I was always turned from fat bikes because people say they’re heavy… BUT… when I actually got mine in the mail and realized how light it actually was, compared to the old mountain bikes I used to ride- I laughed a little. I was relieved. Everyone makes them sound like they’re super heavy.
It's always a good idea to remember, opinions, are just someone's subjective thoughts. I can't tell you how many times I've been told X,Y, and Z, is no good, only for me to try whatever it was, myself, and realize the opposite.
I just bought a Motobecane Night Train Bullet from Bikes Direct and I absolutely love it. At $1500 and free shipping I was sold. My primary bike is a Trek Fuel EX 7 and on my first 3 rides I felt the fat bike did everything as good as the Trek except corner. We just got a foot of snow here in NY so riding is not an option on ungroomed trails but I can’t wait to ride it in snow. Great video and I totally agre with you on everything.
I just bought a Motobecane Night Train Bullet from Bikes Direct and I absolutely love it. At $1500 and free shipping I was sold. My primary bike is a Trek Fuel EX 7 and on my first 3 rides I felt the fat bike did everything as good as the Trek except corner. We just got a foot of snow here in NY so riding is not an option on ungroomed trails but I can’t wait to ride it in snow. Great video and I totally agree with you on everything.
I had a 27.5+ trail bike and never rode it so I sold it. I even decided I was just flat out done with mountain biking. Ever since getting my Surly Wednesday with 29+ WTB Rangers, I often will reach for that bike over my gravel bike as it just rolls so well on the stuff I have around here and is crazy comfortable. I enjoy riding it so much I started taking it on singletrack and love the simplicity of a fully rigid monster truck. I credit you for deciding on 29+ over 26 fat for my year round wheel size. I did get 26 fat wheels this winter and have studded Dillinger 4s, but alas Chicago has yet to get enough snow. Cheers and happy holidays.
I used my fatbike (an early RSD Mayor) year round for everything for a few years. I loved it, but broke a frame, fork and a few freehubs. But, it opened my eyes. Rode it 25 kms a day to work, explored fire roads, took it camping and fishing, rode MTB with it, winter riding, beach exploration and more. It was a riot, and a trusted friend. I currently have a Kona Honzo for MTB, and a 2010 Pugsley with 10 spd XT. It's a bit tired, with a cracked frame and worn drivetrain. I'm getting a Giant Yukon to replace the Pugs from the shop I work at. Plan to build a 29+ wheelset for it for summer commuting and exploring. We'll see how much the Honzo gets ridden this year...
No snow around here, but just rode my Ice Cream Truck around some of our famous Santa Cruz trails (black diamond-ish), and then rode right down to the edge of the surf on the sand and around the cliff trails. I actually bought it to ride the Rubicon near Tahoe which was pretty wild (on 5.5psi). I also ride a lot of mountain fire roads. Doesn't get much more all-around than that! I am looking forward to building a 29+ wheelset for it and adding a suspension fork.
I raced XC this past season on my fat bike (in the fat bike category) and it was so much fun! It's really can go just about everywhere. Yes, my trail bike is faster, but my fat bike feels more fun.
I’m in the Fatbike camp for quite some time now. While it was quite fun in the beginning, the party starts once you get foam for your rims. I guess that’s the game changer for that kind of bike
I think what people often miss is how much a dropper and a suspension fork improves the fat bike off-of-snow experience. The boing of the fat tires is great but its even better with a little dampened suspension action up front. If people are used to a dropper and their fat bike doesn't have it, it's never going to be feel as shreddable. I absolutely love my Otso with the Mastadon and 200 mm dropper all year round, especially when the trails are soft in spring or winter (when there's no snow).
I have a full squish fat bike (Framed Montana Carbon with a Wren fork up front), and it's every bit as fun as a full squish mountain bike. Yes, it's slower going up, but going down with the suspension, the boing tires and all that great traction, I ride faster downhill on my fatbike than my mountain bike. Probably as much due to my skill level as a rider (intermediate at best). I keep my 27.5 by 4 van helgas on year round. Ridiculous fun all the time!
I have had a Framed Wolftrax (Alloy) for about 4 years. It's my only mountain bike after getting back into the sport. I bought the 27.5 plus wheelset from Framed and that's what I run in the summer with a set of Maxxis Rekon (27.5x 2.8). I've also run the Fat Wheel set (26 x 4) in summer with Surley Nate tires in 3.8. I'm in Michigan so this bike works pretty well on local trails and I don't feel sluggish. I just threw on the fat tires for some winter riding. Sadly Framed went out of business so the bike is no longer available. I get that its entry level but for 750 bucks for the bike and 200 for the second wheelset I think I did pretty well. This spring I'll be looking to upgrade but I'm certainly hanging on to the Wolftrax.
Great vid! Living in western Canada I own both a Norco bigfoot and a full squish Trek Powerfly, and sometimes I just want to rip some flowy trail and riding the fat bike is a blast, plus you have the flexibility of throwing some 29ers+ on it and almost rides like a XC bike
I have a REEB Donkadonk, and I rode about this on The Radavist, but I really wanted my fat bike to mostly be a sick ATB (with 27.5+ or 29+) that can also run studded fat in the winter. The Donkadonk has been perfect. Like you said, it’s great that it can run any tires. So far I’ve ran 26 fat, 27.5x3.8 on 50mm rim fat, 27.5x3-3.25, 29x2.6, and 29x3-3.25. All of them except 29x2.6 has been awesome, I basically just decide which feel I want and go for that wheel size. For example, I wanted a more direct steering feel that the lower trail a smaller wheel size gives you, so I switched from 29x3.25 to 27.5x3.25. The giant 29’ers carve incredibly though. And the rollover is almost too good for a rigid bike.
