Fuji Jari 1.3 review
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Fuji Jari 1.3 review

Gravel-flavoured all-roader with SRAM 1x and cable disc brakes

Our rating

4

1600.00
1349.00

Courtesy

Published: September 20, 2019 at 10:00 am

Our review
Favours versatility, comfort and practicality over speed and is a whole lot of fun to ride

Pros:

Bike-packing, commuting and leisure riding in a super-comfortable build

Cons:

Mechanical discs can’t compete with hydraulics

Aluminium isn’t only suitable for road bikes, and Fuji’s Jari 1.3 is designed for "gravel, light touring, bike-packing or pretty much whatever you can throw at it". That’s quite a claim from the multi-national Fuji brand.

The Jari’s geometry is a mile away from the Experience’s aggressive frame angles. Fuji’s ‘adventure’ geometry lengthens the wheelbase and slackens both the head and seat tube angles for greater control.

The Oval Concepts bar is a super-wide affair with a 25-degree flare and four-degree sweep, again for better control off road. It measures 44cm across the top before widening out to a whopping 54cm at the drops; it’s also slightly flattened on the tops. The seatstays have a pronounced swoop to them.

Fuji Jari 1.3
With its road-flavoured tyres, it makes a great commuter-cum-training bike. David Caudery/Immediate Media

The frame and fork are decked out with a spectacular array of fittings for touring and bikepacking. The usual mudguard mounts (and acres of clearance) and two pairs of bottle bosses are joined by another pair of bosses on each fork leg, one under the down tube and another on the top tube that Fuji calls a ‘bento box’ mount.

The top tube has another unusual feature, a small silicone shoulder pad underneath the top tube, to "increase comfort when portaging the bike". I found it a surprisingly handy addition when carrying the bike on my local railway station’s stairs.

SRAM cassette on fuji road bike
The 11-42 cassette is typical on 1x setups. David Caudery/Immediate Media

The gearing is typical gravel bike, with this being the first of three test bikes with SRAM’s 1x single-ring setup.

The combination of FSA’s Omega 40-tooth chainring and SRAM’s own 11-42 cassette offers a similar top gear to a 50x14 and a bottom gear lower than a 34x34.

What does this mean? Well, at the top end you could spin out, but this isn’t a bike for attacking speed records on. The flipside is that the 40x42 bottom gear is your friend, your very best friend when climbing or riding off road. This is a gravel bike, after all.

In spite of that its 38mm tubeless-compatible Gravel King tyres perform decently on the tarmac, the raised block tread rolling reasonably quickly thanks to Panaracer’s Zero Slip Grip compound. They coped with cobbles – Bath and Bristol have some Georgian pavé – and on pretty slippery torn-up gravel they grip diligently.

SRAM Apex 1x is joined by an FSA chainset
SRAM Apex 1x is joined by an FSA chainset. David Caudery/Immediate Media

The Panaracer tyres cost a fair amount but Fuji has cut costs by pairing SRAM’s Apex levers with Tektro cable disc brakes rather than the SRAM hydraulic brakes found on two of the other bikes, though those are much more expensive.

The braking is good and it’s consistent regardless of conditions, but does require more hand effort at the levers.

But that’s the only real cost-cutting I could find. Fuji’s own-brand Oval Concepts’ name is on most of the cockpit components and I got on with all of it, even the saddle.

A comfortable bike that’ll cope with just about every surface you throw at it
A comfortable bike that’ll cope with just about every surface you throw at it. Robert Smith

Fuji’s Jari proved something of a dark horse. It’s not that light, neither is it that quick. But it’s a lovely ride if you’re looking for a comfortable, practical, versatile bike that’ll cope with just about every surface you throw at it.

It was a joy on my long commute and even encouraged some singletrack forays. The low bottom gear’s a treat. Its stability makes it a confident if not super-sharp descender, and with more road-flavoured tyres it would make a great commuter-cum-training bike. Oh, and it’s a blast!

Fuji Jari 1.3 geometry

  • Seat angle: 73.5 degrees
  • Head angle: 72 degrees
  • Chainstay: 43.9cm
  • Seat tube: 52.5cm
  • Top tube: 54.7cm
  • Fork offset: 4.8cm
  • Trail: 6.3cm
  • Bottom bracket height: 28.5cm
  • Wheelbase: 1,045mm

Product

Brand fuji
Price 1349.00 GBP,1600.00 USD
Weight 10.0500, KILOGRAM (56cm) -

Features

Fork Cross carbon monocoque, thru-axle
br_stem Oval Concepts 313, 6061 alloy
br_chain KMC X11EL-1
br_frame A6-SL Super-butted aluminium
Tyres Panaracer Gravel King SK 38mm
br_brakes SRAM Apex levers, Tektro MD-C550 mechanical discs
br_cranks SRAM Apex 1x 40T
br_saddle Oval Concepts 438, steel rail
br_wheels WTB ST i23 Light TCS
br_headset FSA No 42 integrated
br_shifter SRAM Apex 1
br_cassette SRAM PG-1130 Apex 11-42
br_seatpost Oval Concepts 300, 6061 alloy
br_handlebar 44cm Oval Concepts 325, 25° flare
br_bottomBracket Omega BB386 Evo
br_availableSizes 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
br_rearDerailleur SRAM Apex 1
br_frontDerailleur SRAM Apex 1