I'm planning on building up a bike over the winter. I use my ogre for road/gravel riding so this bike would be used mostly on single track. I'm leaning towards 29" WTB asym 35 rims and had a couple of options for tires (trailblazer 2.8, Knard, Chupacabra, etc...). Do you think the Karate Monkey will have the clearance for a variety of tires or is the Krampus the way to go? I could go to 27.5+ on the Monkey if that would give me much more clearance. Thanks for any help.
Rasky
I am likely biased, but I love my mint green Monkey SS. It feels awesome. Would be awesome with gears too.
I've seen pics of that one with 27.5+. Only pics no testimonials. It would likely fit up to 2.5 inch 29er tires in the rear, maybe a shade larger, but definitely not 29+. Up front no problem.
People seem to be divided on the Krampus. That swamp green color is sweet though.
I've seen pics of that one with 27.5+. Only pics no testimonials. It would likely fit up to 2.5 inch 29er tires in the rear, maybe a shade larger, but definitely not 29+. Up front no problem.
People seem to be divided on the Krampus. That swamp green color is sweet though.
There really is not much room to be stuffing big meats in the rear of the Karate Monkey frame. The Krampus, or the ECR would give you the option for the Trailblazers, Knards, Chupacabra's, etc... .
You are going to pick up dirt/mud on your tires - no matter what size. There just is little room left on the Karate Monkey frame for that when you start going to wide rims and larger tires. As much as we all love our Karate Monkey frames - the clearance issue, rubbing tires on the chainstays - it's all a reality if and when you try to stuff the big pork chops in there.
Krampus, ECR give you the room. Or there are other brands which you can easily read all about on the 27.5+/29+ forum.
You are going to pick up dirt/mud on your tires - no matter what size. There just is little room left on the Karate Monkey frame for that when you start going to wide rims and larger tires. As much as we all love our Karate Monkey frames - the clearance issue, rubbing tires on the chainstays - it's all a reality if and when you try to stuff the big pork chops in there.
Krampus, ECR give you the room. Or there are other brands which you can easily read all about on the 27.5+/29+ forum.
I've run a 29x2.5 on the rear of my KM, it's tight! Not much room for mud at all. In fact on of the tires has a slight wobble in it so if that one is mounted in the rear it rubs the frame. This is with monkey nuts installed.
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Krampus all the way. Rides well with standard sized 29'er tires and has the clearance for 3" wide tires.
You can run a Krampus front wheel in a KM, but not a matching rear.
If you really want the 29+ then go Krampus.
If you can live with the massive range of plain old normal 29 tyres then stay with a KM.
It's really that simple, do you want/need 29+ or can you live with normal 29, only you can decide
My KM is awesome, i swap between 35mm CX tyres and 2.35 Hans Dampfs, for me, where i live, and the racing i have done the KM covers all bases. Moving upto 29+ is too costly for me for minimal benefit, same with fat bikes, not for me or my riding, but that's just for me, i am not you
If you really want the 29+ then go Krampus.
If you can live with the massive range of plain old normal 29 tyres then stay with a KM.
It's really that simple, do you want/need 29+ or can you live with normal 29, only you can decide
My KM is awesome, i swap between 35mm CX tyres and 2.35 Hans Dampfs, for me, where i live, and the racing i have done the KM covers all bases. Moving upto 29+ is too costly for me for minimal benefit, same with fat bikes, not for me or my riding, but that's just for me, i am not you
I'm in the same boat. I already have a Ti Mukluk as my fat bike, but wanted something a little more rolling resistance friendly.
Honestly after riding my Ti Mukluk and Trek Stache 5, 3" tires is the smallest I'm willing to go. The less resistance and traction is perfect imo.
I ordered a Krampus frame and am waiting for parts to build it up! Took off all the badges and stickers to show off the awesome paint. Love the color!!!
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Sent from my Galaxy Note 5
Honestly after riding my Ti Mukluk and Trek Stache 5, 3" tires is the smallest I'm willing to go. The less resistance and traction is perfect imo.
I ordered a Krampus frame and am waiting for parts to build it up! Took off all the badges and stickers to show off the awesome paint. Love the color!!!
Sent from my Galaxy Note 5
I've had/have both. I love the clearance and sparkle green color of the Krampus, but I like the quicker handling of the KM better. It also feels a bit more lively, not as stiff as the Krampus.