I bought a Donkadonk last year too! It looks like Reeb don’t make a fatbike anymore tho. Mine’s been great-kind of fun to be able to adjust chainstay length, and the geo seems about perfect, at least here in the upper Midwest.
@@GHinWI yeah I noticed it’s not on their site anymore, after seeing a pre sale for them earlier in the year. Hope they didn’t axe it! I’m in the upper Midwest too and I agree- the bike isn’t too “progressive” or old school. What fork are you running? I have a 510mm A2C Kona fork on mine.
ditto on the fat bike leading into me picking up mountain biking again. When I heard you say that I screamed out. To me it is what ever gets you out and biking.
My fattie is mostly winter but I’ve used it a fair bit in other seasons too. Good for shoulder seasons with variable conditions due to all the grip. But I don’t have any suspension on it and a fork that also works in winter is a very expensive one. I find riding without one in summer sucked. Both me and the bike were getting beat up. So if you need your fattie for all seasons get one that’s properly equipped right out of the box. Don’t forget the dropper either as mentioned below.
Excellent video on this topic! Folks-avoid the cheap, heavy fat bikes, the excess weight (35+ lbs) will drag you down and ruin the experience. Also, try to get your wheels and tires as lite as possible which was pointed out in this awesome video. I am stubborn and believe the 26X4.0 120tpi tubeless setup works best. It's easier to get rolling and quicker handling than 27.5 fat bike wheel plus almost has the rolling diameter of a 29X2.3 standard wheel. If you set your fat bike up properly, you'll be amazed at all the advantages and how much safer you'll be on just about every type of surface. You'll understand the saying, once you go fat you won't go back.
Our trails have minimal maintenance. I found on single track the wide tires would catch the edge of the track where it cups upward. That would pull you in that direction, when you correct you'd hit the other edge and pull you that way. Makes for unpredictable handling and an unpleasant ride.
Was that rock garden you were riding up Maple Mountain Trail? Nice video with some great points. I've go a Fezzari Explorer Peak on order (e-fatty) and I can't wait.
If you’re talking about the one on the blue Ice Cream Truck then yep, that’s up Mapleton Canyon. I miss that trail… Also, the explorer peak looks super cool. Fingers crossed I can get one in for review.
Great video, I am 10 years on a fatbike. I choose Salsa Beargrease back then and it is still my nr.1 bike up to now. I shared some videos on my non-commercial yt channel, take a look, fatbike is a real adventure for me, I still ride my Beargrease 2015 year model bought on November 2014.
I have e fatbike with Bafang M510 motor and it weighs 24kg. I have managed it through pretty gnarly terrain in the woods. I'm having ton of fun with it and it's all that counts.
Sounds great and am seriously considering getting. How about riding in wet conditions? Live in Denmark and we get loads of rain in stead of snow. How does fat tires handle in wet forrest floors?
I have a new 2023 trek Farley 5, and a sweet polygon t6 full suspension trail bike. I’m a beginner mtber, just been riding about 5 months on rooty and rocky New England trails. While the polygon is an amazingly capable bike, I feel way more confident on the fat bike! It has amazing traction on slippery rough terrain and will just monster truck over everything! Sketchy stuff that I was afraid of riding over on the FS bike is easily rideable on the fat bike. I recently put a Manitou Mastodon suspension fork on it and now it’s just totally unstoppable. I never even ride my trail bike. Fatty all the way for me. Can’t wait to ride it in the snow
Ab~Soooo~Lutle..... love mine all year round. Running a Borealis Crestone and Manitou Shock for almost 3 years. I had been saying though.....it wouldn't really replace my Yeti 29er for traditional mountain biking conditions. But man is it an awesome desert bike. On many of my long wander-a-bout trips if I was using my truck & camper, I'd stuff both bikes on board. With my Jeeps it was becoming a hard decision which to grab. So in that vision to only pack one do-all bike, I -- just -- got a set of 29 plus wheels/tires. And of course snow season hit for my local trails and I haven't yet got to test them on a good single track ride. But I am confident they will be the game changer for picking the one do-all bike when I travel. I have ridden all conditions with the fattie. You will never 'not' be able to ride, but there is that compromise running only the 4.8 - 5 inch wide tire on some trails. I'm pretty confident now it will be a great jack of all trades with a fast wheel set/tire change when its called for.
I ride my road bike for long tarmac rides. My gravel bike for bike packing. I just got a Surly ICT this summer and wow what fun. It's all I ride off road now. Like you said it's incredible traction is a game changer. It took some time getting used to running 6 psi. I'm happy with 26 x 4.8 . Yes it's slower than my 22lb 29 x 3 plus bike but I will never ride it again. The fat bike is just way more fun and I can go absolutely anywhere. I've been riding back country wilderness trails with a Hugh grin.
I totally agree!!! I can go over ,on, and through anything my skills let me do on a Fatty. I ride year-round in the AZ desert. I have two fatties, one set up as an Ss and one geared. I also have a 29er+ .
I live in a flat dense urban area so for its hard for me to not view fat bikes as a toy. That being said, I'm in a position to and am currently finishing up building up a really sweet drop bar fatbike for not much $ (albeit with old standards and probably geo) but I'm quite excited to ride the hopefully eventual snow and go through some river trails in the summer on the goofy build I've got planned!
