Interesting Northwind, I am complete opposite to you and wouldn’t touch bigger than 4″. I ride my fatty hard, in fact will be racing it in some local enduros at some point over the next few months. I am running 120mm Blutos on 710’s with Nate upfront and JJ 4.0 rear. I give the bike a hammering, downhill trails the lot. (Accepted that’s a hammering in fat bike terms not full on enduro Brrrappping) I ride with some guys who also ride pretty hard all on 4.0’s. I run at 7psi front and rear with a 85kg rider weight. I love the 4.0 jj on the rear, it has just the right amount of grip on the rear whilst being predictable when it finally lets go. That’s now been used in dry and dusty to soaking wet slop fest. The Nate on the other hand, I am really struggling with. I had thought I had found the perfect tyre combo. But recently I have had the front wheel wash out at speed, now that could have and probably would have with any fatty tyre, but I am pretty convinced there should be something better. I looked at the minion fbf but have dismissed it due to its size. If they did it in 4.0 I would be all over it… Are you running your tyres tubeless? If you are running tough trails with 4.0 tyres and tubes at around 7psi you are definitely going to get pinch flats. Obviously no such issue without tubes

@Russyh I’m running tubeless on 80mm rims but I’ve still pinchflatted my old 4.0 JJ (you can pinchflat a tyre even without a tube). And it doesn’t stop rim dings either. You may be the only person I’ve ever come across that likes the 4.0 JJ in the wet!

Like I say, I’m not saying 4.8 is better, just that it’s better for me. But having the choice and futureproofing of big tyre clearance and hubs is always going to be a bonus.

Thing about the Minion (and Bud, and no doubt others I’ve not used) is, they’re big but they’re not slow. I’ve not used a 120tpi Nate for comparison so this is a bit unfair but both those 4.8s are way faster than a 60tpi Nate, and have better grip in a lot of circumstances. They’re heavier, of course, and they’re sketchier on standing water/thin mud and draggier paddling in water but unless you’ve tried a big tyre I wouldn’t rule it out.

I think it’s a bit unfair because most new tyre development seems to be thrown at bigger tyres, so you end up comparing with older designs. There’s rumours of a 4.0 Minion but I don’t know if there’s any truth in that.

just to clarify I only like the 4 Jim on the rear, wouldn’t want one anywhere near the front end in damp stuff. However some of the fat bike racers I know use them for everything. But they are much more talented on a bike than me.

As for Nate I ran 120tpi Nates front and rear, I found them too draggy. I run one upfront as frankly it’s the best tyre I have found in terms of grip, but I find it pretty awful on wet roots, slabs etc. Pretty good in mud. I am hoping maxis bring out the 4.0 minion as that will almost certainly be my next port of call. Just can’t see any scenario where bigger than 4.0 would be better for me other than snow and sand of which I see very rarely. Even at battle on the beach which was my only sand based riding event there was no need for anything bigger.

As you say what works for one probably doesn’t for another.

Thing is though, you’re talking about a lack of grip on wet roots, slabs… And your riding doesn’t sound so different to mine. And that sort of thing is exactly where the bud and fbf kick ass. OK it’s possible that you’d like a 4.0 more but I’m pretty confident you’d find the 4.8 does what you want, today. It’s not specifically about the volume, it just happens that the Bud and Minion are fantastic tyres, and are only 4.8.

Coastkid could probably recommend some others? I’m a tyre nerd but chances to properly test fatbike tyres are pretty few and the price means I can’t really experiment as I’d like to. Also, most OE builds come with fast, light tyres for marketing reasons not the grippy beasts we probably want.

I must confess to being a bit of a tyre whore myself. It’s like some kind of rubber fetish. I know that butcher grid front and purg control rear works perfectly for me across virtually every condition. But yet I still blow money trying other combos (that said I have a new favourite in Magi Mary and Rock Razor)

Maybe I should try the 4.8 minion up front, expensive mistake to make if it’s not what I want though!

Edit double post

Not sure if I’m allowed to post here as my fatbike (Surly ICT) cost more than £1K 🙂 I’ve also not had much experience of 4″ tyres, bar a short demo ride that I didn’t enjoy, but it’s a subject that interests me.

The biggest surprise for me was that my ICT on 4.8″ JJs is stupidly fast. I mean really stupid. Even now the honeymoon period has presumably expired I’m still setting personal records up climbs that I’ve done multiple times on much lighter bikes (this thing weighs 34lb!). It makes no sense.

