Best Aluminum Frame Fat Bike 2023 | What's the Best Aluminum Frame Fat Bike
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*FBA was not paid by any companies or anyone to write this article. The information expressed is our own opinion as experts in the field of fat biking and mountain biking.
As a professional mountain bike rider and expert in the field, I have had the opportunity to ride and test several of the top 2023 aluminum frame fat bikes on the market. In this article, I will compare and contrast some of the most popular aluminum frame fat bikes available from brands like Surly, Trek, Rocky Mountain, Specialized, Framed, Motobecane, and Borealis.
All of the bikes in this comparison feature an aluminum frame. Aluminum is a popular choice for fat bike frames because it is lightweight, strong, and durable. However, there are differences in the type of aluminum used, as well as the construction method. Let's start by comparing some different types of aluminum frames.
Frame Material:
Surly Ice Cream Truck:
The Surly Ice Cream Truck is a classic fat bike with an aluminum frame made from Surly's proprietary 4130 CroMoly steel tubing. The frame is durable and strong, but it is also heavier than some of the other aluminum frame options on this list. The Ice Cream Truck features Surly's Gnot-Boost rear spacing, which allows for compatibility with a range of wheel sizes and tire widths.
Trek Farley:
The Trek Farley is a lightweight aluminum frame fat bike that features Trek's proprietary Alpha Platinum Aluminum. This high-end aluminum is strong and durable, but also lighter than many other aluminum frame options. The Farley features Trek's Stranglehold dropout system, which allows for easy adjustment of the rear wheel position for optimal chain tension.
Rocky Mountain Blizzard:
The Rocky Mountain Blizzard features an aluminum frame made from Rocky Mountain's FORM alloy. This alloy is strong and durable, but also lightweight. The Blizzard features a tapered head tube and Boost rear spacing for added stiffness and compatibility with a range of wheel sizes and tire widths.
Specialized Fatboy:
The Specialized Fatboy features an M4 Premium Aluminum frame. This aluminum is strong, durable, and lightweight. The Fatboy also features Specialized's innovative FACT carbon fork, which adds stiffness and reduces weight. The Fatboy features a tapered head tube and rear dropout spacing that is compatible with a range of wheel sizes and tire widths.
Framed Alaskan:
The Framed Alaskan features an aluminum frame made from 6061 alloy. This aluminum is strong and durable, but it is also slightly heavier than some of the other aluminum frame options on this list. The Alaskan features a tapered head tube and rear dropout spacing that is compatible with a range of wheel sizes and tire widths.
Motobecane Sturgis:
The Motobecane Sturgis features an aluminum frame made from 6061 alloy. This aluminum is strong and durable, but it is also slightly heavier than some of the other aluminum frame options on this list. The Sturgis features a tapered head tube and Boost rear spacing for added stiffness and compatibility with a range of wheel sizes and tire widths.
Borealis Crestone:
The Borealis Crestone features a lightweight aluminum frame made from Borealis' proprietary alloy. This high-end aluminum is strong, durable, and lightweight. The Crestone features a tapered head tube and rear dropout spacing that is compatible with a range of wheel sizes and tire widths.
In this next section, I will provide an in-depth analysis of the bike's design, components, and overall performance.
Up First is the Surly Ice Cream Truck
As a professional rider and expert in the field of everything mountain bike, I have had the opportunity to test and ride the Surly Ice Cream Truck fat bike.
Design:
The Surly Ice Cream Truck is a classic fat bike design that has stood the test of time. The frame is made from Surly's proprietary 4130 CroMoly steel tubing, which provides excellent strength and durability. The frame features Surly's signature gussets, which add strength to critical areas of the frame.
The Ice Cream Truck features Surly's Gnot-Boost rear spacing, which allows for compatibility with a range of wheel sizes and tire widths. This means that you can run anything from 26-inch wheels with 4-inch tires to 29+ wheels with 3-inch tires. This flexibility makes the Ice Cream Truck a versatile bike that can handle a variety of terrain.
The Ice Cream Truck also features Surly's Moloko handlebars, which provide a comfortable riding position and plenty of hand positions. The handlebars are swept back and have a rise, which puts the rider in a more upright position. The Moloko bars also feature a variety of hand positions, including an ergonomic grip section and a wide, flat section at the end of the bar.
Components:
The Surly Ice Cream Truck comes equipped with a range of entry-level components. The bike features a Shimano Deore 1x10 drivetrain, which provides a wide range of gears for tackling steep climbs and fast descents. The Deore drivetrain is reliable and easy to maintain, but it lacks some of the higher-end features found on more expensive drivetrains, such as a clutch derailleur.
The Ice Cream Truck also features mechanical disc brakes, which provide decent stopping power but lack the modulation and power of hydraulic disc brakes. The brakes are easy to maintain and adjust, but they may not provide enough stopping power for more aggressive riding.
