2020 Fuse 27.5

I bought this bike in the spring of 2020 at age 48 to dip my toes back into mtn biking. I hadn't been mtn biking / trail riding for almost 10 years (my previous bike, a 2003 Rocky Mountain Slayer full-suspension, needed to be put out to pasture). I've enjoyed this bike immensely, and I'm fully back into trail riding, and loving it. I don't claim to be the fastest going up or down. And I may shy away from some of the more gnarly trails. But I've ridden a ton and the Fuse never disappointed me. I just upgraded to a StumpJumper, but I've never regretted buying the Fuse.

So far great bike. Factory components not so good and too heavy. Changed wheels for WR1. Upgrades include Sram XX1 Cassette, XO1 Deraileur, XO1 Crankset and Dub BB, One Up Carbon Bar, Chromag Stem, Ergon grips Power Saddle, Code RSC brakes. Next month my Rockshox Pike Ultimate Fork will arrive. Light, nimble, fun play trail bike. No complaints. I've had S-Works bikes, Pivots, Yeti. This rides just as nice.

I rallied this chassis for 11 months until I snapped the drive-side chain stay. It was decently fun. I had replaced the fork with a plusher one and added a longer dropper post. It was my hard tail! Unfortunately, I am a second owner. The first guy never rode it. That's why I bought it. It was basically brand new. I am a heavy dude so it's partially my fault. Just wish the light alu frame was a little more durable. Lesson learned. On to titanium or steel.

I really like this bike. I upgraded from an old P series and after a year of riding its great. Very chuckable, and very forgiving.

I bought this bike as an upgrade from a terrible xc bike... which I was slaying over big jumps... I've had this bike for over a year, and altho I've upgraded it (as all good owners should) i'd say it's a great frame... definitely new tyres were first up... some new maxxis dhf and dhr ii's make it grip awesomely... a wtb volt seat to give it some comfort.... One of the things which did disappoint me a tad was the drivetrain components... since I bought it, I have upgraded it to sram sx/nx/gx gear, as I'm not a big Shimano fan, but the best upgrade was the sram sx DUB bottom bracket... altogether, i'd say it's a great bike... and I still hit massive jumps and hit tech trails on it, but it defiantly will need some upgrades...

I've had this bike now for 3 months and have counted 78 hard rides on it so far. I love the geometry and love riding fast and boosting off of everything I can see with this bike. Where I live, there are lots of rock gardens and roots and I can handily pump up over and around anything in my way. Super playful ride. I suggest the 3"" tires at 15 psi for a180lb. rider.

This bike is great for the trails that I ride. It goes where I point it and does not disappoint. So far I replaced the bar, stem, crank and swap out the drive train to Shimano XT. Got ride of all the reflector and converted to tubeless. I didn't weigh it before but according to my bathroom scale I got it down to 28lbs. The only thing holding it back is the heavy wheels. After I get some new wheels I will update this review.

This is my first real mountain bike from the Walmart bikes I have bought in the past. I have to say, I have been depriving myself of quality bike rides my whole life. Very impressed with climbing abilities, Gear shifting, front fork, rim an tire and seat post. I feel like the brakes could be better but they are not as bad as others say. I did convert to tubeless and sure glad I did. Overall I think this bike will be best for me to grow my skill for many years to come.

This is a bike worth buying if you're into a bit more hardcore riding than xc hardtails can handle but not quite wealthy enough to purchase a full suspension. It can get rowdy but is very stable when pointed downhill, it will do what you want. Love the geometry, components have given me a bit of trouble but, to be fair, that's to be expected with intro-level parts. Nothing major just issues with tuning and brakes could be more powerful. That being said, the bike is VERY durable. I have crashed it several times, one of which I broke bones in, and it still rides like a dream. It inspires confidence and is a great skill builder, so be warned that this bike can take you past your limits if not careful. All around a solid, well-built bike at an approachable price for a beginner or budget MTBer looking to get a bit more than your normal hardtail.

I've had this bike for about two weeks now. The brakes seemed kinda sketch at first but really just need to break them in. The fork is great for the price point. The drive train is the only thing i'd upgrade on this bike.

Great bike. I use it a lot for getting around, trails and some skate park skills. All round has been great but the cranks are not sitting right and have started grinding and moving about as I pedal after only about 5 months of moderate usage. Disappointing from a bike of this price and from this company.

