AFAIK, they all sold out before arriving so I’m not sure that any “launch” was worthwhile. I expect there to be some magazine review in time for the next lot of orders? The weather has been shit all week – and it’s dark at nights. Maybe those that got them haven’t had a chance to ride them yet.
Still – looks like the Mukluk is actually a better deal anyway. Lighter, better quality parts, higher spec gearing and a proven design.
Its a very different riding experience.
I got one for technical off piste climbing/techy slow descents + exploring some of the sandy rocky stuff locally and riding places it was otherwise be impossible/pointless to. I also wanted it to the winter filthbike niche left by having to get rid of my singlespeed.
It appears to do all of this stuff well. Being able to ride crazy off camber rock, pebble/scree and squeeze traction out of anything is a proper hoot. Handling is great, doesn’t feel slow + sluggish like the Pug I tried a few years ago. Bit like a 29er in that it takes a bit to get it wound up to speed, but it holds it very well. Wheelies, manuals and jumps pretty well, until it comes to landing… Had a few moments going faster than was wise down steps + off a couple of rocky drops when I had to remember that it was an un-dampened rigid bike. I think you could probably hurt yourself going crazy fast on trail centre descents, but for me this is the opposite of a trail centre bike. Seems way better at coping with mud (upland peaty, don’t have much clay here) than a cross bike.
Theres some very experienced fat-bikers on here who can give you more informed opinions.
This’ll make me go riding when I might not otherwise and explore where I wouldn’t have.
Pop. I’ve done both. Slightly limited by the 1 x 10 set up. I think with a double up front you’d be able to sit, grind + thrutch your way up some crazy stuff.
Is 32 lb about typical for a fatty these days, or is that light?
I’m a bit behind the times – weren’t the first ones properly heavy, like well over 40?
I’ll stay out of commenting on the ride, other than, I’ve been waiting to here about what other people think about how they ride and everyone just talks about the weight. FWIW the 32lb people keep quoting was the weight of the pre-production small build that On-One had. Production is a bit higher as the spec is a bit different. You can buy lighter bikes for a grand, but for a fat bike, especially one with chunky tyres, I think it is pretty good.
FWIW It seems like great VFM. Parts’ll get upgraded as they wear, + rims’ll probably get drilled at some point but all the essential kit appears to be good. Right off to ride it into the teeth of a howling southwesterly in the pssing rain.
We raced the pre production On One at Oktoberfest alongside 2 Pugs. It did everything very well. It climbed happily, it descended the rocky section quickly. Nothing fell off, including us. This was on the man made trails and I love it, it adds another dimension.
I assume there’s an extra “lip” on the inside (?) of the bead seat? My salsa rims are expressly not to be used with tubeless set ups ( I assume that applies to ghetto) so I assume something like a Stans rim has a minor but technically important difference in its profile to be able to keep a bead sat more securely?
I’ve only put around 40km on mine so far, but have had a whole pile of fun on it. I bought it as something a bit out of the ordinary and to act as a simple(r) bike for winter riding. It’s my first fat-bike, so the first thing I noticed was the vastly different weight distribution to a normal bike. The Fatty has most of its weight in the wheels which seems like it gives a low centre of gravity and makes for a very stable ride.
As mentioned above the monster truck wheels need a bit of work to get them up to speed, but once there it flows the trails very well and seems to be able to hold a line in the corners very nicely. With all that rotating weight it does seem to need quite a lot of input to get it to turn in, but just throw your weight into the corner and it’s all good. In boggy trail conditions the huge tyres did a great job of floating over the gunk and holding the speed.
It took me a while to get used to riding full-rigid off rode again after 7 years of riding full-suspension but you soon learn to loosen up and let the bike do its thing. I’m rather enjoying the simplicity of the 1×10 gearing. It’s a bit of a grind on the hills, but my theory is that it will help be build fitness over the dark months.
I tubelessed a Gordo Stoner and ran it for quite a while with no issues(Kenda Nev)
25mm Fibreglas strapping tape, stans valve and away you go 🙂
The fatty is a great deal but the lack of a granny put me off. I’ve ridden SS, 1×9, 1×10 for years now on my ‘normal’ bikes but find I use the granny on my Mukluk a lot.
Not that a hugely big deal, but the quoted weights floating around for the fatty look like they were a touch ambitious 😉 Easy enough to knock some off though. I lost a pound and a half of rotating weight from my Muk the other day just by tubelessing it.
It was done for performance reasons rather than weightweenieness but the weight loss is welcome nonetheless.
Q: I’m currently running a 29er steel frame rigid, with a 2.35 Hans Dampf on the front. How would the fattie differ? Just tyre contact patch and pressure?
On the flip side my bike (SS) is coming in at the 22lb mark. When I stand on the pedals, it goes. We’re talking about another 10 pounds or more for a geared fattie it looks.
I ride a pugsley or moonlander in the forests of UK. With the right tyres (nates) these things excel in the mud. Looking forward to the delivery of the new moonlander mud tyres (bud and Lou) Charlie the bikemonger getting some in soon, although they may all be pre-orders. Through the summer, riding with endomorph and larry’s instead of nates, is superb. Your only pain is getting your tyre pressures correct, once correct you just clatter of anything in your way. Forget worrying about the correct line, just ride over it.
I have ventured to the beach a number of times which is great fun.
So in summary, fat is superb in the forests. Just get your tyre selection sorted.
mattjg » Q: I’m currently running a 29er steel frame rigid, with a 2.35 Hans Dampf on the front. How would the fattie differ? Just tyre contact patch and pressure?