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Novara Fusion Bike

Cycling > BicyclesRated: 4 by 4 reviews.

REI

Leave the car at home! With high-end comfort, speed and gears for your every need, Fusion is the smart approach to alternative transportation.

  • Fusion is all about commuting and delivers the confidence and performance to pull off long rides in any weather, at any time of day
  • Built ready to ride, standard equipment includes dual-beam headlight, taillight, fenders, rear rack, bell and kickstand
  • Lightweight 6061 aluminum frame withstands the abuse of rough roads and bike lanes while enhancing ease of acceleration and hilly ascents
  • Shimano Alfine internal rear hub provides 8 smooth-shifting speeds and is remarkably maintenance free compared to conventional cassette systems
  • Paired with its 20T rear cog, Alfine has an equivalent to gear range to a 13 - 38 tooth freewheel
  • Front Alfine Dynamo hub powers a dual-beam headlamp; low beam is always on underway, and you can opt for the powerful halogen beam at night
  • Battery-powered, fender-mounted taillight provides rear visibility; it's photo- and motion-sensitive, working only in low light as you're underway
  • ATS height-adjustable stem allows a precise, comfortable fit
  • Tektro IO mechanical disc brakes provide positive stopping power no matter the terrain or weather—great for navigating traffic on rainy days
  • Tektro brake levers feature an integrated bell to alert cyclists and pedestrians to your whereabouts
  • Fenders fore and aft preclude wet, muddy lines up your front and down your back; also includes a kickstand for your parking and storing convenience
  • Fusion is ready for carrying groceries, a change of clothes or camping gear, with a rack that quickly accepts panniers and trunk bag (sold separately)
  • 700c wheelsets ensure a fast, smooth ride designed for covering long distances with a minimum of effort
  • Puncture-resistant Vittoria Randonneur tires feature reflective sidewalls, sure grip and low road resistance
  • Just get on and ride, no fancy shoes required—alloy platform pedals accommodate a variety of shoes
  • Specs are subject to change

Bike weight:Why we don't provide weights
Bottom bracket:Shimano Square Taper
Brake levers:Tektro
Brakes:Tektro IO mechanical disc
Chain:Shimano HG 53
Crankset:RPM City Single 46T
Fork:Pinpoint curved alloy
Frame:6061 aluminum
Front hub:Shimano Shimano Alfine disc
Gender:Unisex
Handlebar:Kalloy sweep aluminum
Headset:Semicartridge
Number of gears:8
Pedals:Alloy Platform
Rear cogs:Shimano 20T
Rear hub:Shimano Shimano Alfine disc
Rims:Alex Ace 17
Saddle:Velo Fast Comfort
Seat post:Kalloy aluminum
Shifters:Alfine Rapidfire
Stem:ATS adjustable
Tires:Vittoria Randonneur 700x32
Novara

View other products from Novara classified in Cycling > Bicycles.

View all products from Novara.
View other products classified in Cycling > Bicycles.

Sometimes, we can't be sure that the product is the same across the stores that offer it, so you may find the same product listed more than once on GearBuyer.com, we list these highly similar products below.

Novara Fusion ST BikeNovara Fusion ST Bike$899.00

Option Availability:

Use this chart to find which retailer offers this product in the size, color or other options that you desire. Click on the price to purchase.

SizeColor
Espresso
Espresso
Lrg (18")899.00
Xl (20")899.00
Med (16")899.00

Legend

  •     - REI

Novara Fusion Bike Reviews Summary:

RatingNumber
of Reviews
52
40
31
21
10
To see how this product compares to others view Reviews.

Positive Reviews:

Fine ride, good looks, great components.

Rating:*****
Compared to other "complete hybrid/commuter packages" this one has good dollar value and great components. This was my first time riding a internal geared bike and it's smooth, quiet and very adequate for my needs. I have a 21 speed MTB and the Alfine has an excellent gear range. I'm buying the ST model for my wife. Very classic look and great color. Comfortable ride, great brakes and good lighting. Pleased with the combination of extra's.
Jim the Commuter at REI on 01/01/2009

Great Commuter

Rating:*****
Great bang for your buck. The Alfine group is great. My bike did not come with the chain guard pictured on the site, but great ride non-the-less.
ericjoeychang at REI on 11/11/2008

Negative Reviews:

Needs work

Rating:**
I got this bike (the 2008 version) for winter commuting. Except for the lack of a chain guard the Fusion has everything I want in a commuter bike. However the design and component choices were not up to the job.

The bottom bracket failed (and was replaced).

The headlight burnt out and the REI shop could not find a replacement! Instead, they replaced the fixture with one for which replacement bulbs could be found.

The cables run into housings that loop under the bottom bracket where they collect water and slush which freeze and prevent breaking and shifting.

The shifter got stiff in the cold. The shop fixed this by removing all the grease from the shifter.

The automatic tail light sometimes did not turn off in the cold.

The front wheel squealed (LOUDLY) in subzero temps. The shop could not fix this.

The Nexus-8 shifter/hub would not shift reliably into 4th gear. The shop couldn't fix this either.
hokan at REI on 03/03/2009

Neutral Reviews:

Good bike, some gripes

Rating:***
I wrote a mostly favorable review of this bike a while ago, and decided to update my review a bit based on about 1500 miles of riding this winter and early spring.This bike is very nice in a lot of ways. It best compares to the Raleigh Detour Deluxe or the Giant Transend. The brakes work well (with a caveat in the wet/cold below), the generator and light work terrifically, and the hub provides a good range of gears for hill climbing. The bike is incredibly visible, and provides confidence when riding it in the dark.I have a Large size Fusion which weighs in at 40 pounds with empty saddlebags and empty water bottle. The internal speed hub, internal generator front hub, and disc brakes are all quite nifty, but they really add on the weight.There are a few design decisions that left me wanting more from this bike. [...] The rear brake cable housing is designed poorly and tends to fill with water. [...] I mentioned this issue on my blog, and the head of Novara product development contacted me with a fix. If you're planning to ride this bike in wet and (especially) cold weather, I recommend installing a SRAM Flak Jacket or similar cable system for the rear brake. Another design trouble is tire clearance. I ride my bike in the winter, and needed studded snow tires for it. The best snow tires I found for this bike are Kenda Klondike "skinny" 700x35C tires. They will fit inside the fenders -- barely. These tires are pretty hard to come by, though.A third design trouble is rear wheel removal. There are videos on the internet showing how easy it is to remove the rear wheel on a Fusion, but that must have been for a development prototype. I found that removing the rear wheel required removing the chain tensioner from the frame. This may not be an issue on the XL frame, but it certainly is on Large and smaller. Wheel removal requires many tools, including a box wrench, pliers, and an allen key. It's a bit involved for fixing a flat on the roadside.My final design gripe is the choice of chain. The Fusion comes standard with a 9-speed chain. 9-speed chains are thinner and thus wear out faster than a good single-speed chain. My chain is showing considerable stretch after just 1500 miles of riding. Since there are no external gears on this bicycle, a single-speed chain will work just fine. Indeed, a thicker chain makes sense given that this bicycle weighs so much.In all, I do like this bicycle. It does require some modifications from stock based on the environment that I ride it in, which adds a bit to the (already high) cost. In all, I would probably buy the bike again, though.
reidmefirst at REI on 03/03/2009