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

affordable 2nd (or 3rd) bike

*ahem* 4th. Mine's currently having a bit of workshop time. SLX brakes, wider bar, 1x10. Oh and somehow I became convinced that without a reverb, it wouldn't be 'finished'. Off riding in Spain next week, just for a mad second I thought 'would that go in the bike bag?' 🙂

Oh and NW part of your socks appear to be a perfect colour match to the frame. That's Enduro right there 🙂

Calibrebikes...Mike, can you get some spare gear hangers into stores or give us an address to order them from, I dislike SS bikes to get home at the best of times and would prefer to have a spare hanger.....and so eone rose list his end nut off the front QR lever...as all us Duneists know they are brilliant and value for money........only thing you should change is the rim strips to match the paintwork 😆

@suggsey we've got a full range of spares coming in and hangers will be part of this. regarding the rim strips we did try the yellow but in all honesty it was just too much yellow :)but colours etc are a personal taste

I like the green I wonder if it goes with green floaters 😉

Got to say I like the green.

Although not owning a Dune I also have to say it's great that Mike has signed up and is willing to answer questions. Great job.

Depends what you want.

A decent sh OOF will be around £500 unless vendor is taking the p1ss.

Lots of good Fatties around the grand, mostly compromised in some way - as always build kit is the best scenario to be crap as it's easily changed. Wheels and tyres are much more expensive than regular mtb, £150 for a pair of tyres is normal if not crap vee rubber or cheap and decent oo floaters.

Pay attention to what is being offered and what you want the bike for. The Fat market is very much split between those wanting trail slack bikes for go anywhere hooning and people wanting steep and tall bikes with gear mount bosses in places you've never seen before to attach lots of luggage to and ride in sloppy conditions in more traditional fat bike style (the snow and sand stereotype)

Join a decent fatbike forum and ignore most of what is written about them on STW. 🙂 checkout Slam69 if you haven't already. I'm running a £500 bitsa OOF right now and deciding if I should spend a lot more replacing it with a much nicer fat bike and probably sell the FS or keep it as a toy. I enjoy all my bikes when I'm riding them, but having cut down to three before the Fatty I'm back in too many bikes not enough time land...

Join a decent fatbike forum

I'm trying! Maybe admin have been following this thread and know I won't be collecting mine for a few weeks.

@calibrebikes Site shows collect only now. I'm guessing stocks are low. Any more due in or a new model?

Was going to get one but none local to try.

Cheers

Cheers Mike. And vinccienup.....just admit it you are Dune curious 😆

checkout Slam69

Cheers Mike. And vinccienup.....just admit it you are Dune curious 😆

A bit Dune Curious myself...

@Sniff yeah we have had a great response to the Dune so stocks are starting to thin a little. what would be your local store? i'll see what i can do for you. more stock will arrive early next year though. as for another model, it wasnt on the cards but by the feeling i'm getting here it could be. what would you like to see as upgrades on the Dune and what price point would you be thinking?

Cheers,
Mike

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@calibrebikes Local store in Inverness. Wanted to try one for size.

As for upgrades I reckon the same frame with upgraded components and maybe a bluto would attract the One One level of Fatty customer. You would do well by seeing what the ones one this thread who have bought one are doing for upgrades e.g. single front ring, different tyres etc

You should still keep the current price point for a similarly specced to the existing one though as it looks a great platform for upgrading and gets the fatty curious bikers interested.

Well done on a nicely designed, well priced bike.

Cheers

More seriously, 1x SLX/Bluto would probably be a good fancy-schmancy model. Don't know where that would put the price.

I like what Pinnacle do with their bikes - eg Ramin - same nice frame all the way up, but includes a cheap as chips starter build.

More seriously, 1x, SLX, Bluto would probably be a good fancy-schmancy model. Don't know where that would put the price. Maybe cheaper cranks and or brakes?

I like what Pinnacle do with their bikes - eg Ramin - same nice frame all the way up the range, but includes a cheap as chips starter build.

I wonder how the sales of the various builds compares...

Yeah I meant keep the existing one and then add a higher spec one along side it

just in case, sniff, this

More seriously

Calibre certainly seem to have cornered the market with the Dune in terms of a decent entry level fatbike. It works for those looking for way trying out fatbiking with a small outlay, also for those on a budget and even those just looking to add to their bike 'collection' as such.

I've had 3 relatives looking at them. Unfortunately, a minimum of a 60 mile round trip to see a bike they may like/fit has put them off slightly but I'm working on them!

As for another model. Well as suggested a 1x and bluto equipped model would more than likely prove equally as popular. I guess it depends how directly Calibre wish to rival On One, etc.

From my point of view the current bike is exceptional value for money and you should retain that as your most sucked model..... I have a feeling that a full build 10 or 11 X1 build with Bluto and dropper would put it beyond most people who would be shopping in general within GoOutdoors and I couldn't see it being a viable option to stock.
However you could add perhaps a carbon forked 1x10 with expander gear SLX drivetrain and brakes version for around £700? This would seriously undercut still the likes of Trek Farley and Soeshalised Fatboy and On One Fatty but without being at a price point that would put non serious/affluent bikers looking for N+1 buyers off.
I prepare to be flamed 😆

I think any additional investment would be better spent on doing at least a larger size for us >6 footers. Beyond that, maybe a Deore level cassette or just concentrate on having a sorted/well painted frame.

after watching Coastkids vid im off to formby dunes in the morning for a bit of the very same 🙂 gonna take me doggies too for a bit of trail/dune hounding 😆 I hope I don't die 😉

TBH I think just a higher (not high) spec model would be a good addition- lift the drivetrain and brakes to deore or slx level, nicer cranks, better finishing kit but nothing outrageous. Just a Dune +1 basically. Not sure there's much sense in carbon cranks considering the weight of the alu ones and Blutos are a niche within a niche and a very easy later addition anyway.

