2017 Fuji Nevada 1.7 29er Review

The 2017 Fuji Nevada 1.7 - Where Comfort and Control Come Together

Don’t solidify your weekend plans just yet. The 2017 Fuji Nevada 1.7 29er might change everything. Fuji packs a versatile punch in this very affordable hardtail mountain bike. With a premium build, features, and components its $599.99 MSRP pricetag is an absolute steal. Fuji has built this bike with both comfort and functionality in mind.  Borrowing frame geometry from their highest end models, you will experience competitive trail comfort and performance. But the Nevada doesn’t stop there. This bike is fit for a casual ride around the neighborhood or a commute to work as well. Made with versatility in mind, you can ride this bike wherever your heart desires. 29 inch wheels will smooth over rocks and roots to make a technical trail feel like a smooth road and the hardtail build allows for great control. With all of that in mind, let’s take a closer look at what makes this bike so desirable.

Frame

The Fuji A2-SL custom aluminum frame provides both durability and control. On the back end, the Fuji A1-SL alloy rear triangle is designed to give you the most out of your ride. This rear triangle is highlighted by S-bend chainstays that have been designed to reduce frame vibration. This will allow an increase in your pedal performance while limiting muscle fatigue on your roughest ride. The frame also features a PowerCurve down tube which offers huge support for trail impact and improves handling. This frame has your best interests in mind and does not compensate on performance or comfort.

The fork is an SR Suntour 29er with a hydraulic lockout. Lock up the fork and enjoy steady, easy climbs with increased pedaling efficiency, or let it loose and use up all 100mm of travel to eat up rocks and roots.

Gear

-       3x8 Shimano Altus/Acera drivetrain

The Acera rear derailleur has eight gears for virtually unlimited flexibility in ride styles. 24 total speeds free you up to ride in any style or condition. Uphill climbs can be conquered with ease. Technical trails can be mastered. Even a straightaway road will feel like you are putting in no work at all. This great drivetrain is controlled by Rapid Fire speed shifters to make your shifting faster and easier than ever before, giving you total control over your environment.

-       Tektro mechanical disc brakes

Disc brakes have been regarded as the obvious superior to rim brakes, offering more responsiveness and control. Tektro brakes offer that and more. They are incredibly user friendly and will take no time getting used to. With 180/160mm rotors, your braking will be responsive and smoother than ever. Additionally, these brakes tout elite stopping power in both wet and dry conditions.

The 2017 Fuji Nevada is designed to accommodate riders of all styles and experience levels – from someone looking to break into the mountain bike scene all the way up to people who want to enter their first race. It is ideal for urban riding and intermediate trails, but is so versatile that you won’t find a ride it can’t handle. If you want to make this bike yours and confirm your weekend plans, come in and test ride it today!

2017 Scott Spark 960 - FULL REVIEW

Today, let’s take a look at the 2017 Scott Spark 960, a full suspension XC mountain bike that is so light and so fast that it was a clear option for Nino Schurter in the 2016 Rio Olympics. It comes in at a price point of $1,999 MSRP, with higher priced sub model options.

Let’s look at the specs:

Frame

Scott features the Spark 3 Alloy SL 6011 frame on the Spark. The carbon alloy, custom butted hydroformed tubing allows the Spark to be lightweight without sacrificing much as far as durability. It has a tapered headtube as well as dropouts for 141x5mm.

Shocks

Scott continues their excellence in suspension by showcasing their amazing Twin Loc technology. This remote allows to switch between three suspension modes with the click of a button. You can opt for full travel in the front and back shocks – great for eating up roots, rocks, and rough roads. The second option is for traction mode on in the rear with full travel in front. This is great for maintaining control, essentially turning this versatile bike into a hardtail. The last option allows for a full, simultaneous lock out on both shocks for when you need to ride more casually.

The fork comes equipped with the Rock Shox Recon Silver RL Solo Air, a tapered steerer, and of course the option to lockout. The shock has 120mm of travel. While there are other bikes in competition that have bigger travel than this, the Spark still provides a plenty smooth ride

The rear shock is an X-Fusion NUDE Trunnion with Scott custom travel. Again, there are three mod options on the rear suspension – lockout, traction control, and full travel – and the full travel is at 120mm.

Ride

The Spark 960 is relatively responsive and can smoothly roll over logs, rocks, and other odd bumps in a trail. That being said, Sparks have always been built for speed, and the 2017 is no different. If you are looking for a downhill bike, the Spark is not your best choice. However, if you’re looking for a speedy, responsive XC racer, look no further.

