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Morning all,
Could some of you UK FB vets please cast an eye over this build kit for me please as I haven't got a clue.......I'm tempted to fit the RS Bluto to make it more of an all-rounder but that's about the limit of my knowledge.
So it's:
Tyres/wheels any good
Bars/stem (75mm)
SRAM XX brakes
And any other observations please.
http://sarmabikes.com/collections/fatbike-frames-framesets/products/carbon-complete-bike-shaman
From my limited experience I would say keep it simple & light, especially if the fork will take a 5" tyre.
I rode two ICTs in the lakes, one with a bluto & one without. I definitely preferred the 'without' option.
Cash is clearly not an issue but for me one of the joys of having a fatty is the simplicity. However if all your riding is in the lakes & Peak District then I can see the attraction of a Bluto, but my advice would be try it without first. That lighter front end is a revelation.
Tyres wise, can't comment on those. I run a nice big Surly Bud up front, rolls really well & I reckon will stay on all year. Rear I have just swapped from a Nate for winter to a Maxxis Mammoth which rolls very fast.
PS - with that ammount of cash I would go for a [url= http://slam69.co.uk/pivot-les-fat-complete-bike-xo-1-special-order-11803-p.asp ]Pivot Les Fat[/url]
(Possibly) importantly it can take 5" tyres at the rear, that the Sarma will not.
Buy something cheaper, work out what you want from that, upgrade then.
Al has the answer.
Madbillmcmad: many thanks for showing me the error of my ways.....really like the look of the Pivot LESfat.....anyone riding one???
I think there was a carbon bear grease on the classifies / Pinkbike for half the price of the Sarma .
avoid E13 cranks or anything that uses BB30 bottom brackets especially if your ever going to go near a beach......
+ heed Al's comment!
Yeah, really do figure out what you want first. I came close to buying a sarma as it's light and 170mm backend as I hate 190mm/5" fatbikes, which is a very personal choice, but the 27.2 seatpost ruled it out for me as I wanted a better dropper post (got a mukluk in the end, XX1/XTR, nextie rims, bluto)
Nice frames
Nearly there now. just a couple more questions:
1./ I'm a big fan of short (50mm) stems and 800mm bars; is this format suitable for fatbikes?
2-/ what is the best tyre combo for IOM/UK conditions (rocky/rooty/with a bit of slop now and again)
Looking like it's going to be a LESfat
./ I'm a big fan of short (50mm) stems and 800mm bars; is this format suitable for fatbikes?
All depends on the TT length, same as any frame. I've got a 60mm stem and 740mm bars on my O-O fatty
Also depends if the bike has trail geometry or snow geometry, I.e. Fatty V mukluk etc (slacker/steeper) I'd have said
24.75TT.....69degree head angle 72 degree seat tube angle...similar to my Tallboy and I've got 50 stem/780 bars....so I assume it's ok???
My fatty came with a dinky stem and 810mm flat bars. Its got 720 salsa bend 2s on so I can get my daughters Ibert seat on it. Preferred the 810s. Just get the top spec fatty with carbon forks for just over a grand. If you like it swap the bits over to a sarma frameset.
Just strikes me as odd that someone will drop £6K on their first bike (of a type new to them).
Of course it's also ATGNI etc but that's not my point.
4.5k full bike....2.2k frame
pipiom - Member
Nearly there now. just a couple more questions:1./ I'm a big fan of short (50mm) stems and 800mm bars; is this format suitable for fatbikes?
2-/ what is the best tyre combo for IOM/UK conditions (rocky/rooty/with a bit of slop now and again)
You don't want one of those things Phil - a nice single :wink:speed is what you really need 😉
I just meant a nice single speed, of course....... 🙄
Only if you loan me your legs Andy
Nearly there now. just a couple more questions:1./ I'm a big fan of short (50mm) stems and 800mm bars; is this format suitable for fatbikes?
2-/ what is the best tyre combo for IOM/UK conditions (rocky/rooty/with a bit of slop now and again)
Looking like it's going to be a LESfat
1 - Even with giant tyres, it's still a rigid bike (unless you put sus fork on). From my own experience, a tall, short front end works great. It allows you to unweight the front easily when bombing downhill. I really don't like a low front end on any bike now tbh.
2 - I've tried a few over the past couple of years and now stick with Bud/Bud all year round on 80mm rims. The big volume really helps carry speed on rough trails, and the linear knob pattern rolls reallly well. Forget weight, I think the drag factor is much more important on a fatty. Anyway, that huge tyre just gives a nice big gyro for stability at speed 🙂
Fat tyres with very small knobbles aren't great for winter use as they float on mud with nothing to cut in and find grip. The Bud's tall knobs work really well though.
Just strikes me as odd that someone will drop £6K on their first bike (of a type new to them).Of course it's also ATGNI etc but that's not my point.
Bit harsh Al, OP is asking some perfectly reasonable questions before buying a bike. ATGNI to me would be walking into some ****y shop like Poshbikes with ten grand and asking for their 'best' bike for that budget.
2.2k is a lot for a frame (if it's the sarma one) that looks very much like loads of open mould frames coming from China for less than £400. I'd wait and see what O-Os New carbon fatty turns out like if it was me
A mate is selling this very nice Puffin for £1400
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http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa46/amticoman/6BE346A9-9C14-4665-8CF1-CBDD7C4CC7A6_zpsfrvpywtj.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
Right enough. That's a lot to pay for UK backup.rOcKeTdOg - Member
2.2k is a lot for a frame (if it's the sarma one) that looks very much like loads of open mould frames coming from China for less than £400.
It is if it's on one back up eh, Colin? 😉
I'd heed Al's advice, demo a few bikes you like the look of, or even buy a few fat bikes 2nd hand to get an idea what you like. They don't feel like any other bikes so it's hard to give a meeningfull review to someone who's not ridden one.
E.g a fatty is quite different to a pugsley, but both handle a long way from an average 29er, whereas you could compare 29er handling to a 26" bike.
I'd recommend a Fatty, but I'm currently having a sense of humour failure with O-O's warranty department after it's taken 4 weeks and counting to change a stem.
demo a few bikes you like the look of
This. A fat bike is just another style of bike, and it's like saying all hardtails are the same.
I know someone who had and then sold a Fatty - he really didn't like it, said it felt pretty dead to ride, and both of us though my Rocky Mountain Blizzard was a lot more fun and trail capable. I've ridden a Pugsley as well, I didn't like it as I thought it felt quite slow and wandering, could have been the build though.
Try before you buy, especially at that price. If you're up in Edinburgh you're welcome to try my Blizzard, although given that it's spring it'll mostly be on bogtrotting duties and on dry trails - it rides well on anything though.
pipiom - Member
Only if you loan me your legs Andy
I'm just a short arse, so they wouldn't fit you 😛
LESfat ordered: it comes with Maxis Mammoth tyres, are they any good, or is it change as soon as I get it?
For what?
Just ride it, I've got floaters on my fatty which are at best reviewed as average, and they're more tenacious than burnt custard in your favourite saucepan.
Start at 11 or 12 psi and start dripping from there. I find 8-9 is good, anything below 8 and I have issues with tyre seating (tubeless), but better rims would probably solve that and there's still very little squirming at those pressures so I'd like to go lower.