The Floatlink rear suspension was easy to pedal without bobbing and the bike was still a force downhill. But then it came to a standstill and the "Whiplash" simply disappeared - along with the Fusion brand. Now it's back, but we wouldn't have recognised the bike. A look that, shall we say, polarises. What has remained is the floating shock absorber, which is pushed from above and below. Fusion is now a small mail-order brand that builds the bike to order. Ours came with an air shock and almost extinct "Totem" air fork. The weight is in the green range despite the monster look. Uphill, taller testers felt the effect of the heavily bent seat tube. If you pull the saddle out far, you sit set back over the hub and pedal from behind.
But the rear suspension is still as good as ever - despite 200 millimetres of travel, it hardly bobs and doesn't need a platform. Downhill, the "Whiplash" is a mini downhiller. It sits very well, you stand
low on the bike and you feel secure straight away. The "Totem" suspension is plush, but at high speeds and in compressions you realise that the compression cartridge of a "Pike" is a step ahead. The rear suspension
once again delivers the fascinating combination of good swallowing ability and direct feedback. With a good pop, you can pull off over roots and then bob through rocky passages. The "Vivid" rear end always remains stable in its travel and never noticeably reaches its travel limit. Top! The Avid brakes moved a little in the pressure point and felt spongy compared to an "XT".
Conclusion: The Fusion's Floatlink is still fully competitive. The geo is clearly focussed on downhill use. Not an uphill sprinter like the Liteville, but almost on a par with Alutech and Specialized downhill.
This test was published in FREERIDE issue 2/2014.
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