First Look: The New Specialized Fuse is a Hardtail, Built for Fun

 Needs a steel option though.......

 I assume it's an integrated headset, otherwise you could bang a works headset into it...

 @hardtailparty Have a look at the NS Bikes Eccentric Alu Evo 29: 65* HTA, 74* STA (1*steeper than Fuse) and adequate reach.
Goes for ~$320 including shipping straight from Europe. Less than half the price of the Fuse frame and same amount of fun.
@JDFF the Eccentric comes in steel as well

 @rjp1: got an Alu version on sale for $249 last year (less than the dropper post I put on it). Amazingly versatile bike.

 @bvd453: Agreed! I've had mine set up with 140mm fork and 27.5+ 2.8 wheels, 29" 2.3 wheels, or even with skinny 42mm wheels and a rigid fork for gravel grinding. It does it all.

 specialized: never late to the party

 @rjp1: will it fit a 29x2.6 tire?

 @generationfourth: 29x2.5 on wide rims does fit. Never tried 29x2.6.

 @rjp1: check Octane one Prone bikes, it is the cheap brand from NS, their hardtail has a nice geo and is rigid AF for less than 200€

 @rjp1: sure, but those frames are cheap and it shows. I ordered one and the quality control was horrible, I sent it back. Ended up with a Chromag and couldn't be happier.

 @Balgaroth: I remember looking into those but they only came in 142x12 rear spacing and didn’t take tires wider than 2.3

 @hardtailparty $800 for an aluminium frame? We have different definitions of cheap.

 @Trevorjn: I’m happy with mine, but agree that some finishes of the paint could be a bit better.
Also it’d be interesting to see the Fuse’s frame weight (presumably a bit lighter than the Eccentric), but Specialized never tells.

 @rjp1: sure what is the problem with that ? You find plenty of good parts for cheap, considering it is only a hardtail you have plenty of rigidity anyway so Boost is irrelevant. As for tires I am runing DHF 2.5 or DHR 2.4 without too much problem, bigger tires are pointless really unless you are a begginer seeking for easier, forgiving and less precise ride.

 @rjp1: what year is yours? My eccentric barely clears a 2.4 minion on the drive side chainstay.

 @JDFF: 10,000 UP ARROWS for steel

 @rideitall-bmx-dh-road-unicycle: If this were offered in steel for that price, I'd scoop it in a heartbeat.

Sadly, though, none of the larger companies appear to have any love for steel or titanium. I guess they've decided that the market for such things is just too small.

 @opetruzel: Kona Honzo- steel and Ti (up until a year or two ago)

 @bvd453: Commencal Meta HT, Transition Trans Am, both available in steel, again, up until a year or two (or three) ago. I guess it's not viable for larger companies.

 @metaam: Got an old frame you can sell me from the steel days?

 @JDFF: damn right. it's ALMOST at Honzo.

 @metaam: Honzo's are $450. Which is pretty much what Specialized ALMOST copied here.

 @rideitall-bmx-dh-road-unicycle: I've got a steel frame, but sorry, it's a keeper.

 @metaam: I agree that $800 for an alloy frame is insane, but $1250 for a complete is cheap, especially considering it'll be at most local bike shops.

 Chromag @JDFF:

 @opetruzel: Also check out the RSD middle child. I'm loving mine. Steel and Ti options. Threaded bb, 64.5* HTA,415-430 CS, 27.5, 27.5+, 29x2.6. Singlespeed or geared. Fantastic bike.

 My Vitus Sentier is at 65* with a 130mm 29/27.5+ fork instead of a 27.5 fork. Built it frame up from another bike. I would rather a 150mm fox36, but it was CHEAP. I can run a 2.8 rear in the winter and a 3.0 up front.

 @5poundplumbbob: The Honzo is $575, so only $225 cheaper and it's not aluminum. To me, this specialized is the better look bike and likely builds up lighter.

 @Thisisbenji90: so the Honzo is 28% less expensive and comes in steel (which many of us like and see as an advantage)

 Reckon it won't be too long before they drop an Evo model.. now that would be a real party to ride!

