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Ibis Tranny gets new Look w/ Trans Fat 4″ Fat Bike Build, Retrofit Available Too!

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Photos c. Ibis/Adamson

There are a number of people today, that upon reading this are realizing they already own a fat bike. Well, part of a fat bike, anyways. The Ibis Tranny is transitioning from a super versatile 29er into an even more versatile 4″ fat bike. Better yet, the conversion isn’t permanent…

Trans-Fat-Ortho-White

If the Ibis Tranny is new to you, the basics include a light weight carbon frame built around 29″ wheels with a unique rear “swingarm.” The swingarm initially allowed for three things – the ability to run single speed without eccentrics or sliding dropouts, the ability to run belt drive, and the ability to break the frame down for travel.

Now it has a new trick.  Since the swingarm can be completely removed, it can also be completely replaced with something, say, with clearance for a 26 x 4″ fat bike tire. So while the Trans-Fat will be available as a complete, it is also available as a retrofit kit for existing Trannies for $699.

Trans-Fat-Seat-Stay-Mind-The-Gap Trans-Fat-BB-Spacers

While the swingarm allows for the big rubber to clear the frame, the Tranny needed a few other tweaks to become the Trans Fat. Since the standard Tranny runs a BB92 bottom bracket, something had to be done to allow for fat bike sized cranks. To fix this Ibis created a pressfit to 100mm threaded adapter to allow you to run your favorite fat bike cranks. Geometry is the only small change between the Tranny and Trans Fat with the fat bike getting a one degree slacker head tube and seat tube angle at 70/72º to make sure the big tires aren’t twitchy. The retrofit kit also includes a 3mm thick crown race which is there to provide downtube clearance for the wide Bluto fork crown. We’re told that the Tranny geometry will remain the same going forward.

Other details include a 177×12 rear thru axle, 120mm fork compatibility, internal dropper post routing, and a tapered head tube.

Trans-Fat-Ant-3Qtr

Thanks to a 3.25lb carbon monocoque frame, the Trans Fat should build up to a weight that belies its name. Calling it a limited edition, Ibis’ Scot Nicol tells us the first batch has been completely sold to dealers and distributors and will be in short supply. A second batch is due for February which is when the retrofit kits and framesets ($1700) will be available. Complete bikes will be available in a single Shimano XT 1x build with a Race Face Turbine Cinch crank, RockShox Bluto 120 fork, KS LEV Integra dropper, Sun Ringle Mulefut 80SL wheels, and Jumbo Jim 26 x 4″ tires at $5099. Frames will be available in orange or black and in medium, large, and X-large.

Ibis Trans Fat bike geometry

ibiscycles.com

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22 Comments
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th1npower
th1npower
8 years ago

🙂 awesomely versatile hardtail – i love it!

TheFunkyMonkey
TheFunkyMonkey
8 years ago

How about Ibis figure out how to deliver an already announced model (Ripley LS) before going and announcing another? If going by Ibis’ history of announcing bikes and then delivering months later, that means this should be available right in the middle of the summer. Yep, makes sense (or not)… Huge Ibis fan but do not understand their business strategy of making announcements and then going silent. Got on that boat once and got tired of waiting (after I already paid) and moved on…

Cornelius
Cornelius
8 years ago

This is actually really appealing to me. I also like the idea of breaking the bike down for travel.

TesSanchez
TesSanchez
8 years ago

wow that sizing is microscopic!

CowtownC
CowtownC
8 years ago

$700 for seats and chainstays? Seriously? That’s the price of most Surly frames and lot’s of complete bikes on Bikedirect.

Sam
Sam
8 years ago

$700 for a carbon rear triangle. Not a mediocre steel frame, not a crappy internet bike. This is intended to save you the cost of a new carbon fat bike frame. The Salsa Beargrease carbon frame retails for $2500, for example.

Antoine
Antoine
8 years ago

Do they offer “reverse retrofit” for those who want to convert their trans fat to 29 for summer ? would be smart.

Heffe
Heffe
8 years ago

Incredibly clever, bravo for them!

matt m
matt m
8 years ago

in b4 SJWs get offended by name

TesSanchez
TesSanchez
8 years ago

@zach, i mean the size of the bikes, 400mm reach on the large would be a small for most bike companies.

Ck
Ck
8 years ago

I’ve been wanting a Tranny29, and while I would probably never use this feature, it’s pretty awesome that it exists.

Fat Boy
Fat Boy
8 years ago

and it’s not like another bike company already was using the name… for years.

http://carverbikes.com/parts/forks/new-xc-480-carbon/

Trans-Fat fat suspension fork

Sevo
Sevo
8 years ago

Fat Boy-if Carver didn’t copyright the name they don’t get exclusive rights. If Carver only copyrighted the name to be used for their fat bike fork (which hasn’t been around all that long), then someone else can use it for their frame, handlebar, etc…

Benedikt Skulason
8 years ago

What I might really be seeing here is an attractive 650+ hardtail. Skipping the threaded adapter and using standard xc cranks.

Cornelius
Cornelius
8 years ago

I wonder if they’ll offer a package deal: main triangle plus two rear triangles for a slightly discounted price. I’d be all over that.

Juan Pablo
Juan Pablo
8 years ago

29+ ? would it?

Rides bikes
Rides bikes
8 years ago

Can’t wait for a bike named for slurs against gay men and lesbian women, too.

not cool
not cool
8 years ago

The name is totally offensive. It’s not edgy or cool to take a term that is used to degrade and justify the murder of other people and use it as a marketing ploy (because in this day and age you know a name like that is going to cause backlash). And I know that the term has other meanings… My old racist uncle used to call a crowbar a “n—– bar” and you don’t see me going around justifying the use of that name on a bicycle product.

Brian
Brian
8 years ago

I think they now need to rename the two iterations ‘Trans-Fat’ and the ‘Trans-29’

Oh and remember the short name of the automobile part you shift gears with is also called a ‘tranny’….

DENNY
DENNY
8 years ago

man haha carver bike never get a break! firsty the 96er from trek, and now ibis trans fat ahahahah!

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