3 Disc Road Bike
This bike has some surprising specifications for a bike in the $1,000 price range. It comes in 4 sizes from a 52 cm frame to a 58 cm frame, but perhaps more impressive, it’s an aluminum frame bike with a carbon fork. It’s also a 20-speed bike and has an impressive 11-34T cassette. It’s the cheapest bike on this list to feature disc brakes, boasting mechanical disc brakes. It features 30 mm wide tires and fits most aftermarket racks for utility. It also has internal cable routing, which makes the bike look cleaner and perform better aerodynamically.
Key Features
- 700 x 30C Tires
- Aluminum / Carbon Frameset
- 2×10-Speed Groupset
- 11-34T Cassette
- Mechanical Disc Braking
- Relaxed Endurance Geometry
Why we liked it
- The parts are higher quality than you would expect for a $1000 bike
- It’s a very comfortable bike for long rides or endurance rides
Pros
Cons
Fuji Sportif 2.3 Road Bike
The Fuji Sportif 2.3 is a 16-speed aluminum frameset bike with caliper brakes. On the surface level, its specifications do not sound like much for a $1000 bike, but with a reliable drivetrain, comfortable wave seatstays, and a less aggressive endurance geometry, it’s a great bike for endurance rides. With sizes ranging from 49 cm to 61 cm, it supports nearly any conceivable rider height. It also has a very versatile 11-34T cassette like the Sportif 1.3.
Key Features
- 700 x 30C Tires
- Full aluminum alloy frameset
- 11-34T Cassette
- Caliper Brakes
- 2×8-Speed Groupset
- Relaxed Endurance Geometry
Why we liked it
- Its simplified gearing is less likely to confuse newer riders
- Nearly anybody can fit on this bike
- The comfortable endurance riding position makes long rides tolerable
Pros
Cons
Fuji Sportif 2.1 Road Bike
This bike is an arguably better version of the Sportif 2.3 Road Bike. It’s very similar and has the same 700 x 30C tires, 11-34T cassette, and caliper braking. However, this bike has one more gear in its cassette, giving it a total of 18 speeds. It also has a carbon / aluminum fork with carbon legs and an alloy steerer. It features the same seatstays and rack mounts the previous two entries are fitted with, and also features the Fuji Endurance Geometry and internal cable routing for an aerodynamic and comfortable ride.
Key Features
- 700 x 30C Tires
- Aluminum / Carbon Frameset
- 11-34T Cassette
- Caliper Brakes
- 2×9-Speed Groupset
- More Upright Riding Position
Why we liked it
- This bike is an upgraded version of the Sportif 2.3, but comes at about the same price
- With Fuji Endurance Geometry, 11-34T cassette, and 30 mm tires this will be a comfortable bike for endurance rides
Pros
Cons
Fuji Sportif 1.1 Disc Road Bike
The first big upgrade between the Sportif models, the Fuji Sportif 1.1 Disc Road Bike is the first bike on this list to feature hydraulic disc braking. It has the standard 700 x 30C tires the other Sportif models do, but this bike has a full carbon fork. It also has an aluminum frame and an 11-34T cassette, but it features a 22 speed drivetrain. The sizing of this bike ranges from 52 cm to 58 cm, so it’s a better fit for average to taller riders. At the time of writing, this bike is about $1,800 on Wiggle, so it’s definitely a price jump from the other Sportif bikes.
Related articles …. 10 Best Road Bikes Under $2000 in 2023
Key Features
- 700 x 30C Tires
- Aluminum / Carbon Frameset
- 2×11-Speed Groupset
- 11-34T Cassette
- Hydraulic Disc Braking
Why we liked it
- It’s an upgraded version of the fantastic Fuji Sportif 1.3, so it’s a great endurance bike
- It has a versatile cassette and groupset allowing 22 speeds with very high torque and speed options
Pros
Cons
Fuji Gran Fondo 1.3 Road Bike
The Fuji Gran Fondo 1.3 Road Bike is a 22-speed road bike with an 11-34T cassette and 700 x 30C tires like the Sportif models. However, it features upgrades such as the full carbon frameset and hydraulic disc brakes. This bike also features the Fuji Endurance Geometry that is found on the Sportif models. It’s a comfortable endurance bike with performance upgrades over the Fuji Sportif bikes. It’s also only a small step up in price from the Sportif 1.1 Disc Road Bike at $2,300 at the time of writing.
