Squatch Fatbikes Complete $4,000
Made in Ohio, the Squatch Complete features a chromoly steel frame with 170mm hub spacing, a White Brothers Snowpack carbon fork, SLX brakes, an XT drivetrain, and 4.7″ tires.
9:zero:7 Whiteout Carbon $4,199-$5,199
Not to be outdone by Salsa, 9:Zero:7 has also jumped on the carbon fiber bandwagon. Offered in either X9 or X01, the Whiteout has been a heavily-anticipated bike, and it appears to be a solid choice for a carbon frame.
Fatback Titanium Slider $4,400-$5,299
Fatback also offers their Deluxe and SL builds on a titanium frame. Additionally, the sliding dropouts allow this bike to be set up with or without gears. These frames are welded in the US by Lynskey.
Fatback Corvus $2,300 (frameset)
Fatback is also pulling up a chair at the carbon fiber table with their brand-new Corvus model. It features a full carbon frame and carbon fork, integrated rack mounts, thru-axles, 190mm rear hub spacing, and a removeable, fixed front derailleur mount. There is plenty of room for 4.8″ tires. While only currently available as a frame-only, the Corvus is finally for sale, so get in line now!
Sandman Gobi ~$4,430
The Gobi is Sandman’s mid-level fat bike, which features an aluminum frame and the German Answer Flame inverted 90mm fork, 3.8″ tires, a SRAM X0 drivetrain, and Hope brakes.
Salted Bikes Sandfly $4,449-$4,795
Salted Bikes is based in Australia, and they offer two complete builds of their Sandfly carbon fat bike. Both frames are full-carbon and can accommodate up to 4.8″ tires and 80mm rims. The X01 build retails for $4,449 and ships with a rigid carbon fork and an X01 drivetrain. The X01 Bluto build features the same X01 drivetrain and–you guessed it–a Bluto suspension fork, retailing for $4,795.
Durango Bike Company Hooey $4,495
Handmade in Durango, Colorado, the Hooey features a lightweight aluminum frame, DBC’s very own inverted front suspension fork from the days before the RockShox Bluto (featuring an adjustable 80-115mm of travel), tubeless 4″ tires, an X0 drivetrain, and XT brakes.
11nine Epicyon $4,599
The Epicyon is 11nine’s full suspension trail fat bike, with 110mm of travel front and back. The Epicyon features the same SLX build kit and 4.25″ tires as the Simus, and the same 110mm LuLu inverted suspension fork. The Cane Creek DBInline takes care of suspension duties for the fixed pivot rear end.
Sandman Hoggar Ti ~$5,058
The Hoggar Ti is Sandman’s highest-end fatty, with a full titanium frame, Hope brakes, a SRAM X0 drivetrain, 3.8″ tires, a German Answer Flame “wide” upside down 90mm-travel fork, and a Crankbrothers Joplin dropper post.
RSD Bikes Mayor Ti $5,699-$5,999
The RSD Bikes Ti Mayor is available in a variety of frame and fork combinations, but is only available in two complete build kits: 1×11 with a carbon fork for $5,999 and 1×11 with an 80mm Bluto for $5,699. Both of these complete bikes are spec’ed with 4.8″ tires, a SRAM X01 drivetrain, X0 brakes, and other goodies.
11nine Hemicyon $5,799
The Hemicyon is the world’s first downhill-specific full suspension fat bike! The Hemicyon is built with a Shimano Zee group, the dual-crown MRP Groove DH fork up front, and the MRP Raze coil over rear shock. This chairlift-worthy rig features 4.25″ fat bike tires, and remarkably the tire/wheel combo fits in the Groove fork without any aftermarket modifications to the crown.
Lynskey Stratus $6,114
The Stratus is a titanium frame fatty with a chromoly steel fork. It uses a RaceFace Turbine 100mm crank and XT for the remainder of the drivetrain and brakes. With a 170mm rear hub, it ships with a Surly Nate 3.8″ rear tire but has a 4.5″ Big Fat Larry up front. Cockpit bits are from FSA
Moots FrosTi and Frosthammer $ (if you have to ask)
Moots started out building these for friends and family, and then they became a thing. They release a limited number each fall, so if you want one, give ’em a call for the deets. The Frosti rocks 4″ tires, and the Frosthammer is built to accommodate 5″ tires.