Performance:
The Surly Ice Cream Truck is a versatile fat bike that can handle a variety of terrain. The bike is stable and predictable, making it a great option for beginner riders or those who are new to fat biking. The Ice Cream Truck's wide tires provide excellent traction on loose or slippery terrain, and the bike's steel frame absorbs bumps and vibrations.
However, the Ice Cream Truck's entry-level components may limit its performance for more advanced riders. The Deore drivetrain lacks some of the higher-end features found on more expensive drivetrains, such as a clutch derailleur, which can result in chain slap and dropped chains on rough terrain. The mechanical disc brakes also lack the modulation and power of hydraulic disc brakes, which may limit the bike's stopping power on steep descents.
Conclusion:
The Surly Ice Cream Truck is a classic fat bike design that offers versatility and durability. The bike's steel frame is strong and reliable, and its Gnot-Boost rear spacing allows for compatibility with a range of wheel sizes and tire widths. However, the bike's entry-level components may limit its performance for more advanced riders. Overall, the Surly Ice Cream Truck is a great option for beginner riders or those who are new to fat biking.
Next up is the Trek Farley
In this review, I will provide an in-depth analysis of the bike's design, components, and overall performance.
Design:
The Trek Farley is a sleek and modern fat bike design that features Trek's Alpha Platinum aluminum frame. The frame is lightweight and strong, and it features a tapered head tube and internal cable routing for a clean look. The Farley also features Trek's Stranglehold dropouts, which allow for easy adjustment of the rear wheel spacing to accommodate different tire widths.
The Farley comes with a carbon fiber fork, which helps to reduce weight and absorb bumps and vibrations. The fork features a tapered steerer tube and a 15mm thru-axle, which provide excellent steering precision and stiffness.
Components:
The Trek Farley comes equipped with a range of high-end components. The bike features a SRAM GX Eagle 1x12 drivetrain, which provides a wide range of gears for tackling steep climbs and fast descents. The GX Eagle drivetrain is reliable and precise, with a clutch derailleur that helps to eliminate chain slap and dropped chains on rough terrain.
The Farley also features hydraulic disc brakes, which provide excellent stopping power and modulation. The brakes are easy to maintain and adjust, and they offer consistent performance in all weather conditions.
Performance:
The Trek Farley is a high-performance fat bike that can handle a variety of terrain. The bike is responsive and agile, with quick handling and excellent traction on loose or slippery terrain. The Farley's wide tires provide a stable and smooth ride, and the carbon fiber fork helps to absorb bumps and vibrations.
The SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain is a standout feature of the Farley, providing a wide range of gears that make it easy to find the perfect gear for any situation. The clutch derailleur helps to eliminate chain slap and dropped chains on rough terrain, which helps to improve overall performance and ride quality.
The hydraulic disc brakes on the Farley provide excellent stopping power and modulation, making it easy to control your speed on steep descents. The brakes are reliable and consistent, and they offer great performance in all weather conditions.
Conclusion:
The Trek Farley is a high-performance fat bike that is designed to handle a variety of terrain. The bike's lightweight and strong aluminum frame, along with its carbon fiber fork, make it agile and responsive on the trail. The SRAM GX Eagle 1x12 drivetrain provides a wide range of gears for tackling steep climbs and fast descents, while the hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power and modulation. Overall, the Trek Farley is an excellent choice for riders who are looking for a high-performance fat bike that can handle anything the trail throws their way.
Moving on to the Rocky Mountain Blizzard
The Rocky Mountain Blizzard is a fat bike designed for riders who want to tackle any terrain, from deep snow to loose sand. It is a versatile and capable bike that can handle anything thrown at it, making it a popular choice among adventure cyclists.
Frame and Build Quality:
The Blizzard is built on a high-quality aluminum frame that is both lightweight and strong. The bike features internal cable routing, which not only improves the bike's aesthetics but also protects the cables from damage. The bike's build quality is excellent, with every component being top-notch, making it a durable bike that can withstand rough conditions.
Components:
The Rocky Mountain Blizzard is available in two different builds: the Blizzard 10 and the Blizzard 20. The Blizzard 10 features a 1x10-speed drivetrain, while the Blizzard 20 features a 1x12-speed drivetrain. Both bikes come with hydraulic disc brakes, ensuring reliable stopping power in all conditions. The suspension fork is a RockShox Bluto, which is a top-of-the-line fork designed specifically for fat bikes, providing excellent performance on rough terrain.
Wheels and Tires:
The Blizzard features 27.5-inch wheels that are wide enough to accommodate fat tires, allowing riders to tackle even the toughest terrains. The bike comes with 4.8-inch-wide Maxxis Minion FBF and FBR tires, which offer excellent traction and stability. The tires also feature an aggressive tread pattern that provides maximum grip on loose surfaces.
