[Closed] Would you buy a (new) fatbike for ~£1k?

Well....not for that price.

Crank arm fell off, to some extent. I'm going to blame me.

Well, after not riding for nearly 3 years, a month now on Singletrack again, the bug has really struck anew.

Bought one of these Dunes yesterday... a couple of hours round Llandegla this afternoon and I'm still smiling 🙂 Haven't had as much fun for ages.

Haven't seen this mentioned - I assume the wheels/running gear is not as good, as it has (albeit basic) hydraulic brakes.......

[url= http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/bh-bikes-bigfoot-fat-bike-p343699 ]BH Bigfoot[/url]

It's heavier as stock, steel forks, un drilled heavier wheels and tyres........just not as good a bike IMO.

Well thanks to all the enthusiasm on here I've just bought a secondhand On One Fatty.
Should be a fun toy for the winter.

While all this was going on I have also bought a s/h fattie!

I'll soon be a huffin' and puffin. Can't wait! 😀

Not sure about transmission yet, assume you need to do something funky with such a wide BB shell?

Pretty much all the big brands have options, apart from Shimano who are sticking their fingers in their ears and shouting la-la-la. Only thing you can mess up is crank length, they come in 100 and 120mm BB's (roughly for 4" and 5" tyre clearance respectively). There's a slight degree of incompatibility with some frames/cranks but it mostly seems to have been ironed out.

First ride done! Pics first then a ramble with my thoughts on how it went.

[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/608/23053069922_d39e937044_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/608/23053069922_d39e937044_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/B881wN ]Who are you calling fat?[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/644/22674179209_2721771c70_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/644/22674179209_2721771c70_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/AxD6wi ]Who are you calling fat?[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/652/22444991393_6eda3963e7_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/652/22444991393_6eda3963e7_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/AcorYe ]Who are you calling fat?[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

I need to find a better way to strap it to my bike trailer. This only sort of works!

[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/642/22673554099_5724e37417_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/642/22673554099_5724e37417_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/AxzTGx ]Who are you calling fat?[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

Took the dune to the FoD and - for those that know it - rode all of the Verderers and the first climb/new descent on the Freeminers. Did a bit of off piste as well, mainly messing about on small to medium sized drops.

Running 10PSI in both tyres (no spare tubes yet), conditions were good on the man made trails, pretty muddy and slippy everywhere else. Bike was stock except for a seat collar QR.

Things I loved:
- Grip. I know I shouldn’t have been surprised but it’s phenomenal. Nowhere near the limits but on the last verderers descent, I was happy to chuck it into the berms at reasonable angles. While making BRRRAAAAP noises 🙂

- Nimbleness. I expected a monster truck that you point in one direction and can only go somewhere else by shouting ‘FULL RIGHT RUDDER’ and clanging a ships bell! But it’s amazingly precise, really can pick a line, lots of fun swinging in between apexes. Easier to get round hairpins than my 29er

- It is a monster truck tho. From 26 to 29 I noticed the ‘rollover’ you get with bigger wheels. The Dune is like that but on steroids. It’s amazing how much the tyres will soak up and you can pick stupid lines right up to the point when you realise it is 2inches of undamped travel. There’s no magic there!

- Climbs well. DIdn’t use the inner ring but nothing really steep on this ride. It’ll go 1x10 easily. I love the way you can basically stop, put the power down and motor off. Not in the deep mud but everywhere else it felt like you could climb up the side of a house if you had the legs.

- Gears and brakes (Although see below) work fine. Comedy gaps in the block but everything shifts properly even when muddy.

- Grin factor. New bike and all that, but god it made me smile. I wasn’t going to do the free-miners but wanted to play on some little drop off I know up there. The last run over wet roots was brilliant. Although I was lucky not to crash a couple of times.

Things I didn’t like so much
- How quickly you slow down! I barely used the brakes and I’m not brave. Although I didn’t like them much. When you get up to speed you need to keep it, encourages pumping etc but I didn’t get it right too often.