Great video! I’m a huge fan of all tire sizes and agree with your conclusion. I race enduro (Ibis Ripmo) and I like to race XC on my rigid 29+ (Trek Stache) but I love riding my fatbike during summer (EVO OMW) the “cons” aren’t as bad as they seem, I love all bikes, if I had to choose 1 bike I would definitely go for wider tires, I have snow so I would go fat, luckily I don’t have to choose
I've been fatbike 'curious' for about 4 years and just bought a pre-owned DeVinci Minus 10S and LOVE riding it! It's so much fun... in part it's the simplicity and a 'monster' bike (ala monster truck lol). This is bike #5 ... ride enough years and, well bikes follow you home (dual sus, hard tail, gravel, road, flat bar) This new to me fatbike is parked at my front door ... ready to roll
I'm still not sure what is better on forest trails with rocks and roots 29er or fat bike? For exploring purposes rather than racing only. I have 29er and it seems it doesn't do well in too dense forests with lots of roots, leaves and plants.
Would a fat bike be good for an older rider (49) transitioning from road to mountain biking? We have several mountain bike parks in the area but now snow. I live in coastal SE US.
Nice video! I love my fat bike!!! It is so versatile. Fun to ride! If I could only have one bike, it would be my fat bike. Thankfully, I have a wonderful wife!!! Being a retired firefighter I can ride or do trail work almost every day year round. What a life!!!
Can I ride a pedego trail tracker on trails like in your video? I'm a little nervous after I ordered one a few weeks ago for delivery to my local store and not noticing that it doesn't have a front suspension. I used to take my old fat tire ebike on trails and the ramp at my local bike park but I'm worried about breaking this bike if I try going on these terrains.
For me, a fatbike can be adapted to be ridden year round, but then you don't have the optimal bike for most of the year. The trail bike is the most versatile option and I choose to sink the majority of my bike $ into my F/S and hardtail mtbs. However, buying an affordable fatbike to keep off the trainer for 4 moths is well worth it. Nice bike and vid.
I sure would like to see a comparison of a 29in bikepacking bike vs a fat bikepacking bike. I want to ride the LA Barstow 2 Vegas route, but I don't know if a loaded fat bike would be able to handle the softer sandy sections much better than a regular mtn bike. I've never ridden a fat bike so I don't know if it's worth it to buy a bike specifically for crossing deserts.
I'm looking forward to converting my 2020 Santa Cruz Chameleon HT into a skinny-fat rigid MTB with the RSD510 fork, i45 front and i40 rear WTB KOM Tough rims, and DHR2 29x3.0 front and Rekon 29x2.6 rear (tires aren't set in stone and I'd love to hear some recommendations). It's going to be a lot of work, but I've found I like rigid and full sus bikes, and much less half-squish HTs. All this while living in the SF Bay, where it never snows, but we do get a lot of loose garbage which is the bane of my damn existence.
I rode my full rigid Surly Wednesday all year which included 100 miles of the MDH trail in ND. I won't go back to my full squish MTB because the Surly is basic, fun, and does everything.
About 2 years ago I decided to get a Fat Bike and I don´t regret it at all. I honestly even prefer the wider Q Factor. The biggest downside for me, and something I wish I was more aware of before going Fat, is compatibility with Racks. I drive a small 3-Door Car and I need to use a roof rack when transporting any bike. My Fat has 26x4.7 tires and at least from what I could find at the time, there is only a single roof rack compatible with them, and even then I had to buy the Fatbike Wheel adapters seperately. Similarly racks you often find in front of shops and stores here in Germany that grab a wheel of the bike to keep standing won´t work. Same thing with the racks you find in parking garages for bikes. It just causes a few minor problems if you use such a bike in a Urban Environment from time to time.
@bryanfulcher7162 yeah I’ve considered picking up those baskets and extended straps but haven’t decided if I really need it yet. I usually throw my bike in the bed of the truck anyway haha
Riding an all rigid fat bike is like riding an adult sized BMX. I was still racing BMX at 40 and now @70 I love my fat bikes to bits. I have no other MTBs.
Yes, I bought a Fat Bike. The most winter fun I've had in a long time. Can't wait to get those studded tires off and rip the single track. Likely I'll get a suspension fork. Will I give up the Honzo, No! But it's good to have an alternative plan for the day.
Fat bikes for me are one of two things, a do anything electric mountain bike with a suspension fork or a winter/snow bike were less is more(nothing more usless then an $800 Manitou suspension fork on a snow bike) love bringing out my fat bike every winter, but if i still lived in Florida I would have no use for it.
I rode a rigid Fatbike as my year round Mtb for 5 years. I live in MN so obviously...snow and no big mountains during the warm months. But, I took it to Bentonville, multiple CO locations, MT and many other locations all in 4" configuration. The answer to me is based on mindset. If you ride for fun all the time, yes fatbike full time is a good bike. If you have a need for weight or speed...you are not asking this question to start.
Fatbikes remain my go to bike for any ride. They are totally great for year round riding and in my opinion they ARE mountain bikes on steroids. "Ride fat to stay fit!"
You're doing excellent work out there dude, I'm 100% convinced if more people tried them, and they weren't maligned by idiots that just want to shred mad gnarr and do back-flips while getting rad (GMBN) then it could get more people out and about and enjoying life. I sort of hate that "smiles for miles!!!" mantra insipid halfwits come up with for describing fat bikes, but I think I'm probably one of them, because you're going to have more fun on a fat riding over all creation, than you are squashing your hemorrhoids on a bloody gravel bike and sailing over the bars every time you hit a rogue pothole, but again, my opinions are my own. Merry Christmas from the UK! lol 🤘🤘
I have 3 fat bikes, and they're my favorite bikes to ride. I ride them all year round too. I'm 6'4, 255 lbs, so a few extra pounds of bike, isn't a huge issue for me. Fat bikes are where it's at, for me.