Krampus:
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KM (I've since trimmed the brake hoses):
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Krampus:
KM (I've since trimmed the brake hoses):
what seatboy said...
i have both,usually i run the karate monkey as a single speed,and the krampus with an extended range 10 speed cassette and a 32 tooth up front.normally the km sees mainly single track use and the krampus i use for more adventuresome rides where i might go from pavement to dirt roads to jeep tracks to singletrack in the same ride...the karate monkey is for going fast for me,not that the krampus isnt a single track slaying machine,especially if its rough,but it really shines on all day mixed surface adventures...
im seriously looking at getting a mint green km frame and building up another one...it makes such an awesome singlespeed,but its also insanely fast with gears...
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i have both,usually i run the karate monkey as a single speed,and the krampus with an extended range 10 speed cassette and a 32 tooth up front.normally the km sees mainly single track use and the krampus i use for more adventuresome rides where i might go from pavement to dirt roads to jeep tracks to singletrack in the same ride...the karate monkey is for going fast for me,not that the krampus isnt a single track slaying machine,especially if its rough,but it really shines on all day mixed surface adventures...
im seriously looking at getting a mint green km frame and building up another one...it makes such an awesome singlespeed,but its also insanely fast with gears...
hamsterspam, as a fellow Ice Cream Tuck owner now, do you feel the ICT will replace the Krampus for you and the purposes you've explained above? I'm putting serious consideration to an Instigator frame since I have a 26er mountain bike already built that's screaming for a Surly frame, but am wondering if my ICT will do everything the Instigator would. If so, I'd turn to a Troll frame and have a 26er touring rig instead.
thats a good question...
i dont think i have had the ICT long enough to say really,but i guess it would depend on what i intend out of a days ride...if it were going to be a long "expedition" type of day where i was going someplace new i would be more inclined to take the ICT.on more familiar terrain the krampus,or if i knew there was going to be a lot of pavement time the krampus for sure...
you know,tough to say,the thing i love about my 4 surlys is no matter which one im riding its my favorite,and while each bike has a realm it truly shines in,they all do so many things so well...
i dont think i have had the ICT long enough to say really,but i guess it would depend on what i intend out of a days ride...if it were going to be a long "expedition" type of day where i was going someplace new i would be more inclined to take the ICT.on more familiar terrain the krampus,or if i knew there was going to be a lot of pavement time the krampus for sure...
you know,tough to say,the thing i love about my 4 surlys is no matter which one im riding its my favorite,and while each bike has a realm it truly shines in,they all do so many things so well...
I have both a KM and Krampus. Both bikes are pretty awesome. For me, the KM NEEDS wide rims and fat meat to make it enjoyable. I have it setup rigid SS and really do enjoy it. The Krampus is also a very fun bike. I bought mine from the LBS and it came with Rabbit Holes/Knards. I would def look at a wheel that is tubeless ready if I built the bike from scratch.
I have owned and sold on 3 Karate Monkey framesets and now have a Krampus and an ECR, both bikes set up quite differant.
The KM frameset is superb to ride, really flexy whippy frame set that is real comfy on the trails... I found with 50mm wide Rabbit Hole rims you will only fit a 2.4" rear tyre and even then that is a squeeze for mud conditions, i settled on running a rear 2.35 Minion...
With the Krampus you can ride the 3" tyres or because of it`s high BB fit 2.25" tyres and it will still ride ok, though i would stick with 3" maxxis Chronicles for all conditions i have experianced so far
I would have another Monkey frameset to build as a singlespeed, its a nice whippy comfortable frame, again i would fit a Works Componants headset to a KM to slacken the steering a bit as it solved the off tuck in incident on narrow rutted singletrack around here where i live
The KM frameset is superb to ride, really flexy whippy frame set that is real comfy on the trails... I found with 50mm wide Rabbit Hole rims you will only fit a 2.4" rear tyre and even then that is a squeeze for mud conditions, i settled on running a rear 2.35 Minion...
With the Krampus you can ride the 3" tyres or because of it`s high BB fit 2.25" tyres and it will still ride ok, though i would stick with 3" maxxis Chronicles for all conditions i have experianced so far
I would have another Monkey frameset to build as a singlespeed, its a nice whippy comfortable frame, again i would fit a Works Componants headset to a KM to slacken the steering a bit as it solved the off tuck in incident on narrow rutted singletrack around here where i live
I own both. The karate monkey is definitely a livelier ride but it has been relegated to city rides with the kids. The Krampus is just more fun and capable.
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