FatBoy w/Bluto?

w_b

w_b

Well-Known Member
Anyone got one I can take for a quick trail spin? I promise to be gentle...

Also, opinions? Does/did anybody NOT like their FatBoy? I am intrigued by this Fat Biking I am hearing so much about. I like the Big S, and da Boyee appears to be a lotta fat for the buck (at the entry level specs) but before I drop owemost $3K on a hardtail with mechanical brakes I'd like to see if the fun factor approaches trail riding my IH SGS DH (when I feel strong,) or my long-travel FSR...

I get it that maybe fat is not for everyone, but who are those ones and why? Could I be one of them?

I'm all about the fun on the trails (and that is mostly in the downhill direction for me.) Currently riding Allaire, Huber/Harts, CR, 6MR mostly. Durability next most important. Can't really picture going back to a fully rigid, so willing to trade some front-end durability for damping.
 
^^sounds like a plan, who's my contact there, anyone in particular? ^^

thanks guys
 
w_b said:
Anyone got one I can take for a quick trail spin? I promise to be gentle...

Also, opinions? Does/did anybody NOT like their FatBoy? I am intrigued by this Fat Biking I am hearing so much about. I like the Big S, and da Boyee appears to be a lotta fat for the buck (at the entry level specs) but before I drop owemost $3K on a hardtail with mechanical brakes I'd like to see if the fun factor approaches trail riding my IH SGS DH (when I feel strong,) or my long-travel FSR...

I get it that maybe fat is not for everyone, but who are those ones and why? Could I be one of them?

I'm all about the fun on the trails (and that is mostly in the downhill direction for me.) Currently riding Allaire, Huber/Harts, CR, 6MR mostly. Durability next most important. Can't really picture going back to a fully rigid, so willing to trade some front-end durability for damping.
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Did you ever get a chance to test ride one? I just got a fatboy My self without a bluto and coming from a long travel full suspension bike it definitely didn't do it for me, I'm thinking if I had a bluto on there the ride would be much better. I my self would like to test ride a bluto to see if it would be an upgrade worth while
 
not yet, still on the list. I have off next week, so will try to set something up at Knapps. You are echoing my thoughts; also I am wrestling with n+1 on limited space...
 
w_b said:
not yet, still on the list. I have off next week, so will try to set something up at Knapps. You are echoing my thoughts; also I am wrestling with n+1 on limited space...
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Yeh I rode my ibis on Friday and then I took the fatboy out yesterday and did the same exact trail and I was bouncing up and down the trail like I was on a pogo stick, I'm thinking that mainly because I'm used to having a suspension that does most of the work for me, so I kept dropping pressure to find that "tire-built in suspension" everyone keeps talking about only to experience some insane amount of auto steer that ruined the ride all together. Towards the end of the ride I found my self standing up most of the time so that my arms and legs could absorb the bumps instead of my spinal cord... Needless to say I wasn't impressed. I would take my b-plus full squish bike over the fat any day, maybe benefits would be a lot more evident in snow or sand but for regular trail, full fat isn't for me. Im curious to see how you like it
 
Wrong comparison to judge a rigid against a full suspension.

Put it next regular rigid and you notice the difference.

I keep hearing about the bounce with a fatbike then people air down to rid it. I am afraid you went the wrong way. You probably needed a psi or 2 more. Tire pressure is very tricky with fat tires and experimenting a few rides even this out. Also tire choice is huge.
 
mattybfat said:
Wrong comparison to judge a rigid against a full suspension.

Put it next regular rigid and you notice the difference.

I keep hearing about the bounce with a fatbike then people air down to rid it. I am afraid you went the wrong way. You probably needed a psi or 2 more. Tire pressure is very tricky with fat tires and experimenting a few rides even this out. Also tire choice is huge.
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I agree, I definitely felt some cushion and grip was insane as I could corner like never before. My gripe is the lack of dampening suspension at least on the front, I think that even as little as 80mm of travel would make it so much more comfortable and more fun for me at least. I'm hoping I can ride someone's bluto before buying one for my fatboy
 
I would go 100mm it the bike will support it. Even at 100mm I blow thru the travel if I try to ride it like a FS bike. If you want a fat bike to ride like a FS bike, get a FS fat bike
 
