FatBoy w/Bluto?

Supermoto said:
And people ride rigid skinnies there too. Its not that it can't be done, its just that suspension makes it easier, more comfortable and faster.
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Depends on the rider. IMO it is not needed, especially to be faster, a lot comes down to the rider. Just throwing it out there.

I found that the Bluto, when added to the larger volume tire, made the front end sloppier and not as precise. Especially when going fast.
 
Johnny Utah said:
Depends on the rider. IMO it is not needed, especially to be faster, a lot comes down to the rider. Just throwing it out there.

I found that the Bluto, when added to the larger volume tire, made the front end sloppier and not as precise. Especially when going fast.
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I would think it would be very very few riders that would be faster on a rigid over a FS/HT on any type of rough trail. Same with skinnies, fat bikes aren't some sort of magical bike that defies physics

The Bluto feels sloppy if you run the same pressure as a rigid fork, up the psi a little and its a world of difference
 
Supermoto said:
And people ride rigid skinnies there too. Its not that it can't be done, its just that suspension makes it easier, more comfortable and faster.
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Thats my take on it going from a rigid to a bluto. I can increase speed (and related fun) on a rocky downhill and keep my intended line. With the rigid I could get jack hammered off of my line in a split second. Sure its the rider to a point and really good guys can play arm and leg suspension all day long, but I have a little ADD and can't focus like that for hours. Smoother areas and only occationally rough terrain, sure why bother. I like riding rocky terrain and for me the Bluto opened up a whole bunch more areas that I now gladly and enjoyably ride now. I'm also a really big fan of the bluto saving me from the rock I didn't see under a pile of leaves. My Fatty is 30#. If I want to ride something light I'll jump on my carbon FS. If I want to ride a tank with some speed I'll get on the fatty 🙂

Bluto is just a tool like many others and has places to be effective and places where its a waste.
 
Supermoto said:
I would think it would be very very few riders that would be faster on a rigid over a FS/HT on any type of rough trail. Same with skinnies, fat bikes aren't some sort of magical bike that defies physics

The Bluto feels sloppy if you run the same pressure as a rigid fork, up the psi a little and its a world of difference
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All in the rider and their preference, agree to disagree on the Bluto.
 
so i've ridden both and here are my opinions:

fatboy: i really, really loved this bike. it was quick, fun and i could move it around surprisingly well. compared to the trek offerings from last year it was night and day. the farley was just an inferior bike. the fatboy handled everything GREAT and truth be told, i didn't miss the fork at all...and at the time i was riding all manner of FS bikes trying to figure out exactly what i wanted next (prior to the fatboy a Trek EX 9.8 was the front runner).
bluto: like others, i found the fork to be really sloppy and not precise at all. even at speed it didn't feel great. granted, it was on the Farley (which as i previously stated i didn't like at all) but the i just didn't dig the fork. maybe it was user error but at this point i feel like i've set up enough forks to know what works.

fast forward to now and i own a rigid Farley 7 and it's every bit as fun as the fatboy. i've ridden some gnarly stuff (like Wildcat for example) and didn't miss the fork even slightly. on thanksgiving i was bombing chunky downhills at speed and passing FS guys. at the correct tire pressures, which for me is somewhere between 7.5 - 8.0, it's great. i have bad shoulders and riding rigid on a 29er just wasn't an option- it beat the hell out of me. on the 2016 Farley, much like the Fatboy, it was a nonissue.

hope that helps.
 
Supermoto said:
Did you try 10 psi on the front with the bluto?
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I have been riding fat full time for quite awhile. I am very aware of tire pressure as well as the gambit of fat issues, I.E., tires, tubes, tubeless, rim width, tire width, tire TPI, Knight Rider, bump steer, self steer, massage steer, air temp, trail conditions, snow type, ice type, sand type, body type, she's/he's not my type.

I also know how to set up suspension after riding primarily gravity (WTF does that mean industry, don't all bikes use gravity?) bikes for a solid amount of years and adjusting my suspension for courses/weather/conditions enter other here .

That being said, it wasn't and isn't for me. But it is OKAY if it is for you, no one on here will judge.

I wanted it to be for me, I really wanted the Bucksaw to be for me, but neither were. When I build another fatty, it too will be ridged. 5" tires give me enough squish. IMO, the biggest and best upgrade are solid wheels with primo tires. In fact, tires probably play one of the largest factors in my fatty experience.
 