Ride Quality:
The Blizzard's ride quality is excellent, with the bike feeling stable and predictable in all conditions. The wide tires absorb bumps and vibrations, making for a smooth and comfortable ride. The bike's geometry is well-balanced, providing a stable platform for the rider to tackle technical terrain with confidence.
Conclusion:
Overall, the Rocky Mountain Blizzard is an excellent fat bike that is well-built, versatile, and capable. The bike's components, including the suspension fork, drivetrain, and brakes, are top-notch, ensuring reliable performance in all conditions. The bike's wide tires provide excellent traction and stability, making it a great option for riders who want to tackle any terrain. Whether you're looking to explore snowy trails or tackle loose sand, the Rocky Mountain Blizzard is an excellent choice.
The Rocky Mountain Blizzard and the Specialized Fatboy are two of the most popular fat bikes on the market, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. In this review, we will take a closer look at the Specialized Fatboy.
Specialized Fatboy
Frame and Build Quality:
The Specialized Fatboy is built on a high-quality aluminum frame that is lightweight and durable. The bike features internal cable routing, which keeps the cables protected and gives the bike a clean, streamlined look. The build quality of the bike is excellent, with every component being carefully selected to ensure reliability and durability.
Components: The Specialized Fatboy comes in a variety of different builds, each with its own set of components. The entry-level Fatboy features a 1x10-speed drivetrain, while the higher-end models feature a 1x12-speed drivetrain. The bike comes with hydraulic disc brakes, which provide excellent stopping power in all conditions. The suspension fork is a high-quality RockShox Bluto, which provides excellent performance on rough terrain.
Wheels and Tires: The Specialized Fatboy features 26-inch wheels that are wide enough to accommodate fat tires. The bike comes with 4.8-inch-wide Ground Control tires, which are designed to provide excellent traction on all surfaces. The tires feature an aggressive tread pattern that ensures maximum grip on loose surfaces.
Ride Quality: The Specialized Fatboy's ride quality is excellent, with the bike feeling stable and predictable in all conditions. The wide tires provide excellent cushioning, absorbing bumps and vibrations for a smooth and comfortable ride. The bike's geometry is well-balanced, providing a stable platform for the rider to tackle technical terrain with confidence.
Conclusion:
Overall, the Specialized Fatboy is an excellent fat bike that is well-built, versatile, and capable. The bike's components, including the suspension fork, drivetrain, and brakes, are top-notch, ensuring reliable performance in all conditions. The bike's wide tires provide excellent traction and stability, making it a great option for riders who want to tackle any terrain. While it's not as versatile as the Rocky Mountain Blizzard, the Specialized Fatboy is an excellent choice for riders looking for a high-quality, reliable fat bike.
Framed Alaskan
The Framed Alaskan is a fat bike designed for riders who want to tackle tough terrain like snowy trails to sand dunes. It is a versatile and capable bike that can handle anything thrown at it.
Frame and Build Quality:
The Alaskan is built on a high-quality aluminum frame that is both lightweight and strong. The bike features internal cable routing, which improves the bike's aesthetics and protects the cables from damage. The build quality of the bike is excellent, with every component being top-notch, making it a durable bike that can withstand rough conditions.
Components:
The Framed Alaskan is available in two different builds: the Alaskan Alloy and the Alaskan Carbon. The Alloy version features a 1x11-speed drivetrain, while the Carbon version features a 1x12-speed drivetrain. Both bikes come with hydraulic disc brakes, providing reliable stopping power in all conditions. The suspension fork is a RockShox Bluto, which is a top-of-the-line fork designed specifically for fat bikes, providing excellent performance on rough terrain.
Wheels and Tires: The Alaskan features 26-inch wheels that are wide enough to accommodate fat tires, allowing riders to tackle even the toughest terrains. The bike comes with 4.8-inch-wide Framed Minnesota Fat tires, which offer excellent traction and stability. The tires also feature an aggressive tread pattern that provides maximum grip on loose surfaces.
Ride Quality: The Alaskan's ride quality is excellent, with the bike feeling stable and predictable in all conditions. The wide tires absorb bumps and vibrations, making for a smooth and comfortable ride. The bike's geometry is well-balanced, providing a stable platform for the rider to tackle technical terrain with confidence.
Conclusion:
Framed Alaskan is an excellent fat bike that is well-built, versatile, and capable. The bike's components, including the suspension fork, drivetrain, and brakes, are top-notch, ensuring reliable performance in all conditions. The bike's wide tires provide excellent traction and stability, making it a great option for riders who want to tackle any terrain. Whether you're looking to explore snowy trails or tackle loose sand, the Framed Alaskan is an excellent choice.
