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Specialized Fuse lights up longer, lower geometry & new 29er options

2019 Specialized Fuse
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From its first appearance at the 2015 Sea Otter Classic, the Fuse has been the go-to 27.5+ hardtail from Specialized. However, this year they’ve brought on 29er options and made a few tweaks to the geometry hoping to spark new interest in their front-sprung trail machine.

Updated Geometry

2019 Specialized Fuse

2019 Specialized Fuse photo c. Specialized

The most notable changes from years prior include a 20mm increase in reach across all sizes, slackened head tubes to 66.5º on the M4 models and 66º on the A1 option, along with a steeper 74º seat tube. Specialized also dropped the standover height by up to 52mm on some sizes for easier maneuvering while on the bike.

Other frame details

2019 Specialized Fuse2019 Specialized Fuse

A larger diameter downtube improves stiffness in the bottom bracket while carefully designed seat stays offer clearance for up to 29×2.6″ or 27.5×2.8″ tires with some wiggle room. The Fuse gets the now standard Boost 110 spacing in the front and 148 spacing in the rear to create room for those large tires. At its base is a threaded bottom bracket.

Differences between the M4 and A1 options

2019 Specialized Fuse

Their M4 aluminum frame can be run with gears or as a single-speed and allows up to 15mm in chainstay adjustment. This allows riders to lengthen the wheelbase for a steady controlled ride or shorten it for quicker handling on tight trails. As the name implies, their M4 option is built with their high-grade and lightweight M4 aluminum tubing. Also, the M4 is available for $800 as a frameset option.

The base level Fuse gets an A1 aluminum build and standard, non-adjustable thru axle dropouts.

Longer frame, shorter/wider components

2019 Specialized Fuse2019 Specialized Fuse

Specialized focused on making the new Fuse a trail shredder, not some podium hungry machine (though I’m sure they wouldn’t mind seeing it up there). Keeping fun and sendy in mind, they gave the Fuse a reduced offset 130mm fork, wide 780mm bars, and a short 45mm stem. Also, each model is now equipped with 1X drivetrains.

29er builds rule the roost

2019 Specialized Fuse Expert

Fuse Expert 29 – $2,150

  • 130mm RockShox 35 Gold fork
  • SRAM NX Eagle 1×12 drivetrain 30×11-50T
  • 34.9mm Tranz dropper with 100m XS-S, 120mm M, 150mm L travel
  • Stout Trail SL wheelset
  • Butcher GRID TRAIL w/ Gripton 29×2.6″ tires

2019 Specialized Fuse Comp

Fuse Comp 29 – $1,675

  • 130mm RockShox Recon RL fork
  • 34.9mm Tranz dropper with 100m XS-S, 120mm M, 150mm L travel
  • SRAM SX Eagle 1×12 drivetrain 30×11-50T
  • SRAM Level hydraulic disc brakes 180/160mm
  • Butcher GRID TRAIL w/ Gripton 29×2.6″ tires

2019 Specialized Fuse 27.5

Fuse 27.5 – $1,250

  • 130mm RockShox Judy Silver TK fork
  • Shimano Deore 1×10 drivetrain 30×11-42T
  • 30.9mm Tranz dropper with 100m XS-S, 120mm M-XL travel
  • Tektro HD-M275 hydraulic disc brakes 180/160mm
  • Butcher GRID TRAIL w/ Gripton 29×2.6″ tires

Specialized.com

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16 Comments
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Brian
Brian
4 years ago

Fyi, you can (and many do) run the old fuse carbon frame as a 29er. Just boost the fork up to 130mm. Fun bike that way.

Andy
Andy
4 years ago

Looks like a SC chameleon. Single bolt + axle on rear slider though?

Andrew Loscutoff
Andrew Loscutoff
4 years ago
Reply to  Andy

Like the Sc chameleon that’s within a working man’s budget!

Justfuzzit
Justfuzzit
4 years ago
Reply to  Andy

There’s actually a tricky adjuster bolt on the inside that prevents the dropout from slipping.

Collin S
4 years ago
Reply to  Andy

@Andy, Giant uses a single bolt on the non drive side on the XTC+ frames. I’ve ridden one single speed for 2 years without an issue. The through axle tightens up the system as well so its really a 2 bolt system. Everyone has been fine with 2 bolt paragon sliders for years.

GreenPlease
GreenPlease
4 years ago

Love the frame especially in the brushed Aluminum finish *but* I have a hard time stomaching over $2,000 for an NX build.

Tim
Tim
4 years ago
Reply to  GreenPlease

Me, too! That’s a high price to pay for NX.

Ant'ney
Ant'ney
4 years ago

2150 with a Recon Gold and NX?!?!? Specialized just helped Ragley, NukeProof, SC, NS Bikes and a few others sell a lot of aggressive hardtails,.

Pete
Pete
4 years ago
Reply to  Ant'ney

@greenplease, @tim and @ant’ney I actually think this bike is a ridiculous value. full pop the expert model is $2150, most placing in the states will probably sell it for $2k. I am a small frame builder in here in the US and seeing you guys note that the price was high, I did some research, no one has the same spec on the market for less minus perhaps a super garbage brand which I did not look at. Nukeproof, SC, NS are all more than this with the same/similar spec. Some were actually even more. At oe pricing for all the parts + SBC’s $800 for the frame, you’d be really hard pressed to even get there building it on your own. Point being I am not sure where you are finding that the price is high, sure it has a $250usd (give or take) drivetrain on it, but there are a bunch of those parts to the whole.

slimbimjim
slimbimjim
4 years ago
Reply to  Pete

I can only compare to the Trek Roscoe 8 which has a full NX Eagle and Rockshox 35 Gold fork for $300 less at retail here in Australia.

xyei
xyei
4 years ago
Reply to  slimbimjim

the singlespeed viability + thru axles + SRAM brakes (pricier) + full NX GS (Trek has Truvativ mixed, cheaper) + pricier RS fork = that price gap

Ted
Ted
4 years ago

No more XXL? Nooo!

Andrew Stackhouse
Andrew Stackhouse
4 years ago

I sell these and the Chameleon and in a head to head spec between the D and R build of the latter, its priced really well, with significant upgrades from the 1799 D build and has better brakes and a burlier if not better fork than the 2399 R build.

Also, no shop that wants to stay in business long is going to sell this bike for $2K even – the margin is not awesome.

slimbimjim
slimbimjim
4 years ago

I’m beginning to think so. So what does that make the Trek Roscoe, a steal?

IzzyM
IzzyM
4 years ago

I wish the A1 had a 29er build option =(

Chris Rash
Chris Rash
4 years ago

I agree….that price for an NX build is high. Keep in mind anyone will pay a higher price just because of the name. However, the last 3 bikes I’ve owned have been Specialized simply because they seem to fit me better. Also the service is better at my local Specialized/Giant shop than the other brands. The part I don’t understand about the new Fuse is the better A1 frame is only offered in the 29er. If a person prefers the 27.5 but wants the better frame the price of the bike instantly goes up by $700 to $800 because of buying 27.5 wheels and tires. Why not just use the better frame across the whole fuse line?

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