Zinn is tall people centric, right? Many people will disagree, but I think if you are not getting a custom frame, you should be on 26" standard wheels and shorter than average cranks. For the same pedal clearance and more standover and more dropper travel compared with 27.5 with too long for your height cranks.

IMO full width tape is more reliable for essentially zero weight penalty.

 

I have three wheelsets with my Fatillac and I am partial to the 27.5x4 and 27.5x3.1 Not the end of the world, you can always add a wheelset including 29".

 

Nick has handled Lenz communication for a long time. He just finally started his own thing but is still apparently partners w/ Devin. Source: I worked with the both of them on an LB frame back in 2014.

At least for the frame, the bearings are all sealed and normal off the shelf items. It's a fairly simple bike but I can't speak to how it holds up w/ mud riding because we generally don't ride mud in CO.

 

I would avoid using Hope hubs due to bearing issues.

Depending on which frame you ordered (4" vs 5" rockers), the newer frames should fit up to a 27.4 x 4" as well as a 29 x 3". I have both wheel sets, my winter wheels are studded which I'd recommend. I believe the 4" rockers with 120mm travel are the only ones that fit a 29 x 3".

Dropper post is rider dependent, frame typically maxes out at a 120 mm dropper, I've had a few Fatillacs and have never been able to fit one longer than 120mm; I'm 6', 33" inseam, 165mm cranks.

Fatillacs are old school geo, short ETT, so if you normally ride a Large, you might want to consider getting an XL tube set with a Large standover.

You'd be better off buying direct from Devin, just saying ...

 

Nick is dealing direct with Devon. Devon does not answer the phones any more. I run a large and use a 170mm seatpost

 

How in the world did you get a 170 in that frame? I got close with a 150.

I talked to Devin last year, maybe he just likes me

 

Any of you guys riding a smaller frame, a small like I ordered or maybe a medium? I do wonder if a 26" wheelset would be a better fit for my small frame. I don't think the 4" rockers were listed as an option so I opted for the 5" but I think I'll contact Nick and see if 4" is possible. Oh, I found the pivot/torque specs and parts list on the Lenz website so I'm good there.

 

26" wheels are dumb, unless you're running super fat.

The bigger rockers get you more travel, but less tire clearance.

Being what it is, I'd take a Fatillac with 120mm travel (4" rockers) and more tire clearance.

I run a CC Inline Coil and a modified Mastodon 140mm with a coil, it works awesome year round.

 

FS fatbikes need to be ultra beefy due to the extreme gyroscopic precession forces of the wheels, Foes makes some of the stiffest bikes in the industry, for all applications. This is a natural marriage for fatbike FS. The Mutz has been the best fatbike thing I've ever bought. Running 26 Wrathchild, but Dillinger 5 was my favorite. The entire industry isn't quite there yet. For a winter bike, an air spring fork is asinine. Fumbling with a pump last ride to balance out my front/rear spring rate was a pain in the ass in the cold and it's much more necessary in the winter IME where temps vary a lot. But I digress. For this year's extreme low-snow conditions and still exposed roots/ice, the FS fatbike has been so on-point it's ridiculous (fun).

 

I've been soooo jealous of the few full suspension fat bikes I've seen on the trail this winter. Definitely the tool of choice so far.

 

Have you owned the V3+ Mutz w/modern geo?

 

I’ve seen it was updated, but the chainstays are really long. I like a more agile bike.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm confident that the Mutz and Fatillac are both fine bikes. I just feel the Fatillac suits my cross-country-ish riding style and opportunities better, as alluded to in Donkeeboys personal experience comparison above.

 

Thanks for the discussion here so far. I got back in touch with Nick with a couple of revisions based on this thread and we made a couple of changes in the pending build.