L❤VE this video 💯 True !!! ive been fat biking for 20 yrs & now have Fat Bike E-Bike due to very old ankle injury from motorcycle accident 🤦🏻🛑❌️🚫🤷♂️ i ride 10 to 20 miles mon to fri after work n 40 to 60 miles a day on Sat & Sunday most of the time when i have weekend time ... n all other bikes are 29ers Cannondale Full Carbon Leftys 15lbs Cannondale Bad Boy 20lbs Cannondale Prophets 20lbs JUST BIKE !!! 🤓❤🚵😁🚴🏼♂️💪💯👍
I have a lenz fatillac.Weighs 16.5 kgs which is no more than my friends Norco site and anothers Commencal.150mm mastodon pro up front and a Fox dX2 rear shock with 130mm travel.I ride it frequently in Australia's premiere lifted bike park Thredbo amd it rips!! Mates literally all say dont follow Matt as his lines are deadly!!😅 The full suspension and 4 inch tires make it an absolute monster truck that carries speed through or over everything
I believe that a fatbike is 100% an mtb bike.. it just has very thick tires.... In my opinion, sometimes it is better on some routes... than my light full bike for cross country.... 😀
Fat bikes are where it's at. Hopefully I'll get a Wyatt Maverick next year. I like to ride year-round. Omni terrain. Absolutely everything. Except pavement.
Wider tires are better only on sinking terrains. I’ve started biking exclusively on fat bikes and spent way more money in this that anyone on the planet. Believe me. Fat bikes are not suitable for serious mountain biking. They are just for cruising around anything. A good enduro specific mtb tire offers more grip and control than any fat tire there is.
I love running into goons on the trail who think fat bikes suck and think they know it all. I"ve raced BMX for years, raced Mountainbikes for quite a few years as well. Downhill and Mountaincross, when I first rode a fat bike and realized how much fun it was and the things you could do on it...I sold all my Downhill bikes and never turned back since. I have 4 Fatbikes, I've raced a few times on them as well. I dirt jump, hit drops, chutes etc. I love the look on peoples face when I blow by them on trails then see them at the bottom and they like wtf. The only disadvantage is laying into tight corners deep, but its very manageble.
You betcha. Snowflakes in today's cycle world, are addicted to anything...electric, or with a crappy weed-whacker motor attached to the toptube. Anything that does not make'em sweat. Rigid carbon fork, is probably not gonna benefit on rutted/pot-holed trails. Get a suspension fork. And using thinner tires(650bx3.8 or 29x2.8) are awesome for traction & speed. I have low pressure in the front, high in the rear. Great traction & maneuverability on slick trails and rocks. A crank-guard, can make the difference of riding, or walking home.
I love my fat bike all year long and I've had way more fun on it than any other bike I've ever owned or ridden ❤
I was always turned from fat bikes because people say they’re heavy… BUT… when I actually got mine in the mail and realized how light it actually was, compared to the old mountain bikes I used to ride- I laughed a little. I was relieved. Everyone makes them sound like they’re super heavy.
It's always a good idea to remember, opinions, are just someone's subjective thoughts. I can't tell you how many times I've been told X,Y, and Z, is no good, only for me to try whatever it was, myself, and realize the opposite.
My current mountain bike is 40lbs(3x6 26inch, rim brakes), what's the weight of your current fat bike?
Surly Ice Cream Truck is 35-37lb. Same as many full-sus bikes with typical tires!
I just bought a Motobecane Night Train Bullet from Bikes Direct and I absolutely love it. At $1500 and free shipping I was sold. My primary bike is a Trek Fuel EX 7 and on my first 3 rides I felt the fat bike did everything as good as the Trek except corner. We just got a foot of snow here in NY so riding is not an option on ungroomed trails but I can’t wait to ride it in snow. Great video and I totally agre with you on everything.
I just bought a Motobecane Night Train Bullet from Bikes Direct and I absolutely love it. At $1500 and free shipping I was sold. My primary bike is a Trek Fuel EX 7 and on my first 3 rides I felt the fat bike did everything as good as the Trek except corner. We just got a foot of snow here in NY so riding is not an option on ungroomed trails but I can’t wait to ride it in snow. Great video and I totally agree with you on everything.
I had a 27.5+ trail bike and never rode it so I sold it. I even decided I was just flat out done with mountain biking. Ever since getting my Surly Wednesday with 29+ WTB Rangers, I often will reach for that bike over my gravel bike as it just rolls so well on the stuff I have around here and is crazy comfortable. I enjoy riding it so much I started taking it on singletrack and love the simplicity of a fully rigid monster truck. I credit you for deciding on 29+ over 26 fat for my year round wheel size. I did get 26 fat wheels this winter and have studded Dillinger 4s, but alas Chicago has yet to get enough snow. Cheers and happy holidays.
It's my goal to keep 29+ alive so I'm glad I have at least one person convinced! haha
My only bike is a full suspension carbon fatbike and I love taking it on the trails in the summer. So much fun!
Witch model?
@memoalpineoutwear ICAN sn04
I used my fatbike (an early RSD Mayor) year round for everything for a few years. I loved it, but broke a frame, fork and a few freehubs. But, it opened my eyes. Rode it 25 kms a day to work, explored fire roads, took it camping and fishing, rode MTB with it, winter riding, beach exploration and more. It was a riot, and a trusted friend.
