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

Que?

http://forums.mtbr.com/fat-bikes/manitou-mastodon-1039416-2.html

Manitou Mastodon Fatty forks coming soon.

It’s good to see that they wheels are back in stock at PX as they were out a few weeks ago & judging by the email I was sent they had little intention of putting more up for sale.

Saw that last week…went hunting for the illusive images but drew a blank. Thanks for posting the link, good to see there are finally some pics of the mastodon fork..just need a price next.

Recommendations for new rims please. I’ve got some Hope Hubs on the way for my Dune so I’m in the market for rims.
I’ll be running 4″ or 4.8’s. Mulefats for their tubeless qualities or DT Swiss for weight? Anything else I should consider at a similar price?

Gold Digger,Im looking at alternatives to Blutos so im rather interested in the Mastodon.

RST also do their Renegade fork which seems to get good reviews from the States. I contacted RST Europe on FB lastnight to ask abut a UK supplier, they messaged me back to say to try Scott at Resurrection Cycles.

Ill let you know how I get on with that as well. Ill be interested in a price. Though im in the position of pondering if its worth spending £400+ for forks on a £500 bike.

edit… Resurrection Cycles don’t seem to exist judging by their web page. Oh well, nvm all the more reason to hang on for the Manitou.

Im looking at alternatives to Blutos so im rather interested in the Mastodon.

wren Forks FTW

Ive commented on your pics a few times on FB, loving the Wrens, overkill perhaps on a £500 budget fattie lol.

I have seen a budget Wren copy on the go though, DNM suspension I think it was. Half the price of the Wrens and Blutos.

After months of prevarication, I finally pulled the trigger on a set of Blutos a few weeks back. So I think I can take some credit for Manitou releasing this new wonder fork now 🙂

I can’t really find much wrong with the Blutos though, which is strange as reading some of the comments online you’d think they were the worst forks ever made. Maybe I just don’t push them hard enough to notice the shortcomings, or maybe I’m just not skilled enough to spot the problems.

I’ve got a (29er) Pike (130mm) on one bike and a (26″) Float 32 (140mm) on another. According to the internet, one is great and the other is a pile of poo, but as far as I can tell they both do the job just fine. That’s the job of soaking up some of the bumps and saving my wrists from too much abuse. Same for the Bluto really, but I’ll still watch the release of the Mastadon with interest. If nothing else, it’s a great name.

have seen a budget Wren copy on the go though, DNM suspension I think it was. Half the price of the Wrens and Blutos.

And twice the weight….
I’m steering clear of all sus forks at the moment on my fatty:
Blutos – people rave about, but it’s just a widened Rs revelation. Having to service it twice a year doesn’t appeal (my experience with Rs forks).
Wren – no performance upgrade from Blutos (from what I’ve read), heavier and more expensive. Easier to service though. Also look pretty cool.
Lauf – love the looks but they wouldn’t do the job I’m looking for. IE undampped, limited travel which they blow through in extreme situations, great for long haul or xc duties though.
DNM – (very)heavy and cheap, seals arnt the best.
RST – No experience of, but my bias 1990’s mind tells me to avoid. + OEM only?
Manitou – look interesting….. Will wait and see how reliable they turn out to be….

If I were going front sus it probably try a set of Fox or Xfusion boost forks and squeeze in a 4″ tyre as it’s rare I go bigger (little snow and sand near me). But this means another new front wheel so it gets more expensive again.

+ I like the challenge of riding rigid and keeping up with my full sus mates…

I rode my Spearfish yesterday and I’d have to say my Fatty with a sus post was plusher on the rear.
The only place it was noticeably better was riding up a set of steps.
Back on the fatty today.

Zippykona, can I be nosey ask which seat post you use?

Use. It’s the 80 mm one with the single bolt head.
Edit think it’s a vybe.

Turns out im completely skint. Anyone want to buy a mint set of Bluto’s?
Going to list in the classifieds.

rOcKeTdOg
What’s the specs on your fatty? What does it weigh?
Did you manage to get your DT rims tubeless?

Specs? Smokestone henderson frame, wren forks, hope fatsnos, 2250/710s stx gears, cheapo RF chainset 1×11 (30×11/42) gravity dropper, renthal bars.
Weighs about 36lb.

DT rims went tubeless easily, couple of runs of rim tape, tube to seat one side first, strap around tyre, flash charger & they’ve stayed up about 2.5 months now

PX have the fat wheel sets at ~£130, my guess is the link listing 135/197 hubs is Rear Disc Space, while the separate link listing 135/170 hubs is Front Disc Spaced (so would fit the FDS Wazoo fork).

