Bowieeeeeeeeee
New Member
I also am curious on the BD fatbikes. The Boris X5 seems like a smoking deal for $600. I have a BD 29er hardtail I got 4 years ago and I still love it. Ride it more then my 6 month old FS Marin 29er.
Bikes Direct Fat Bikes
- Thread starter sjeronis
- Start date
Matt_
I Get Jokes
Check out the Framed Alaskan alloy fat bike..
OK might be a bit more than 2x the X5, but you're getting a quality RF crank, a carbon fork, MUCH better tires (good fat tires aren't cheap), better components and brakes. Along with those things that will make the riding right out of the box better, it also has 190mm rear spacing for more/larger tire options later, tapered headtube (straight or tapered forks with right BB cup), front hub with 150mm spacing, etc.
Though if sticking with BD, the Boris X9 is a much better value IMO. For $200 more you get a good crank (SRAM X5), X9 10spd rear derailleur VS X5 9spd, X7 shifters VS X5, Although still not a preferred tire it comes with 120TPI V-Missions vs the 30TPI stuff on the BorisX5, BB7 Vs Tektro brakes.... probably a few other bells and whistles too, but for $200 you get the point
OK might be a bit more than 2x the X5, but you're getting a quality RF crank, a carbon fork, MUCH better tires (good fat tires aren't cheap), better components and brakes. Along with those things that will make the riding right out of the box better, it also has 190mm rear spacing for more/larger tire options later, tapered headtube (straight or tapered forks with right BB cup), front hub with 150mm spacing, etc.
Though if sticking with BD, the Boris X9 is a much better value IMO. For $200 more you get a good crank (SRAM X5), X9 10spd rear derailleur VS X5 9spd, X7 shifters VS X5, Although still not a preferred tire it comes with 120TPI V-Missions vs the 30TPI stuff on the BorisX5, BB7 Vs Tektro brakes.... probably a few other bells and whistles too, but for $200 you get the point
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mustclime
Active Member
I picked up a FB4 elite used at a good price....great bike, it had already been converted to tubeless and running 3.7 Knards. The first owner was on it all last winter....a word of warning....when you ride in the snow, its like a rain ride so your bearings and drivetrain are going to take a beating. The elite has sealed bearings in the wheels and the bb....all of them had to be repacked. Now the first owner may have been using a pressure hose to wash the bike( that would have pushed water past the seals) but the bearing in the bb were shot.....I have never seen a bb killed in one season but this is my first fat bike....
As for the bike....great bike, its a old style offset frame but the angles are spot on...my other bikes are not getting any use.....word of warning....if you think you will want suspension in the front....get the fork with the bike( the fb4 does not come with a bluto)...a bluto and a front wheel is close to a grand.
As for the bike....great bike, its a old style offset frame but the angles are spot on...my other bikes are not getting any use.....word of warning....if you think you will want suspension in the front....get the fork with the bike( the fb4 does not come with a bluto)...a bluto and a front wheel is close to a grand.
Tonggi
Active Member
I ordered the night train non bullet. Im happy with the components. 120 TPI tires. Sram guides, X9 drive train but Samox Cranks. Oh well. The cost from the Sturgis to the Night train was $200 but the upgrades cost way more. If the samox ever goes bad I'll get the race face cranks. I can't wait to ride it this winter.
Bowieeeeeeeeee
New Member
Did you see the FS Gravity at the bottom of the page for the same price? Hmmmm...
Eddie Z
Member
I did see that Gravity FB. I ordered the Motobecane Night Train Bullet a few months ago, but had I seen the Gravity, I might have held off for that instead. The downside with the Gravity is the shipping date, which is March timeframe. I want my fatbike NOW! (Hoping my Night Train Bullet shows up in the next week or so).
Eddie Z
Member
I should mention that my Bikesdirect Motebecane Night Train Bullet arrived on Dec 18th with no damage, although it came about 1.5 weeks after the expected date due to shipping delays at the LA Ports.
