Home > Other Fun Stuff > Advocacy & Industry News

IB13: Fatbike Round Up – The Big, The Odd, The Motorized

14 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

fatbike roundup (23)

If it wasn’t cloaked in hi-viz yellow this year at Interbike, chances are good there as a fatbike near by. Fatbikes have hit the industry in a big way, moving from a niche bike in the extreme North, to the next bike I need to buy after a cyclocross and an Enduro bike (once Enduro fatbikes hit the scene, it’s all over). Why so popular? Orginally designed for snow and sand, fatbikes offer gobs of traction and float in situations where other mountain bikes would flounder. That, and it’s impossible to ride one without a huge smile plastered across your face.

Love it or hate it, fatbikes are here to stay. Check out some of the highlights after the break.

fatbike roundup (24) fatbike roundup (22)

No seat tube, no problem. This crazy fatbike is the result of 287s take on a fatbike. Known for some wild builds, Orlando Baker, the same guy behind Carver Surf Racks is launching 287 custom bikes. Built with wide plates for the top and down tubes, this fatbike stood out from the crowd.

45nrth white fatbike tires (1)

45nrth white fatbike tires (5) 45nrth white fatbike tires (3)

Borealis’ radical 21lb 9oz Yampa SL build was spotted wearing a pair of prototype 45NRTH Husker Du tires with a white tread. Love it? Hate it?

fatbike roundup (20)

fatbike roundup (12) 9zero7 whiteout carbon fatbike091513_1047

Who’s ready for some serious fatbike touring? In addition to their new Whiteout Carbon fatbike, 9:Zero:7 had this decked out aluminum frame ready for a week in the alaskan wilderness, or beach, or desert. Whatever.

fatbike roundup (10)

Some of the fatbikes rolling around had motors. This prototype from Lectric Cycles features a 750 watt continuous power motor with a 1200 watt peak which puts the power through a Nuvinci rear hub. Just hope the battery doesn’t die because this thing, like most e-bikes is heavy.

felt electric fat bike091613_1096

Felt is also apparently getting in on the upcoming (?) E-fatbike with their FatE prototype.

fatbike roundup (3)

fatbike roundup (2)

fatbike roundup (1)

 

As one of the OG fatbike producers, Surly was on hand with an awesome booth, tall boy koozies, and Pugsley and Moonlander Fatbikes.

fatbike roundup

One thing that hasn’t quite caught up to the fatbike trend? Bike racks. Except for Softride (Thule has a nice option for the T2 as well). Softride got lucky in that their Hang 2,4 and 5 bike racks only hold by the handlebars and support the rear tires. The racks are sturdy enough for DH bikes, meaning fatties fit fine. This is one of the only racks on the market to easily carry 5 fatbikes that we’re aware of.

fatbike roundup (13)

Origin8 sold through J&B Importers had the latest version of their Crawler fatbike on display equipped with a Nuvinci hub.

fatbike roundup (11) fatbike roundup (4)

It was only a matter of time. Slap a Kawasaki or Polaris sticker on the side of a cheap fatbike and these will give the Mongoose a run for their money in WalMart.

fatbike roundup (6)

fatbike roundup (7)

fatbike roundup (8)

Do these count as fatbikes? We’re not sure, but they were crazy looking and had huge tires.

fatbike roundup (16)

KHS’ fatbike the Sport was hanging out in the back of their booth.

fatbike roundup (15)

As was Norco’s Bigfoot.

blackburn interlock racks auto light  (15)

Blackburn had a Fatback in their booth with their own Fatback branded FSA Double Cranks.

fatback carbon fat bike and rims091613_1083

Of course they had their preview of the new carbon frame and rims outside as well.

11nine fat bike titanium full suspension (2)

11nine fat bike titanium full suspension (1)

boo bikes fat bikes aluboo20130917_0084

boo bikes fat bikes aluboo20130917_0077

Of course there were all of the bikes we’ve already covered like 11nine, Boo, and more. We know there were more including apparently a Salsa Beargrease carbon built up with Hed’s carbon fatbike rims (wish we could have gotten that on the scale!), but there simply wasn’t enough time in the day to capture all of the fatness rolling around the show floor.

fatbike_summit

 

This would probably be a good chance to point out that QBP has announced their 3rd Annual Global Fat Bike Summit which will take place in Ogden, Utah on January 24-25, 2014. The summit is a chance for dealers, consumers, land managers and bike manufacturers to get together and discuss the future of the sport. Day one will be focused on education with fatbikes low environmental impact as a key topic as well as potential revenue that can be generated by their use on public land during the winter. Day two will have an expo, test rides, and races. This year marks the move from Island Park, ID to the Mount Ogden Golf Course hosted by the GOAL foundation and Ogden City.

 

 

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

14 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jesse
Jesse
10 years ago

Industrynine posted a fat bike wheel on Instagram yesterday: http://instagram.com/p/fQmzWlwM_t/

Ghost Rider
10 years ago

I think you meant “enduro/cross fatbike”.

Jason
Jason
10 years ago

You could have titled this post “everything that’s wrong with the bike industry”

ghammer
ghammer
10 years ago

nah, come on guys. those big “pugsley” inspired rigs are amazing. would love me one some day. they seem like simple machines and a 1×11 set up would take you most anywhere. awesome stuff.

brian
brian
10 years ago

[deleted]

CDG
CDG
10 years ago

Love seeing how the fat bike world has taken off this year! So many cool options now.

@Brian – Ha!

bsimon
bsimon
10 years ago

apparently everything wrong with the bike industry is innovation, experimentation & customization. Bring back conformity, conventional wisdom and stagnancy!

Topmounter
Topmounter
10 years ago

Once I replace my aging FS rig, a fat bike is definitely next on my list.

Lance David
Lance David
10 years ago

I can’t believe there aren’t more front suspension fat bikes. I put a Lefty on my 9 zero 7 and it’s my favorite mod. 90mm is perfect and really makes a difference when riding it in the dirt (vs snow).

Another Jason
Another Jason
10 years ago

I for one am heavily reconsidering Sunday’s cross race (which I pre-registered for) to do a long ride with my Pugsley. They might not be for everyone but if I had to sell off my quiver–the fatbike would be my one keeper.

I agree with CDG–all the new innovations. I suspect much of it might trickle down to other non-fat mountain bike sports…

Mindless
Mindless
10 years ago

I like fat bikes.

NASH
NASH
10 years ago

@Mindless

I likefat bikes and I can not lie
You other brothers can’t deny

King County
King County
10 years ago

Fat bikes have there place. I tried 1 for the first time recently, at a demo from a local bike shop, at a trail. I got through sand and a gravel uphill faster than I could on a regular mtb. It blew me away.

Jonathan
Jonathan
10 years ago

Trek is making a fat bike now too, right? was it not at Interbike? I am hearing surprisingly little hype about it.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.