I finally have my On One carbon fork fitted, thanks to the local Giant store that used to be Cycleworld, who fitted a nice shiny Hope integral headset and split crown race for me. Feels great so far! 8)

Yet to try my fat wheelset since the fork was fitted, it does mean I need to transfer the SV13F tube and JJ tyre from the FDS Wazoo front wheel to the RDS Fatty v1 front wheel.

So Planet X sell wheels that don’t fit their own Carbon forks? Seems a tad pointless.

really want to buy a dune but can’t decide on size I’m 5’9 and normally ride a Med 650b HT – none in stock to try at local store and don’t want to order the wrong size – reading through the thread 5’9 could be too tall for the M but slightly short for the L, can anyone help me get some clarity? Thx 🙂

From what I’ve read, the medium should fit you, the only thing you may have a problem with is the stock seatpost. IIRC, if your cycling inseam is ~31″ or less, the stock post will work.

My Wazoo is the 18″ frame, I’m ~179cm tall with relatively short ~81cm cycling inseam. Initially, on first 30min+ ride, I found the non-riser bar a bit too low for my weak back. I solved this by fitting a 100mm 35 degree stem, before buying a 35mm Corto stem with the chewy Knuckleball riser bars. With the carbon Fatty fork finally fitted for the last few weeks, I left the longer steerer uncut, to give me plenty of options for how high I want the front end.

Unless you are desperate to upgrade a Dune to a Bluto fork, I think the £400 before BC discount price of the Wazoo is hard to ignore.
You could buy…
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FOOOCFATDP/on-one-carbon-fatty-fork
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FSPXFCENT/planet-x-carbon-fork-bung-(team-alu-carbon-fatty-fork)

And presumeably this front wheel is Rear Disc Spaced like the carbon fork (although I would definitely recommend getting conformation from them)…
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/WBFOOEELF/on-one-emmental-rim-with-el-guapo-pro-hub-front-fat-bike-wheel

Thanks n0b0dy0ftheg0at – I like the Dune as it gives the option to Bluto later if I want too, I also have some spares knocking around that I can use to upgrade the brakes and eventually 10 x 1. – I’ve looked at the Wazoo and was close to getting one @£400 its a steal but think the Dune may be better partner long term. Unfortunately the Dune sizing is very vague and I seem to be right in the middle (5’9 31 inseam) reading the thread I’m guessing I could go Med and put a 400mm seatpost on it or alternately go Lg and get a shorter rech stem… Not sure if there is any difference in the crank length between them. So frustrating that i cant even sit on one at the shop as Oxford Go Outdoors dont stock bikes they only do delivery to store…. :-/

I am leaving the office, right now, to go and pick up my new Wazoo. 🙂

radonrob – Member

really want to buy a dune but can’t decide on size I’m 5’9 and normally ride a Med 650b HT – none in stock to try at local store and don’t want to order the wrong size – reading through the thread 5’9 could be too tall for the M but slightly short for the L, can anyone help me get some clarity?

I’m 5’10 and I ride the original medium Dune. My main bike is a large Remedy. On the numbers, I’d definitely say the Dune’s too small for me, if I’d had a choice I’d have got the large and still considered it short frankly.

Buuuut, I got the medium because that’s all there was at the time, and I wouldn’t change it now. I even put a shorter stem on it. It doesn’t feel too small just to sit on, and it feels great to ride. Usually shortness has downsides in stability etc, I suppose that goes out the window when you’ve got 5kg of wheels.

But what I’m working up to here is saying that assumptions and knowledge from normal bikes, might not apply too well to stupid bikes, and that’s totally unhelpful for you. Sorry!

I am now one of you, my chunky wheeled brethren!

Three different people commented on the bike in the 40 feet between the door of Halfords and the car when I picked it up. 🙂

Congrats! Now go replace those awful Mission Commands! 😆

Congrats! Now go replace those awful Mission Commands

Green Floaters? 😉

Thanks Northwind, so would you say that if i got a large and it was a little too long on reach I could put a shorter stem on and it would be ok? seems sensible to go large and pull the bars back as I can’t add length to a M frame (if that makes sense) the frame looks low so guessing standover on a Large would not be an issue….

I’m 5’9″ with a 30″ inside leg and my medium dune is the nicest fitting bike I’ve got, but I have got a slightly dodgy back and don’t really like a stretched out riding position.
That’s probably not massively helpful, but if you’re anywhere near Leicester you are welcome to try mine for size.

radonrob – Member

Thanks Northwind, so would you say that if i got a large and it was a little too long on reach I could put a shorter stem on and it would be ok?

