Fuji Sportif 1.5 Disc (2018)

Great all-road bike with fast-wearing componentry

Pros

- tough, smooth-rolling Vittorias
- comfortable geometry borrowed from higher-end Fujis
- performer on road or gravel

Cons

- Tiagra drivetrain and mechanical disc brakes ask to be upgraded

Review

The Sportif 1.5 is a versatile ride designed for durability and performance on a wide range of surfaces, in all types of conditions. Heard that before? Chances are that you have – pretty much every manufacturer on the planet is churning out bikes labelled as “all-road”, “gravel”, “all-purpose”, “off-road endurance”, “Gran Fondo” and various other spin-offs along the same lines. What makes the Sportif 1.5 Disc any different? Well, not much really. It’s a solid bike with an excellent pedigree, great handling and a comfortable riding position, but it’s much more affordable than most other quality bikes in this category.




When a bike is noticeably cheaper than its competition, our natural instinct is to go searching for where the corners have been cut. In this case it doesn’t take long to find out, and it’s really in two areas only. A bike as good as this deserves a groupset much better than 10-speed Shimano Tiagra, but that’s what it comes with. Disappointing, but not too hard to fix. The options are to either find a cheap 10-or-11-speed Shimano 105 or Ultegra groupset and install it straight away, or to run the Tiagra components into the ground then replace them with an upgrade. Either way, it’s not an insurmountable problem. The same goes for the technically sound mechanical Tektro Spyre disc brakes with 160mm rotors. Obviously hydraulic brakes would be preferable – these are barely adequate, but they are capable enough to get by on and maybe could be replaced sometime during the bike’s life.




What’s not a problem at all is the A2-SL alloy frame. With tapered seatstays and chainstays, it’s lightweight and durable despite the long wheelbase. This extra length, combined with a tall headtube and endurance geometry borrowed from the top-of-the-range Gran Fondo 1.1, means the rider can assume a more upright riding position with reduced arm and back fatigue.

The full-carbon monocoque fork offers excellent control, handling and stability, as well as saving some weight. In a Medium-sized frame, the 1.5 Disc weighs in at a respectable 21.78 lbs / 9.89 kg.

The lovely fat 28mm Vittoria Zaffiro tires are road ready, but quite capable on the gravel or fire trails. The Vera Corsa wheels with Formula disc hubs stay stiff in the corners and straight on the road, offering stability and confidence on swooping descents and rougher roads.

It’s not necessarily slow, but this machine will never be mistaken for a pure race bike. The endurance geometry puts the rider in a more upright position, meaning the miles will pass by slightly slower but in much more comfort. Rack and fender mounts add carrying capacity and mean that, with some cyclocross tires, the Sportif could be used for bikepacking, camping or other off-road adventures.

Available in seven sizes to cater for all heights and leg lengths, the Sportif comes in an attractive Satin Charcoal finish. It looks great, but performs even better than it looks. If you’re in the market for a bike that handles beautifully, is a capable performer on a variety of surfaces and punches well above its weight in terms of price, you’d be well advised to test ride the Sportif 1.5 Disc.

- Review by Marcus Speed.