But, everyone knows that 4″ tyres are faster than 5″ on trails, so I’m tempted to give them a go. The ICT Ops comes with 4″ tyres, so the bike is presumably designed for them. But then I think about it some more and I struggle to see a reason to go any smaller. Presumably I’ll need to run higher pressures, so less grip and less comfortable. The BB will drop by 1″, so (with the wide Q factor) that presumably means more pedal strikes.

I could see the point if I was getting frustrated with how slow the 5″ tyres were, but these JJs seem to be half rubber and half witchcraft.

My Wazoo could almost be called “Frankenfat’s lovechild” at the moment, I have a Fat not fat rear with a 700x35c Randonneur Pro and the default front with a 4.0 snakeskin JJ! 😆

Ordered a problem solver RDS to FDS rotor converter from Triton, so I can install the 29er front wheel and wait for a DFS carbon fork deal (plus let my bank balance recover after recent extravagant spending).

I could see the point if I was getting frustrated with how slow the 5″ tyres were, but these JJs seem to be half rubber and half witchcraft.

Ime the 4.8s are faster than the 4.0s or more specifically they roll noticeably easier. There was some science on mtbr to the effect that the fat tyre contact patch is lateral and the fatter the tyre the more lateral it is. Hence the grip without the drag. My empirical testing backs this up. The 4.0s are more nimble but they’re a step closer to thin tyres and they feel that way. Pressure is more critical and although they can be made to feel almost as fast as the 4.8s they don’t have the same easy-rolling nature.

Glad someones else is enjoying the rocketship climbing ability. I felt as though I was cheating at first but I don’t care anymore 😀

Thanks. I’ll save my cash then 🙂

Question for you Nobodyofthegoat, I’m not planning on upgrading to 4.8s on my Wazoo any time soon so is there a carbon fork you would recommend?

I’m think I’m thinking new stem, riser bars, forks & seat post eventually (if/when cash becomes available)

dahedd, the only one that fits without DIY or a new front hub is the carboncycles one, which is a fair bit heavier than the P-X (quoted weights, anyway) as it has an alloy steerer compared to the P-X’s full carbon.

http://www.carboncycles.cc/?p=1661&

Straight steerer fat forks of any material are few and far between, nevermind looking for carbon, as far as I’m aware. 😉

Choices I know of are…
http://www.carboncycles.cc/?s=0&c=105&p=1780&tb=001
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FOOOCFAT/on-one-carbon-fatty-fork
http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/frames-forks-c6/rigid-forks-c51/sarma-hoboy-carbon-fat-bike-straight-fork-p11590

Option 1 would fit your default FDS (front disc spaced) wheel
Option 2 would not, you either need to lathe the disc mount by ~4.8mm, or buy an RDS (rear disc spaced) front wheel eg. those custom Hope Pro 2 Evo Fatsno QR at http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/hope-custom-mtb-disc-front-wheel/rp-prod63716 because the fork is RDS, or grab http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/WFOOFAT/on-one-fatty-front-wheel (they were ~£40 a few months back)
Option 3 no idea on spacing

I bought one of the last two sets of FatNotFat 29er wheelsets last weekend from PX, despite no warning in the marketing blurb, the front wheel is RDS. So I’m waiting on http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/frames-forks-c6/frame-fork-spares-c152/problem-solvers-fat-fork-disc-adaptor-p11825 to fit the front wheel and have the rotor inbetween the disc calipers, instead of ~4.8mm closer to the hub centre! 😆

Cheers lads. I’ll stick to upgrading to carbon bars & seat post for now I reckon. Would love a set of Lauf forks but they cost more than the bike did. Time to win the lotto.

After months of only showing them on their Ebay site, Halfords finally have the 18″ model showing on their own site for £400 (before BC discount or Topcashback)…

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/voodoo-wazoo-fat-bike

Do it, do it now… If you are fatty curious! 😯

I’m going to sell my Felt DD 30 size M with less than 15 rides for around £850. It’s a great bike but I got the wrong size…if anyone wants more info just drop me a line at gonzalo.master30 at gmail dot com

Anyone know how big a tyre can be fitted to the Wazoo? Thinking it might be good but but would prefer the option of something bigger than 4″ if fancy it

Looks like we might be seeing an possible fancier trick dune? Bright green, single ring, external bb??

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIumzGPBU43/

Had a Charge Cooker Maxi 2 for about a month now (£879 from evans) and it is ACE. It’s reinvigorated my love of cycling,

I’ve been riding it stock (with a set of Nukeproof pedals) for the first outings, but stuck my 777mm Carbon bars on and my Thomson dropper and headed up to The Lakes today. Whilst it isn’t as much fun in the air as my 150/140mm trail bike, pretty much everywhere else it excels. Climbing is great, on the loose climb up to Loughrigg it just gripped and gripped until my legs gave in.

