Fuji Porteur

2012 Fuji Porteur in dark gold. Courtesy: Fuji.

Fuji is offering its new Porteur bike at an MSRP of $559.  The price is right, and so is the bike, with its fenders, chainguard, high stem with riser bars, and comfy upright ride.  But what about that front rack?

Porteurs were French newspaper deliverers, and the newspapers were stacked up high on a front rack right in front of their handlebars.  A bike needs a certain design to accomplish this - primarily a front fork that is strong enough (Fuji is using hi-tensile steel) to handle the load.  The fork also must have enough bend or "rake" to distribute the weight out over the front wheel.  Fuji's Porteur appears to have plenty of rake.  Still, if you have the opportunity to test ride it, bring along something heavy (phone books?) to see how the front weight affects your steering. 

I do have one not-so-small criticism of this bike.  It doesn't have a front brake.

Specs:


SIZES XS/S (48cm), S (52cm), M/L (56cm)

COLOR(S) Dark Gold/Yellow

MAIN FRAME Elios 2 custom-butted CrMo w/ fork stablizer eyelets

REAR TRIANGLE Elios 2 custom-tapered CrMo

FORK Fuji 1 1/8" HiTen fork w/ CrMo steerer and rack/fender eyelets

CRANKSET Fuji forged alloy crank, 44T

BOTTOM BRACKET Sealed cartridge ST

PEDALS Fuji 1-piece alloy platform

FRONT DERAILLEUR N/A

REAR DERAILLEUR N/A

SHIFTERS Shimano Nexus 3-speed

CASSETTE Shimano, 20T cog

CHAIN KMC Z-410

WHEELSET Fuji sealed bearing 36H QR front hub and Shimano Nexus 36H 3-speed rear hub w/ Fuji double wall alloy 36H rims

TIRES Kenda K-193, 700x38c

BRAKE SET coaster brake

BRAKE LEVERS N/A

HEADSET Fuji 1 1/8" standard semi-cartridge

HANDLEBAR Fuji steel

STEM Fuji steel quill

TAPE/GRIP Fuji kraton

SADDLE Fuji padded and sprung

SEAT POST Fuji micro-adjust alloy, 300x27.2mm

WEIGHT 14.98 / 33

OTHERS kickstand, fenders