It was a quick and easy assembly, requiring all of an hour to get it to the stock configuration, and maybe another hour for personal tweaks. I've been on 2 significant rides with it so far, one on dry trail conditions, the other on softening snow. On the dry conditions, it took a little getting used to. Slowly but surely I got the hang of the SRAM shifters, which are different than the Shimanos I'm used to. The bike is very noticeably 6lbs heavier than my normal ride, making it a good amount of work to push it around. I felt every one of those pounds, and found myself going pretty slow with it. Buddies had to wait a bit. Between the weight of the Bluto Shock fork and the Fat tire, there's no such thing as surgical turning. You just gotta muscle it into submission. Took the rock gardens with ease, but ya still have to avoid the taller obstructions. It's not a magic carpet by any means. As expected, it really excelled on the snow in comparison to my buddy's standard bike that constantly slid out from under him. It floated pretty well above the slush, snow and mud. Neither of us did well on the uphills so we kept it on the flatter trails.
I loved the Bluto shock fork. I'm sure If I bought a rigid fork fat bike, I'd be immediately looking to upgrade to a shock fork. Having been on nothing but FullX bikes for the last few years, I'm not 100% certain I'm in love with a Fat hardtail, but I'll make peace with it. Perhaps in a few years, when Fatbikes evolve more and drop in price, I'll go for something lighter and FullX. Still the bike was totally fun to ride. A whole different beast than anything I've ever ridden before. Felt "badass". Like driving a Monster Truck. I'm SOOOO glad I made this choice when I did. I'm enjoying the challenge of owning a bike that promises to "extend my riding season indefinitely"....now it forces me out when I would have otherwise stayed indoors. This thing is not allowed to just take up space in my very tight garage. LOL
Anyway, just thought I'd weigh in. My buying experience with BD was a good one. A decent quality bike, very affordable. I'd be hard pressed to find complaints.
It was a quick and easy assembly, requiring all of an hour to get it to the stock configuration, and maybe another hour for personal tweaks. I've been on 2 significant rides with it so far, one on dry trail conditions, the other on softening snow. On the dry conditions, it took a little getting used to. Slowly but surely I got the hang of the SRAM shifters, which are different than the Shimanos I'm used to. The bike is very noticeably 6lbs heavier than my normal ride, making it a good amount of work to push it around. I felt every one of those pounds, and found myself going pretty slow with it. Buddies had to wait a bit. Between the weight of the Bluto Shock fork and the Fat tire, there's no such thing as surgical turning. You just gotta muscle it into submission. Took the rock gardens with ease, but ya still have to avoid the taller obstructions. It's not a magic carpet by any means. As expected, it really excelled on the snow in comparison to my buddy's standard bike that constantly slid out from under him. It floated pretty well above the slush, snow and mud. Neither of us did well on the uphills so we kept it on the flatter trails.
I loved the Bluto shock fork. I'm sure If I bought a rigid fork fat bike, I'd be immediately looking to upgrade to a shock fork. Having been on nothing but FullX bikes for the last few years, I'm not 100% certain I'm in love with a Fat hardtail, but I'll make peace with it. Perhaps in a few years, when Fatbikes evolve more and drop in price, I'll go for something lighter and FullX. Still the bike was totally fun to ride. A whole different beast than anything I've ever ridden before. Felt "badass". Like driving a Monster Truck. I'm SOOOO glad I made this choice when I did. I'm enjoying the challenge of owning a bike that promises to "extend my riding season indefinitely"....now it forces me out when I would have otherwise stayed indoors. This thing is not allowed to just take up space in my very tight garage. LOL
Anyway, just thought I'd weigh in. My buying experience with BD was a good one. A decent quality bike, very affordable. I'd be hard pressed to find complaints.
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giff06
Well-Known Member
Good luck with the new ride. I have a Lurch on order, due in early January. Glad to hear good things about BD. How about some pictures!🙂
Ed and Pat Gifford
the Snot Rocket tandem
Ed and Pat Gifford
the Snot Rocket tandem
huffster
Well-Known Member
I'm thinking about this one. http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fat-bikes/fatbikes-boris-evilbrut-fatbikes.htm. I'm entering this, knowing full well, that I may miss a chunk of this winter riding (delivery mid-Jan), but I'm trying not to have a really short term view.
