Fuji Rakan 29 LT Long-Term Review 6

Getting out and riding your bike is the best way to clear your mind and escape reality. However, getting your hands on a well-built and reasonably-priced MTB has become difficult in recent years. Fuji, a company that has been around longer than anyone reading this has been alive, is making a push to bring riders quality bikes without breaking the bank. The Rakan 29 LT 1.1 is their enduro model that rides much larger than the 150mm of travel would suggest and features a geometry and component package built for the wildest descents.

Rakan 29 LT 1.1 Highlights

• Aluminum frame construction
• 29-inch wheels 
• 150mm (5.9 inches) of rear wheel travel // 170mm (6.69 inches) fork travel
• MLink suspension design
• 63.5-degree head angle
• 76.5-degree seat angle
• RockShox ZEB Select+ 
• RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Select +
• TRP Trail EVO brakes
• SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed Eagle drivetrain
• WTB Speedterra ST i30 TCS 2.0 wheelset
• Maxxis EXO+ / MaxxTerra tires
• UDH equipped
• Internal cable routing
• 12x148 boost spacing
• Sizes: S-XL
• 2 build options
• Weight (size large, verified): 35.8 lbs (16.2 kgs)
• MSRP: $4,999 USD (On sale for $3,999 at time of writing)

Fuji is bringing a lot to the table with the Rakan LT. With a well-thought-out spec and a price that won't break the bank, it offers riders one bike capable of handling most descents with relative ease while maintaining the ability to get you back to the top of the hill. The Rakan LT is the longest-travel 29-inch bike in Fuji's lineup, with the other option being the Rakan 120mm travel trail bike. Having a smaller lineup, Fuji had to deliver on the different aspects of mountain biking short of your average trail ride, and they did, mostly. While the Rakan LT is heavy and not the most efficient pedaling bike on today's market, it can still easily be a daily driver for those living in an area with fast and steep descents, making this bike a good option for weekend warriors looking for an enduro race bike.

Frame Details

An aluminum frame with a mix of internal and external cable routing keeps everything organized. Fuji has done a great job making the ports in the frame big enough for anyone working on the bike to see and reach cables during installation. However, the reducers Fuji specs for the cable ports do not hold the housing and brake lines tight enough to prevent rattling, so we recommend adding foam tubing around the cables to quiet any chatter. Fuji chose to keep the cable routing external on the back of the bike to leave room for the MLink pivot on the chainstays. Have you ever run a cable through the inside of an aluminum chainstay? It is NOT fun.

Fuji offers no geometry adjustments on the Rakan LT, which is okay as we felt the geometry is spot on for the intended use of this bike. The frame also offers no internal frame storage and can barely accommodate a standard water bottle inside the front triangle. There isn't much in the way of frame protection on the Rakan LT, just a few molded pieces on the bottom bracket and chainstays to keep the low points of the bike protected and deaden chain slap.

Fuji's Rakan LT sports its patented MLink four-bar linkage system. The MLink system places a pivot in the middle of the chainstay instead of near the rear axle, as we are accustomed to seeing. By doing so, Fuji can achieve a very active/efficient suspension platform that smooths out trail feedback, mitigates chainstay flex, and decreases stress on the pivot bearings.

Geometry

Bigger is better seems to be the approach Fuji has taken with the Rakan LT. With reach numbers on all sizes running 10 to 15mm longer than most, some riders might consider sizing down. However, at 6' 1", we often find ourselves smack dab in the middle between large and X-large bikes, and we felt right at home on a size large with its 490mm reach. In-betweeners rejoice! 

The rest of the Rakan LT's geometry features mostly expected numbers for a long-travel enduro sled. A 63.5-degree head angle, 630mm stack, and a 1273mm wheelbase all made for a very comfortable and stable bike that inspired confidence once pointed downhill. 

Build Kits

A6-SL super-butted aluminum alloy makes up the bones for both Rakan LT build options. The Rakan LT 1.1 (tested) comes specced with a SRAM GX 12 Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, TRP Trail EVO brakes (rotor size 203 front & 180 rear), RockShox Select+ suspension (ZEB fork and Super Deluxe Coil shock), and Crankbrothers Highline 3 dropper. WTB Speedterra ST i30 2.0 wheelset with a Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5 MaxxGrip EXO+ out front and a Maxxis Minion DHR II 29x2.4 Maxxterra EXO+ out back. The 1.1 build option is the highest-end build available, coming in at $4,999.99 USD (currently on sale for $3,999 USD at fujibikes.com).

Fuji offers the same frame with a more budget-friendly build kit. The Fuji Rakan 1.5 comes in at $2,999.99 USD (currently on sale for $2,499 USD at fujibikes.com)and is specced with SRAM SX 12 drivetrain, TRP Slate EVO brakes, RockShox Yari RC 170, RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Select, and Formula DC-711 hubs laced up to WTB ST i30 2.0 rims that are sporting Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5 EXO and Maxxis Minion DHR II 29x2.5 EXO tires.

On The Trail

We received the Rakan LT at the beginning of possibly the strangest Spring Boise, Idaho, has experienced. The ridiculous number of rainstorms and random snow flurries made the first couple weeks aboard the Rakan LT feel more like being bullied at recess by Mother Nature than actual riding. Setup required minimal time as the Rakan LT arrived ready to go out of the box. We set the suspension to the recommended pressures and left the cockpit in the stock configuration. This setup felt great throughout testing for the wide-open, high-speed terrain around Boise. We also spent five days sampling trails around Bellingham, Washington, where the same setup proved sufficient for the steeper, technical trails. 

