First Look: Genesis Fugio 30 – Svelte Steel With Plump Rubber

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We take a first look at the Genesis Fugio 30, our latest test bike.

Genesis has been producing steel framed adventure bikes for long enough that they’re certainly not jumping on the gravel/gnarmac bandwagon. We’ve previously reviewed its Croix de Fer, which happily gobbled up the many miles of the Dirty Reiver. Since we tested that, ‘Road Plus’ has become A Definite Thing, and the Fugio brings that thang to the Genesis range. What we have here is the top of the range Fugio 30, with Double-Butted Chromoly frame and carbon fork. There’s also a Fugio 20 with Mjolnir steel frame and carbon fork at £1549, or a frame only Mjolnir steel frame and carbon fork at £799.99.

Genesis Fugio 30
Yay, grey – Hannah’s favourite colour!
Genesis Fugio 30
To tan wall or not to tan wall?

For your £2,199, the Fugio 30 comes with SRAM Rival 1X hydraulic drivetrain and brakes and WTB Byway 47C tyres. It’s not fitted with any electronics, but has full internal Di2 and dynamo routing if you want it.

Genesis Fugio 30
Go internal and electronic if you like.
Genesis Fugio 30
Ready for alternative routing.

Weirdly, the Fugio 20 comes in two colour options, but the 30 comes in this stealthy grey only, with yellow highlights.

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While it comes kitted out with 650Bx47C tyres from WTB, it will take up to 650Bx60C tyres, or 700Cx40C tyres if you want to invest in some bigger hoops. The Byway tyres are pretty slick down the middle for good rolling speed, but with a little more tread round the edges to stop things going completely sideways.

Genesis Fugio 30 WTB
Fairly slick.

Anyone looking at older models might want to invest in some tubeless ready hoops, as prior to December 2018 rims were not tubeless compatible – and indeed that’s what we have here, with XM420 rims. If you’re looking in the shops however, you should find models there have tubeless compatible HD490 rims. There are 12mm thru axles front and rear.

Genesis Fugio 30
Choose a spot for your bottle – which will stay cleanest?

Three bottle cage mounts should keep you hydrated on long rides – or give you a spare slot for a tool keg.

To keep the back end short they’ve used a dropped chainstay, which we’ve seen on carbon and alloy bikes, but we’re struggling to think of a steel one with this feature. Otherwise though, it’s a very classical looking steel frame biked with those slim and slender looks that you surely want out of a steel frame. Confirmed weight is 10.87kg.

dropped chaintay genesis
Dropped chainstay
Genesis Fugio 30 steel

Classic shaping.

Pretty and svelte.

Genesis Fugio 30
External routing. Nice and simple.

The Fugio models are both steel, whereas the Vapour comes in carbon or alloy, while the Croix de Fer comes in steel or titanium. As well as the frame material, the Fugio is designed with the ‘Road Plus’ set up in mind, giving you clearance for chunky tyres, while still giving the option to swap for 700C should you want to.

Genesis Fugio 30
SRAM Rival – effective but not bling.
Wedgie anyone?

Clearance for more than the stock 47C tyre.

genesis fugio
SRAM Rival Groupset
Genesis Fugio
Own brand bars.
WTB byway
Not a tubeless ready rim, though current models will have TR rims.
Not a lot of flare.

Keep an eye on our grit.cx Instagram feed for sightings of this bike out on test and more!


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