Fuji Jari 1.3 Gravel Bike Review: Performance Well Beyond its Pricepoint
The Jari is Fujis’ do-it-all gravel bike that is available in a variety of build options. It’s for any drop bar terrain, but the best expression of the Jari’s talents is gravel paths and forgotten roadways.
After many (many) miles on the Jari 1.3, we can safely say — this bike performs well beyond its price point and would be welcome in any rider’s bike assortment.
Fuji Jari 1.3 — The Frame
The Fuji Jari’s frame is a standard, hydro-formed alloy outfit built for daily abuse. However, the look is more on the boutique side, especially when you examine the tubes. The sculpted frame has sleek internal routing (including routing for a dropper) and enough mounts to satisfy the touring-curious. The Jari line employs the same alloy frame for the 1.1, 1.3, and 1.5 models.
The top tube is stout but hides a shoulder pad near the seatpost junction, perfect for when you need to hike and can’t push the bike. It joins neatly to the seat stays, with an extra bit of beef connecting the seat tube, which gives the frame some extra stiffness.
Geometry-wise, the Jari doesn’t break any barriers; the ride is endurance-focused but pedals under powerful effort nicely. The unique tube shapes offer plenty of get-up-and-go and a surprising bit of compliance when roots and rocks are on the menu.
Tire clearance is ample. Our review model arrived with Maxxis 40mm Rambler tires but had enough room to clear at least 45mm tires and full fenders.
The fork is beefy and is one of Fuji’s in-house designs. The fork offers Dynamo hub compatibility, with extra drilling for fenders and mounts for bike packing. Jari’s second-best bicycle personality is that of a more than capable commuting machine.
Fuji Jari 1.3 — Specs
Spec-wise, the Jari 1.3 is right on the money — less money. The GRX 2×10 spd groupset is happy to take on the hills and gravel with a smile.
The levers are the same shape as the GRX 11spd and have a great hand feel when riding pavement or gravel. The brake performance is superb and fits well with Jari’s dynamic personality.
Fuji Jari 1.3 — Ride Impressions
I live close to rail trail access, so most, if not all, my rides start or end with a little bit of crushed limestone. The Jari was the perfect candidate for an extended “nice to meet you” first ride on the Montour Rail Trail.
On the ride, however, I was distracted by the bike’s fast feedback and punchy feel. Instead of my scheduled easy ride, I took a detour to the forest and hit some of my local single track.
The Jari is outfitted with decently wide (meaty) gravel tires, which are voluminous enough to take on root rumble sections without much hand pain.
A Beast on the Flats
In the single track, the Jari was slightly slow in the twisty bits (it is a long bike) but comfortably stable and downright fast on wide-open sections. Now that I got the underbiking out of my system, I took the Jari for some actual gravel (not MTB).
Most of my gravel rides’ routes incorporate climbs, long heavy flats, and chunky descents. The Jari was capable overall but came to life on the long chugging flat sectors. The Jari performs like a diesel on the flats by eating big chunky gravel and plowing through potholes.
Downhill, the positioning and geometry lend confidence to the pilot, feeling capable of sailing through unstable terrain. The longer wheelbase helps with this confidence-inspiring ride and eats up road chatter.
The Jari’s pedaling position is neutral but not slack and inspires (to me) steady pedaling and a feeling of being over the gear.
Conclusion
After my time on the Fuji Jari, I wonder why more bike companies don’t release premium alloy gravel bikes. The Fuji Jari is inspiring with a sea of matte carbon gravel bikes ranging from $4K upward that would have difficulty matching its performance. The Jari 1.3 comes in at $2,000 — a more approachable price. The weight for this bike is more on the exploration/touring side at 21 lbs, but most of the added weight comes from the wheels and components (stem, seatpost, and bars). One could easily shave a few pounds off with smart upgrades.
For anyone looking for a drop bar bike that can do nearly everything, the Jari is it. The 1.3 model has a perfect build for gravel, exploration, cyclocross, and more.
It would be cool to see the Jari available as a frameset-only for those who already have most of a build kit at home.
The Fuji Jari 1.3 comes highly recommended for any rider looking for performance without a price tag to match.
For more info and to check out the full Fuji Jari line, roll over to Fujibikes.com
The post Fuji Jari 1.3 Gravel Bike Review: Performance Well Beyond its Pricepoint appeared first on Bikerumor.