It seems well spec'd with XT front/rear and shifters. The rest of the drive-train seems to be of solid quality, although, I don't know much about the SAMOX crank-set (???). I also wanted hydro brakes to start and SRAM Guide RS's are good quality. I definitely want the Bluto now as opposed to adding later. I'm cool with converting to tubeless 'ghetto-style', unless someone has a horror story about doing that with VeeRubber Snowshoes - since I don't want to start out buying a 2nd set of tires.
Anyway, I'm looking for your opinions on what the weaknesses may be.
Thanks in advance!
It seems well spec'd with XT front/rear and shifters. The rest of the drive-train seems to be of solid quality, although, I don't know much about the SAMOX crank-set (???). I also wanted hydro brakes to start and SRAM Guide RS's are good quality. I definitely want the Bluto now as opposed to adding later. I'm cool with converting to tubeless 'ghetto-style', unless someone has a horror story about doing that with VeeRubber Snowshoes - since I don't want to start out buying a 2nd set of tires.
Anyway, I'm looking for your opinions on what the weaknesses may be.
Thanks in advance!
Sandman98
Well-Known Member
although, I don't know much about the SAMOX crank-set (???).
[/QUOTE]
Thats the same stock cranks that came with my fatboy. they are heavy and it creaks. It has a wavy spacer and its the culprit of making that annoying creaks. I flattened that wavy spacer and problem solved.
[/QUOTE]
Thats the same stock cranks that came with my fatboy. they are heavy and it creaks. It has a wavy spacer and its the culprit of making that annoying creaks. I flattened that wavy spacer and problem solved.
Eddie Z
Member
what it looked like in the box.
I didn't make any major mods. Just added bar ends, locking handgrips, a better seat, and a couple of lights. Flip flopping between flat pedals w/hiking boots and Clipless SPDs, depending on conditions.
It's first snow ride at Kitattinny last Sunday. Was about 43 degrees or somesuch, snow was melting and squishy depending on where you were in the park. Some patches of Mud.
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huffster
Well-Known Member
That's good insight. Thanks!
giff06
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the pics Eddie Z! Huffster I have heard of some issues in converting the stock rims to tubeless and some complaints about the stock rubber especially the Missions. I am hoping to use the Jim Vreeland Ghetto Tubeless method when my Lurch comes in January.
Ed and Pat Gifford
the Snot Rocket tandem
Ed and Pat Gifford
the Snot Rocket tandem
OddTrickStar
Well-Known Member
No regrets picking up a Boris X9. I changed pedals, saddle and grips to my preference. Everything else is holding up well after about a 1,000 miles.
Weakness would be in the wheels and tires. They are holding up but are heavy. To set up tubeless, I used the split tube method with two wraps of sill foam under the tube to build up the rim. Worked great with no problems and the benefits are very apparent. Rolls much better. Vee Mission tires are great for sand but suck for mud.
I haven't ridden my full suspension Stumpjumper since getting the X9. I should sell it to help finance building a new leaner meaner short stay fat bike.
Weakness would be in the wheels and tires. They are holding up but are heavy. To set up tubeless, I used the split tube method with two wraps of sill foam under the tube to build up the rim. Worked great with no problems and the benefits are very apparent. Rolls much better. Vee Mission tires are great for sand but suck for mud.
I haven't ridden my full suspension Stumpjumper since getting the X9. I should sell it to help finance building a new leaner meaner short stay fat bike.
Well, I've gone and done it. I just ordered a Motobecane Boris FS X9 Bluto in "Star Red". The price was right and it was available now. The wheels are "only" 4", but that should be fine.
Can't wait for it's arrival. I can thank Eddie Z for my newest mania. I was the buddy slipping and sliding in the snow while his ride was tracking straight & true. 🙂
The Boris is supposed to come in on Monday 12/15. Can't wait! Damn you Eddie Z!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can't wait for it's arrival. I can thank Eddie Z for my newest mania. I was the buddy slipping and sliding in the snow while his ride was tracking straight & true. 🙂
The Boris is supposed to come in on Monday 12/15. Can't wait! Damn you Eddie Z!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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