cheap fat bikes

A coworker was just telling me about his cheap fat bike that he picked up for $500 on sale. He's a guy who knows a little about bikes, altho he doesn't usually ride sub-20 lb rigs (but still seems to have a fun time with them).

I didn't realize there were rideable fat bikes under a grand. I've never been on one but if I could get something to play around with for less than the cost of a decent wheelset, I might consider it. 

Anybody have any experience with fat bikes in general, or know of any budget models to look at?

I have no experience with fat bikes, but my buddy bought a Motobecane from BD last year (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fat-bikes/fat-bikes-boris-x7-fatbikes.htm) and he's been really happy with it.  He said the stock tires are junk, and he changed the crank to a 1X, but other than that he rode the crap out of it all winter and competed in some MTB races with it this year.  I rode it it around the yard a few times and thought it was a fun bike, and lighter than I expected it to be.  I was even surprised at how well the BB5s worked on it.  I have no plans to seriously get into fat biking, but I am strongly considering picking one up for winter riding.

that's great to know, rocthrower. My coworker sent me over to BD's website and I've been poring over it all afternoon. I'm probably going to be ordering a Lurch, or possibly a Sturgis Bullet, within the week.

I was given a Bulls-eye Monster from bikes direct ($500) at the beginning of summer to turn into a trail maintenance bike. I have made some parts bin upgrades made it a 1x and changed out the tires. Now it has become my go to bike I even did a 20 mile gravel grinder on it where I found the only downside to be the weight of the bike. As the tires made the gravel feel like pavement and I could bomb the downhills without a care in the world and then climbing the other side where some skinny tire GG bikes were losing traction i just spun my way up smiling all the way. Is a traditional GG faster god yes but if you don't care when you get there and want to have a smile on your face when you do its fatty time.

here is a pic of the monster in trail maintenance mode and yes that's a chainsaw on the back rack.

Wow.. that's totally awesome, TMCliff! Not much worry that you'll lose that bike in the woods.

I've been reading comments like yours saying 'I can't stop riding this thing' so I pulled the trigger on a Motobecane Sturgis Bullet ti bike this morning. Hopefully I'll have it in a week or so.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fat-bikes/fatbikes-sturgisbullet-titanium.htm

JoeFriday

I Hate You!!!!  But in a good way. 

I so want that bike but without the shock give me a nice Titanium front fork to go with her and I could be happy.

Enjoy the Bike and please keep us informed on how the fatty goes for you.

I picked up a barely used 2011 Surly Pugsley for $700 this past spring and I am really happy with the bike. It's so much fun to ride! I plan on riding it in next year's Landrun100 which should be interesting to say the least. 

I've heard good things about the Framed fatbikes but haven't ridden one. They're available for less than $1000 on http://www.the-house.com 

Just thought I'd share a photo of the fattie on the first day in snow.

 

I have a Fatbike since march 2015. All I can say is try one! My bike is a more expensive Salsa Blackborow but I've ridden my brother Fatboy SE and a Norco Bigfoot (1000CAN$) and had lots of fun as well...

Those bikes are really "do-anything" bikes. Maybe not gravel racing but for more mountain bike oriented duties, they're really a nice option. Especially if you live in an area that gets snow in winter or you have a beach to ride nearby...

I bought mine for winter riding and as a backup bike when my FS is in the shop (tend to happen a lot!) I have used my BB for everything from flow trail with berms, technical "natural" trail full of rocks and roots, beach riding, rock crawling at low tide near St-Laurence river, snow riding during winter, riding with my kids in the neighborhood. Two days ago, I cleared a section of trail that kept frustrating me on my Intense spider comp FS carbon bike… If I had to keep one bike, this would be the one...
 
 

Lewis nice bike.  Use to live in Quebec miss it.  Looks like you have some nice trails.

happychucky wrote:Lewis nice bike.  Use to live in Quebec miss it.  Looks like you have some nice trails.

Thanks Happychucky! I live downtown near Bois-de-Coulonge Park so I have to drive to hit some trail… Most of the time, I don't mind the 30 to 60 min drive to get to a proper trail system (Vallée-Bras-du-Nord, Sentiers-du-Moulin or Mont-Ste-Anne) even if there's some good trail-riding in the northern part of the city. All those places have seen a lot of development for mtb so hopefully the offering for fat biking will see the same trend cause winter is soooo long here!

Enjoy that snow and trails on that bike.  I saw some guy in a CX race with one.  He was having a blast.  Seemed to be enjoying the course more than the CX guys. I rode the one at walmart around the store. Love to get one out on the trails. I miss the snow but than I see the news reports and that feeling leaves.    Use to live in Dorval.