Andy_K - Member

I think any additional investment would be better spent on doing at least a larger size for us >6 footers.

Already on its way, if you read the thread.

Hi all, thanks for the posts and ideas i've started a couple of balls rolling so keep an eye out on our instagram for samples as they arrive. @Sniff - it had to be Inverness 🙂 this is going to be hard but not impossible, leave it with me.

Cheers,
Mike

Carbon cranks NW? Might have missed it but I saw carbon forks as a suggestion which would drop a load of weight?
Interesting position for Calibre, selling in a non-specialist shop but getting reviewed (favourably) in MTB mags and gathering a following here. I wonder how many sales are to non-enthusiasts just browsing in a Go Outdoors; I suspect very few, in which case buying punters wouldn't be put off by Higher priced version?

Doh, yes, meant forks!

I've just ordered some deore brakes and floater tyres (couldn't afford nates) for better winter traction as I slipped all over in craggy mud

I'd say up the brakes to deore and shifting to a deore 2x10 or 1x10 with expander and perhaps a bit more of an all rounder tyre and it would fly out the shops

I'm definitely keeping the jumbo jims for summer tho

As Suggsey mentioned in a previous post, I've lost the axle nut from the front QR skewer. Now you would have thought that this would be a simple matter to resolve, but oh no. There are actually no 15x150mm skewers available in the UK, which are not of the Maxle type variety, and I suspect the Chinese ones on Amazon/eBay are too long (unless anyone can correct me)
GO have been apologetic but not really helpful; I'll go to another store this evening...
The thread appears to be M15 x 1.5, which is used by absolutely no one apart from bolt manufacturers for car oil sumps and their repair, but no nut. I've actually been this morning to an engineering supply house, the chap there just looked at me, shook his head and sucked his teeth.

Any suggestions or do I need to replace the whole flipping fork.

@Bakey i'm sorry the customer care guy didn't relay the message to you [properly, i'm giving you my personal one from my bike so you can carry on riding, i'm OK to wait for the warranty ones (stuck in customs - what can you do)

@Sniff i've arranged for a boxed Dune to arrive in Inverness early next week - if you give the store a call on 0844 387 6834 they can advise once its built etc

Top service there!

That's incredibly helpful Mike and a response I hadn't expected!

Sincere thanks.

@bakey no trouble as i say customs have been less than helpful otherwise we would be sorted. who did you speak to at GO? have we got your address etc?

rOcKeTdOg - Member
Top service there!

+1

Proper service that. Given they seem a funny Size I may have to enquire about buying a mech hanger and front spare nut as I'm forever losing bits 😉

They quality of the dune made me look at the other bikes in the range there really are some stand out bikes. So more of the same and your onto a winner Mike

@calibrebikes - just had an email from Customer Services telling me that they 'are expecting loads of spares delivered into the Head Office in the next few days' and asking me to contact them next week.

If you drop me an email, I'll let you have my address - I ordered the bike to be delivered to the store directly so you may not have my details.

Whilst the above has been a pain, I can't fault the bike at all. Upgraded now with Elixir R, XT and a carbon bar... 14.8kg. Lovely.

The best thing about the Dune is its super competitive price point.

However, i'd still be purchasing a bunch of drivechain gear that has almost no value to pass on - therefore to get me buying one i'd need to see the low price maintained as much as possible, but inclusion of Deore level components (including rear hub).

A carbon fork would be great, but would probably up the budget by at least £50 so not a deal breaker.

Frame details like hidden cable runs (see Rose Tusker) would be sweet.

Large frame size for 6ft plus riders, plus the above, and keeping price under, I dont know, £650? That'd be hard to turn down.

Otherwise the price is too close to a mint higher spec 2nd hand Fat bike.

The USP here is the perceived low starting price.

Deore level components (including rear hub).

I'd rather pay 500 for a dune and buy brakes than buy a used on one fatty. Infact I did

I will add also some used pugsleys popped up around the 5-600 mark but they all had old standards on where as the dune is ready for any upgrade you fancy

For what it may be worth. I know of one potential customer, who tried a Dune for size at our local GO, to be fair they were helpful in as much as they had none left built on a thurs evening , but sorted one for 10 am following day ,
Sadly it was too big and didn't give her any sensible stand over . Otherwise she would have bought it there and then.
A mate of mine who is a fairly short guy, had the same issue. He would also probably have bought one, if not in the last few weeks, certainly after Christmas.

The Gloucester store were great as well. Didn't even seem to mind me, or my daughter, riding through their tents 🙂

Yeah I rode round the tents in Leeds grinning like a mad man

[quote=firestarter ]I'd rather pay 500 for a dune and buy brakes than buy a used on one fatty.Absolutely.

shimano are yet to produce a 190mm hub afaik

Yes, Deore level ideally, somewhere around that quality/price point

I'd rather pay 500 for a dune and buy brakes than buy a used on one fatty. Infact I did

I'm not so keen on the sound of quality of rear hub/freewheel on the dune. Plus a fatty would likely always be worth close to £500, the dune will probably drop to what, £350 after first ride?

@Calibrebikes. Fantastic service, thanks a lot 🙂