Yeah I reckon so, I can’t remember what length the standard one is but I have a 50mm stem and 780mm bars on it, #enduro as ****. I’ve done that for the steering not for reach but it works. THe riding position’s fairly upright but that suits the demeanour of the thing as well as the shape. All a total fluke but thinking about it, it’s the size/control/setup package I’m most happy with of any bike I’ve owned, I’ve nothing else that feels as good doing a 7 hour xc race or an enduro race. (obviously it’s bad at those jobs, but it feels good)

Thanks Northwind, so would you say that if i got a large and it was a little too long on reach I could put a shorter stem on and it would be ok? seems sensible to go large and pull the bars back as I can’t add length to a M frame (if that makes sense) the frame looks low so guessing standover on a Large would not be an issue….?

Thanks MikeG / Northwind – not near leicester I’m afraid or I’d take you upI’m not into being too laid out either / It has a 70mm stem so I could extend that a little on the Med if need be and have a 400mm post in the garage to think its going to be a Med…

Not sure how easy travel is for you but last time I was in the Swindon GO they had both sizes of Dune in.

Still thinking re the Dune and been looking at the effective top tube length on the medium and if it is 585 it will be fine with a longer seatpost although that does sound very long and i wonder if its from the bars or centre of the head tube… just to confuse the issue further just seen this. for 699 frame is Bluto ready has 2 x 10, hydraulic stoppers 4.8 tyre and external BB bearings but it also has an odd size 135 QR front hub (not bluto ready) and weighs a lot! any good? Any thoughts? Any experience with this SE Bike? would be apreciated too! http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/se-bikes-f-r-26-hardtail-bike-2017/rp-prod150673

West Sussex Dune in Large available for testing if local to you.

radonrob – Member

Still thinking re the Dune and been looking at the effective top tube length on the medium and if it is 585 it will be fine with a longer seatpost although that does sound very long and i wonder if its from the bars or centre of the head tube…

ETT’s measured from the imaginary line where the head tube bisects the top tube, back to the middle of the seatpost. But it’s not a very useful measurement because of seat tube angles, head tube lengths… Reach is more useful generally

That SE looks pretty interesting but I think it’s more like a nicer Voodoo than a Dune alternative- ie it’s a reasonable working spec to ride as is but not a great platform for upgrades, where the Dune is a barely-does-the-job basic spec to make it cheap but ripe for upgrades.

The QRs and 135 fork are a bummer. I’m not sure if the spec is right- the pic seems to have drilled rims but it says they’re Weinmann HL102s, they’re double walled (and weigh 1300g). But the drivetrain and brakes crap on the Dune’s.

I’d still say Dune. You can bring the brakes and gears up to spec easily and for not much more than the price difference, and then you’ve got better wheels and more useful standards in the frame and fork. bluto compatibility’s a bigger advantage when the wheel’s bluto compatible too. The important, more permanent parts in the DUne are better.

Thanks for your thoughts, the rims are 102’s but drilled which must be special order KHS and a few other brands also have them even with the holes they probably still weigh a ton. Looks like I’ll have to drive over to GO in Swindon to size one up, so frustrating the only store that does not stock bikes happens to be my local one in Oxford…

The drivetrain is cheap on the Dune, but it lasts aggggeeeessss ! Decided not to replace mine until it wore out – 7 months of wet & muddy miles & it’s still hanging on in there ! The brakes are completely useless on it though, they’ve gone.

Just put a dropper on it as at 6’1″ on the large, the front is low & my ar5e is high !It now rides even better than it did before 😀

Boost forks. Talk to me. Max tyre size 4″? What size hub would I need?

Would something like the 29er version of the Manitou Machette work ? 140mm travel

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/manitou-machette-forks-15mm-boost-2017/rp-prod149016

Next step of upgrading my Wazoo completed. For my birthday I treated myself to an RSP 125mm external dropper & a 29er Mudhugger fitted to the back end.

Is it me or do Fatbikes fly down hills?
Without pedalling down a hill mine excellerates faster than other bikes with normal size tyres on.
Drifts around tight twisty loose trails but never let’s go…so far.
Great fun 8)

Still undecided if dropping the 22/36 at the front for a 28 single and a 11-46 XT cassette is a good move. The jump from 37-46t on the XT cassette seems far to broad.

Can’t help think I’ll be spinning out to quickly.

now running 26T up front, and loving the new range

I ran a 28T with an 11-42 cassette on my Smuggler and even on the road I was never really bothered by the lack of a taller top gear. If anything I would have liked a lower bottom gear. Even more so with a fatbike where the extra grip lets you climb cliffs. I think my ideal fatbike gearing may be a 26T with 10-42 cassette, but it’s all personal preference of course.