Descending Performance

Descending on the Rakan LT can only be described as stable. The faster we went, the safer we felt. It welcomed white-knuckle, high-speed terrain and remained settled and calm on rougher, raw trails like the ones found in Washington. While this confidence was inspiring on steep, demanding terrain, the Rakan LT did begin to feel cumbersome on low-angle trails, requiring substantial rider input to maintain a healthy speed. Of course, it is not designed to tame flatter terrain. Gravity is the Rakan LT's best friend, and it's unapologetic about it.

With gravity at its back, the fun factor increases dramatically. Cornering was fast, with ample amounts of traction. And jumping felt easy, with a nice balanced feel in the air and enough travel to erase most air bourne mistakes. 

Climbing Performance

The Rakan LT tipped our scale at 35.8 lbs (without pedals). A mid-weight bike with a very active suspension design, climbing was definitely a chore, and using the shock's climb switch quickly became necessary. Luckily, the lockout threshold on the new RockShox Super Deluxe is very stiff and made climbing the Rakan LT surprisingly pleasant. Grinding up fire roads and tackling any technical section was smooth sailing.

Rear Suspension Performance

The MLink rear suspension platform felt very active over a variety of compressions. Small bump compliance was supple, and the mid-stroke was supportive enough to do the job. The seemingly endless depth of the rear travel was our favorite thing about the Rakan LT. A 150mm bike that rides like a 180mm, what's not to like? The suspension setup made pumping through trail features more work than we would have liked, but that is easily overlooked with how cloud-like back-to-back hits felt. We experimented with running a 500lbs spring instead of the stock 450lbs to get more mid-stroke support out of the platform, but that took away from the supple bottomless feeling that we liked so much. While the slight lack of mid-support did wallow at times, that lack of support did create a seemingly endless depth of travel. 

Geometry

The geometry of the Rakan LT was spot-on in almost every way. The tall front end kept us nice and setback down steep sections, and the roomy cockpit matched with a moderately steep seat tube made self-shuttle pedals a comfortable endeavor. As mentioned earlier, the geometry numbers might feel too big for some riders. However, those who typically fall between sizes will feel right at home.

Rakan LT 1.1 Build Kit Analysis

The build kit on the Rakan LT 1.1 is well thought out, with the rider's wallet in mind. We had no mechanical issues with the frame or any components during our few-month test. However, sifting through the build spec, we would like to see two changes. 

TRP Trail EVO Performance

TRP's Trail EVO brakes performed as they should during our time on the bike, with no issues in functionality. The only downside was they felt a touch underpowered on steep descents due to the 180mm rear rotor. Changing to at least a 203mm rotor would make a noticeable improvement to the overall handling and comfort of the bike when trails get nasty. That said, we did not have to make any adjustments or service the brakes during the two and half months we had the bike.

RockShox ZEB Select+ / Super Deluxe Coil Select + 

The performance of the RockShox Select+ suspension was stellar, with the only gripe being the lack of compression adjustments on the shock. Having the added ability to fine-tune the compression rate on the Rakan LT would fix any issues with mid-stroke support and lessen the need to mess with spring rates. While not the cheapest upgrade, jumping to a nicer damper would be a great addition to the Rakan LT.

Luckily, setup was straightforward (like most RockShox products as of late), and we quickly found a setup that was sufficient for testing the abilities of the Rakan. 

Long Term Durability

We can't imagine that there would be many issues in the long term with the Rakan LT as it is a tank (in the best way possible). The frame construction has the same built-to-last feel as a 1960s farm truck, with a component spec to match. All components come with a one-year warranty, and the frame offers a 5-year warranty protecting you from manufacturing defects. If you manage to damage it to the point of being unrideable, Fuji does offer crash replacement options. 

What's the Bottom Line?

A bike that takes a beating and returns for more, the Fuji Rakan LT is not the lightest option on the market or the nimblest, but it likes the abuse. Point the bike in the direction of a gnarly descent, and hold on tight! Could this bike be your daily drive? Yes— if you have easy access to steep, rowdy terrain and a "smash and grab" approach to riding. This bike will be right up your alley. Most of the trails we rode were not up to par for what the Rakan LT could handle and, at times, left us wanting a more maneuverable ride. But get the Rakan LT up to speed on truly rugged terrain, and you'll be wiping a smile off your face, realizing that, in some cases, bigger is better.

For more information, please visit fujibikes.com

View key specs, compare bikes, and rate the Fuji Rakan LT in the Vital MTB Product Guide.

About The Reviewer

Wyatt Lisk – Age 30 // Years Riding MTB: 12 // Height 6'1" (1.87m) // Weight: 180-pounds (81.6 kg)

A "never made it" Cat 1 downhill/enduro racer that turned to coaching groms and wrenching full-time, Wyatt immersed himself in the world of bicycles since the day his dad told him he was never allowed to ride motorcycles. A born-and-raised Idaho boy who grew up whitewater rafting (but never actually grew up), he is most likely found on the trail with his dog or at a local brewery.