Submitted by
JH
a Cross Country Rider
from Cape Cod, MA
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2004
Strengths: durable straight guage Ti. headshok works SO well, as does the YBB rear end.
Weaknesses: expensive if purchased new. no rear disc mount. headshok stems not as available as normal stems. but i found the correct size so it's fine.
Bottom Line:
Great bike. I always lusted after these, and then found a screaming deal on one on ebay and went for it. It is noticeably faster than my other bikes. I like the softtail because it is zero maintenaince, no bob, and has some cush but you can still run decent pressure in the tires so it's fast. the headshok tracks very very well. and it is super light! It would be nice to have a few more options on the headshok, but if i hit the megabux i might for for the carbon lefty. the straight guage Ti is not super duper light, but incredibly durable. this thing will last forever. does not have a rear disc mount. and if you are looking into these, make sure you get the fat beat, not the ultra fat. the fat beat has the moots YBB rear end, while the ultra fat has some other system which merlin started using later and is not as good. also make sure the the yoke piece is the updated one. the original was solid ti, and while very gucci, apparently was prone to breakage or something, so they sent the dealers aluminum replacements. this bike rides so nicely and is also unique, which i like. i am so glad i went for it on this purchase. but i would have never paid full retail. for this bike or any other, just too much cash.
Similar Products Used: first ti bike. rocky mountain element TO.
Bike Setup: headshok. all the goodies. right now SS with ENO rear hub.
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Submitted by
Steve XC
a Cross Country Rider
from Fairfax, Virginia
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2000
Strengths: Lightweight, balanced, frame design and quality are unmatched, minimum maintenance required
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
I just bought my Fat Beat two months ago and I am on it 24/7. My poor old DBR XR-8 frame is gathering dust (but not forgotten)! I've never experienced a ride like this in my life. The quality is phenomenal and unlike any other Ti bike I looked at or test road. This bike screams on single track. It tracks like no other bike thanks to the Fatty SL Ultra -- simply point and shoot. All you have to do is think about which way you want to go and it's there. Climbing is made easy with this bike. The Moots suspension performs as advertised and the rear end hugs the terrain maintaining traction while allowing for a good transfer of power to the rear wheel. The front end stays on the ground responding to your input as you track up the hill. Yes, it's expensive, but if you've made the decision to get one of these bikes then price is not an issue. As someone already said in an earlier posting, this bike is a "class act."
I too am a 45-year-old sports rider and race "Masters" in a local race series. I plan to race this bike in the fall. In training rides I've already noticed that I have cut my times by minutes, not seconds. The rear shock is a perfect balance with the Head Shok. The fork and shock do allow for better tracking and traction on the trail. I am able to ride faster with increased confidence thru technical sections that used to intimidate me. The bottom line is this bike is worthy steed by anyone's standards. Anyone who would say this bike isn't has got to be off his/her rocker. I would recommend this bike to anyone looking for an alternative to a hard tail but seeking the benefits of a full suspension bike without all of the maintenance and mechanical problems. This bike offers the best of both worlds.
Similar Products Used: Moots YBB, Litespeed Tsali, Fat Ti
Bike Setup: xtr front and rear deraileur, xt crank with Time ATAC Carbon pedals, Avid Mag brakes and Speed Dial levers, xt shifters, Mavic 517 rims and xt hubs (will upgrade later), Titec 118 handlebar, Profile Design carbon fiber bar ends, Race Face seat post, WTB SST 98 saddle
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Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Richmond Virginia
I am one with this bike. Definitely makes me a better rider. Smooth and refined ride - floats over the rough stuff without that disconnected feel associated with more active designs. Very balanced between the front and rear end and a great climber. Expensive but worth it in my opinion and I love its understated look. Lastly, I admire the approach Merlin has taken - rather than stealing ideas, they have worked together with Cannondale and Moots to produce a great product, neat.
Bike Setup: Daves Wheels built with Bontrager rims and Chris King hubs, Morati titanium crank, Easton carbon bar, Control Tech stub barends, XTR drivetrain, Thompson seatpost, Koobi saddle, Goretex cables, Cane Creek direct brakes, Kooka levers, Speedplay Frogs
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Submitted by
Lorna
a Cross Country Rider
from New Mexico
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2000
Strengths: This bike does everything well.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I live and ride in the mountains every day. Riding my Fat Beat is like dancing with the very best partner, except that I get to lead. It climbs like a mountain goat and handles so nimbly that you can change your mind in the middle of the sketchiest line. In deep sand, it keeps right on going. In fact, the bike rides so well that it gives me the confidence to make technical moves I wouldn't try on other bikes. It's amazing how much suspension the soft-tail really has, and the HeadShock is always right on. I know the frame is expensive, but you get what you pay for. With this bike, it's true love. Bravo Merlin!