Even More
Even more bikes in this price point, which were mentioned in other articles, include:
- Trek Farley 8: $3,149
- Fatback Aluminum 170 SL: $3,260
- KHS 4 Season 5000: $3,299
- Specialized Fatboy Pro: $4,200
- Salsa Mukluk Ti: $4,899
Conclusion
We’ve tried to make this list as comprehensive as possible, but we decided to stick to mostly production manufacturers who sell complete bikes. There are a number of custom shops doing fat bike frames, as well as foreign fat bike companies. For an exhaustive list, go to fat-bike.com, scroll down a bit, and look for the list on the right.
So what are you waiting for? It’s time to snap up your first–or your next–fat bike and get ready for the snowy winter months!
Click here for 22 brand-new fat bikes in 2015.
Your Turn: Know of a high-end fat bike that we missed? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
12 Comments
Sep 28, 2015
Dec 20, 2013
Oct 24, 2014
Dec 19, 2013
I have been riding the Salsa Beargrease XX1 for about a month now after selling my 2013 model to 'upgrade'. I had no intentions of doing so, but I was easily lured in by my clever LBS salesman/friend to 'try it out' and I was in love. The finish on this bike is AMAZING, and the thru axles gave me confidence to take this even further than I did with my other fatbike. I put 780mm green Niner RDO bars on it, a green Niner RDO post, converted it to tubeless, and put custom glow-in-the-dark rim tape on it, and it is 25.1 lbs without pedals. I cannot believe how fast it clambers uphill, and when I ride with flats in the dirt, I feel like a little kiddo with a BMX bike. In case you are wondering, the carbon seems solid...very stiff around the headtube, bottom bracket, and seat stays. There is ample room for boots to spin (hence the 170mm and NOT the newer 190mm platform, which Salsa says correctly is more race-friendly and doesn't inhibit your confidence when you roll down a steep wall). I have the stock Dillinger 4.0s on, which I like, but you can run 4.5s which I is traction a'plenty IMHO. I have taken this in snow and also over some really technical trails, like the BlackJack Trail at Buffalo Creek (I didn't do the 8ft jump), and it was da bomb. It climbs slickrock in a wicked way. Unlike a lot of other fatbikes, the Beargrease is optimized for, and covered under warranty (important), for 100mm forks. The 'industry' expects SRAM to put out a 100mm fork later this year, but there is one already that is co-branded by Carver, and Nine Eleven (a brand that wasn't mentioned...check out the DireWolf!!)
There are a LOT of good bikes in this range, and is rather amazing to see how hard they are to come by. Bike shops are selling out of them quick, which is impressive for a $3000+ seasonal bike.
A southern boy born and bred, I'm a big fan of Lynskey, but I am disappointed/puzzled that they did not put a tapered headtube on the Stratus (which was once known by another name), and otherwise I may have been enticed to elect this frame over my capable Beargrease.
The 9:Zero:7 is actually called the 'Whiteout'; the McGrath is the model build named donned by Fatbikes.com. It looks killer, as does the much anticipated Fatback Covus (I dig that blue).
GREAT set of articles maddslacker. Makes me want to go ride :)
Dec 19, 2013
Dec 19, 2013
Dec 19, 2013
Dec 19, 2013
I left out 11nine since they are announced, but not even available for pre-order yet.
However, watch for their Lulu fork to be mentioned in an upcoming fat bike accessories/upgrades article. ;)
Oct 15, 2014
Oct 23, 2014
One other bike to keep on your radar that is pre-production and has not even been named: the new full suspension 9:zer:7 bike has been seen and photographed getting some crazy air.
By the way, thank you for not including those e-fat bikes :)
Oct 23, 2014
Oh, and e-fat bikes? Did you mean low-powered motorcycles?
Oct 23, 2014