- Hard (for me) to get it airborne. That’s why I went looking for drops. It needs a proper weight shift to get the front end up. I’m used (post Jedi) to just standing up really on my FS bikes. You have to work harder here but that’s just technique. By the end I was happy lobbing it off a 2ft drop and it feels super stable in the (tiny) air. Landings are well cushioned 🙂

- The brakes. They work fine actually but those long leavers are nasty when you’re used to one finger braking. Happy to switch those out for SLX next weekend.

- No dropper. You do get used to one don’t you? I lowered the seat for the longer descents but I’ll definitely be on the lookout for a long 30.9 dropper. The std 350mm is not quite long enough for me, I need another half inch(!). But I’ll live with it as it’s definitely worth a dropper.

- Narrow bars. All my bikes has 780mm, these are maybe 710? Luckily I have spares.

- I had to come home. And go to spin class later. My legs are ruined!

I was knackered anyway as I’d ridden 60km yesterday in the slop and been to the gym this morning. But the Dune put such a grin on my face, I just kept going until running out of time and light. The verderers is about 11km and it normally takes me about 40-45 mins. I ride it lots with my teenage daughter - normally on my HT and once on my cross bike (which was horrible) and today I ripped round in about the same time including some faffing.

Not putting too much effort in at all, so while it’s not as quick up or down as my other bikes, it’s not far behind. And I don’t much care because you just go searching out stupid stuff that seems entirely inappropriate for a rigid bike.

Only 15km and less than 90 mins riding. But on that experience, going to get the upgrades on and get back out there!

nds have options, apart from Shimano who are sticking their fingers in their ears and shouting la-la-la. Only thing you can mess up is crank length, they come in 100 and 120mm BB's (roughly for 4" and 5" tyre clearance respectively).

Thanks for that TINAS. The RF cranks look good especially as I have a spare 32T direct mount ring. NW in his DORC guise told me there's something about offsets you need to be careful of. I do love a new standard 😉

Great write up Alex.

Look forward to hearing about the upgrades and how it rides.

I had a Surly Pugsley over the weekend and, on the back of that, ordered a Pug this morning while returning the loaner.

Ta. The transmission I'll probably run through the winter as it's better than expected. It is ugly as sin tho. And the cranks flex even under my puny thighs! Brakes, bars and grips tho need changing.

Once the TX is shot, then it'll be a used but serviceable 1x10 SLX drivetrain with a 32T ring and a set of new cranks. Cranks seem to be around £85 with a BB (but not direct mount ring) which seems pretty reasonable.

How are you building the Pug up?

I was so impressed with the overall package I went for the complete build.

Are you on the UK fat bike forum?

Not yet but I'll take a look when I'm back from Spin. Assuming I can still walk 😉

eddiebaby - Member
Well thanks to all the enthusiasm on here I've just bought a secondhand On One Fatty.
Should be a fun toy for the winter.

Will be hand delivered to your good self tomorrow 😀

[quote=Normal Man ]
Are you on the UK fat bike forum?

Nope, tried to register a couple of weeks ago but still waiting for admin approval? Any suggestions?

No idea. Sorry. I think some of guys also post on here so maybe they can help?

Admin on UK Fatbike Forum can be a bit slow - they will get to you eventually!

The UKFB Forum has only one Admin who gets bombed with loads of Spam so has to sort through for the genuine fatty folks...
Great to see so much Fatbike interest here on STW 🙂
This forum totally ripped original Puglsey/Muckluk owners 6 years ago... until it snowed in December 2010... 😉
Since folks have seen what Fatbikes are like on natural terrain for xc riding...

The two Facebook pages- UK fatbikes and UK Fatbike Club have most of the same members as the UKFB Forum...

Also Forth Fat page on FB for the yearly coastal fatbike meet- sponsered by NB Gin 😀

Ok great, sounds like its just a matter of waiting it out then.

Also Forth Fat page on FB for the yearly coastal fatbike meet- sponsered bt NB Gin

Sounds good!

...sounds like its just a matter of waiting it out then.

I've been trying since late September, but no luck yet.

On my 3rd try now. Have tried emailing them, too.