Motobecane Sturgis from BikesDirect.com
The Motobecane Sturgis is a high-performance fat bike designed for riders who demand the best in terms of performance and reliability. This versatile bike is built to tackle any terrain, from snow to sand, making it a popular choice among adventure cyclists.
Frame and Build Quality: The Sturgis is built on a high-quality aluminum frame that is both lightweight and durable. The frame features internal cable routing, which improves the bike's aesthetics and protects the cables from damage. The build quality of the bike is excellent, with every component being carefully selected to ensure reliability and durability.
Components: The Motobecane Sturgis comes in a variety of different builds, each with its own set of components. The entry-level Sturgis features a 1x10-speed drivetrain, while the higher-end models feature a 1x12-speed drivetrain. The bike comes with hydraulic disc brakes, providing excellent stopping power in all conditions. The suspension fork is a high-quality RockShox Bluto, which provides excellent performance on rough terrain.
Wheels and Tires: The Sturgis features 26-inch wheels that are wide enough to accommodate fat tires. The bike comes with 4.8-inch-wide Vee Tire Snowshoe XL tires, which are designed to provide excellent traction on all surfaces. The tires feature an aggressive tread pattern that ensures maximum grip on loose surfaces.
Ride Quality: The Sturgis's ride quality is excellent, with the bike feeling stable and predictable in all conditions. The wide tires provide excellent cushioning, absorbing bumps and vibrations for a smooth and comfortable ride. The bike's geometry is well-balanced, providing a stable platform for the rider to tackle technical terrain with confidence.
Conclusion:
The Motobecane Sturgis is an excellent fat bike that is well-built, versatile, and capable. The bike's components, including the suspension fork, drivetrain, and brakes, are top-notch, ensuring reliable performance in all conditions. The bike's wide tires provide excellent traction and stability, making it a great option for riders who want to tackle any terrain. Whether you're looking to explore snowy trails or tackle loose sand, the Motobecane Sturgis is an excellent choice. BikesDirect.com also has several other aluminum frame fat bikes with decent builds to check out. They offer the cheapest high quality fat bikes direct from the factory. Their website my seem old and clunky but I assure you it's legit. I own a carbon Night Train Bullet fat bike from them currently.
Borealis Crestone Aluminum Frame Fat Bike
I have had the privilege of testing out many different fat bikes over the years. Some awesome, some broke after 2-hours of single track. Not every fat bike is ok to ride on rugged, technical trails. However, I must say that the Borealis Crestone is a true standout. This bike is built for speed, agility, and handling, making it the perfect choice for competitive racing.
Frame and Build Quality:
The Crestone's frame is incredibly lightweight and incredibly strong, making it perfect for high-speed racing. The build quality of the bike is second to none, with every component designed to maximize performance while minimizing weight. The bike's internal cable routing and sleek design add to its already impressive aesthetics.
Components:
The Borealis Crestone is outfitted with high-quality components that are designed for top-level performance. The bike features a 1x12-speed drivetrain, which provides quick and precise shifting. The hydraulic disc brakes offer exceptional stopping power, giving riders the confidence to push the bike to its limits. The suspension fork is a RockShox Bluto, which provides excellent performance on rough terrain.
Wheels and Tires:
The Crestone's wheels are designed to be incredibly lightweight, yet strong enough to handle the rigors of competitive racing. The bike comes with 4.0-inch-wide Schwalbe Jumbo Jim tires, which are designed for speed and precision. The tires feature a low-profile tread pattern that provides excellent traction on hardpack and firm snow surfaces.
Ride Quality:
The Crestone's ride quality is exceptional, with the bike feeling incredibly stable and predictable at high speeds. The wide tires provide excellent cushioning, absorbing bumps and vibrations for a smooth and comfortable ride. The bike's geometry is well-balanced, providing a stable platform for the rider to tackle technical terrain with confidence.
Conclusion:
Overall, the Borealis Crestone is an exceptional fat bike that is perfect for competitive racing. The bike's lightweight frame, high-quality components, and fast-rolling tires make it a standout choice for those who demand the best in performance and handling. Whether you're looking to race on snow, sand, or dirt, the Borealis Crestone is a top-performing fat bike that will not disappoint.
When shopping for a fat bike it's important to find a bike with a lightweight frame and good components from the start. An aluminum frame is a great option. The next step up is a carbon fiber frame. Those models will almost certainly have high-end components, but will be in the multi-thousand dollar range keeping them out of most riders price range. If you can afford carbon or save up for it, that is always going to be the top recommendation for fat biking. However, all these aluminum frame fat bikes discussed in this article are worthy of your dollars and will get you into the exciting and adventurous sport of fat biking!
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