
Imported.
Item 808783
on this bike through May 28!
Final sale price shown. No other discounts apply.
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
Cons
Best Uses
Reviewed by 4 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-4
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Novara Fusion Bike - 2012:
I commute to work 4 miles each way (and 8 miles if it's my day to haul the kiddo to daycare in the trailer - more on that later) about 4 days a week, and I was looking for a reliable, well-built, low maintenance commuter. I'm not the type to go on long rides on the weekends or sign up for a century. Point A to Point B is pretty much how I roll.
Enter: Fusion. The Fusion comes with so many nice features out of the box. Fenders, rack, disc brakes, a bell, front-wheel-generating headlight, and the super-smooth-shifting Shimano Alfine 8-gear internal hub. I couldn't find a bike at this price point that had nearly this much good stuff that comes standard, and that was before I applied my 20% off coupon back in April.
I had never ridden a bike with an internal hub, and wanted to make sure it had the range to go up and down some modest hills on my commute. This hasn't been a problem - I'm only in first or 8th gear with steep hills... The range is great, and the shifting is like buttah. As a bonus, it's nice having the entire shifting operation on one side of the bike. Also, having disc brakes in the rain (since I live in Portland) is pretty huge - the improvement over my old bike with cantilever brakes is immeasurably positive.
The handlebar setup makes the ride super comfortable - it lets you sit upright, which I find helpful on the road where having a wide field of vision is important. The only tradeoff on that front is wind resistance, but that's marginal.
Only two downsides that make this short of a 5. The first is that it's heavy, but I knew that going into the purchase. This is minor tradeoff that I was definitely willing to make given the other amenities. It's a lot of metal, but the metal is super functional.
The other slightly annoying thing I discovered was that I have a Burley Solo trailer for my 18 month old son, and getting the hitch installed was problematic. Burley has two types of hitches - one that you can't use with a bike that has disc brakes (so that was out), and the other standard hitch that doesn't fit this bike. I'd have to use a diagram to explain it, but the forged aluminum hitch (which is pretty small) is too big for the Fusion's small cutout where the hub meets the frame. To solve this, I had to buy a metal file and file down a significant portion of the hitch. I'm sure Burley wouldn't officially approve and I'm a horrible unsafe parent or something, but it's done just fine as a workaround.
All around, it's a great bike. I've been riding it for almost two months now, and I'm guessing it'll be the only bike I'll need for a good decade or three.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Novara Fusion Bike - 2012:
I have commuted about 17 miles a day for over 3 months on this bike rain or shine. The internal geared 8 speed covers most commuter needs though you might need a lower gear if you have lots of hills.
Dynamo light is nice safety light on front. But rear Basta lamp chews through the batteries so I use an alternate.
Some components may not be as good as expected on this relatively expensive commuter bicycle. Traded out the 70 psi std tires for some 100 psi ones for an easier commute. Chain wore out after only 3 mo (?) with winter rains and road dirt despite regular lube. REI replaced it.
Now I already have loose rear spokes and have to re-true the wheel.
A generally good commuter ride, where you can easily shift through all 8 gears without derailleur troubles. But not quite up to the promise: "Fusion is all about commuting and delivers the confidence and performance to pull off long rides in any weather, at any time of day." I have to take the bus now until I get time to fix the rear wheel.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Novara Fusion Bike - 2012:
My husband had been trying for some time to get me to buy a new bike. I loved my old bike, but it was a little big for me. He showed me the Fusion and explained the features and said it was an anniversary gift. I was immediately sold! After a trial ride, it followed us home.
I thought I was not able to ride as fast as on my old bike. However, on a ride yesterday, I was waaaay ahead of my husband. I think that the heaviness of the bike makes it seem like it's going more slowly.
The bike feels so solid and safe.
I just can't wait to put more miles on it!
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Novara Fusion Bike - 2012:
After a quarter-century hiatus, I returned to two wheels to combine my commute with my exercise. I cheaped out the first time, settling on a GT Aerostream I found on clearance here on rei.com. It got me going, but with three speeds and a beach-cruiser configuration, the way I used it was just cruel. When it became unusable, I set out to find a real commuting beast to repace it. I had a year and a half of my own experience plus the advice of the kind folks at my local REI to guide me, and settled after much consideration on the Novara Fusion. I had cross-shopped a few others, including a Raleigh and the Novara Transfer, but the Fusion offered the all-in-one package with the range of gears and disc braking that I wanted.
I ride Ivy Mike, as I've dubbed it, on my 3.4-mile round trip almost daily in all sorts of weather. The disc brakes are a miracle in terms of stopping confidence, even coming down a steep hill to a railroad track in the rain. The Shimano Alfine 8-speed internal hub has made the same hill much more manageable to surmount going the other way. Although I've supplemented the included head- and taillights with the Planet Bike lights I kept from my previous ride, plus a Monkey Light for those post-autumn time change change dark rides home, I've found the set of Basta lights quite adequate when I don't have the time or inclination to clip on the full illumination regalia.
The frame feels sturdy, even under my 260lb mass (plus cargo in panniers), and I very much appreciate the comfortably shaped grips, which don't make my hands numb like round ones do. I do plan to upgrade the pedals, which can get a touch slipery in the rain, to a set of Ergon PC2.
If you're looking for a premium commuter, but don't want to piece one together, the Fusion is an excellent value.
Displaying reviews 1-4
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