 @Trevorjn: meh, I prefer aluminum all day. I think saying the Honzo is 28% less expensive is misleading though. Once you build the two up, the price difference is going to be much less than 28%.

 @Thisisbenji90: Ever ride a steel Honzo? You'll forget about it being heavier on the first downhill.

 I'm not really sure how this math works here.

 @Trevorjn: I've had a couple Honzo ST's now, and have tried some other Steel and Ti bikes that are similar. The flattened chainstays on the Honzo are magical in the rough stuff. I'm guessing you've fallen in love as well....

 fact

 Steel feels way better than aluminum. That being said, it would be a shame to put this build on a Chromag.

 While I like Chromag, I’m more partial to Cotic

 I think Chromags are cool, but not everyone wants a hard tail that's so aggressive. (Like me).

 @Trouterspace: I've put a lot of beginners on y 64* HTA hardtail, and they have no problem riding it. If anything, they ride it better than most 71* hardtails out there. But I can appreciate that not everyone wants an aggressive hardtail.

 @hardtailparty: Not everyone wants one, but probably everyone would be better off with one.

 @hardtailparty: I want an aggressive hardtail, but you have to be in good shape. Learned that the hard way. They're mostly for a good, silly time in my opinion. Not very practical. (me a wannabe circus performer)

 @hardtailparty. Sounds cool but I have no idea if I'd like such a bike as I've never seen an aggressive hardtail at a demo day.

 @Trouterspace: I bet you could find a Chromag from a few years ago that’s not so aggressive (and cheaper than new!). They last forever, which is more than I can say for aluminum frames.

 @Kramz: Here it is all one need, if your a semi good rider.
No slouch'in around!
Cotic solarisMAX FTW, which I guess is actually cheaper in Europe.
But that spesh looks nice though.

 CS too short tho

 @monz9dk: while I love the Solaris the BFe and BFe26 are on sale atm for a killer deal if people can live with the smaller wheels

 @Trouterspace: Totally get you. I went from a Chromag Primer to the og Fuse running a 140mm fork, I really enjoyed how sprightly the Fuse was overall, which is what I was looking for. And for an aluminum frame it actually felt quite compliant in the back. The raised saddle to bar position felt nearly identical despite the Fuse giving up 15mm in reach. So I suspect this new Fuse fit wise won't feel a whole lot different in the seated position, the gains in reach will be absorbed by the slacker HA and steeper SA.

 @BeKwik: Specialized offer a lifetime warranty, at least on their HT aluminum frames. And this warranty is also transferable in the first 2 years. So it's as good as lasting forever

 I guess you like basic @EgoLicentia:

 They make more than one model @Trouterspace:

 @acali: I wish weould see more hardtails at demo days. The only hardtails I see are bikepacking bikes, or boring traditional 68* hta with 430mm chainstay 29ers. I'm hoping this changes in the future. This is one reason I'm excited to see something semi-aggressive from a big name brand, so we'll see them in more shops and in more demo days, which will allow people to realize just how rad an aggressive hardtail is.

 @THE-GUNT: Even the least aggressive model, the Surface is 150mm with a 65° head angle and 480mm reach. That's pretty much the same as my full suspension bike. My hardtail is 66° with 130mm fork and closer to 460mm reach, perfect for what I like to ride.

 @THE-GUNT: @THE-GUNT: in which context of the word? If by an overall straight forward frame then yeah, if by a relatively standard/conservative geo and look then also yes although my basic ass is mildly offended. Or is this about the small wheels?

I do love basic(ally) all of the stuff Chromag does I personally just can’t justify some of the prices.

 @acali: I wasn't sure either but I built a Rootdown and God do I love it. It doesn't ride like you'd think just based on the numbers, it is a great bike, super fun.

 @nouseforaname: I built a bike around a dented old DMR Trailstar frame I bought off eBay for £25 (+parts I got from a bike at the dump for £3 lol), for a fun winter beater.

I'm now selling my full sus.