Key Features
- 700 x 30C Tires
- Full Carbon Fiber Frameset
- 2×11-Speed Groupset
- 11-34T Cassette
- Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- Fuji Endurance Geometry
Why we liked it
- It feels like an overall upgrade over the endurance-focused Sportif collection
- The bike features very high quality parts aimed at a comfortable and fast ride
Pros
Cons
Fuji Transonic 2.3 Road Bike
The Fuji Transonic 2.3 Road Bike is the first bike on this list which we would consider more of a racing bike than an endurance road bike. This bike features slimmer 700 x 28C tires, a full carbon fiber frameset, and a 22-speed drivetrain with an 11-30T cassette. Although it lacks the best torque gear on its cassette, what it lacks in versatility and comfortability it makes up for in performance and aerodynamics.
This bike was designed with Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis which allows for minimal airflow over each section of the frame. This is made evident in design choices like the narrow Kamm Tail shapes used in the frame and fork to reduce side wind drag. It’s also the first bike featured here to be designed with an ultra-aggressive riding position perfect for racing environments.
Key Features
- 700 x 28C Tires
- Full Carbon Fiber Frameset
- Kamm Tail Tube Frame and Fork Design
- 2×11-Speed Groupset
- 11-30T Cassette
- Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- Progressive Stack / Reach Geometry
Why we liked it
- Every aspect of this bike feels well optimized for racing
- The overall quality of the bike’s components is incredible
Related articles …. 10 Best Road Bikes Under $3000 in 2023
Pros
Cons
Fuji Gran Fondo 1.1 Road Bike
Seeing this bike might give you deja vu, as it’s a spitting image of the Fuji Gran Fondo 1.3 Road Bike. However, while most of the specifications of this bike are practically the same as the Gran Fondo 1.3, it’s a strictly upgraded version of the bike. It features the same 30 mm wide tires, C10 high-modulus carbon frameset, 2×11-speed groupset, and 11-34T cassette.
However, it has an upgraded Shimano Ultegra 50/34T chainset and Shimano Ultegra hydraulic disc brakes. Both bikes offer 50/34T chainsets and hydraulic disc brakes, but the Shimano Ultegra set is an upgrade from the ones used on the Gran Fondo 1.3 Road Bike. Are these minuscule upgrades worth the $700 more you would spend on this bike vs. the other Gran Fondo? That’s for you to decide.
Key Features
- 700 x 30C Tires
- Full Carbon Fiber Frameset
- 2×11-Speed Groupset
- 11-34T Cassette
- Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- Fuji Endurance Geometry
Why we liked it
- It has the best parts of any of the endurance bikes on this list
- It will be a very comfortable and high performance bike, optimized for comfort during long rides
- It has great flexibility with the cassette and groupset like the other endurance bikes
Pros
Cons
Fuji Transonic 2.1 Road Bike
Much like with the Gran Fondo models, the Fuji Transonic 2.1 Road Bike is much like the Transonic 2.3 with a couple of upgrades. The bike features the same number of speeds, the same size 700 x 28C tires, the C10 high-modulus carbon fiber frameset, and also features hydraulic disc brakes. However, with a Praxis Zyante Carbon 52/36T chainset and higher quality cassette, tires, brakes, and wheels, it’s strictly better than the Transonic 2.3 Road Bike.
The bike features the same Progressive Stack/Reach Geometry which is intended to place nearly all riders in the perfect position on the bike. It also has the same aerodynamic frame and fork features the previous Transonic bike has. The performance of the two bikes may be nearly identical, but we would expect this bike to be a bit more durable. For a nearly $800 upgrade, this may or may not be worth it to you.
Key Features
- 700 x 28C Tires
- Full Carbon Fiber Frameset
- Kamm Tail Tube Frame and Fork Design
- 2×11-Speed Groupset
- 11-30T Cassette
- Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- Progressive Stack / Reach Geometry
Why we liked it
- It is the fastest and highest-performance racing road bike on this list, but not by a large margin
- The computational fluid dynamics design aspect is very appealing for performance and even aesthetics
- The progressive stack and reach geometry means the bike probably fits more people than its size range would suggest
Pros
Cons
Buyers Guide: How To Select the Best Fuji Road Bike for You
Selecting the best Fuji road bike for your purposes will depend on numerous factors. Perhaps for you, a tight budget is the furthest thing from your mind. In that case, the best bikes overall might appeal to you. Perhaps, you only have $1,200 for your bike. Do you want an endurance optimized bike, or are you more into racing? That will make a huge difference in your decision.
