First Look: Fuji’s MLink equipped Auric 27.5 and Rakan 29er
The Auric has 160mm of travel, rolls on 27.5″ wheels and uses the MLink suspension design (click to enlarge).
Fuji is a brand that has a rich and deep heritage on the road, tri, track and even cyclocross side of cycling. However, their mountain bike offerings have been limited to alloy and carbon hardtails without any full suspension bikes in their lineup. For 2016, Fuji is back with full suspension bikes in a big way, as they adopt the same MLink technology that their sister company, Breezer originated.
We recently tested the Breezer Repack so we are very familiar with the MLink suspension. It is a four bar linkage system that uses a unique mid-chainstay pivot. The climbing efficiency and small bump compliance of the system works extremely well and we can see why Advanced Sports International (parent company of both Fuji and Breezer) would extend MLink beyond just the Breezer marquee. Highlighted here are the Fuji Auric 27.5 and Rakan 29er.
Fuji Auric
The Auric is an enduro oriented mountain bike that takes the MLink system and packages it in a bike that is almost two pounds lighter than a similarly equipped Breezer Repack model. The Auric has 160mm of travel and rolls on 27.5″ wheels. The frame is Fuji’s A6-SL alloy which is their top of the line lightweight, butted aluminum. It has internal cable routing options and comes with Boost 148 hub spacing in the rear for stiffness and better tracking. Pivots use sealed cartridge bearings for durability and ease of maintenance and the Auric uses a press fit bottom bracket.
Check out this highlight reel from Fuji about the new Auric and Rakan mountain bikes.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh0yEcIjHiw
The Auric is available in four sizes (15″, 17″, 19″, 21″) and the color for the 1.1 is satin black with orange and blue highlights. The Auric 1.1 is spec’ed with a RockShox Pike RCT2 solo air fork with 160mm of travel and a RockShox Monarch Plus RC3 debonair handles rear suspension duties. The drivetrain is SRAM’s X01 1×11 with SRAM Guide RS brakes. Like most Fuji’s, the cockpit is heavily strewn with Oval Concepts (sister company of Fuji and Breezer) parts. The wheelset is DT Swiss E1700 Spline Twos rolling on Schwalbe Hans Dampf/Rock Razor tires front and rear. Claimed weight is 29.85 lbs for a size medium and the Auric will be available towards the end of November. Pricing is as follows:
UPDATE 11/18/15: Fuji has just significantly lowered the price across the board for their Auric and Rakan models. New prices shown below.
Auric 1.1 – $5400 $4749
Auric 1.3 – $5000 $4549
Auric 1.5 – $4210 $3699
Auric 1.7 – $3475 $3049
The Rakan’s frame is Fuji’s A6-SL alloy which is their top of the line lightweight, butted aluminum (click to enlarge).
Fuji Rakan
With less travel (120mm), but bigger tires (29″), the Rakan is very similar in features to the Auric but it is more targeted towards XC and all mountain trail riders than enduro racers. The frame is also Fuji’s A6-SL alloy which is their top of the line lightweight, butted aluminum. It has internal cable routing options and comes with Boost 148 and Boost 110 hub spacing for stiffness and better tracking. Pivots use sealed cartridge bearings for durability and ease of maintenance and the Rakan uses a press fit bottom bracket.
The Rakan is available in four sizes (15″, 17″, 19″, 21″) and the color for the 1.1 is satin black with blue and citrus highlights. The Rakan 1.1 is spec’ed with a Fox 32 Float 29 with 120mm of travel and a Fox Float handles rear suspension duties. The drivetrain is SRAM’s X1 1×11 with Shimano Deore XT brakes. Like most Fuji’s, the cockpit is heavily strewn with Oval Concepts (sister company of Fuji and Breezer) parts. The wheelset is DT Swiss X1700 Spline Twos rolling on Schwalbe Rocket Ron tires. Claimed weight is 26.84 lbs for a size medium and the Rakan will be available towards the end of November. Pricing is as follows:
Rakan 29 1.1 – $4700 $4199
Rakan 29 1.3 – $3600 $3149
Rakan 29 1.5 – $3150 $2749
And just where do the names “Auric” and “Rakan” come from? Our Fuji connection explained that the names are taken from Japanese Buddhist scriptures. An Auric pertains to aura as in the colors seen around the enlightened Buddha. And a Rakan is an evolved soul on the way to enlightenment, not quite to the level of a Buddha.
To learn more, visit www.fujibikes.com.
This article is part of Mtbr’s coverage of the 2015 Interbike trade show in Las Vegas. For more from Interbike CLICK HERE.
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