Geo is really nailed on this. Getting a 130mm fork and a dropper at this price point is great! Tires are awesome for Phoenix and Sedona Arizona. Saddle is comfy vs the competition. I had the same issue as another reviewer; square tabered cranks came off after two hours of riding. Specialized offered a small amount of $$$ towards an upgraded SRAM crankset and DUB bottom bracket. I put a 200mm rotor up front and moved the 180mm to the back and now the brakes are great for a 200+ lb rider. The ten speed deore shifting has been great, and I've never dropped a chain. Actually prefer the 10 speed vs a 12 speed because I can get to the low/top end of the range quicker for quickly changing technical terrain. Specialized needs to not use old square taper tech and a slight brake upgrade. Still 5 stars.

I'm going to split this review into two parts, the bike itself (frame geometry and how it rides) and its components. The Bike This bike is an absolute blast to ride. For as big as it is, it rides super lightweight. After a couple months of ownership and a few spills, I can't really give a comment on durability but its holding up well and the frame has a lifetime warranty so who cares. Components The entry level components are exactly that. In my opinion, they are garbage. I'll call out the crankset, shifter and rear derailer combo to be specific. When I bought the bike I understood that the square taper BB is old tech and I would upgrade eventually. I didn't expect it to happen after two rides. The Specialized Stout crankset on that bottom bracket stripped and kept coming loose. I'm not sure as to chalk that up to Specialized or to the shop I bought it from for improper installation. None the less, its terrible and I ended up putting a SRAM DUB BB with the GX Crankset. Love it. My issue with the shifter and derailer is that the shifter kept getting stuck on my first ride! I hadn't even fell yet and it was not functioning correctly. That was also replaced with GX. Conclusion After making those upgrades, the bike is an absolute dream! The problems I had with the components made me want to give it a 3 star but I didn't because I'm not sure if it was caused by the shop or the quality of Specialized products. Also the fact that I understood these were entry level components and would need to be upgraded eventually made me rate with compassion. It just sucked to have to do it so early after spending so much on a bike. If you don't want to deal with the component issues, I would say build your own or spend more with and get the Fuse Comp Carbon 27.5+ or Expert 27.5+. Other than that, two thumbs up!

What do I like about the bike? Everything! Lets start with the 2.8 tires. Traction everywhere! Downhill, uphill, across rocks, roots and in the corners. I love em! Geometry and ergonomics? They are spot on. The bike handles great! 66 degree head angle and the wide bars, bring on the downhills! The dropper seat post is an added bonus. This is my favorite trail bike to date!

I bought this bike to get back into trail riding after years off. I'm mid fifties and had to stop riding because of life and eventually a back surgery. I've continued to ride road bikes, but had longed for something more rugged that wouldn't break the bank. After researching for months and some crucial test rides, six weeks back I threw down for a Fuse 27.5 and have ridden it nearly every day since. My riding has been 80% road and 20% desert trails (mixed gravel, sand and small rocks). It's a hard tail and the tried and true Judy RockShox remind me of the good old days flying down the redwood trails of the Marin Headlands. Between the balloon tires and air shocks, the ride is that perfect combination of nimble steering, stiffness, and cushioning when you need it; honestly, she seems to just stick to the gravel in the turns, increasing my trail riding confidence. The Shimano Deore derailleur and 10 speed gear set reliably get the job done, and I'm honestly surprised by my speed on level road. The dropper post is awesome! I'd never used one before and was timid at first, but with a little practice, it's hard to believe I rode all these years without one! If for nothing else, the ease of mount/dismount is worth the price of admission alone. YMMV, but it really works for me. The hydraulic disks are sweet! After a brief break-in, she stops really well. The Satin Sage Green paint is a cool color that seems to change depending on the light. Sometimes it looks olive drab, other times brighter and more mintesque. Right now she's covered in desert dust and looks like a military vehicle that just did a tour of duty in the bad lands! Nothing's perfect and the seat is just okay. Easily upgraded but not needed yet. Other than that, I've really got no complaints and haven't had any issues. Here's hoping she'll stand the test of time, but as of right now, the Fuse 27.5 is totally worth the money!

First let me tell you this bike is amazing. I have been in the sport for 20 years and this is the best bike I have ever owned. It climbs like a goat and is inspiring and confident on the down hill. Takes chunk and gnar like a complete beast. For a base line in this line up it's amazing. Spend the extra money to go tubeless you won't regret it.

Geometry is dialed. Components could be better. The brakes are terrible for the intended use of this bike. Fork seems okay for now, but I don't see it lasting long. Seems small and flimsy. I guess you get what you pay for. I'll be upgrading fork and brakes very soon. Then it will be a great bike.

It's lighter then I thought

Had it about a week.. I've been riding almost everyday and it's awesome. The geometry of this bike makes it very easy to handle amd whip around. Surprisingly the Judy is quite stiff and can handle Any thing thus far. All in all way better then last fuse.. I had a 2018 Rocket red