Hope it works out. I've found the site very useful.

same for me, tried it several times, also emailing... no luck

anyway, really great to have an fatbike thread here on STW now..

They let me in no bother. You're all not worthy!

Well here it is all dressed up and ready to roll. Not had chance to ride it yet as been he'll last few days.
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Lookin good! Have to say I'm really glad I replaced the green rim tape though. Most important mod.

Nah it needs green floaters lol

I've just bought a Fatty too, must be catching!

I need to replace the Jumbo Jim's on mine with something that copes with the gloop a bit better - any thoughts or recommendations...?

Nates

(Or Floaters if on a budget)

Grand - thanks Andy

The Nates really are superb, but look for the folding versions as the are 1/2 a kilo lighter than the wired ones. Floaters aren't anywhere as good, but are half the cost of Nates. I'm running a floater on the rear as cheaper and a Nate on the front to stop the classic fatbike front wheel quaplaning on thick mud.

I can do Nates, but might just get one for the front, so I don't actually shit myself at Cwmcarn, as I nearly did on Sunday...

Good shout on the weight, thanks again.

They let me in no bother. You're all not worthy!

Oh if they let NW in, I'll probably not bother applying 🙂

Like the bike packing one. I reckon the biggest weight saving would be removing all the assorted bracketry and front mech. I'll do a before and after weight when I make the changes to mine. Not that I care much as it doesn't feel heavy to ride.

Anyone know where to source an inner tube from? Assume it needs to be schrader? Most seem to be presta

You can use a presta with either an adaptor or the wee steppy lockrings some tubes come with.

[img] [/img]

(or you can just not stress about it but, you know)

I'm going to work through my stock of random big dh tubes first.

Inner tubes; I use the Spesh Presta 26 x 2.4-3.0. Works fine on a 4" tyre and relatively light compared to the fatbike specific geronimos.

Do they still work alright for bigger tyres?

I have some old DH tubes, will go dig 'em out and see how fat they are. Failing that I like Andy's suggestion. Last time I saw a fat bike tube, it looked like it'd cleared out a whole rubber plantation!

Do they still work alright for bigger tyres?

The only downside is they're essentially disposable, patches never seem as stretchy as the tube, at least a third of mine peel off again inside the tyre within a few miles.

Tubeless is the way forward. Not much weight saving by the time you've added a LOT of gunk (150-200ml or so), but it saves having to pump up those tyres and find/fix/'hope they inflated' tubes.

Sorry, I didn't phrase that well, I was meaning bigger ie 4.8s and the like. I think I have a maxxis freeride tube in one end and a random chen shin dh tube which I quite possibly found up a tree at innerleithen in the other, seems to work with the 4.0s 😆

Agree with the Spoon - tubeless the way forward. Never got it to work with my cheap Robsson rims and floaters though 🙁

Ghetto Split tube tubeless has been working a treat on my 29+3",4" and 5" bikes, not much weight saved but no pinchflats, tyre burps and importantly around here Hawthorn flats 🙂

Here is how i did them; [url= http://coastkid.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/tubeless-tuesday-finally-sorted-weekend.html ]Waffle on Fat tubeless[/url]

I got my inner tubes from NextDayTyres.....Schraeder valves but only got them for a spare for my pack should I rip the inner tube as I've put a bottle of slime tube sealant in each existing inner tube. It works for desert riders with Goathead thorns so will work for me I would hope.

For the other that are waiting, just had my UK fat bike forum username etc activated 😉

My Fatty from the classifieds was delivered today and now has 20 miles on it. I am unable to stop laughing and everyone who sees it tells me it is the most awesome bike I've ever owned.
They may be right.
Mark you in the sidewinder gusts tonight it was a bit of a handful.
This is going to be fun.
Is it OK to go tubeless with drilled rims?

4 posts up is a link to coastkid's very thorough "how to", eddiebaby.