 $800 for an aluminum hardtail frame from a big manufacturer is pretty steep. That being said, and all politics aside, things aren't going to be as cheap from China any more. 95% of our bike parts are made overseas so expect to pay more for all things cycling. Yay to an already expensive sport!

 This is CA, so it's all good stuff. We don't smoke no bammer weed.

 @BeKwik: nah - companies are already shifting production to Vietnam, Myanmar, etc

 $800 frame only is pretty much the same as a Chromag Rootdown. And side by side? Well the Rootdown blows the doors off the Fuse.

 Expert level should definitely get a GX drivetrain at least... said as an official Specialized fanboy.

 Specialized if you are listening: the design looks awesome. But the spec? Come on. I was about to send the link to this to a buddy of mine who is in the market for such a bike until I saw the spec on an expert. NX on an AL hardtail for that price?

 @nouseforaname: but the Rootdown is steel... And has better Geo... And is a little cheaper. ????

 RSD can put you on a bike with argueably radder geo with better parts, as can others. 800 alu frame! haha

 Agree. Nukeproof Scout $1699 with NX, Revelation Fork, Guide Brakes and slacker.

Spec price seems pretty high. It is a great looking bike and has sliding dropouts for those few folks who care to pay waaay more for that.

 @OzarkBike: watch out for RSD next spring, could make alu dreams come true for way less.

 @JesseE: "dreaming" about new aluminum builds seems rather... depressing?

 @coyotecycleworks: yup.. Might as well start buying Thomson, White Ind, and Profile. $800 for this frame is ridiculous though considering a Honzo is $450.

 @JesseE: x2 on RSD bikes. Loving mine.

 I'm convinced that big brands dont want modern geo hardtails to become too mainstream. Reason: Less profit margins on initial purchase, last a bit longer than squish bikes and stay relevant longer. However, geo updates will change on this one, to get to that 64/65 HTA. Give three years and I promise a few large bike companies will be offering 64/65 HTA and longer wheel bases. Which will be rad!!!!

 @JDFF: but will it?? I’ve been like countless others down the long and slack route and whilst it may be faster on long straighter , swoopy sections they don’t offer the same fun factor for local trails, give me a 66-67 head angle , short travel ripper and a skittish ride any day, sooo much more fun

 If the cost is an issue (so that even a Cotic BFe would be too expensive) I suppose OnOne would be a good choice. They used to have the 456. For the past couple or years now they have the Dee Dar.

 @sewer-rat:
66-67 on an HT is more like 70 once you get into your travel a little bit, the formula is something like you gain approximately .5 of a degree for every 10mm of travel you use. So after sag a 64 is sitting around 65 and during compression it gets even steeper. 64 on a hardtail puts you in that fun and agile 66-67 range where a trail bike is so good.

 @sewer-rat: if you can’t have fun on a bike with a 64-65 head angle size down or ride harder.

 @sewer-rat: depends on your local trails.

 @TheSlayer99: have had them 65 head angles for years thanks and place pretty well where I live, decided to size down and guess what, more fun and faster for me, but that’s just me

 @sewer-rat: Pick a head angle and no need to be dick about it anymore. Your friends at PB will be double cyber dick. Get with the times !

 @JDFF: Mainstream is Lamestream. Ain't nobody want that!

 @5poundplumbbob: agreed! But I do want people to shred on hardtails. There is so much stigma that hardtails dont shred. I personally know that's not true. I want the rest of the bike community to know that. The more (good modern) hardtails out there the better!

 @JDFF: exactly. 99% of mountain bikers have never tried an aggressive hardtail. These will be everywhere, which should help more people get exposed to them. Maybe we'll even see them at demo days.

