Hondo Gravel

I知 not sure if I want a fat bike or not. There is no snow where I live but there is plenty of tough terrain so how does a fat bike run on typical MTB trails? I知 looking at the Motobecane Boris or a 29+ bike.

MarcusT

I did not get my fat bike originally for snow. Where an MTB is great for single track, fat bike is great for no track (yes, that's mine). I ride river beds, soft gravel, I will ride along a path, see an opening in the brush and go in. Sometimes it will end no where, other times, I will end up in some incredible places.
I also go on trails and find the stability of the wider tire more inspiring.
There are dozens of Youtube videos. I suggest you check them out

HerrKaLeun

Maybe talk to someone local who knows what "tough terrain" means in your area. If you are lucky someone in an LBS also rides the areas you are interested in and can advise.

With an MTB like a 29+ you can go on any trail. with a fatbike the trail is wherever you are. Imagine a monster truck not caring is there is a road or not.

i myself am not a fast or professional MTB person. I ride slow and don't do crazy stuff requiring suspension (and skills). For me the fatbike is more than adequate for the MTB trails. I also go through forests, over construction developments and other areas where a fatbike really is better.

A fatbike is a niche bike, if you have another bike for road/path riding, it is a good choice for all off-road duties. If it is your only bike, keep in mind it gets tiring over long distances on pavement.

beicster 

I have a Boris and I use it for all my offroad riding. I am perfectly happy with it for everything I used to ride on mountain bikes. I have poked along and bombed down washed out old logging roads. Granted, I am almost 50 and I don't ride as aggressively or as fast as I used to but for my riding style, I have not found the fatbike to be a problem.

Hondo Gravel

I will be 50 in a few weeks and I don’t bomb and crash the trails like I did 20+ years ago. I find gravel riding to be a perfect balance so that is my main biking style. But, I still want to hit some rough terrain and I’ve seen a few fat bikes tackle some rough stuff while out hiking. So that got my interest in a fat bike.

MarcusT

A 2" tire ain't going to get you through this. BTW, I am 53

Hondo Gravel

Seriously considering the Motobecane 2018 Sturgis NX. Thanks to all for the replies.

HerrKaLeun

I may be biased, but that woudl be abetter choice since it gives you teh wider 197mm spacing for wider tires (and is TA), and also the 1x11 drivetrain. I really love mine. the only upgrade I did besides grips and pedals was installing an oval chainring (26T).

The next step up is the Canyon Dude, but that is almost $2,100 shipped.

fleslider 

I have a 2015 Boris and it has been a good bike, I have done misc riding here and there with it in Snow and Mud , it does great.

the paint is thin and chips easily, but it was nicely oufitted ( as long as you like SRAM)

heres mine:

beicster 

I have that exact bike, even the color. I changed the bars and stem because the stock bar was uncomfortable for my wrists and the tires because the V8's slid too much for me. Otherwise, it is stock and I have been very happy with it.

Hondo Gravel

Ordered a Boris X7 in Black. What the heck what is one more bike in the stable. Looking forward to hitting the trails.

beicster 

The orange won my heart when I bought mine but if I had to do it again, I would probably go with black. Have fun with it.

Hondo Gravel

Will standard 32mm length inner tube valves be long enough on the Boris X7 with WEINMANN HL-80 rims? I want to have some spare tubes when the bike arrives.

HerrKaLeun

go tubeless and use one of the tubes it comes with as a spare tube.

beicster 

Yes. They are single wall rims.

Hondo Gravel

Ordered 48mm to be safe but I see the standard 32mm would have worked. I’m a recent disc brake convert on my gravel grinder and MTB bike so I’m sure soon I will go tubeless.

Hiro11

I have a '16 Boris the Evil Brut Sprung (dumbest bike name ever). This is a different frame from the Boris, but it will give you insight into BD. Long story short, it's been frankly a great bike.
Upsides:
1. No real problems
2. Terrific build for the money
3. Good traditional snow riding / bikepacking geometry (this isn't a trail shredder but it isn't intended to be).
4. Very well made and designed hydroformed frame with nice rear dropout design, good external cable routing and good heel clearance.
Downsides:
1. Vee Bulldozers are terrible tires. Switched to Bud/Lou for winter use: night and day difference.
2. Cheap ass rear hub is still working but seems like it's going to fail at some point. Rear fatbike hubs are pricey, this is annoying. Then again, most any brand specs cheap hubs in this price range.

Hondo Gravel

They sent me the Boris GX instead of the X7 but that’s an upgrade so I didn’t care. I like the cable routing and it’s has Panaracer Fat Be Nimbles there is no snow here and the terrain is hardpack with some sand here and there. The bike floated over deep pea gravel where my other bikes works sink. I hard a warped front rotor but my Park disc truing tool got it almost straight so no more brake rub. I replace the Lasco crank with a GXP X5 installed some Nuke Proof platform pedals and added some Raceface handlebar grips. After some real rides I might upgrade the handlebar. I’m an experience cyclist but a Fatbike noob so I’m looking forward to learning more about the Fatbike genre of cycling. I believe I will have a blast on this bike and plan to upgrade in the future when funds are available. So far so good just typical tuning and the usual issues getting a new bike dialed in.

MarcusT

Good to hear you're enjoying it

Hondo Gravel

Now all I need is the fatbike wheel holders for my hitch rack. I have a Nashbar Shawdow 2 not the greatest rack nothing like a Yakima or a Thule but gets the job done with a few bungy cords. Luckily Nashbar sells the fatbike attachments I need for my transport system so when they get here I will get the fatbike to a local state park with all types of terrain.