Loads of good cheap fatbikes are coming up for sale, Fattys, Charge Maxi, and Pugsleys often for around £600. I have sold 3 Pugs this year at £600
My own old Pugsley is prob only worth the same value but with a bit orange bling still looks good and does what`s needed 🙂
Some film from this mornings chilled out ride on the coast 🙂

just finished to strip off the paint from an O-O fatty v2 frame..
converted some old XT QRs to 170mm
and now contemplating about this..
http://forums.mtbr.com/fat-bikes/widening-hub-832387.html

and.. just tried it again to register at the UKFB forum...
coastkid....really like the vid !

Anyone know if Halfords will definitely be restocking the Voodoo Wazoo?

Apparently yes but it's slipped to the new year, they were saying late November.

How tall are you guys who are riding the Dunes?
I'm about 6ft and wondering if it's too small

It's too small

I'd say so, I'm 5'10 and I feel like I'm on the limit (and need a 410mm post for my 32 inch leg) . Personal taste mind but you'll be pushing it and there's a bigger one on the way early next year so.

OTOH, Nick. Buy one, ride it a few times and then sell it to me for 30% off 🙂

@nickgti - as per email (assume that was you?): contrary to the above, I'm 6foot and I've found it fine, with a change of seatpost (32/33 inside leg...)

I'd asked Go Outdoors, living in hope it would fit me!

Here are the measurements they emailed me:

Seat tube 406mm

Effective top tube 585mm

BB drop 60mm

Rear centre 465mm

Seat angle 69 Degree

Head angle 68 Degree

Heat tube length 105mm

I'm 6' 01" and mines fine with a 410mm replacement post in it.......but I tend to ride medium frames so I get less tangled in them when I crash 😆

Work colleague bought the display Dune from Kidderminster Go Outdoors last night, will get to play on it on Friday 🙂

Shame that as they'res a 15% off code out today......just deleted my email though so can't tell you what it actually is! 🙄

First ride on it today. I like it and it makes me smile. Yup brakes are pap but they will do for now. I'm 5'10" and put a 410mm post in as I needed about another 20mm over the stock post.
It seems to climb rough climbs with ease I felt faster on rough bits up and down but slower on flatter smoother bits apart from a stretch on the road it seemed to whizz along.
It feels like a comfy 29er I'd say. The tyres really struggled in the very slippy mud bits but I expected that. And with the recent weather it was very boggy. That said on a normal bike I'd probably have been pushing it round in places where as I rode the lot. I May try some on one floaters as I can't afford nates this close to Christmas. Paint seems a bit fragile it's worn at the Crown from cable rub and a chunk from the chainstay from when the chain got bunged up
But all in all very happy indeed

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And it fits in my new car. Happy days 🙂
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NW- As the STW Dorc, how you getting on with the bud?

Swithering between trying a bud or a nate on the front of the Dune. The JJ gets out of its depth very quickly in any real mud, think I like the look of the tread on the nate, but like the 4.8 of the bud!

@Fadda yup that's me, thanks

I'm going with Fadda and assuming it'll be fine for me, time for a blast round the tent department I think, extending the 15% makes them very very tempting

Shame that as they'res a 15% off code out today......just deleted my email though so can't tell you what it actually is!

s'ok. code worked fine for him 8)

Nate season has arrived for Fatbikes (away from the coast) swampville down the local woods this affy! 🙂
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/579/23124945845_09406b0dd9_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/579/23124945845_09406b0dd9_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/BetoJR ]18th November; Mudplugging at Binning woods 002[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/coastkid71/ ]Bruce[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/610/23098812566_cd84656c92_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/610/23098812566_cd84656c92_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Bcase5 ]18th November; Mudplugging at Binning woods 005[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/coastkid71/ ]Bruce[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/746/22502092474_30f69eddb9_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/746/22502092474_30f69eddb9_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Ahr78C ]18th November; Mudplugging at Binning woods 012[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/coastkid71/ ]Bruce[/url], on Flickr

thv3 - Member

NW- As the STW Dorc, how you getting on with the bud?

Only done a couple of quick rides with it... There's a vagueness about the handling that I don't really like though I haven't put my finger on what it is yet. Might just need more pressure playing. On dry stuff they don't have the immediacy and, I dunno, transparency of the JJs, I'm less sure of what the bike's doing. Though, that doesn't mean they're not working well, they're weirdly grippy as **** yet not that confidence inspiring, so far.