I currently have a Kona Honzo for MTB, and a 2010 Pugsley with 10 spd XT. It's a bit tired, with a cracked frame and worn drivetrain.
I'm getting a Giant Yukon to replace the Pugs from the shop I work at. Plan to build a 29+ wheelset for it for summer commuting and exploring.
We'll see how much the Honzo gets ridden this year...
I have raced MTB for years now I'm full fat bike.
Model?
@
-Farley 9.6
-Revel Big Iron
-Felt DD10
No snow around here, but just rode my Ice Cream Truck around some of our famous Santa Cruz trails (black diamond-ish), and then rode right down to the edge of the surf on the sand and around the cliff trails. I actually bought it to ride the Rubicon near Tahoe which was pretty wild (on 5.5psi). I also ride a lot of mountain fire roads. Doesn't get much more all-around than that! I am looking forward to building a 29+ wheelset for it and adding a suspension fork.
I raced XC this past season on my fat bike (in the fat bike category) and it was so much fun! It's really can go just about everywhere. Yes, my trail bike is faster, but my fat bike feels more fun.
I’m in the Fatbike camp for quite some time now. While it was quite fun in the beginning, the party starts once you get foam for your rims.
I guess that’s the game changer for that kind of bike
I think what people often miss is how much a dropper and a suspension fork improves the fat bike off-of-snow experience. The boing of the fat tires is great but its even better with a little dampened suspension action up front. If people are used to a dropper and their fat bike doesn't have it, it's never going to be feel as shreddable. I absolutely love my Otso with the Mastadon and 200 mm dropper all year round, especially when the trails are soft in spring or winter (when there's no snow).
Totally agree. You wouldn’t expect a rigid mountain bike with no dropper to be very “shreddy”, so why expect it from a rigid, dropperless fat bike?
I have a full squish fat bike (Framed Montana Carbon with a Wren fork up front), and it's every bit as fun as a full squish mountain bike. Yes, it's slower going up, but going down with the suspension, the boing tires and all that great traction, I ride faster downhill on my fatbike than my mountain bike. Probably as much due to my skill level as a rider (intermediate at best). I keep my 27.5 by 4 van helgas on year round. Ridiculous fun all the time!
They are, they go anywhere, any time of the year, on any terrain! Boom
I have had a Framed Wolftrax (Alloy) for about 4 years. It's my only mountain bike after getting back into the sport. I bought the 27.5 plus wheelset from Framed and that's what I run in the summer with a set of Maxxis Rekon (27.5x 2.8). I've also run the Fat Wheel set (26 x 4) in summer with Surley Nate tires in 3.8. I'm in Michigan so this bike works pretty well on local trails and I don't feel sluggish. I just threw on the fat tires for some winter riding. Sadly Framed went out of business so the bike is no longer available. I get that its entry level but for 750 bucks for the bike and 200 for the second wheelset I think I did pretty well. This spring I'll be looking to upgrade but I'm certainly hanging on to the Wolftrax.
Great vid! Living in western Canada I own both a Norco bigfoot and a full squish Trek Powerfly, and sometimes I just want to rip some flowy trail and riding the fat bike is a blast, plus you have the flexibility of throwing some 29ers+ on it and almost rides like a XC bike
29 plus just wants to roll on forever!
I have a REEB Donkadonk, and I rode about this on The Radavist, but I really wanted my fat bike to mostly be a sick ATB (with 27.5+ or 29+) that can also run studded fat in the winter. The Donkadonk has been perfect. Like you said, it’s great that it can run any tires. So far I’ve ran 26 fat, 27.5x3.8 on 50mm rim fat, 27.5x3-3.25, 29x2.6, and 29x3-3.25. All of them except 29x2.6 has been awesome, I basically just decide which feel I want and go for that wheel size. For example, I wanted a more direct steering feel that the lower trail a smaller wheel size gives you, so I switched from 29x3.25 to 27.5x3.25. The giant 29’ers carve incredibly though. And the rollover is almost too good for a rigid bike.
Just read the write up you did, sweet bike!
I bought a Donkadonk last year too! It looks like Reeb don’t make a fatbike anymore tho. Mine’s been great-kind of fun to be able to adjust chainstay length, and the geo seems about perfect, at least here in the upper Midwest.
@@GHinWI yeah I noticed it’s not on their site anymore, after seeing a pre sale for them earlier in the year. Hope they didn’t axe it! I’m in the upper Midwest too and I agree- the bike isn’t too “progressive” or old school. What fork are you running? I have a 510mm A2C Kona fork on mine.
ditto on the fat bike leading into me picking up mountain biking again. When I heard you say that I screamed out.
To me it is what ever gets you out and biking.
Fat bikes for the win. So much fun on singletrack. Unlimited, they are like jeeps of the bike world.
Great vid. I love the moustache handlebar, gonna get one.
My fattie is mostly winter but I’ve used it a fair bit in other seasons too. Good for shoulder seasons with variable conditions due to all the grip. But I don’t have any suspension on it and a fork that also works in winter is a very expensive one. I find riding without one in summer sucked. Both me and the bike were getting beat up. So if you need your fattie for all seasons get one that’s properly equipped right out of the box. Don’t forget the dropper either as mentioned below.