Similar Products Used: Raven, Specialized FSR, Litespeed Unicoi
Bike Setup: XTR/XT combo, Mavic wheels
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J. Salmon
a Weekend Warrior
from Chapel Hill, NC
Date Reviewed: December 8, 1999
Strengths: Balanced ride High quality Ti High performance, low maintenance
Weaknesses: Ride is not for everyone
Bottom Line:
I wanted a snappy hard tail that didn't pound me like my Klein, but I did not want a mushy full suspension ride. One criticism of soft tails is that they are a bit flexy in the rear (that is the point, of course). The beauty of the Fat Beat is the combo of the somewhat flexy soft tail with the super rigid Head Shock. The bike just tracks behind the front wheel with a vengence. The ride is just right - it is very precise, yet so much more comfy than a standard hard tail. I knew it would help fatigue, but what surprised me was how well it descends. Just point it on the line you like and hold on. The bike will (almost) do the rest. Oh yeah, and it hooks up on climbs like a goat. As for weight, the frame is 4.3 lbs, and the shock (Ultra) is under 3. Mine is set up to be durable (32 spoke wheels, 8 speed, Gore cables, brakes without extra pivots, carbon fiber) and tipped the shop scale at 22.3 lbs. Now that set me back a good 4.2 k, but this is not a bike for the penny pincher. If you are thinking it just ain't worth it, then - for you - it just ain't worth it. If you hate head shocks (for whatever reason), then it's not for you. If you can't put up with a bit of flex for a bit of comfort and control, then it's not for you. But, if you are shopping for a soft tail that has precision tracking to offset the rear suspension, take a good look at the Fat Beat. The only downside I see: it's no fun to browse in bike shops now - they don't have anything that comes close!
Similar Products Used: There is nothing else quite like it...
Bike Setup: ESP 9.0sl drivetrain, 8spd Avid Ultimate levers, Morati MOC V's SRP Carbon cranks Chris King/Mavic 517 ceramics Easton CT2 bars/post
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Submitted by
JOE
a Cross-Country Rider
from LINDRITH N.M
Date Reviewed: July 28, 1999
Strengths: light weight fast and craftmanship.headshok front moots rear.
Weaknesses: price
Bottom Line:
I was looking at four bikes merlin seven litespeed and moots all softtails. Seven said the were all sold out of the Teres(how could they be out of a custom bike?). I like both litespeedspeed and Moots; but they did not offer the headshok.so i purchased a Merlin Fat Beat. LOVE at first ride. This bike does everything great climbing decending, and the ride was the best. I love this bike, and Merlin got it to me in three days. If you are looking for a softtail do your self a favor and buy a Fat Beat...
Bike Setup: full XTR crossmax wheels raceface carbon bar and raceface bottom bracket. coda cranks.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jamie
a Cross-Country Rider
from Boston
Date Reviewed: May 23, 1999
Strengths: titanium is strong and sexy
Weaknesses: stupid expensive, heavier than you would ever expect, crappy design
Bottom Line:
This bike is ridiculously expensive, it is going to run you $4300 or more to get a XTR equipped bike which weighs 25.5Lbs w/747s. You will also have to sacrifice yourself to the unholy altar of the Headshok, which feels like doodoo, has tons of needle bearing induced stiction, and is noisy to boot. Oh, and it also scews the headtube up something awful and is a real eyesore - oh it you extremely limited replacement options... The Moots rear end is simply awful, any idiot can see that the shock shaft is going to be forced at and angle to the sleeve and cause undo wear and friction. It also weighs a lot, that previous weight is not a joke, I compared it several other bikes at my house of known weights. I wasn't surprised as the 18 bike felt heavy (25.5 isn't heavy unless you are paying $4300). In short Merlin who make the top Ti frames in the world (the XLM) have made a huge mistake liscensing crappy technology from their inferiors. Oh, well. Please don't bother to send me angry emails as I am merely giving my personal vies on that crappy bike. I give it two stars because it is Ti so it shoudn't break which is always good.
Strengths: Top quality, unique design, great handling, light weight with some rear shock. Perfect for anyone who appreciates a hardtail, but needs some relief from the pounding.
Weaknesses: Price
Bottom Line:
I just bought a Fat Beat. The bike is awesome. The quality is well worth the price. I love the combination of the Head Shock and Moots rear end. Merlin is definitely a class act. Most companies would have just stolen the Moots design.I am a 45 year old sports rider. The rear shock is a perfect balance between the climbing ability of a light weight hard tail and the need reduce the fatigue to the lower back during a hard ride. This weekend, I came in first place on the Merlin after only riding the bike twice. This was my best race ever. I attribute the results the precise handling of the Fat Beat and the lack of fatigue to my lower back.
I bought a "new" 2000 Merlin frame (Fat Beat) today but think I may have misjudged its size. It is clasified as an 18.8 inch. I thought that would be a 'medium' but am now thinki Read More »
I have been playing around with the idea of a newer, more modern and blinged out SS. I figured my geared Merlin Fat Beat (headshok, YBB) would make a sweet SS, so I put a Boone ou Read More »