The grip in mud is just ridiculously better than the JJs though that's really to be expected. They do still float and go loosey on big wet mud patches though, which I guess is just inevitable with such a wide tyre.

More riding needed tbh. It's a bigger change from a normal tyre so could all be just getting my head round it. Obviously can't compare with other tyres!

I hope this doesn't come as a shock to anyone but the wheel bearings are GASH. Noticed a little play tonight, the brake side outer bearing was already nipping up. No dirt in it, it must just be soft as shite so no point adding grease or anything.

Nice simple hub to service though, you do need a 12mm allen key (or bodge alternative- 12mm nut frinstance and a spanner) but everything else is hammers. Very similiar to a Specialized Stout, from memory, 3 pawl freehub deal.

Cheers NW, that's really useful. Reckon I'll try a Nate.

This is probably fat bike sacrilege, but maybe a 4.8 is too fat for normal riding?

It's my quiet day for work and its raining a bit bit but sod it, I'm getting on the train and heading to Swinley with the Fatty. I can't stop riding it. Rides that were getting mundane on the Trigger are so much fun now I've gone fat. The best thing is the way everyone smiles when they see it.
It is just amazing fun.
My new Carbon Jekyll is looking a bit grumpy and unloved in the corner.

Dude, don't take anything away from my 2 rides! Not enough time on tyre for anything useful.

Was leaning towards the Nate anyway, like the look of the tread pattern for Scottish mud, of which there's always plenty!

Coastkid has been riding fatbikes for aaaages and long ago came to the conclusion that 5" was wider than optimum for almost all conditions.

Besides, look at the tread pattern of a Nate in snow or mud and it just makes you want to smile.

3.8 inches is wider than optimum for most conditions tbh. Optimum for most of us isn't the goal 😉

Coastkid is a legend. I remember his posts and videos alerting me to fat bikes way too long ago for me to only be acting now!

Got a call that my Pug is ready but I'm stuck in meetings till late so only can collect it tomorrow - feel my pain!!

I think most people's first meeting with fatbikes seems to be seeing them on the internet and going "woah, that's mad" and then lots of crap about only being for sand or snow or whatever. Mine was having coastkid turn up at a pentlands ride years back on I think his purple pugsley (I only remember the tyres and his awesome delft bashring) and just getting on with it 😆 First impressions count I guess.

Well the fat bike forum admin let me in. And if they let me in, they'll let anyone in!

I liberally applied electrical tape to the obvious candidates for cable rub before the first ride. I've now bought a sheet of 3m for 6 quid off eBay which be a fun way to spend an evening with a hairdryer to make it a somewhat more permanent barrier. Not doing the down-tube tho, can't be arsed to move all the cables.

There were about 3 people at the FoD when I unloaded mine off the trailer. One was the 'sand&snow' type, the others had a quick go and came back laughing. No one just walked by 😉

Oh reverbs are £160 on CRC at the moment. RH drop, 125mm, Just sayin!

Went and got some proper rides in yesterday.
Had to stop on a couple of descents as I was laughing too hard.

I'm loving this.

[IMG] [/IMG]

Have you tried anymore tyres on the dune northwind? The jims were a bit slippy in heavy mud but I'm not sure about clearances

A bit more of a mud/all rounder seems to verify needed but jims will be great in summer. Front looks to have heaps of clearance but back not so much

Might just have to stick to floaters for financial reasons tho tbh

Got a call that my Pug is ready but I'm stuck in meetings till late so only can collect it tomorrow - feel my pain!!

If it makes you feel any better, you can feel [i]my[/i] pain: I've bought a rolling chassis, I've got a small pile of new bits in boxes to finish it waiting at home and I can't get at either of them for a MONTH! 😡

@nedrapier

I'm feeling guilty now! Finished at 9.15pm last night so I'd have free time today 8)

I've just stopped for a bite to eat and a bit of STW. 20 miles covered so far and so many smiles. I love it!

What rolling chassis do you have to buold up?