Juliana

Furtado 2.0 Carbon R Complete Mountain Bike - 2016

As the model that shares a name with the founder of Juliana Bikes herself, the Juliana Furtado 2.0 Carbon R Complete Mountain Bike has a legacy to live up to. The do-it-all trail bike brings impressive confidence to rowdier descents and big lines, then turns around to dance up loose switchbacks with poise, all the more so after a few important updates made this year. If you’re looking for versatility in an industry filled with hyperbolic claims and enduro monsters, the Furtado strikes the balance many bikes haven’t yet found. Step up your riding with the Furtado and you’ll have a hard time finding a trail where it isn’t right where it wants to be.

This year, Juliana focused on reworking the Furtado’s frame to create a more stable front end while still orienting riders in an optimal pedaling position. Steer the longer, lower front end into ruts and bumps at high speeds with confidence that it will track cleanly across your line, then when the descent flattens out, accelerate to pop over rollers without feeling bogged down. A longer reach this year matches the front end, and a stiffer Boost rear axle complements the rear triangle’s increased rigidity. Stay off the bypass and take the more rugged stretch of singletrack with the Furtado 2.0 and you’ll be shocked at how much it enjoys the challenge.

A capable geometry only shines with a suspension that’s worthy of it, which isn’t news to Juliana. To complement the geometry changes it made to the Furtado, Juliana bestowed new VPP3 suspension on the 2.0, giving it 5mm of additional squish and improving its ability to grip the trail and recover after big hits and repeated bumps. VPP3 works seamlessly with a solid RockShox fork and FOX Float suspension, while a Shimano drivetrain calmly handles shifting and Deore brakes deliver stopping power when you need it. Such a strong build kit nearly overshadows the Furtado’s Carbon C frame, but don’t overlook the added dose of stiffness and lightness a full carbon frame delivers out on the trails, especially one priced as accessibly as this.