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Fuji really picked up their bicycle touring game about six years ago, offering a steel Fuji Touring with barend shifters, a wide-range crankset, a threadless headset, mini-v brakes and a solid rear rack. With its well thought out specification, the 2018 Fuji Touring is on my list of 8 favourite touring bikes.
We’ve been watching the retail price of the Fuji Touring drop over the last few years, all the way down to US $749 last year. This made it, without question, the best value touring bike available. Unfortunately, the too-good-to-be-true price looks to be over. The 2018 Fuji Touring is now US $999, a 33% increase in price – which for the exact same specification seems like a disproportionate increase.
But is there anything new that justifies the additional cost?
The 2018 Fuji Touring Bike
![2018 fuji touring](https://www.cyclingabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2018-Fuji-Touring-Bike-Blue-03-80x48.jpg)
The frameset has been updated! The 2018 Fuji Touring is now available in seven sizes (adding in 52cm and 61cm frames), it has some new braze-ons mounts and an all-new steel fork. The spec sheet notes a 300g drop in weight which can only be attributed to this frameset update.
Let’s start with the fork. The crown and dropouts are now lugged. While not necessarily a performance enhancement, the fork offers a neat classic styling. On the fork legs are two braze-ons which can be used for a front lowrider rack, randonneur rack, fender mount or to install bikepacking cargo cages.
The frame itself is using a higher quality head tube which should shave a little weight (head tubes are heavy!). There are some small frame details elsewhere such as a pump peg up the front and a chain hanger near the rear dropout. Under the downtube is a third bidon cage mount for a fuel/water bottle or cargo cage.
In terms of specification, the only change has been a switch from Tektro to Shimano v-brakes. This change will go unnoticed by most but the Shimano brakes may have the edge in terms of braking performance. While v-brakes aren’t my first choice on a touring bike, they are the best brake option on a bike under US $1000.
Fuji is on the money with their drivetrain. Using 9-speed parts, they’ve managed to piece together a 21-119 gear inch range. This kind of range is suitable for a bike destined for both the mountains and the flat.
The 2018 Fuji Touring is available in two different colours: dark blue and black. This will be ideal for couples or friends because if you both arrive at the decision to get a Fuji, having identical bikes is optional! A different paint-job and bartape colour will do more than enough to differentiate bikes.
The 2018 Fuji Touring rolls on Vittoria Randonneur tyres. These highly puncture resistant tyres get amazing mileage, however, it’s worth noting they are notoriously slow rolling (ie. high resistance). If you’d like to greatly improve the performance of your touring bike, check out the specially-formulated Schwalbe Almotion touring tyres – they will make an unbelievable difference to your travelling speed. See the lab testing for both of these tyres HERE.
Want To Compare This Touring Bike With Dozens of Others?
Check out The Touring Bicycle Buyer’s Guide which compares touring bike steering, sizing, gear ratios, specification, pricing and more. This guide is updated annually with the latest models at no extra cost!
Helpful Resources
All About Touring Bike Brakes
Frame Materials for Bicycle Touring
How to Select Touring Bike Gearing
Understand Bicycle Frame Geometry
What’s the Difference between Cyclocross and Touring Bikes?
Touring Bikes Overview
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2016 Basso Ulisse
2016 Bianchi Volpe and Lupo 2016
2016 Bombtrack Beyond
2017 Bombtrack Beyond
2016 Brodie Elan Vital
2016 Cannondale Touring
2016 Cinelli Hobootleg Geo
2017 Curve Grovel V2
2017 Diamondback Haanjo EXP Carbon
2016 Fuji Touring
2017 Fuji Touring
2016 Genesis Tour de Fer
2016 Giant ToughRoad
2017 Giant ToughRoad
2018 Giant ToughRoad and ToughRoad GX
2016 Jamis Aurora and Aurora Elite
2016 Kona Big Rove
2016 Kona Roadhouse and Sutra LTD
2016 Kona Sutra
2017 Kona Sutra
2018 Kona Sutra
2018 Kona Sutra LTD
2016 Marin Four Corners
2017 Marin Four Corners
2016 Masi Giramondo
2016 Niner RLT9
2016 Rawland Ulv and Ravn
2016 Salsa Deadwood
2017 Salsa Fargo
2018 Salsa Fargo Ti Frameset
2016 Salsa Marrakesh
2017 Salsa Marrakesh
2017 Salsa Vaya
2016 Specialized AWOL
2017 Specialized AWOL
2017 Specialized Diverge
2018 Specialized Diverge
2017 Specialized Sequoia
2017 Surly Troll
2016 Traitor Wander
2016 Trek 920, 720, 520 & CrossRip
2017 Trek CrossRip
2018 Trek 920
2018 Trek 1120
Kind of frustrating! And these new colours are much less classy than 2016 and 2017 model.
Ahhhh this is Darren Alff of bicycle touring pro first real touring bike. He got this when he was nineteen, and that was 2003. Fuji Touring has gone a long way, perhaps one of the longest surviving model. I have a 2013 model, and I love it.
There is also a disc model.
http://www.fujibikes.com/usa/bikes/road/adventure-and-touring/touring-disc
Hello, i have decided to buy the fuji touring…but i would really like to recieve an advice…v-brakes or disc brakes?…there is a difference of 360 dollars?…are disc brakes really necesary??…or for Long distance vbrakes are already ok??…any info is more than welcome….thanks a Lot….
Also heard that in Long distance trips vbrakes are more easily to be repaired or Either changed than disc brakes?….is this true??…thanks…
Alee…whats the name of the back rear rack that comes included with the Fuji Touring?….i cant find anything on Internet….
Thanks……
Stock bikes with racks included generally use OEM (unbranded) products, unless they specify otherwise.