Excellent video on this topic! Folks-avoid the cheap, heavy fat bikes, the excess weight (35+ lbs) will drag you down and ruin the experience. Also, try to get your wheels and tires as lite as possible which was pointed out in this awesome video. I am stubborn and believe the 26X4.0 120tpi tubeless setup works best. It's easier to get rolling and quicker handling than 27.5 fat bike wheel plus almost has the rolling diameter of a 29X2.3 standard wheel. If you set your fat bike up properly, you'll be amazed at all the advantages and how much safer you'll be on just about every type of surface. You'll understand the saying, once you go fat you won't go back.
Our trails have minimal maintenance. I found on single track the wide tires would catch the edge of the track where it cups upward. That would pull you in that direction, when you correct you'd hit the other edge and pull you that way. Makes for unpredictable handling and an unpleasant ride.
Was that rock garden you were riding up Maple Mountain Trail? Nice video with some great points. I've go a Fezzari Explorer Peak on order (e-fatty) and I can't wait.
If you’re talking about the one on the blue Ice Cream Truck then yep, that’s up Mapleton Canyon. I miss that trail…
Also, the explorer peak looks super cool. Fingers crossed I can get one in for review.
Yeah, never mind, I saw in another video that you are in Montana, not Utah.
I was in Utah until the end of 2020, so you’ll probably see some trails you recognize.
Yup, several looked familiar.
@@RideYearRound I finally got my Explorer Peak in August. That bike is a blast.
Great video, I am 10 years on a fatbike. I choose Salsa Beargrease back then and it is still my nr.1 bike up to now. I shared some videos on my non-commercial yt channel, take a look, fatbike is a real adventure for me, I still ride my Beargrease 2015 year model bought on November 2014.
I am looking to make my Giant Yukon a year round bike with a suspension fork. Your videos are helpful in making those decisions.
I have e fatbike with Bafang M510 motor and it weighs 24kg. I have managed it through pretty gnarly terrain in the woods. I'm having ton of fun with it and it's all that counts.
Sounds great and am seriously considering getting. How about riding in wet conditions? Live in Denmark and we get loads of rain in stead of snow. How does fat tires handle in wet forrest floors?
I have a new 2023 trek Farley 5, and a sweet polygon t6 full suspension trail bike. I’m a beginner mtber, just been riding about 5 months on rooty and rocky New England trails. While the polygon is an amazingly capable bike, I feel way more confident on the fat bike! It has amazing traction on slippery rough terrain and will just monster truck over everything! Sketchy stuff that I was afraid of riding over on the FS bike is easily rideable on the fat bike. I recently put a Manitou Mastodon suspension fork on it and now it’s just totally unstoppable. I never even ride my trail bike. Fatty all the way for me. Can’t wait to ride it in the snow
Ab~Soooo~Lutle..... love mine all year round. Running a Borealis Crestone and Manitou Shock for almost 3 years. I had been saying though.....it wouldn't really replace my Yeti 29er for traditional mountain biking conditions. But man is it an awesome desert bike. On many of my long wander-a-bout trips if I was using my truck & camper, I'd stuff both bikes on board. With my Jeeps it was becoming a hard decision which to grab.
So in that vision to only pack one do-all bike, I -- just -- got a set of 29 plus wheels/tires. And of course snow season hit for my local trails and I haven't yet got to test them on a good single track ride. But I am confident they will be the game changer for picking the one do-all bike when I travel. I have ridden all conditions with the fattie. You will never 'not' be able to ride, but there is that compromise running only the 4.8 - 5 inch wide tire on some trails. I'm pretty confident now it will be a great jack of all trades with a fast wheel set/tire change when its called for.
I ride my road bike for long tarmac rides. My gravel bike for bike packing. I just got a Surly ICT this summer and wow what fun. It's all I ride off road now. Like you said it's incredible traction is a game changer. It took some time getting used to running 6 psi. I'm happy with 26 x 4.8 . Yes it's slower than my 22lb 29 x 3 plus bike but I will never ride it again. The fat bike is just way more fun and I can go absolutely anywhere. I've been riding back country wilderness trails with a Hugh grin.
I totally agree!!! I can go over ,on, and through anything my skills let me do on a Fatty. I ride year-round in the AZ desert. I have two fatties, one set up as an Ss and one geared. I also have a 29er+ .
I live in a flat dense urban area so for its hard for me to not view fat bikes as a toy. That being said, I'm in a position to and am currently finishing up building up a really sweet drop bar fatbike for not much $ (albeit with old standards and probably geo) but I'm quite excited to ride the hopefully eventual snow and go through some river trails in the summer on the goofy build I've got planned!
Great video! I’m a huge fan of all tire sizes and agree with your conclusion. I race enduro (Ibis Ripmo) and I like to race XC on my rigid 29+ (Trek Stache) but I love riding my fatbike during summer (EVO OMW) the “cons” aren’t as bad as they seem, I love all bikes, if I had to choose 1 bike I would definitely go for wider tires, I have snow so I would go fat, luckily I don’t have to choose
Hope to get one myself. Looking into the Foe's Mutz.
I've been fatbike 'curious' for about 4 years and just bought a pre-owned DeVinci Minus 10S and LOVE riding it! It's so much fun... in part it's the simplicity and a 'monster' bike (ala monster truck lol). This is bike #5 ... ride enough years and, well bikes follow you home (dual sus, hard tail, gravel, road, flat bar) This new to me fatbike is parked at my front door ... ready to roll
I'm still not sure what is better on forest trails with rocks and roots 29er or fat bike? For exploring purposes rather than racing only. I have 29er and it seems it doesn't do well in too dense forests with lots of roots, leaves and plants.
