I have not seen many Fuji bikes around, and the name conjured images of Japanese Zeros in World War II. I am not really sure why or how that is relevant, but there you go. The bike is no old war bird though, and while specs differ depending on what build kit you choose, these things are all 21st century.

This bike was spec'ed with decent entry level XC kit and it was my first bash at these RST forks and the new SLX brakes and shifters. But first things first. My initial impression was of a solid all rounder. A bike that will cruise along east coast parkway or tackle Sunday morning cross country rides around Ubin with equal aplomb. ‘Perfectly capable' were the words that kept popping into my head as I rode around Kent Ridge Park for the test ride.

Perfectly capable sums up this ride well. It does not set the world on fire, but then for S$1700, you can't really complain. It just handles whatever you throw at it, within reason of course. It is rigid and flex free, climbs well and is a stable, yet quick turner. The fork is better than previous RST offerings I have used, and the lock out is more of a stiffener, as it does not lock the fork out completely, but makes it firm enough to eliminate bob under heavy loads, but still soaks up big hits.

The geometry provides a good balance between uphill ability and downhill stability. It is a confident climber that will allow you to power up whatever your legs can handle. Downhill's need to be taken with a little caution, as the quick steering and forward body position tend to threaten a trip over the bars if you are not careful, but taken with a bit of forethought, you can still have a blast on the descents.

Probably the best traits of this bike are its cornering, climbing and overall adaptability. It is comfortable for all day rides, quick on the technical stuff and a very good all rounder. My only personal misgiving is it falls short on tune-ability and a certain level of feel; this ride may not make you lose your head over it. It just gets on with the job at hand, and does it just fine, no dramas, no surprises. It is very utilitarian in its approach to tasks, which I think would make it a very good first bike for someone who wants a weekend bike and have an idea to see what trail riding is about, or even enter your first XC race with.

This article was contributed by SpinAsia magazine, the Sports and Lifestyle Guide for Wheelers.

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