Rear derailleur: Shimano SLX RD-M7000-10 SGS 20 Speed

Front derailleur: Shimano Deore FD-M617-D w/side swing

Shifters: Shimano Deore SL-M610 / Rapidfire Plus; 2 way release with gear indicator

Brakes: Shimano M365 Disc brakes

            180mm F&R / SM-RT30 CL Rotor

Crankset: Shimano FC-M627-B2 / 2-piece design

Rims: Syncros X-23 / 32H Tubless ready

Tires: Maxxis Forekaster / 2.35 / 60TPI

If you think that the Scott Spark 960 is the bike for you, come in to our shop today and we’ll get you set up!

2017 BMC Road Machine 02 - REVIEW

 Versatile, Sleek, and Durable - The 2017 BMC Road Machine Has It All!

Today we are reviewing the 2017 BMC Road Machine 02. BMC envisioned this bike as the perfect combination between the racing performance of the Teammachine and the comfort and durability of the endurance style Granfondo. BMC tagged the Road Machine as “the one bike collection,” drawing a stiff, responsive ride with a lightweight frame from the Teammachine while providing an endurance driven, compliant build from the Granfondo. This bike was envisioned from the beginning as a machine built with disc brakes, and it achieved its goal. The Road Machine was named Cycling Weekly’s “Aero Bike of the Year 2017” and truly provides high versatility and compatibility for different riding styles.

Frame

The mid-grade 02 model uses a carbon frame built with a geometry to accommodate endurance style riding. Its power transfer parts – headtube, chainstays, and downtube – are built oversized and stiff, while the seatstays, seatube, and fork have been designed for a comfortable ride, this means that rougher roads can be smoothed over without compensating too much speed. The seattube specifically has been built for comfort. The junction sits roughly a third of the way down the frame, much lower than most bikes. This Angle Compliance Shaping allows for a lot of flex for comfort while still maintaining rear end responsiveness. Additionally, the d-shaped seatpost provides even more comfort in your ride.

This bike comes equipped with a carbon fork. The fork has a tapered tube shape that add to already great aerodynamics on the rest of the build. The headtube and steerer tube have been built with some extra thickness for added stiffness in the ride. With a long fork steerer and two sets of headset spacers, you can opt for a race style or more relaxed set-up depending on your preference or situation. Additionally, the fork has been designed with plenty of extra clearance for an increased tire width up to 30 mm.

The weight comes in at just over 18 pounds. Although this might seem a little heavy for a road bike, when you consider the added level of comfort compared to race style bikes and the extra material added to the frame for better aerodynamics and stiffness, it is relatively light. For context, the weight is comparable to lower level models of both the Gran Fondo and Teammachine.

Specs

The Road Machine features an Ultegra 11 speed drivetrain that is ideal for an all around bike like this one. Additionally, it is outfitted with Shimano 105 gears, Shimano RS505 hydraulic disk breaks, and Novatec 30SL wheels. BMC does not sacrifice when it comes to the equipment on their bikes, and we’re sure glad they don’t.

Ride and Feel

The racing features of the Road Machine offer a precision ride for the most technical routes. Quick, responsive steering makes it an ideal choice for sharp turns and is great on descents and for cornering. Because of its build specialized for disc brakes, it is very smooth on hard braking. One thing to keep in mind is that BMC is a biking company that loves to race and they are very good at building bikes for just that. Because of this, the Road Machine can have a hard ride like any other race bike by BMC, but the endurance influence still provides a comfortability that is hardly found on a normal race bike.

It comes standard with 25mm Continental Gran Sport Race tires. Leaving these tires on will add to the precision ride, but will take away from the comfort level the build can provide. Luckily, because of the extra clearance in the fork, a move to 30mm tires will flip the switch, taking away some from the responsiveness but adding a level of comfort.

Price

The price tag comes in at around $2,900 USD. This might seem a little pricy, especially when compared to previous years. When stacked against the competition, other bikes might have slightly better equipment, but the Road Machine offers versatility and build quality that makes them pale in comparison.

Conclusion

The BMC Road Machine is a great option for everyone from serious cyclists looking for a precision machine to someone wanting a comfortable, high performance commuter as a substitute to other means of transportation. High versatility and build quality highlight this beautiful bike’s characteristics. With the right care and maintenance, this bike can last a lifetime. It comes in a variety of colors to suit anyone’s cosmetic needs.

If you’re interested in making this bike yours or any other bikes in our inventory, come by the shop today and let us help you out!