Would a fat bike be good for an older rider (49) transitioning from road to mountain biking? We have several mountain bike parks in the area but now snow. I live in coastal SE US.
Absolutely.
I'm not a fat bike guy but I really enjoyed your explanation and you got me thinking I should at least give it a try.
If you can find one to try it out it’s definitely worth it!
Nice video! I love my fat bike!!! It is so versatile. Fun to ride! If I could only have one bike, it would be my fat bike. Thankfully, I have a wonderful wife!!! Being a retired firefighter I can ride or do trail work almost every day year round. What a life!!!
Sounds like you’ve got things figured out haha
Can i put a motor and a battery on it?
Can I ride a pedego trail tracker on trails like in your video? I'm a little nervous after I ordered one a few weeks ago for delivery to my local store and not noticing that it doesn't have a front suspension. I used to take my old fat tire ebike on trails and the ramp at my local bike park but I'm worried about breaking this bike if I try going on these terrains.
For me, a fatbike can be adapted to be ridden year round, but then you don't have the optimal bike for most of the year. The trail bike is the most versatile option and I choose to sink the majority of my bike $ into my F/S and hardtail mtbs. However, buying an affordable fatbike to keep off the trainer for 4 moths is well worth it. Nice bike and vid.
Good video! I just bought a surly ick I know you have or had one. I was wondering if you had any recommend on 29+ rim and tires for the summer?
RSD bikes has 29+ wheels available with the correct spacing for $409 which is a crazy good deal.
@@RideYearRound I,ll have a look thanks 👍
Has anyone out there ever rode down railroad tracks on one of these? Do the tires hold up to the gravel? How about soft mud?
I sure would like to see a comparison of a 29in bikepacking bike vs a fat bikepacking bike.
I want to ride the LA Barstow 2 Vegas route, but I don't know if a loaded fat bike would be able to handle the softer sandy sections much better than a regular mtn bike. I've never ridden a fat bike so I don't know if it's worth it to buy a bike specifically for crossing deserts.
Check out Foresty Forest if you want to see a good desert fat bike bikepacking example.
I'm looking forward to converting my 2020 Santa Cruz Chameleon HT into a skinny-fat rigid MTB with the RSD510 fork, i45 front and i40 rear WTB KOM Tough rims, and DHR2 29x3.0 front and Rekon 29x2.6 rear (tires aren't set in stone and I'd love to hear some recommendations). It's going to be a lot of work, but I've found I like rigid and full sus bikes, and much less half-squish HTs. All this while living in the SF Bay, where it never snows, but we do get a lot of loose garbage which is the bane of my damn existence.
Sounds like a fun bike! Rigid 29+ is one of my favorite set ups.
I rode my full rigid Surly Wednesday all year which included 100 miles of the MDH trail in ND. I won't go back to my full squish MTB because the Surly is basic, fun, and does everything.
My mountain bike came with 2.1 wheel and clearance may allow kinda 2'5 max funny isn't it?
About 2 years ago I decided to get a Fat Bike and I don´t regret it at all. I honestly even prefer the wider Q Factor.
The biggest downside for me, and something I wish I was more aware of before going Fat, is compatibility with Racks. I drive a small 3-Door Car and I need to use a roof rack when transporting any bike. My Fat has 26x4.7 tires and at least from what I could find at the time, there is only a single roof rack compatible with them, and even then I had to buy the Fatbike Wheel adapters seperately. Similarly racks you often find in front of shops and stores here in Germany that grab a wheel of the bike to keep standing won´t work. Same thing with the racks you find in parking garages for bikes. It just causes a few minor problems if you use such a bike in a Urban Environment from time to time.
I'm in the same boat right now. Just picked up a lightly used Velocirax 6, but can't use it on any fat bike right now which kind of sucks haha.
@@RideYearRoundvelocirax makes a fat bike tire basket, there like $129.00 for a set of 2
@bryanfulcher7162 yeah I’ve considered picking up those baskets and extended straps but haven’t decided if I really need it yet. I usually throw my bike in the bed of the truck anyway haha
We need to ride together. Saw a number of my favorite trails in this video!
That’d be fun! Unfortunately I moved to Montana 4+ years ago, but if you’re ever up this way let me know and we’ll hit up some trails!
Riding an all rigid fat bike is like riding an adult sized BMX. I was still racing BMX at 40 and now @70 I love my fat bikes to bits. I have no other MTBs.
Yes, I bought a Fat Bike. The most winter fun I've had in a long time. Can't wait to get those studded tires off and rip the single track. Likely I'll get a suspension fork. Will I give up the Honzo, No! But it's good to have an alternative plan for the day.
Fat bikes for me are one of two things, a do anything electric mountain bike with a suspension fork or a winter/snow bike were less is more(nothing more usless then an $800 Manitou suspension fork on a snow bike) love bringing out my fat bike every winter, but if i still lived in Florida I would have no use for it.
Great video! Fat bikes are so much fun and are a great option for year round riding.
You said you swap out your fat tires for plus. What bike are you riding?
Currently the RSD Mayor V5, but I’ve run fat and 29+ on a lot of different fat bikes over the years.
@@RideYearRound Can I run a suspension fork on this build?
Love your content
They also a great bike packing bikes
Anyone know a good brand?
I rode a rigid Fatbike as my year round Mtb for 5 years. I live in MN so obviously...snow and no big mountains during the warm months. But, I took it to Bentonville, multiple CO locations, MT and many other locations all in 4" configuration. The answer to me is based on mindset. If you ride for fun all the time, yes fatbike full time is a good bike. If you have a need for weight or speed...you are not asking this question to start.