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skyrokz said:
I agree, I definitely felt some cushion and grip was insane as I could corner like never before. My gripe is the lack of dampening suspension at least on the front, I think that even as little as 80mm of travel would make it so much more comfortable and more fun for me at least. I'm hoping I can ride someone's bluto before buying one for my fatboy
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I learned, like many, before any suspension, so we were advised to pump it up to 40-50psi so the fork/rear could do the suspending instead of the tires. I still agree with this to a point; probably my biggest obstacle to a Spec FB. After all why pogo your tires, you have a Q21 or a crappy Judy XC that will fail on the next drop. or a 3.8/insert your fave FB tire here pogogogogogogo. Or lower the psi till you pinch. Or need 3 CO2 cartiridges cuz you aint pumping it up.

PS I would have thought JV would be all over this. Jim?
 
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My thing is this, before I got a fatbike, every fatbiker I spoke with said you don't need a suspension because of the volume in the tires act as the suspension... I agree 100%, if you are coming off a 80mm XC hardtail that is. Bottom line is this, it's a fun bike, I definitely think it would be more fun with front suspension but it's not for me, the grip is only slightly better than that of my b-plus setup and the lack of suspension is a deal breaker for me. Like @Supermoto said, if you like full squish you would need a full squish fatbike to get the same ride quality. And I learned you can't compare a mere mortal to @jimvreeland as that guy was born with clip less shoes on his feet attached to a crank set, I wouldn't be surprised if he could beat half the forum in most races on a unicycle with a flat tire🙂
 
My previous two main rides were a Salsa Horsethief and a Yeti SB-95, which I picked up in April. It has 140mm front/127mm rear travel. I bought a rigid Fatboy the day before Halloween and haven't ridden the Yeti once since then. At first, it was a huge adjustment coming from 5-6" of travel. I decided that I needed a suspension fork but figured on waiting for Spring. I was hoping Fox would come out with something or that Rock Shox would make the Bluto a bit stiffer as I heard it is somewhat noodly. After a few weeks of riding it rigid though, I don't want a suspension fork. I've gotten used to and am really digging it the way it is. I may still revisit putting a suspension fork on it at some point in the future, but then I'll probably pick up another fat bike and keep it rigid.
 
I still like the rigid but the Bluto made a big difference (for me) in where and how much I ride my fatbike. I ended up buying a second fat bike with a bluto when my wife took an interest in the rigid. I still love my FS bike though.
 
good feedback on the comparison, a fatback doesn't replace an enduro type FS bike. I think fats are best compared to XC type bikes as well, something between a hardtail and a full squish. I personally don't get the fatbike Bluto combo, though to be honest have not tried one yet. Since there is dampening from the front tire and fork, and neither is modulated against each, won't that make the ride a bit unpredictable? Also the weight of the Bluto is a deal breaker for me, as dropping weight is what every fat biker tries to achieve after they get a new one. I rather put Bluto money on a lighter wheels or a carbon frame. A 25 lb fatbike is nothing like the 35lb'rs most of us common folk can afford.
 
qclabrat said:
good feedback on the comparison, a fatback doesn't replace an enduro type FS bike. I think fats are best compared to XC type bikes as well, something between a hardtail and a full squish. I personally don't get the fatbike Bluto combo, though to be honest have not tried one yet. Since there is dampening from the front tire and fork, and neither is modulated against each, won't that make the ride a bit unpredictable? Also the weight of the Bluto is a deal breaker for me, as dropping weight is what every fat biker tries to achieve after they get a new one. I rather put Bluto money on a lighter wheels or a carbon frame. A 25 lb fatbike is nothing like the 35lb'rs most of us common folk can afford.
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Fat bike HT and Fat bike rigid are no different than their skinny counterparts. With the Bluto, you can run higher pressure for less rolling resistance, less self steer and crisper handling. Well worth the 2.2lb penalty. Now if you are only riding your fatty in the snow or beach, then you are going to air down anyways and the Bluto just adds weight. But for trail riding Bluto is better than rigid, Bluto with carbon rims and tubeless is very nice and FS fatty with carbon rims, tubeless is amazing
 
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