On the descents it is ace on the loose stuff, corners like nothing else I’ve ridden and (unless I pick a terrible line, which did happen today) seems to levitate over rock gardens.

A friend has just got a Voodoo Wazoo and he turned up on it yesterday. It’s the first time I’ve seen one in the flesh, and I must say I’m impressed. An absolute bargain for £400 odd.

I’m really having a blast on mine Tillydog but it definitely needs riser bars to stop my back hurting. Also tell him to check out the seat post, its massive, I chopped a chunk off mine.

Looks like we might be seeing an possible fancier trick dune? Bright green, single ring, external bb??

Shit. I love that green. I’m going to end up with Dune envy all over again.

it definitely needs riser bars to stop my back hurting

Yeah, we were debating the merits of riser bars vs a steep stem! 🙂

Both mate. Shorter stem & riser bars

slimjim78 – Member

Shit. I love that green. I’m going to end up with Dune envy all over again.

Relieved to find I still prefer the yellow 😆 Be interesting to see where they go with this though, it makes total sense- the frame was obviously designed for upgradability and way exceeds the needs of a £500 bike after all. I’d kind of expected a minor upspecced model at around £750 with proper brakes and gears but this looks like it might be a step above that too. Maybe to join the Bossnut as an eyecatcher?

Ooh, probably shouldn’t have clicked on that link 🙂 That does look lovely. It depends on the geometry, but if it’s a 190/150 setup that can take 5″ tyres it could be very interesting.

I’m assuming just the same frame so 150/197 and takes a 4.8 though the rear might not take a full 5 (a Bud is a little tight, on tyre height rather than fatness so it’d depend on shape). Mine is on 4.8 minions each end but has had a Bud and a 4.8 JJ in the back too, no bother with any (the Minions are pretty undersized, because Maxxis)

Minions in the winter, JJs in the summer should suit me fine. But would those bright yellow Maxxis logos clash with a green frame

I’m thinking if selling my dune and going 27.5+ not sure what it’s worth tbh. Vvgc comes with longer than standard seat post, lightweight tubes, fitted with floaters but have a set of jjs too, deore hydros, and mucky nutz fenders. Rest is as standard. Any idea on price to ask. Ta

£300.

Several weeks in and I’m still loving the Minion FBF on mine; superb grip everywhere and no issues with it being at all draggy that I’m aware of. Still happily cruising around on group rides.
I can also say that the initial impressions of it holding a straight line across mud have been maintained. It stays pointing straight ahead across squirmy mud better than any tyre I’ve used, fat or conventional.

Although a tight fit initially and needing hefty over-inflation to seat it, the tyre bead now sits well up on the lip of a Halo Tundra rim, not falling back in at 6.5psi so far..
Happy days.
On the down side, my (£33) Decathlon dropper post died last week, just over a year in; the bottom end of the push rod separated from the mechanism inside the cartridge, so the under-saddle lever is ineffective. I can’t see how to fix it back into place, so I’m back on a normal post for now. I’m not really complaining at that price.

firestarter, is that a medium or large?

It’s the original medium sized mate.

Highlandman the minion sounds like the tyre I’ve been looking for. Did you go 120tpi or 60 tpi?
What forks are you running? Not sure if 4.8 will go in my OO carbon forks.
Would the specialised 2.4 tube be safe in a 4.8. It looks very happy in a 4.0.

I’d have figured on more zippy tbh with the extra. I guess I could sell the jj separately too

But would those bright yellow Maxxis logos clash with a green frame

Are you kidding? That, my friend, is Neon Rasta.

It’s the original medium sized mate.

Shame, would have been interested if it was a large.

No worries mate

Are you kidding? That, my friend, is Neon Rasta.

Cool, I’ll get me some dreads and roll myself one of these then I’m good to go.

Jumbo Jim 4.0 snakeskins for £54 (~£52 after using Topcashback)…

https://www.merlincycles.com/schwalbe-jumbo-jim-snakeskin-tl-folding-fat-bike-tyre-89951.html?utm_source=Merlin+Cycles&utm_campaign=9515ca3857-Week33_Monday_Mega_Deals8_8_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_efec82f678-9515ca3857-261277205&mc_cid=9515ca3857&mc_eid=13bca38e4e

Finally used the Wazoo in skinny mode to commute the last two days, feels so nice to be riding again after a pants mid summer health-wise! I can definitely use the ~69 gear inches gear (6th sprocket with large chainring on default setup) more on the flatish sections more in skinny mode (~72 GI using JJ), but I’m missing the lovely cushioning of the ~28/30PSI JJs. Somehow, the 700x35c Randonneur Pros feel harsher and more draggy.