Frame Materials
Fuji bikes range from all steel framesets to all carbon fiber framesets. In general, steel will be cheaper and heavier than aluminum, which in turn, will be cheaper and heavier than carbon fiber. However, it’s important to note that the performance gap between steel and aluminum is much larger than that between aluminum alloys and carbon fiber.
Tires
The size of your tires will matter a lot in determining how smooth your ride will be and how fast you can ride. Narrower tires will allow you to go faster, but you’ll feel more bumps on the road. Wider tires will often absorb the bumps better, but they aren’t as aerodynamic. For high-performance bikes, narrower tires will probably be a better choice because speed is highly affected by the aerodynamic qualities of the bike.
All the bikes in this list are 700 mm in diameter, but they vary in width. The tires will be described as 700 x 25C for example, meaning 700mm diameter, 25mm width. 30 mm tires will provide a smoother, more comfortable ride, while 28 mm or 25 mm tires are better for speed.
Gears
For someone with very little experience riding a bike, having a multi-speed gearing system may be intimidating. The simplicity of a single-speed or ‘fixie’ bike may be very attractive to you as a first-time cyclist. However, it’s highly recommended you eventually get a bike with multi-speed gearing because it’s a much more versatile system. You can control how much of your leg power is put toward speed vs. how much is put toward torque. This will allow you to go faster when going downhill or on flat ground, while also making it easier to pedal while going uphill or on a rough patch. It may be hard to get used to, but in general, the more speeds your bike has the more control you have over your power output.
Aero vs Endurance Road Bike
The Fuji Sportif and Fuji Gran Fondo models would be considered endurance road bikes. These bikes are optimized for comfort and smooth rides while still being fast on smooth surfaces like roads. They are aerodynamically designed, but they often come with 30 mm tires and a less aggressive riding position which will both slightly decrease the speed at which you can ride. However, both of these features will make long distance riding much more tolerable.
The Fuji Feather and Fuji Transonic models are considered racing road bikes. These bikes, especially the Transonic models, are optimized primarily for speed output. They tend to offer a less beefy torque gear (30-tooth as opposed to 34-tooth in this case), but what they lack in uphill capabilities and comfort they make up for in speed performance. These bikes are often shaped much more aerodynamically and feature ultra-aggressive riding positions and narrower tires. This may be uncomfortable to ride for long distances, but will provide utmost performance in shorter bike sprints.
FAQS ABOUT Fuji Road Bikes
Explore the best-reviewed bikes for every price point from $200 to $20,000 … Best Road Bikes In 2023
Conclusion
Many of the bikes we looked at have great specifications and are a good value for the money at around $1,000. Our choice for the best Fuji road bike around $1,000 is the Fuji Sportif 1.3 Disc Road Bike. It simply has better features and higher quality parts when compared to the other two Fuji bikes around $1,000. It would be a great endurance road bike for a first time buyer or someone biking on a budget.
The overall best bikes on this list are indisputable. The best racing bike is the Fuji Transonic 2.1 Road Bike. It has everything the Transonic 2.3 has, but better. With incredibly aerodynamic qualities, ultra lightweight frameset, and aggressive yet flexible riding position makes it the obvious choice for racing as the fastest bike on the list. The best endurance bike would be the Fuji Gran Fondo 1.1 Road Bike. It’s a pure upgrade from the Gran Fondo 1.3, with wide 30 mm tires, a high-tensile carbon fiber frameset, hydraulic disc braking, and the Fuji Endurance Geometry, it’s a comfortable choice for long rides. These bikes do have, at the time of writing, price tags of $3,900 for the Transonic 2.1 and $3,100 for the Gran Fondo 1.1!
Our choices for the best Fuji bikes differ slightly from the highest-performance bikes available. If you are a buyer who is in any way price conscious, we think the slightly lower quality Fuji Transonic 2.3 and Fuji Gran Fondo 1.3 are much better value for the money. Their specifications read almost exactly like the Transonic 2.1 and Gran Fondo 1.1, respectively. The minuscule differences in product durability and quality seem insignificant when compared to the $800 and $700 price increases for the model upgrades, respectively. Overall, these are the bikes we recommend you choose from if your budget is around $2000-$3000 and you want good value for your money.