Johnny Utah said:
I have been riding fat full time for quite awhile. I am very aware of tire pressure as well as the gambit of fat issues, I.E., tires, tubes, tubeless, rim width, tire width, tire TPI, Knight Rider, bump steer, self steer, massage steer, air temp, trail conditions, snow type, ice type, sand type, body type, she's/he's not my type.

I also know how to set up suspension after riding primarily gravity (WTF does that mean industry, don't all bikes use gravity?) bikes for a solid amount of years and adjusting my suspension for courses/weather/conditions enter other here .

That being said, it wasn't and isn't for me. But it is OKAY if it is for you, no one on here will judge.

I wanted it to be for me, I really wanted the Bucksaw to be for me, but neither were. When I build another fatty, it too will be ridged. 5" tires give me enough squish. IMO, the biggest and best upgrade are solid wheels with primo tires. In fact, tires probably play one of the largest factors in my fatty experience.
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So is that a "yes" Lol. It was actually a question for bonefish
 
It would be interesting to know what type of car each of us drives, or at least prefers. It's a similar debate which is a personal preference at the end. BMWs aren't better drivers than a MB or Lexus, again a matter of preference on expectations.
 
Supermoto said:
Did you try 10 psi on the front with the bluto?
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in all reality, probably not. i was probably 8 psi, 9 at best. but it wasn't the tire's fault. i had the Fatboy for like a week prior and rode that thing everywhere. i could feel the fork flexing and it just didn't feel precise.

to be 100% honest, the ONLY fork i've ever had that had almost zero flex was my carbon lefty. that thing was awesome.
 
I am pissed that we still have shity choices for front suspension. Come on and make a fat pike or fox 36 please. That bluto is more like '09 Reba. Torque from large wheels needs lager stanctions.
 
mattybfat said:
I am pissed that we still have shity choices for front suspension. Come on and make a fat pike or fox 36 please. That bluto is more like '09 Reba. Torque from large wheels needs lager stanctions.
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It does suck, I have heard the Fox 27.5+ Float 34 will fit a 4" tire though, so that will help some of us
 
I had the chance to demo a 15' Fatboy Expert over the weekend. it was my first ride on a fatbike and I'm totally down with it now. I did the 18 mile loop at batsto and the bike is amazing. I normally ride a rigid specialized carve SL single speed. the Fatboy was awesome and very surprisingly nimble. it goes over everything with ease and is quite fast when it gets going. I'll be taking out again tomorrow before I have to return it and am hoping to be purchasing one very soon. The aluminum frame and carbon fork we're great and the ground controls only let go once but that was more my error then theirs.
 
Bluto is fine
Bluto is not for everyone's riding style
Bluto is not for tires over 4.0
Bluto should not be run over 80mm
Bluto shouldn't be needed for snow or sand trails
Bluto would be good for technical trails using 3.8 tires and run 80mm travel
Bluto will not make you faster
Bluto may pickup some time when going over tech rock and root downhill
Fat tires are your primary suspension. The Bluto is there to pickup more when you need it.
You will always get more positive and negative feedback from bigger wheels and tires so even with thicker stanchions I believe it would still feel loose and will make little difference
Is the Bluto for everyone-no
Will Bluto work for some-yes

Now to build another bike with a 80mm Bluto with 3.8 tires for Ringwood trails and keep the rigid with 4.6 for everything else.
 
domo said:
Bluto is fine Yep but could be better
Bluto is not for everyone's riding style True
Bluto is not for tires over 4.0 Not true
Bluto should not be run over 80mm 100 is good, 120mm is awesome, nice plush and doesn't bottom out easily like shorter travel
Bluto shouldn't be needed for snow or sand trails True, but it doesn't really hurt other than weight
Bluto would be good for technical trails using 3.8 tires and run 80mm travel More travel is better
Bluto will not make you faster Depends on rider
Bluto may pickup some time when going over tech rock and root downhill Over anything rough
Fat tires are your primary suspension. The Bluto is there to pickup more when you need it. Tires are for traction
You will always get more positive and negative feedback from bigger wheels and tires so even with thicker stanchions I believe it would still feel loose and will make little difference A stiffer front fork would be nicer
Is the Bluto for everyone-no True
Will Bluto work for some-yes True

Now to build another bike with a 80mm Bluto with 3.8 tires for Ringwood trails and keep the rigid with 4.6 for everything else.
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Fat bikes are no different than normal mtn bikes and there is a reason why bikes are going to more and more travel
 
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