Rims:Specialized Fatboy SL, 90mm-wide, singlewall, 32h.Rear derailleur:SRAM X7 Type 2, 10-speed, medium cage.Front derailleur:SRAM X7, 2×10, low direct mount.Brakes:Tektro Gemini, 180mm front / 160mm rear rotors.Handlebar:Specialized, low rise 6061 alloy.Headset:Campy style integrated 1.125 – 1.5in. Fork:Specialized FACT carbon, 135mm spacing.SRAM X7 front and rear derailleurs are operated by a pair of gripshifters - a thoughtful addition that is much more user-friendly than trigger shifters when wearing thick gloves.Īdvertisement MPU reviews Complete bike specifications The stock build consists of reliable, no-frills components that get the job done. It sports quick-release axles at both ends and the carbon fork is spaced at 135mm, rather than the 150mm spacing that has become the norm thanks to the introduction of the RockShox Bluto suspension fork. The Fatboy, however, is still stuck in an awkward pubescent state. But the growing process has been painful for consumers, unsure of what’s going to come next. As the species matures, axle and bottom bracket standards are becoming normalized. It seems like fat bike frame standards have gone through a more tumultuous development process than any other type of bicycle in recent memory. The Fatboy is a dependable fat biking partner, but it’s not up to date with the current axle and fork standards The fatboy is one of five specialized fatbikes: the fatboy is one of five specialized fatbikes If the trail is hidden under a blanket of snow - or if no trail exists - the Fatboy with its 26×4.6in tires can roll over just about anything. This makes the Fatboy a good sidekick for excursions that involve a bit of trail blazing. The front end serves up great low-speed handling. The long rear end delivers plenty of traction on steep climbs, allowing the rider to stay seated and spin the 38/24t crankset. This geometry works well enough when pedaling through snow and sand. The 70.5 degree head tube angle isn’t overly steep, yet it is quick enough that the Fat Boy prefers to be steered from the bar, rather than leaned through turns by the hips and it requires extra input to muscle the rangy, 17.9 / 455mm-long chainstays through tight and twisty trails. The Fatboy is quite similar in that respect. While they all share wide 3.8 to 5-inch mountain bike tyres, there are three key categories into which they can be grouped.If you were around during the early days of 29er geometry (which really weren’t all that long ago) you may remember the “mullet” handling of bikes with steep head tube angles and long chainstays. Made to take you off the beaten track, fat bikes are designed with adventure riding in mind. However, in some situations, such as slippery technical climbs, fat bikes benefit from their increased traction and make light work of terrain that would leave regular bikes guessing. The extra rotating mass and increased rolling resistance also makes them harder to get up to speed and limits their acceleration. This can make them harder to pedal, especially uphill. The answer is not entirely straightforward and depends on what (comparatively) skinny-tyred mountain bike is used as a reference point.įat bikes are indeed generally heavier than non-fat bikes. Josh Patterson / Our mediaĪ common question is whether the big tyres make fat bikes harder to pedal than a regular mountain bike. While fat bike races exist, they shouldn’t be your first choice if going fast is your primary goal. These can be more expensive than comparable parts for regular bikes and are often harder to come by, meaning there is less of a choice when it comes to speccing your bike. The large undamped air volume can create a pogo-stick-like ride when the trails get fast and rough.īraking performance on steep trails is also sub-par compared to other mountain bikes.įat bikes have a very high rotating mass, meaning a lot of braking power is required to slow down their wheels.Ĭost and component choice are also factors worth considering.įat bikes require specialist parts such as tyres, rims, hubs and cranks. Their wide tyres can feel very vague when precise riding is required. The most obvious pay-off is the increased weight brought about by the massive tyres, rims and oversized components (more on that later).ĭespite their floaty ride feel, fat bikes are limited on technical descents. Fat bikes – even ‘mid-fat’ bikes with 3in tyres – aren’t the best for technical descents.
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