Last fall, Fuji unveiled its new weapon for the battle against the clock: the Norcom Straight . At the top of the five-model series is the 1.1 , which we've had the opportunity to test extensively over the past few weeks.
According to the manufacturer, the Norcom Straight 1.1 offers more adjustment options than any other time trial bike.
equipment and practice
Our test bike arrived in frame size 54 and was largely assembled. We only had to make the fine adjustments ourselves. And here, the bike truly surprised us. After just a few minutes, we had found our ideal riding position and adjusted the front end to our needs. This isn't necessarily the case with comparable bikes from other manufacturers – a definite plus for the Americans. This advantage would be even more impressive, however, if the angle of the Tribars on the Oval 960 handlebars could also be adjusted. Riders who prefer a more upright position at the front are unfortunately somewhat limited in their options.
The seating position, on the other hand, reveals no flaws and is relatively easy to find. While the clamp is beautifully integrated into the top tube of the carbon frame, the post head has a rail on which the saddle and clamp can be easily moved.
But the Norcom Straight 1.1 doesn't just score points in that respect. Fuji has also tried to correctly interpret the signs of the times when it comes to system integration. For example, Fuji equipped our test bike with a complete Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 Di2 groupset . At the front, this includes shift adapters at the ends of the Tribar handlebars, which only control the rear derailleur, as well as brake/shift levers specifically designed for time trial handlebars.
The electronic shifting suits the Norcom Straight 1.1 very well. The automatic adjustment of the front derailleur, which aligns itself according to the selected sprocket, is particularly impressive in the time trial position. Tedious readjustments, as are common with mechanical groupsets, are a thing of the past on this bike.
The fact that the battery for the integrated Dura-Ace Di2 groupset is mounted on the seatpost is due to the fact that the seatpost cannot accommodate an internal battery. This is, however, the only drawback.
Fuji uses blades with a gear ratio of 54 to 39 teeth on the crank, after all every second counts in the fight against the clock. The muscles can burn for a minute longer. The cassette is also relatively narrow and has a spread of 11 to 25 teeth.
We were also very impressed with the Oval 981 wheels, which we will examine in more detail in a separate test. Suffice it to say, they roll – and quite well at that. Braking performance is also excellent. In this respect, Fuji has done everything right. Since the 981s are clincher wheels, their weight of 1.800 grams is acceptable.
In crosswinds, they do react accordingly due to their rim depth, but by no means nervously. Even in these conditions, daring riders can remain on the Tribar . This isn't the case with every time trial bike and is a welcome change compared to models from other manufacturers.
We've already mentioned system integration. This also applies to the installed Aero TTV brakes from TRP. At the front, Fuji routes the cable through the headset, from where it runs via a deflection through the fork crown to the brake. The brake is mounted on the back of the crown.
The rear brake is located behind the bottom bracket. The cable is inserted into the frame behind the stem before emerging at the downtube. Fuji has thus opted for a solution similar to that found on standard aero road bikes like the Trek Madone.
Both brakes offer an appealing performance and can be dosed well. The positive thing is that you can largely rely on them, even in adverse conditions.
Conclusion
The Fuji Norcom Straight 1.1 is a refreshingly different time trial bike. We weren't able to assess its aerodynamic advantages over comparable models from the competition during our test. However, what did stand out was the exceptional riding comfort. This is undoubtedly due to the bike's ease of customization. And that's certainly not a bad thing when it comes to saving valuable seconds in a race. Furthermore, it comes very well-equipped right out of the box. Anyone looking to compete against the clock at a high level will find the Norcom Straight 1.1 to be a stress-free ally.
product Highlights
- very good setting options
- well thought-out frame details and system integration
- high quality equipment
- very nice optics
price and web
- 7.499,00 $
- www.fujibikes.com