 

So I'm hoping to see my Fatillac in a month or so. As mentioned above it will be my first experience with 27.5" fatties. (I've got lots of experience with 26" fat bike tires, tho) My original plan was to just run VanHelgas front and rear, they're my favorite all-rounder tires. But now, while I will definitely stick with the VH up front, I'm thinking about something a little quicker rolling (but still with reasonable grip) in back-either a Dillinger 4" or a CakeEater 4". Anyone tried both that can offer a comparison? I've run all three of these tires in 26X4 as back tires in the past, but I haven't formed a clear preference between the D4 and CE4.) They'll see some shoulder season but mostly snow use.

 

IME, 4" tires are for hard pack races and summer conditions only.

 

They work ok around here-we just don't get that much snow. Plus, the bike will only fit 4" tires in back.

 

I run a 4" VH up front and a 4" CE on my "summer fat" wheels. I used that combo on my old Fatillac before I sold it, as well. Big fan of that combo. I never liked the D4 until I recently saw the updated version. Looks very intriguing. If I wanted a beefier rear tire than a CE without going full out for another VH, the D4 looks to fit that spot.

 

Thanks, yeah the new D4 looks a bit more capable but still has the row tightly spaced narrow knobs in the center for low rolling resistance. The Cake Eater looks more conventional just with lower knobs across the majority of the middle of the tire. it's a tough call, and fat tires are so expensive and wear so slowly that I'll be using whatever I buy for a while!

 

The main thing that makes me consider the CE over the D4 is that running it backwards for climbing traction seems like it would be less impactful on rolling resistance than on the D4.

 

Well, I got my Fatillac the other day! In the biggest, longest bike box I've EVER seen. Got out for a quick, 10 mile ride yesterday to try it out. It was very hot and humid, pretty much the opposite of conditions this bike will typically see. Still dialing things in a bit of course (I'm never really done fiddling with stuff) but my initial impression is that I'm going to get along with it just fine! It really rides and handles nicely, no complaints there, and it's pretty gorgeous (if a bit flashy) I went with purple when I realized I'd never had a bike in that color. Definitely clashes with my truck tho. 35.2 pounds as it sits.

 

Well, I got my Fatillac the other day! In the biggest, longest bike box I've EVER seen. Got out for a quick, 10 mile ride yesterday to try it out. It was very hot and humid, pretty much the opposite of conditions this bike will typically see. Still dialing things in a bit of course (I'm never really done fiddling with stuff) but my initial impression is that I'm going to get along with it just fine! It really rides and handles nicely, no complaints there, and it's pretty gorgeous (if a bit flashy) I went with purple when I realized I'd never had a bike in that color. Definitely clashes with my truck tho. 35.2 pounds as it sits.

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You may want to flip that rear tire around, I can't imagine you are running out of traction. The other direction will corner and roll better.

 

35.2 lbs is a few less than I would've guessed. What wheels are those?

 

Yeah, I'm pretty happy with the weight. The wheels are Nextie Xiphias 27.5" rims on Hope Fatsno hubs. They're quite light, my first carbon fatty rims. The weight of the front wheel shocked me when I lifted it even with the tire on.

 

Heh, I have a friend that works at a local bike shop and I talked to him a bit last fall when I first started thinking about ordering this bike. He was pretty interested-has an older Foes Mutz and has been thinking about replacing it. I took the Fatilliac over to his shop today to show it to him and when I came in he was busy, busy. On the phone, helping people.

I waited til he stepped back and said, pretty busy, eh?
Yeah, Mondays are busy cause everyone breaks their **** on the weekends. he says.
I said I brought my Lenz with me but if you are too busy...
You have it with you?!?
Yeah, right in the back of my truck.
Screw the public, I have to check this out!

LOL.

So I showed it to him and let him pedal it around a bit. He loved the color and thought it was pretty sweet. He's pretty tempted to order one! So that's my bike guy duty fulfilled, tempted someone to spend some money.

 

Hi,

I ve just picked a Fatillac frame here in the UK but its been beating up, the frame is cracked at the top of the head tube by the weld and a collar as per newer ones should sort this, ive started to strip the bike down but cant split the rear triangle at the back, each side there is a small bolt in the hingle, these are out but there looks like a top hat insert welded in from the rear, before i attack it an make it worse has anyone ever stripped one down.

Thanks

Matt