One more thing...I absolutely love the simplicity of the fat bike. Do you want to ride or spend your time in the garage/shop?
Yeah most people who ride a fat bike aren’t all that concerned with weight…at least not until the bike gets over 40 pounds haha.
Fatbikes remain my go to bike for any ride. They are totally great for year round riding and in my opinion they ARE mountain bikes on steroids. "Ride fat to stay fit!"
The extra weight helps, I started with MTB but my next bike will be fat.
You're doing excellent work out there dude, I'm 100% convinced if more people tried them, and they weren't maligned by idiots that just want to shred mad gnarr and do back-flips while getting rad (GMBN) then it could get more people out and about and enjoying life. I sort of hate that "smiles for miles!!!" mantra insipid halfwits come up with for describing fat bikes, but I think I'm probably one of them, because you're going to have more fun on a fat riding over all creation, than you are squashing your hemorrhoids on a bloody gravel bike and sailing over the bars every time you hit a rogue pothole, but again, my opinions are my own. Merry Christmas from the UK! lol 🤘🤘
I have 3 fat bikes, and they're my favorite bikes to ride. I ride them all year round too. I'm 6'4, 255 lbs, so a few extra pounds of bike, isn't a huge issue for me. Fat bikes are where it's at, for me.
What do you think about an electric fat bike?
I think they have their place, but don’t personally have a big interest in one except maybe for hunting purposes.
@@RideYearRound Cheers!
L❤VE this video
💯 True !!!
ive been fat biking for 20 yrs
& now have Fat Bike E-Bike due to very old ankle injury from motorcycle accident
🤦🏻🛑❌️🚫🤷♂️
i ride 10 to 20 miles mon to fri after work
n 40 to 60 miles a day on Sat & Sunday most of the time when i have weekend time ...
n all other bikes are 29ers
Cannondale Full Carbon Leftys
15lbs
Cannondale Bad Boy 20lbs
Cannondale Prophets 20lbs
JUST BIKE !!!
🤓❤🚵😁🚴🏼♂️💪💯👍
I have a lenz fatillac.Weighs 16.5 kgs which is no more than my friends Norco site and anothers Commencal.150mm mastodon pro up front and a Fox dX2 rear shock with 130mm travel.I ride it frequently in Australia's premiere lifted bike park Thredbo amd it rips!! Mates literally all say dont follow Matt as his lines are deadly!!😅 The full suspension and 4 inch tires make it an absolute monster truck that carries speed through or over everything
I'd love to get a Fatillac in to review. They look so fun for dirt riding!
Just a side question. Whats snow? Never seen it. Never touched it. Aloha.😎🤙
Hahaha. I’ve only been to Hawaii once but I saw some snow way up there on the Big Island!
@@RideYearRound That's more like slush. Get some slurp and you can enjoy shaved ice. Come back soon. Aloha.🤙
Cheers.
I Love fat bikes, I own 4 fat bikes 1 plus and 1 hybrid, bikes are the best way to stay in good shape💯%
I believe that a fatbike is 100% an mtb bike.. it just has very thick tires.... In my opinion, sometimes it is better on some routes... than my light full bike for cross country....
😀
FatBiker here!👍👌👊🏻❤️🇵🇭
The Mayor makes a great mountain bike. I regret selling mine.
Yup. Forget about the Q Factor and focus on the *Fun* Factor. 😃
you can't when it screws your knees up like many folk have found !
Fat bikes are where it's at. Hopefully I'll get a Wyatt Maverick next year.
I like to ride year-round. Omni terrain. Absolutely everything. Except pavement.
Wider tires are better only on sinking terrains. I’ve started biking exclusively on fat bikes and spent way more money in this that anyone on the planet. Believe me.
Fat bikes are not suitable for serious mountain biking. They are just for cruising around anything.
A good enduro specific mtb tire offers more grip and control than any fat tire there is.
i love Fatbiking all time 😁😍
"A" not "An"
Depends on if you read it as individual letters or "mountain bike"...maybe I should change it to "a/an" haha.
So it's 29 fat bikes? Gonna find one
I love running into goons on the trail who think fat bikes suck and think they know it all. I"ve raced BMX for years, raced Mountainbikes for quite a few years as well. Downhill and Mountaincross, when I first rode a fat bike and realized how much fun it was and the things you could do on it...I sold all my Downhill bikes and never turned back since. I have 4 Fatbikes, I've raced a few times on them as well. I dirt jump, hit drops, chutes etc. I love the look on peoples face when I blow by them on trails then see them at the bottom and they like wtf. The only disadvantage is laying into tight corners deep, but its very manageble.
Once you go fat you never go back. Got rid of my full squish 29er and bought a new fatty.
i like fat bikes
You betcha. Snowflakes in today's cycle world, are addicted to anything...electric, or with a crappy weed-whacker motor attached to the toptube. Anything that does not make'em sweat. Rigid carbon fork, is probably not gonna benefit on rutted/pot-holed trails. Get a suspension fork. And using thinner tires(650bx3.8 or 29x2.8) are awesome for traction & speed. I have low pressure in the front, high in the rear. Great traction & maneuverability on slick trails and rocks. A crank-guard, can make the difference of riding, or walking home.
* a mtb - an - no - its A mtb ... a precedes a word with M , do you say An mother or A mother ??? 😊
But I read it as “em-tee-bee”…
It's fat bike good road bike ❤
A fatbike makes crappy trails fun to ride. Trails that would suck with 2.2" 29'er tires. A fatty opens up much more riding opportunities.
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