 @hardtailparty: Not sure what it is like in North America, but I feel in Europe we've had more than a few options. Also the cheaper models. OnOne had different incarnations of the 456 (with the 456 Summer Season getting a bit lower and slacker than the regular model), they switched to the DeeDar a few years ago, Commencal has been offering aggro hardtails for a good while, the Cotic BFe isn't all that expensive, DMR had the Trailstar as their do-it-all hardtail. Actually early 00's you had the real huckable overforked overbuilt hardtails from the likes of 24Bicycles but Banshee (Mythic, for the Brits) was up there too. Overbuilt went out of fashion but riding hardtails hard never went away. Obviously bikes back then were relatively short and steep by modern standards but that went with full suspension bikes too. Nowadays indeed we're seeing more and more offerings. Even Cube is offering some longer/slacker hardtails now (though mind you their Flying Circus of back in the days wasn't an all out 4X/DJ bike, it was just a hucker too).

Oh I could go on and on (I already did, sorry) but really aggressive hardtails have been out there for a long while and there have always been affordable options too. If Specialized wants to sell these, all they need to do is get Matt Hunter to ride these and have a blast. Roast a fish and pop a beer with some good mates. People see that, want a piece of the life too and then they buy the bike.

 @vinay: Europe gets it. They've got so many good hardtails. Unfortunately you won't see any of those in north america. We do, however, have cromag, corvid, rsd, and a few others.

 You missed Pace!

 Well said mate. It does make me laugh that people feel it necessary to mention all the other companies that make a similar product as if only one company is allowed to make a damn hardtail lol. Maybe they go in Tesco and pick up a six pack of Peroni and exclaim “wtf.. Stella?!”

 I just took my sentier to Spider mountain. I had no trouble getting to the top..... pedals like a billy goat LOL!

 d.i.y.

 Rootdown!

 honzo is a great frame, but I wish Kona would update it with a slacker head angle

 I really wanted a Honzo but the Honzo is too small for me... the Fuse XL is a larger bike overall.

 @xeren: It's mad how cutting edge they were, and then it's just like they forgot to update the specs and the factory has just kept pumping them out. Maybe they're sitting on a huge pile of frames that they get repainted every couple of years. When did the Honzo launch? 2011? With a 68deg HA, that was crazy talk.

 @nouseforaname: I think what they need to do is just create a new frame with a new name, based on the Honzo with a 64-65 degree HA. Keep the Honzo for bikepacking and blue singletrack riders, but release the Honzo+ (or whatever they want to call it) to keep up with the times.

And, while they're at it, maybe get rid of a half dozen or so of their cheaper bike names. blast, cinder cone, fire mountain, etc, and just have a couple frames, one for 27.5, one for 29

 @xeren: Well I'm not sure I'm with you on that one, Cinder Cone and Fire Mountain are some long serving names in the Kona lineup.

 No shit.

 Ditto on the warranty, snapped the bb shell on mine, the big S and LBS handled it perfectly, full bike replacement. That bike would g-out of berms like a slingshot, so much fun.

 @twomikez: They didn't have any XL frames or complete bikes so they gave me a 2018 Carbon expert stumpy frame and fork as a replacement. Folks may bag on the big S but they really know customer service.

 c'mon, who do you really know that rides a 26"+ bike?

 @connorjuliusjohnson: I purposely built an XTR carbon hardtail on a 27.5 frame with 26"+ DT wheels and a 160 mm Manitou Mattox and a dropper post. Light, strong, and want to float over everything.

 @Geochemistry: nice, I bet it is great. That said, this fits 27.5+ which has a lot more tire/wheel options for and you could still build it light & strong.

 But the chameleon has a degree steeper head angle and slacker seat angle, longer seat tube lengths in compatible sizes, but other than that they are pretty similar I guess

 Why? You don`t have that sort of thing yet? Dig it

 @Franzzz: had to get mine from the UK

 Been here for years!

 Why, because you’re Enduro?

 Agreed! I know I'm the minority, but I'd love a fatty with a 64* HTA and short stays (which would probably require a 24" rear wheel, which would be fine). The on-one baby fatty was promising.

 They remind me of Apple. Nice products with a big price tag that are years too late...

 are you kidding?

 Agreed. Definitely a superior flat bar road bike.

 @scottzg: Even better with aero bars.

 @nrb251: ngl I want aero bars on my bike packing chameleon build